Wisconsin’s Top Rural Development Initiatives 2007 Celebrating the great things happening in rural Wisconsin!

Wisconsin’s Top Rural Development Initiatives Program Wisconsin Rural Partners began awards in 1998 Recognizes innovative community initiatives in rural Wisconsin that can serve as models for other communities More than 150 initiatives are profiled on our web site at www.wirural.org

2007 Initiatives Two initiatives selected for Top Honors Presented by WRP President Bonnie Peterson and Awards Chair Arlene Scalzo

Reedsburg Utility Commission Represented by Dave Mikonowicz

Reedsburg Utility Commission The Initiative: Southwest Wisconsin rural community lacked high-speed communications access Created a Municipal Communication Utility in 2000 Certified by Wisconsin Public Service Commission as a Competitive Local Exchange Carrier

Reedsburg Utility Commission Partners: City of Reedsburg, Reedsburg School District, Reedsburg Area Medical Center, Madison Area Technical College (local campus), local businesses and citizens Includes 4 local telephone cooperatives and 5 telecommunications service providers

Reedsburg Utility Commission Strategy: Invested $13 million in communications infrastructure from 2000-2006 40 miles of fiber optic line; 4,200 residential and business Network Interface Devices (NIDs) Provides voice, video and data services

Reedsburg Utility Commission Results: 55% of residences and 60% of businesses are customers The Municipal Communications Utility provides businesses with cost savings while enhancing their business investments, employee recruitment, educational and lifestyle benefits

Reedsburg Utility Commission Results: Improved operations for the Medical Center, including patient services and employee training Increased effectiveness of police, fire protection and other public services Enhanced educational services for K-12 and technical college

Reedsburg Utility Commission A model for other communities: As the first MCU in Wisconsin, is now helping other communities in Wisconsin , Louisiana and Vermont set up their Municipal Communications Utilities

Mineral Point Chamber of Commerce Agriculture & Rural Life Committee Represented by Lois Federman

Mineral Point Chamber of Commerce The Initiative: Goal to boost the use of local foods Mineral Point Chamber of Commerce Agriculture & Rural Life Committee initiated project with high school Annual school fundraiser features locally-produced foods in gift boxes

Mineral Point Chamber of Commerce Partners: Chamber of Commerce 13 local producers 3 high school student clubs: FFA, Outdoorsman Club and VICA

Mineral Point Chamber of Commerce Strategy: Chamber members identified local producers and taste tested products Products were designed into 10 gift packs Students sold orders for 2 weeks in October

Mineral Point’s Local Foods Gift Baskets

Mineral Point Chamber of Commerce Results: 722 gift baskets sold with gross sales of $17,606 64% increase over previous year’s revenue Provides additional income for local farmers

Mineral Point Chamber of Commerce Results: Showcases diversity of locally-produced food Provides real-life entrepreneurial experience for students Retains dollars locally that used to be spent on outside fundraiser items Created new friendships between school and business people

Mineral Point Chamber of Commerce A model for other communities: Student clubs, youth groups and civic organizations that do fundraisers should Think Local! when looking for products Many partnering organizations expands the publicity circle New friendships and relationships between school and community can carry to other community activities

Congratulations! Summary descriptions and contacts available Press releases for initiative representatives to take with them Have local newspapers contact Wisconsin Rural Partners office for digital photos