Wisconsin Main Street News Volume 2, Issue 3 Spring/Summer 2008 Wisconsin Main Street Accepts New Communities Governor Jim Doyle announced on June 27, 2008 that three new Wisconsin cities have been named Main Street communities, joining the program in its 20 th year. With the distinction, each community will receive five years of intensive technical service from the Department of Commerce s Main Street team in the areas of organization, design, economic restructuring and promotion. For 20 years, the Main Street Program has not only helped restore pride and community spirit to downtowns across the state, but has also provided an important economic boon, attracting new businesses and creating new jobs for hard-working Wisconsin families, Governor Doyle said. I m pleased to welcome Manitowoc, Port Washington and Tomahawk to the Main Street Program. They join the 34 active Main Street programs across the state. Following are profiles of this year s Main Street designees: Tomahawk (population 3,820) in Lincoln County has its history based in Wisconsin s logging industry, and paper manufacturing is still one of its largest employers. The fourblock area features 65 diverse specialty and service businesses. The district is home to such longstanding events as Music on Main and the Tomahawk Fall Ride for MDA. The Tomahawk Main Street program wants to create a city ordinance to promote preservation and protect historic buildings. Port Washington (population 11,467) in Ozaukee County is located on Lake Michigan and is a major tourist draw for Lake Michigan fishing. The 25 block district features 153 businesses that employ 1,466 fulltime employees. A portion of the district is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This summer the downtown underwent a major streetscape project. Downtown Port Pride wants to reduce the number of vacancies downtown by establishing and maintaining a website listing the vacancies in the district. Manitowoc, (population 33,811) in Manitowoc County, is located on Lake Michigan and is home to the Wisconsin Maritime Museum and the Capitol Civic Center, which draws about 70,000 visitors a year. The 34- block district is home to 186 restaurants, specialty shops and service businesses and 144 apartment units. Parts of the district are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Members of the Wisconsin Main Street Staff will be going to each community to conduct a kick-off visit. This involves a community reception, board training, an intro to Main Street, etc. These visits will be followed over the next six months by community visioning, Four- Point committee training and committee work planning If an existing community would like to attend one of these sessions in a new community, please notify a member of the state staff for times and locations. A scene from Main Street Memories in Tomahawk. This is an annual event held downtown. The Schuette Lofts in the heart of Manitowoc s Eighth Street Historic District. Looking north along Franklin Street in Port Washington. The community recently completed a streetscape project.
Page 2 Main Street Tidbits: Things you should know Downtown Housing Grant available Hope VI Main Street Grants Program provides grants of up to $1 million each to small communities for affordable housing projects that are part of a downtown revitalization plan. The program debuted two years ago and three official Main Street communities received funding. The deadline for submission is August 18th, 2008. Project requirements and complete program details are available in the Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) which can be found here: http://www.hud.gov/ offices/pih/programs/ph/hope6/grants/fy08/ Great American Main Street Award At the National Main Streets Conference in Chicago, the Great American Main Street Award will be awarded to up to five deserving communities. This award honors the best downtowns in America. Sheboygan Falls and Chippewa Falls are previous winners. There are several changes to the program this year. First, only officially designated Main Street communities can apply and must receive National Accreditation for at least two years prior to applying. No previous winners can apply. A preliminary application is due July 16 with the submission of $150. Semi-finalists will be notified and then asked to fill out another application and supporting documents. For more information, go to Please welcome the following new executive directors to the Wisconsin Main Street Program. Cheryl Detrick started as the executive director of the De Pere Area Chamber of Commerce in January. She previously worked at the Green Bay Chamber of Commerce where she designed and mananged the community health partnership. She can be reached at cdetrick@deperewi.org Beth Rodewald was hired as the director of the Main Street Marshfield program on February 25. She has a degree in communications with an emphasis in public relations from UW Stevens Point. She can be reached at beth@mainstreetmarshfield.com Jill Nadeau has been the executive director of the Lake Mills Main Street Program since June 3. She has a bachelor s degree from Marquette University in Milwaukee. She served on the Watertown Design Committee since 2001. She is the owner of a theatre company and graphic design business. She can be reached at jill@lakemillsmainstreet.org. With all these new directors, it is also time www.mainstreet.org Executive Director Workshop Set for September 24-26 The next executive director workshop will be held Sept. 24-26 in Chippewa Falls. The topic will be Special Events From 101 to 301 and will be presented by Jan Miller and Stacy Pair of the Mississippi Main Street Program. Both women have extensive experience running special events while they were downtown directors and now teach communities how to take their special events to the next level. This workshop will be a combination of facilitated discussion, lecture and a takeaway sample document notebook. We need your help. Please let Catherine Dunlap know if you are willing to be a panel speaker on the basics of special events. Also, to create the notebook we will be needing examples from volunteer job descriptions, event work plans, sample contracts, exercises to get merchants involved in the events, forms, posters, event check lists, evaluation forms, vendor guidelines and applications, intercept surveys, sponsorship packets and anything else that you would like to share. A memo will be sent out in late July with all of the details. This workshop is open to directors, staff and volunteers of designated Main Street communities. Welcome new executive directors and a heartfelt good-bye to some veteran directors to say to good-bye to some executive directors. They will all be missed. Lisa Maurer of Lake Mills recently left her position to join her husband Jim, who took a position for an organization that provides services for handicapped children in St. Louis. Jim Schuh of Chippewa Falls announced his retirement from his Main Street program on March 31. Jim has served as executive director of the Eau Claire and Chippewa Falls Main Street programs for 16 years. The board is currently undergoing a search for a new director. Also, Bridget Kurtenbach, the Chippewa Falls promotions coordinator, resigned. Naletta Burr of On Broadway in Green Bay will be joining Dimension IV, an architectural and community development firm located in her district. She has been the executive director for seven years. Previously, she had served as their program coordinator. On Broadway is currently conducting a nationwide search for a new director. Nancy Hammermeister resigned as the executive director of Platteville Main Street effective July 15. Wisconsin Main Street News Published quarterly to provide downtown revitalization strategies to Wisconsin communities. Catherine Dunlap, editor Wisconsin Main Street 201 W. Washington Ave., 5th Floor P.O. Box 7970 Madison, WI 53707 608 267-3855 catherine.dunlap@wisconsin.gov http://commerce.wi.gov/cd/cd-bdd.html Jack L. Fischer, Secretary Department of Commerce Jim O Keefe, Administrator Division of Housing & Community Development Jim Engle, Director Bureau of Planning and Downtown Development 608 267-0766 Catherine Dunlap, Downtown Revitalization Specialist 608-267-3855 Joe Lawniczak, Design Specialist 608-267-0765 J.D. Milburn, Small Business Specialist 608-267-2252 Main Street Council Members Jim O Keefe, Madison Thomas Meiklejohn III, Fond du Lac Paul Knuth, Rhinelander Virginia Haske, Algoma Gerald White, Beloit Tim Anderson, Madison Darryl Johnson, Milwaukee Jill Rennicke, Bayfield Judith Wall, Prairie du Chien Dawn Rog, Rhinelander Dick Best, Menomonie John Gardner, Stevens Point Shawn Graff, Slinger Lisa Kuss, Clintonville
Wisconsin Main Street News Page 3 Celebrating 20 years of Revitalizing Wisconsin s Downtowns
Page 4 Wisconsin Main Street News Wisconsin Celebrates 20 Years as a Main Street Program More than 350 people attended the Wisconsin Main Street 20th Anniversary Gala and 18th Annual Awards Reception on May 22 at the Monona Terrace in Madison. David Brown, vice-president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, also attended. Wisconsin cares about historic preservation, said Brown. Wisconsin understands the value of preserving downtown as the face of the community. The event was sponsored by the Heartland Business Bank, Wisconsin Community Bank, Wisconsin Downtown Action Council and the Wisconsin Main Street Alliance. A special thank you to Rev. Steve Fossum of Viroqua for being the Master of Ceremonies and Ralph Kluseman of Platteville for providing the music after the event. Several awards were given out in the course of the evening. Here is a list of the winners. Congratulations to all. Hall of Fame Bev Anderson, Darlington Fred Nelson, Viroqua Frances Williams, Sharon Steve Schmitt, Sheboygan Falls Greg Larsen, Green Bay Russ & Teddy Kostrzak, Tigerton 20 Year Awards Best Downtown Event Co- Beloit Farmers Market Co- Ripon Jazz Festival Best Downtown Façade Rehabilitation Bemis Bath Shoppe, Sheboygan Falls Best Historic Restoration Project Temple Theatre, Viroqua Best Adaptive Reuse Project Shoe Factory Apartments, Chippewa Falls Best Downtown Public Improvement Riverview Park Project, Waupaca Best Downtown Business Development Success Story Siepman Realty Old Main Building, Pewaukee Best Downtown Volunteer Program Tigerton Main Street Program Best Improved Downtown Business Climate On Broadway, Green Bay 2007 Main Street Awards Winners Best Volunteer Development Program/ Project On Broadway, Inc., Green Bay Larsen Redevelopment Best Façade Rehabilitation Over $7,500 Warhawk Country LLC Ryan Hughes 200-214 W. Whitewater Street, Whitewater Collins & Associates Prairie du Chien Best Downtown Image Campaign/Event The Viroqua Writer s Workshop Lake Mills Main Street Program Best Upper Story Rehabilitation Project Hotel Stebbins Kristine & Kendall Ruehl Algoma Best Downtown Special Event Co- Cinco de Mayo Festival Darlington Co- Fondue Fest Fond du Lac Eagle River Sesquicentennial Celebration Eagle River Best Design Committee Project Co- The Broadway District Masterplan Design Committee, Green Bay Co- Façade Improvement Grant Program Donna Glynn, Committee Chairperson Monroe Best Business Development Program/ Project Platteville, Prairie du Chien & Viroqua Main Street Programs CBED Grant Collaboration Best Promotional Item The Downtown News West Bend Best Public Improvement: Built Environment New Claude Allouez Bridge City of De Pere Deputy Secretary Aaron Olver (far left) accepts a check representing nearly $1 billion of private and public reinvestment from (from left) Olver, Virginia Kauffman of Tigerton, Charlotte Dodge and Sally Combs of Sharon and Fred Nelson of Viroqua. Bridge Street Village of Tigerton & Tigerton Main Street Wall Street Reconstruction City of Eagle River South Mound Removal Project West Bend Best Downtown Retail Event Date Nite Sheboygan Falls Chamber-Main Street Best New Building Project Viroqua Area Medical Office Building Vernon Memorial Healthcare Best Public Improvement: Beautification Walldog Wave: Harboring History Walldog Wave Committee, Algoma Historic Building Banners Sheboygan Falls Chamber-Main Street Best Adaptive Reuse Project Co- The Frey Group LLC Colonial Carriage Works LLC 134 & 140 N. Dickason Blvd., Columbus Co- Katie s Place, Katie Vaclavik, owner Platteville Best Public-Private Partnership in Downtown Revitalization Stone Stable Project Ginny Coburn, Jerry Wendt & the City of Whitewater
Wisconsin Main Street News Page 5 Award Winners Continued Monroe Main Street & the City of Monroe Downtown Rhinelander/ City of Rhinelander Downtown Parking Lot Project Best Historic Restoration Project 1905 Village Hall Tigerton Main Street Mike Mair 65 S. Fourth Street Platteville Best Interior Renovation Project Café Claudeen, Ryan & Claudia Wilson Monroe Lucy s Delicatessen Deb Linc & Cindi Pulver Chippewa Falls Best Creative Fund Raising Effort The Larsen Redevelopment Site: Recovery Operation On Broadway, Inc., Green Bay 17 th Annual Downtown West Allis Classic Car Show Prairie du Chien Downtown Revitalization Tastes, Toasts and Tomfoolery Best Façade Rehabilitation Under $7,500 Sugar Cubed Rick & Andi Oppermann Stevens Point Fran Hill 314 Watson Street, Ripon Best New Downtown Business Bridge St. Station Stationmaster Don Baker Chippewa Falls Thyme Worn Treasures Home Furnishings Rice Lake Dan s Meat Market Dan Malone Whitewater 2007 Volunteer of the Year Dave Petri, Algoma Larry Kane, Beloit Chuck Card, Chippewa Falls Wayne Osterhaus, Columbus Antonio Ruesga, Jr., Darlington Joe Schinkten, De Pere Al Pittelko, Eagle River Liz Engh, Fond du Lac Marcelo Cruz, On Broadway, Green Bay Katie Otto, Lake Mills Mary Schmidt, Monroe Positively Pewaukee Sweat Shop: (Marilyn Watson, Mary Buerosse, Trixie Lawrence, Karen Semrad, Judy Litvin, Judy Aron), Pewaukee Dave Zmina, Platteville Jerry & Joan Indermark, Portage Dan, Shodi & Gavin Moris, Prairie du Chien Michelle Smith-Grage, Rhinelander Berni Rivard, Rice Lake Judy Selk, Sheboygan Falls Bernice Sevenich, Stevens Point Tanja Ellis, Tigerton Steve Bacalzo, Two Rivers Debbie Abt, Viroqua Sandra Budewitz, Watertown Judith Hoppe, West Allis Kristine Bruendl, West Bend Dr. John Patterson, Whitewater 2007 Honorary Board of Directors Donna Gridley, Algoma Brad Austin, Beloit Jamie Leibrandt, Chippewa Falls Dan Burnard, Columbus Peggy North, Darlington C. David Stellpflug, De Pere Barry McLeane, Eagle River Dave Schneider, Fond du Lac Dan Roarty, On Broadway, Green Bay Brad Glassel, Lake Mills John Baumann, Monroe Pattie Iwen, Pewaukee Robin Timm, Platteville Sue Weyh, Portage Kathleen Hein, Prairie du Chien Shirley Larsen, Rhinelander Shelly Schoening, Rice Lake Jim Fasse, Sheboygan Falls Carolyn Weiland, Stevens Point Colleen Inman, Two Rivers Trudy Wallin, Viroqua Leah Reese, Watertown James Melotte, West Allis Michael Koebel, West Bend Bill Bowen, Whitewater Executive Director Years of Service Awards Two Years: Leah Alters, Wausau Pam Ritchie, Prairie du Chien Josephine Minskey, West Bend Susan Dascenzo, Watertown Lisa Maurer, Lake Mills Renae Rogers, Osceola Kim Bates, Columbus Suzi Osterday, Darlington Five Years: Elaine Kroening, Pewaukee Brian Preiss, West Allis Twelve Years: Kathy Wellsandt, Rice Lake Fourteen Years: Ingrid Mahan, Viroqua Sixteen Years: Craig Tebon, Ripon Jim Schuh, Chippewa Falls Main Street Spirit Award Brian McCormick Recognition for completing fiver years of Main Street Training Main Street Portage All Roads Lead to Main Street was this year s theme for the 20th Anniversary Gala & 18th Annual Awards Reception. This cake was served at the end of the event. Thanks to all who attended to make this event a huge success. Photo provided by Kathy LaPlante, NMSC.
Wisconsin Main Street News Page 6 Algoma 2000 Michael Glime 920-487-5498 ciofa@greenbaynet.com Beloit 1988 Kathleen Braatz 608-365-0150 kathleen@downtownbeloit.com Chippewa Falls 1989 Vacant 715-723-6661 Mary.cfms@charter.net Columbus 1992 Kim Bates 920-623-5325 info@columbusmainstreet.org Darlington 1996 Suzi Osterday 608-776-3067 mainstprogram@centurytel.net De Pere 1990 Cheryl Detrick 920-338-0000 Cdetrick@deperewi.org Eagle River 1999 Rita Fritz 715-477-0645 errp@nnex.net Fond du Lac 2004 Amy Hansen 920-921-9500 AmyH@fdlac.com Lake Mills 2006 Jill Nadeau 920-648-2344 Jill@lakemillsmainstreet.org Wisconsin Main Street Directors On Broadway (Green Bay) 1995 Vacant 920-437-2531 info@onbroadway.org Lincoln Village (Milwaukee) 2001 Neil White 414-672-2249 neil@lincolnvillagemilwaukee.org Marshfield 1990 Beth Rodewald 715-387-3299 beth@mainstreetmarshfield.com Monroe 2005 Barb Nelson 608-328-4023 monroemainstreet@tds.net Osceola 1997 Renae Rogers 715-755-3300 chamber@vil.osceola.wi.us Pewaukee 1996 Elaine Kroening 262-695-9735 elaine@positivelypewaukee.com Platteville 1999 Nancy Hammermeister 608-348-4505 pvmainst@yahoo.com Portage 2003 Vacant 608-745-1861 mainstreetportage@verizon.net Prairie du Chien 2005 Pam Ritchie 608-326-7374 pdcmainstreet@mchsi.com Rhinelander 2006 Sue Bessert 715-362-7374 msdri@frontiernet.net Rice Lake 1991 Kathy Wellsandt 715-234-5117 rlmainst@chibardun.net Richland Center 1992 Susan Price 608-647-6205 chamber1@richlandchamber.com Ripon 1988 Craig Tebon 920-748-7466 craig@riponmainst.com Sharon 1994 Karen Kenney 262-736-6246 sharonmainst@sharontelephone.com Sheboygan Falls 1988 Nancy Verstrate 920-467-6206 nverstrate@sheboyganfalls.org Stevens Point 2004 Sarah Robinson 715-343-5356 mainstreetmanager@sbcglobal.net Sturgeon Bay 1994 Todd Trimberger 920-743-6246 todd@sturgeonbay.net Tigerton 1993 Virginia Kauffman 715-535-2110 tigertonmainstreet@mwwb.net Two Rivers 1996 Michael S. Zimmer 920-794-1482 mainstreet@lakefield.net Viroqua 1989 Ingrid Mahan 608-637-2575 infodesk@viroqua-wisconsin.com Watertown 2000 Susan Dascenzo 920-261-5185 watertownmain@sbcglobal.net Wausau 2002 Leah Alters 715-845-1328 leah@wausauareaevents.org West Allis 2001 Brian Preiss 414-774-2676 director@downtownwestallis.com West Bend 1999 Josie Minskey 262-338-3909 josie@downtownwestbend.com Whitewater 2006 Tami Brodnicki 262-473-2200 director@downtownwhitewater.com July10 July 23 Kick off visit - Manitowoc July 24 Kick off visit - Port Washington July 30 Kick off visit - Tomahawk July 31 Deadline to finish monthly reports for FY 2007-2008 August 6-7 New Director Orientation Madison August 10 August 12 Main Street Council Meeting August 27 Platteville Upcoming Wisconsin Main Street Dates September 9-10 Tech Visit Lake Mills September10 September 11-12 Marshfield September 16-17 Tech Visit Whitewater September 24-26 Executive Director Workshop Chippewa Falls October10 October 16 Recapturing Your Downtown Conference Wausau October 21-22 De Pere October 29-30 Monroe November 6 7 Pewaukee November10 November 12-13 Tech visit Prairie du Chien November 19 20 Osceola December10 January10 January15-16 Executive Director Workshop TBA January 21 Introduction to Main Street Madison March 1-4 National Main Streets Conference Chicago, IL April 24 Main Street Awards TBA June 4-6 Executive Director Workshop Rhinelander September 23-24 Executive Director Workshop Darlington Items listed on this calendar are subject to change. Please contact the Wisconsin Main Street office at 608-267-3855 for more information.