Economic Development Committee

min091615_0.pdf (84 KB)

Economic Development Committee members present: Marty Krueger, Dennis Polivka,  Nathan Johnson, Brian Peper, Donna Stehling,

Others present:    Keri Olson, Brian Simmert, Jenny Erickson, Caitlin Shannahan, Bill Stehling

At 6:34 p.m. Chair Krueger called the Economic Development Committee meeting to order and certified to be in compliance with the open meetings law.

Adopt Agenda:  Motion by Polivka/Peper to adopt the agenda.  Motion carried, all in favor.

Adopt minutes of previous meeting – August 19, 2015:  Motion by Polivka/Johnson. Motion carried, all in favor.

Public comment:  None

Communications:  None

UW Extension/WEDC E-Commerce Grant: E-Commerce Training: 

Erickson spoke about the UW-Extension Broadband and E-Commerce Center.  Sauk County was selected to offer e-commerce training.  Designed for businesses of all types to bolster their web presence and sell online.  Training addresses best practices, making a facebook page, making your website work for your business, best practices to grow your business online, learning how your business can be more profitable online.  Businesses will have an opportunity to participate in one on one counseling to talk about specific issues related to their online presence. to that business.  Sauk County is asked to come up with in-kind contributions to demonstrate interest.  Erickson spoke with chambers of commerce  and Baraboo, Reedsburg and Sauk Prairie expressed interest.  Sauk will provide a facility and technical support.  Early October will be grant application deadline and the potential project will not start until next year.

Stehling arrived at 6:41

Krueger asked who the event will be sponsored by.  Erickson stated that this is yet to be determined.

Report on Placemaking/Placebranding Initiative:

Millennial Task Force Workplan

Shannahan presented the work plan including the initiative goals, purpose, supporting organizations, and provided a process overview.  Individuals and backgrounds of task force members were presented.   The process will include a kickoff meeting, placebranding applications, strategy exploration, examining survey results, brand development, and second strategy formation.  The final product will include the development of place branding ideas and a second strategy to further the placemaking initiative.  The brand ideas and strategy will be rooted in research and will rely on the survey and other data as well as case examples of other communities.  Task force members will be provided with training and background information.  The process will include 6 meetings of 2 hours each.  Task force members may also participate in an Intergovernmental meeting (Oct 29) and the Sauk County Development Corporation (SCDC) Leadership Forum (Nov 19).

Krueger suggested that the peer interviews be the same for those that live in Sauk County and those that live in other locations.  Krueger suggested an interview model to reduce biases.  Johnson asked if county board members should be asked the same questions to compare the responses between generations.

Krueger spoke about the Intergovernmental Forum and that it has traditionally focused on a presentation of the county budget.  Krueger suggested that the Economic Development Committee host the Intergovernmental Forum at the new science facility at UW-Baraboo, which will include a tour of the science facility followed by a presentation on placemaking and discussion with community leaders on how to further a placemaking initiative in Sauk County.  The Intergovernmental Forum would also serve as a lead-in to the SCDC Leadership Forum.

Olson spoke about the format of the SCDC Leadership forum.  Anticipated speakers include Tom Still, President, Wisconsin Technology Council to present on – “Brain Drain vs. Brain Gain: Bridging the Gap in Sauk County” and Ian Abston, Co-Founder, NEWaukee to present on – “What Whippersnappers Want: How to Build a Place Where Young Professionals Want ti Live and Work.”  The forum will also include a moderated panel and Q&A. 

Olson asked the Committee what they would like to see as a final product from the Millennial Task Force and if they are prepared to budget for the ongoing initiative.  Polivka would like to see strong ideas to shape a brand and ideas on how to move forward. Stehling stated that it would be beneficial for other municipal leaders to understand placemaking and how placemaking can impact communities.

Krueger noted that the Intergovernmental Forum is an opportunity to get feedback from communities as to how they see the initiative moving forward.  Krueger noted that one of the deliverables must be a report to the County Board.

Discussion ensued regarding reporting to the Committee and of final deliverables.

Millennial Task Force Members

This agenda item was addressed under item a. above.

Next meeting date(s) and agenda items:  October 15, 2015  5:00 p.m.

Motion by Stehling/Polivka to adjourn at 8:05 p.m. Motion carried, all in favor.

Respectfully submitted,

Donna Stehling

Economic Development Committee Secretary