Economic Growth United States Project #33799

Invest in rural residents building their future

by Incourage

Invest in rural residents building their future

Project Report | Jun 28, 2021
Tribune Building Project: For Our Community Needs

By Kim Shields | Community Investment & Communications Specialist

Dear Friend of the Tribune,

Our GlobalGiving partnership since 2018 has opened the door for us to share the story of our rural community to a global audience. Through this platform alone, more than $11,500 has been raised to support the Tribune Building Project, which seeks to empower community residents to create a hub of inclusive economic growth for our community, providing hope in an environment of economic loss. As a contributor to this campaign, you play a critical role in advocating for community-led decision-making as a way to achieve competitive and sustainable growth. Every dollar contributed is very important as we continue the journey to make this project a reality, and we thank you for your ongoing support. As we all emerge from a challenging 16 months, a renewed sense of optimism and excitement is all around us, and the Tribune is no exception. Though the physical presence of the building remains much the same (for now), countless hours are spent each month advancing, refining, and advocating for everything the Tribune stands for.

Tribune Building Project updates:

Conversations with our partner University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point as well as with prospective partners have resumed post COVID-19.
Tribune’s focus on collaboration is being further refined with an emphasis on our local paper industry, and how our region can utilize its long history of innovation within the papermaking/forest products industry to remain competitive in today’s global market.
Additional funding sources are actively being pursued.
The Tribune Building Project has always been about more than the building. We are heartened to see that a variety of ideas initiated at the Tribune public meetings are materializing in our community. This is an exciting opportunity for us to ensure the Tribune Building Project focuses on the areas of greatest impact. Some ideas discussed at the Tribune public meetings that are now occurring in our community include:

additional makerspace facilities and programming
expanded culinary kitchen training opportunities
expanded home brewing club/collaborative opportunities
new and revitalized meeting/training spaces
additional arts and cultural classes offered
relocation of the farmer’s market along the riverfront near the Tribune.

Your support is vital to realize the community’s Tribune project. Join us in sharing our Tribune GlobalGiving page with friends, family and fellow community members so they can be a part of this important community work.

Kristopher Gasch, Incourage Board Chair

Betsy Wood, Managing Director

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Mar 3, 2021
Tribune Building Project Update

By Kim Shields | Community Investment & Communications Specialist

Dec 17, 2020
Tribune Update: Forging Ahead

By Kim Shields | Project Leader

Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago - Project Hometown

Dear Friend of the Tribune,

Through our GlobalGiving partnership since 2018, over $10,000 has been raised for the Tribune Building Project. As a contributor to this campaign, you play a critical role in advocating for community-led decision-making process as a way to achieve competitive and sustainable growth in rural America’s small-town economies. This is even more important today as every dollar matters, and we thank you for your ongoing support!

We are pleased to share that the Tribune Building Project continues to move forward.

Conversations with our partner University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point are ongoing with additional prospective partner discussions continuing.

Possibilities within the Tribune Building project for opening opportunities for new ways of thinking about our Wisconsin Rapids area papermaking/fiber industry are being explored.
Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago Webinar November 18, 2020.

Incourage board chair Kristopher Gasch was pleased to participate in the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago’s new initiative – Project Hometown, serving as one of the panelists for the virtual convening: Can Wisconsin Rapids Reinvest Itself Once Again?
This virtual event brought together community and economic development professionals, business leaders, workforce development practitioners, labor, government officials, academics, foundations, and nonprofits to explore lessons from the past on what made Wisconsin Rapids thrive, and opportunities for central Wisconsin to reinvent itself for the future.
Moderated by Steve Kuehl, Senior Advisor, Community and Economic Development, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, who grew up in Port Edwards, Kristopher spoke about the Tribune project, and the impact it will have as an economic and community hub.
Other panelists included: Katie Weichelt, author of the paper “A Historical Geography of the Paper Industry in the Wisconsin River Valley”, Paul Fowler, Executive Director, Wisconsin Institute for Sustainable Technology, and Dan Sullivan, Executive Vice President, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.

Incourage is committed to realizing the Tribune as an economic and community hub to serve as an entrepreneurial and workforce support center, a focal point of regional collaboration and innovation among major institutional drivers of economic change, and a dynamic community place for work, play and commerce, with a focus on cultivating entrepreneurs and growing a sustainable local economy.

Given the indefinite idling of the Verso paper mill in Wisconsin Rapids on July 31, and the resulting loss of over 900 jobs at the mill alone, the project is more important than ever for our community and we remain committed to seeing this through. Our community originated with determined people who created opportunities with the resources surrounding them. We believe that determination and innovative spirit still exists in this community today and we will continue forging ahead together just as we have done for generations. The Tribune Building is an important key to rekindling that innovative spirit.

Your support is vital to realizing the community’s Tribune project success. Contributions of all sizes are important. Join us in sharing our Tribune GlobalGiving page with friends, family and fellow community members so they can be a part of this important community work.

Kristopher Gasch, Incourage Board Chair

Betsy Wood, Managing Director

Links:

Livestream: Can Wisconsin Rapids Reinvent Itself Once Again?

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