DARLINGTON — Community, collaboration, and workforce development were at the forefront Wednesday evening as local leaders, educators, and business representatives gathered at Lafayette Hospital for the annual Lafayette County Advisory Committee meeting.
Hosted by Marie Wamsley, Tammie Jamiska, and Ned Lease, the event brought together stakeholders from across the region to discuss development priorities, workforce initiatives, and the future of local partnerships under the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS).
Attendees were welcomed with a meal sponsored by Woodford State Bank, which offered a relaxed setting for local business owners, educators, and government partners to engage in meaningful conversations about community needs, workforce development, and future collaborations.
Following the meal, participants toured the newly upgraded Lafayette Hospital facilities. The tour, led by Tammie Jamiska, Marketing Director, and Marie Wamsley, Chief Executive Officer, highlighted the hospital’s remarkable expansion. The facility now features a state-of-the-art 3T MRI machine, a fully equipped local Intensive Care Unit (ICU), and a wide range of in-house specialty services, providing Lafayette County residents with access to high-level medical care without leaving the community.
During her keynote address, Wamsley emphasized the hospital’s commitment to advanced medical care and community wellness, noting that these upgrades allow patients to receive critical diagnostics, complex imaging, and intensive care locally for the first time.
The discussion then turned to regional priorities as Troy Maggied from the Southwest Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (SWWRPC) helped unpack the CEDS Plan for attendees, highlighting key strategies for regional growth. Maggied outlined three main areas of focus:
● Addressing basic needs, including housing, childcare, and healthcare access;
● Responding effectively to an aging population through workforce and service adaptations; and
● Promoting a diversified and adaptive economy to strengthen local resilience.
A key focus of the evening was workforce development, particularly through Academic and Career Planning (ACP) initiatives and Youth Apprenticeship programs. Ned Lease and Darla Burton shared updates on how Lafayette County schools are connecting students early with career pathways and giving them hands-on experience through high-quality Youth Apprenticeship opportunities in local businesses. The discussion emphasized the county’s goal to expand these programs, helping to grow the workforce to meet Lafayette County’s unique needs while keeping local talent in the community by fostering early engagement with employers.
The meeting highlighted the county’s ongoing commitment to strengthening education-to-employment pipelines, supporting economic growth, and ensuring residents have access to both high-quality healthcare and career opportunities within Lafayette County.
