Invest in rural residents building their future

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?