MONROE - Feasibility studies, non-profit status and safety tests of a proposed location were not enough to bring on supporters for a World Cheese Destination Center.
Members of the WCDC executive board have quietly stepped back from their plans to create a learning center focused on the county's biggest tourist attraction - cheesemaking.
Sharon Riese, co-chair of the board, said with the non-profit status approved, the project was ready to go.
"I still think it's a good idea and a great economic development project," she said, "but not a soul in town wanted to jump on board."
The support of the cheesemakers was a main missing ingredient for the cheese center, Riese said. Without them, other groups, including local governmental and business agencies, backed away also.
Riese said there is no one specific reason for the lack of support for the center. Some thought the project was too big, too lofty or too competitive with existing businesses.
Along with proposed interactive learning and culinary areas, one aspect of the cheese center was to have cheesemaking demonstrations for visiting tourists.
A local agency spokesperson, who asked not to be identified, said the business plan required volunteer cheesemakers and milk donations to support the central concept of actually making cheese on the premises, and the location of the center would not support the industrial water needs of cheesemaking.
Without the cheesemaking demonstrations, the feasibility of the center was highly questionable, said Riese.
"Visitors want to see cheese being made," Riese said.
Many cheese factories allow tours of their respective facilities, but cheese is most often made in the still-dark, early morning hours, not at times vacationers are likely to be taking tours.
WCDC board members estimated the center, as a tourism attraction and destination, could entertain as many visitors to the city as Minhas Craft Brewery does, because, they surmised, nothing goes together better than cheese and beer. And another large attraction could keep visitors in town longer, maybe even long enough to stay the night.
Gary Olson, president of brewery operations at Minhas Craft Brewery, said 20,000 people took the Minhas tour in 2012. That was up dramatically from 6,000 in 2011.
Even though Minhas tours see a bump for Cheese Days every two years, Olson said the increased traffic in 2012 was due to more than just Cheese Days and that opening the tours on Sundays helped. The brewery's 2012 visitor count also does not include those who toured the new distillery, he added.
Many local residents are still looking for the WCDC to go forward, Riese said.
"Not a day goes by when I'm out and about that somebody doesn't ask me what's going on and that they thought it was a good thing," she said.
Riese said some smaller version of the center to promote cheesemaking, from the farm to the table, could be considered.
"I really think it's that important for Monroe and Green County and the state," she said.
But until more support from the community comes their way, the board has no next step to take.
Members of the WCDC executive board have quietly stepped back from their plans to create a learning center focused on the county's biggest tourist attraction - cheesemaking.
Sharon Riese, co-chair of the board, said with the non-profit status approved, the project was ready to go.
"I still think it's a good idea and a great economic development project," she said, "but not a soul in town wanted to jump on board."
The support of the cheesemakers was a main missing ingredient for the cheese center, Riese said. Without them, other groups, including local governmental and business agencies, backed away also.
Riese said there is no one specific reason for the lack of support for the center. Some thought the project was too big, too lofty or too competitive with existing businesses.
Along with proposed interactive learning and culinary areas, one aspect of the cheese center was to have cheesemaking demonstrations for visiting tourists.
A local agency spokesperson, who asked not to be identified, said the business plan required volunteer cheesemakers and milk donations to support the central concept of actually making cheese on the premises, and the location of the center would not support the industrial water needs of cheesemaking.
Without the cheesemaking demonstrations, the feasibility of the center was highly questionable, said Riese.
"Visitors want to see cheese being made," Riese said.
Many cheese factories allow tours of their respective facilities, but cheese is most often made in the still-dark, early morning hours, not at times vacationers are likely to be taking tours.
WCDC board members estimated the center, as a tourism attraction and destination, could entertain as many visitors to the city as Minhas Craft Brewery does, because, they surmised, nothing goes together better than cheese and beer. And another large attraction could keep visitors in town longer, maybe even long enough to stay the night.
Gary Olson, president of brewery operations at Minhas Craft Brewery, said 20,000 people took the Minhas tour in 2012. That was up dramatically from 6,000 in 2011.
Even though Minhas tours see a bump for Cheese Days every two years, Olson said the increased traffic in 2012 was due to more than just Cheese Days and that opening the tours on Sundays helped. The brewery's 2012 visitor count also does not include those who toured the new distillery, he added.
Many local residents are still looking for the WCDC to go forward, Riese said.
"Not a day goes by when I'm out and about that somebody doesn't ask me what's going on and that they thought it was a good thing," she said.
Riese said some smaller version of the center to promote cheesemaking, from the farm to the table, could be considered.
"I really think it's that important for Monroe and Green County and the state," she said.
But until more support from the community comes their way, the board has no next step to take.