What a month we have endured weather-wise! For the Main Street office, it gave good reason to stay put to tackle those files that had been on the "C" list of activity this past year and refine committee work plans for the months ahead.
It was a rewarding break to be able to attend the Green County Development Annual Meeting on Feb. 21. Economic success stories in Green County over the past year were celebrated, which included two Monroe businesses, Swiss Colony and Minhas Brewery. Recognition certainly was in order for these two companies, which have been anchors in our town and are indeed making the way for international placement for Monroe.
The banquet attendees also had the opportunity to learn about communities across the country that found economic success in developing new identities for themselves, as presented by keynote speaker Tripp Muldrow of the Arnett Muldrow & Associates planning firm based in South Carolina.
The transformations of the cities of Pacolet, S.C., Shelby, N.C., Culpeper and Pound, Va., were not short-term, extreme makeovers, but rather measured community developments from the inside out. Assessing core values, envisioning potential and then taking courageous steps to recreate themselves seemed to be the key elements in these four community success stories.
A "big" idea for Monroe, which is part of the Downtown and Beyond master plan Tripp helped prepare for Main Street, was presented as a fifth "potential" case story - the development of a Wisconsin Culinary Center downtown. What if a center that celebrated our well-established food heritage, provided a venue for entrepreneurial development, highlighted our history for visitors and offered a commercial kitchen for use by the community as well as guests was developed?
This kind of project is not exactly what I signed on for when becoming Main Street director just over a year ago. With a 95 percent Swiss heritage (the other part German), I am not by nature or nurture prone to jumping into water over my head. This would absolutely be a project that would have to stretch well beyond the Main Street revitalization program and find visionary partners throughout the area to succeed. Thinking about the enormity of it did trigger another element of my life, though. I am a Noon Optimist member, and will be assisting with the International Oratorical Contest this year. It's a long-standing program that serves to give voice to young people in expressing their aspirations. The theme established for all contestants this year is "Why Me? Why Not?" Hmm.
I guess there is uncertainty and risk in any new venture, and I have been witness in my lifetime to many worthwhile projects somehow finding their legs in this community. Why a Wisconsin Culinary Center in downtown Monroe? Why Not?!
- Barb Nelson is director of Monroe Main Street. She writes a monthly update on the organization for the Monroe Times. She can be reached at
328-4023.
It was a rewarding break to be able to attend the Green County Development Annual Meeting on Feb. 21. Economic success stories in Green County over the past year were celebrated, which included two Monroe businesses, Swiss Colony and Minhas Brewery. Recognition certainly was in order for these two companies, which have been anchors in our town and are indeed making the way for international placement for Monroe.
The banquet attendees also had the opportunity to learn about communities across the country that found economic success in developing new identities for themselves, as presented by keynote speaker Tripp Muldrow of the Arnett Muldrow & Associates planning firm based in South Carolina.
The transformations of the cities of Pacolet, S.C., Shelby, N.C., Culpeper and Pound, Va., were not short-term, extreme makeovers, but rather measured community developments from the inside out. Assessing core values, envisioning potential and then taking courageous steps to recreate themselves seemed to be the key elements in these four community success stories.
A "big" idea for Monroe, which is part of the Downtown and Beyond master plan Tripp helped prepare for Main Street, was presented as a fifth "potential" case story - the development of a Wisconsin Culinary Center downtown. What if a center that celebrated our well-established food heritage, provided a venue for entrepreneurial development, highlighted our history for visitors and offered a commercial kitchen for use by the community as well as guests was developed?
This kind of project is not exactly what I signed on for when becoming Main Street director just over a year ago. With a 95 percent Swiss heritage (the other part German), I am not by nature or nurture prone to jumping into water over my head. This would absolutely be a project that would have to stretch well beyond the Main Street revitalization program and find visionary partners throughout the area to succeed. Thinking about the enormity of it did trigger another element of my life, though. I am a Noon Optimist member, and will be assisting with the International Oratorical Contest this year. It's a long-standing program that serves to give voice to young people in expressing their aspirations. The theme established for all contestants this year is "Why Me? Why Not?" Hmm.
I guess there is uncertainty and risk in any new venture, and I have been witness in my lifetime to many worthwhile projects somehow finding their legs in this community. Why a Wisconsin Culinary Center in downtown Monroe? Why Not?!
- Barb Nelson is director of Monroe Main Street. She writes a monthly update on the organization for the Monroe Times. She can be reached at
328-4023.
