MONROE - The city of Monroe is a self-contained city with a strong sense of community and pride in its heritage. It has a vibrant downtown, a technical college, strong K-12 schools, high-quality medical care and good parks. It has rail-freight transportation and a municipal airport.
It has strong food-processing and agri-tourism industries and numerous reputable financial-lending institutions. And city government is friendly to business start-ups.
So why is there a lack of qualified applicants to fill local jobs? And why are those who come to Monroe for work often reluctant to move here?
Those questions seemed to be at the heart of the issue as business and community leaders met Tuesday to consider agriculture and economic development in Monroe. The meeting was part of a series of forums hosted by the Southwestern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission to gather community input as it works on an updated comprehensive plan for the city. Previous meetings have addressed housing, transportation, the arts and recreation. Future meetings will focus on utilities and energy use and land use.
When asked to list Monroe's strengths, participants had no shortage of suggestions - they fired off those mentioned above, as well as Monroe's geographic location that's convenient to metropolitan areas but far enough away to maintain the community's sense of self.
"We have many of the things other communities don't offer," said Donna Douglas of the National Historic Cheesemak-ing Center.
Which begs the big question: Why has Monroe's population been relatively stagnant over the past decades?
"The whole notion of growth is a top priority," Monroe mayor Bill Ross said.
One thing Monroe does exceptionally well is grow its own business, with local start-ups expanding and adding workforce, attorney Rex Ewald said.
Numbers from SWWRPC bear this out: Three locally-grown businesses - Colony Brands, Monroe Clinic and Monroe Truck Equipment - contribute a combined 2,600 jobs. Participants agreed having such companies that are heavily invested in the community is preferable to "outside" companies who may locate here but then decide to move on.
As the group turned its attention to the community's weaknesses, the lack of qualified job applicants to fill existing jobs came to the forefront.
"We're not finding the labor force" needed, "even with solid wages," said Erik Huschitt of Badger State Ethanol.
Ron Markham, president of Wisconsin Bank and Trust, agreed. He said his bank had trouble finding employees, particularly those wanting to live in Monroe.
"We are these people not living here?" he asked.
The lack of housing, particularly higher-end rental units, is part of the problem, many agreed. Employees who are new to town can be reluctant to purchase a home immediately. They have difficulty finding the type of rental units they want and end up living in the Madison area and commuting. It isn't long before they start looking for work where they live, said Nikki Matley of Woodford State Bank.
Those attending pointed out other challenges to economic development in the city. Zoning within the city doesn't allow for a variety of residential housing. There's not access to a four-lane highway to connect with the interstate system. Some pockets of blight within the city, including entries into Monroe, give a negative first impression.
Agriculture also can't be overlooked as a vital part
of economic development. Thirty-two percent of Green County's income is derived from the ag industry, which also accounts for the same percentage of jobs in the county, according to University of Wisconsin Extension Ag Agent Mark Mayer.
The second part of the meeting, scheduled for noon to
2 p.m. Tuesday at Wisconsin Bank and Trust, will hone in on more specific strategies to address the issue of growth, economic development and agriculture.
It has strong food-processing and agri-tourism industries and numerous reputable financial-lending institutions. And city government is friendly to business start-ups.
So why is there a lack of qualified applicants to fill local jobs? And why are those who come to Monroe for work often reluctant to move here?
Those questions seemed to be at the heart of the issue as business and community leaders met Tuesday to consider agriculture and economic development in Monroe. The meeting was part of a series of forums hosted by the Southwestern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission to gather community input as it works on an updated comprehensive plan for the city. Previous meetings have addressed housing, transportation, the arts and recreation. Future meetings will focus on utilities and energy use and land use.
When asked to list Monroe's strengths, participants had no shortage of suggestions - they fired off those mentioned above, as well as Monroe's geographic location that's convenient to metropolitan areas but far enough away to maintain the community's sense of self.
"We have many of the things other communities don't offer," said Donna Douglas of the National Historic Cheesemak-ing Center.
Which begs the big question: Why has Monroe's population been relatively stagnant over the past decades?
"The whole notion of growth is a top priority," Monroe mayor Bill Ross said.
One thing Monroe does exceptionally well is grow its own business, with local start-ups expanding and adding workforce, attorney Rex Ewald said.
Numbers from SWWRPC bear this out: Three locally-grown businesses - Colony Brands, Monroe Clinic and Monroe Truck Equipment - contribute a combined 2,600 jobs. Participants agreed having such companies that are heavily invested in the community is preferable to "outside" companies who may locate here but then decide to move on.
As the group turned its attention to the community's weaknesses, the lack of qualified job applicants to fill existing jobs came to the forefront.
"We're not finding the labor force" needed, "even with solid wages," said Erik Huschitt of Badger State Ethanol.
Ron Markham, president of Wisconsin Bank and Trust, agreed. He said his bank had trouble finding employees, particularly those wanting to live in Monroe.
"We are these people not living here?" he asked.
The lack of housing, particularly higher-end rental units, is part of the problem, many agreed. Employees who are new to town can be reluctant to purchase a home immediately. They have difficulty finding the type of rental units they want and end up living in the Madison area and commuting. It isn't long before they start looking for work where they live, said Nikki Matley of Woodford State Bank.
Those attending pointed out other challenges to economic development in the city. Zoning within the city doesn't allow for a variety of residential housing. There's not access to a four-lane highway to connect with the interstate system. Some pockets of blight within the city, including entries into Monroe, give a negative first impression.
Agriculture also can't be overlooked as a vital part
of economic development. Thirty-two percent of Green County's income is derived from the ag industry, which also accounts for the same percentage of jobs in the county, according to University of Wisconsin Extension Ag Agent Mark Mayer.
The second part of the meeting, scheduled for noon to
2 p.m. Tuesday at Wisconsin Bank and Trust, will hone in on more specific strategies to address the issue of growth, economic development and agriculture.