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Economic development corporations begin merger

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The Crawford County Economic Development Corporation (CCEDC) and the Prairie du Chien Economic Development Corporation (PdCEDC) boards of directors have voted to begin merging into a single organization serving the entire county and surrounding area. The vote authorizes the creation of a joint committee that will develop recommendations, which will be formally voted upon by the boards later this year. The announcement was made jointly by Pete Flesch, president of the CCEDC; and Dan Kanis, president of the PdCEDC.

The focus of the proposed organization will not only be to attract new manufacturers, but also to retain and expand existing businesses.

“A lot of people think economic development is bringing new manufacturers to the area,” Flesch said. “That’s part of it. The most important part of what we do is business retention and expansion. Most jobs are added through existing businesses. Our job is to be facilitators, to be problem solvers.”

He cited the example of working with a local company to solve a transportation issue that impeded the trucking of products from the manufacturer.

“Another role of economic development is improving communities, improving the place that makes business development more attractive,” said James Bowman, executive director of the CCEDC. “Economic development must be a public/private partnership. We connect the dots by providing technical assistance, expertise and resources such as loans, tax credits, grants and problem solving so businesses can grow and thrive here.”

The merger came about through discussions on how to improve efficiency and avoid duplication of efforts between the two organizations. By combining resources, the new organization can better address challenges in economic development.

“Businesses have changed, their needs have changed,” Kanis said. “Both groups have limited resources, and by combining resources and stakeholders, we can achieve a better efficiency.”

The next steps in the merger will be essential to achieving those goals. The working group is in the midst of a branding process to name and brand the new organization. That strategy will result in the creation of a website and printed materials to market their services to new and existing businesses.

A “visioning retreat” is planned for Oct. 18 to bring together board members and stakeholders to develop a clear focus and strategy for the new organization. The strategy will address governance, board composition and fundamental organizational issues. The retreat will result in the creation of a strategic plan for the organization and a work plan for the board members and staff, which will include a capital campaign with measurable goals to raise money.

Involving key players, such as villages and businesses, will be important to the process.

“It’s important that we emphasize the involvement of private stakeholders,” Kanis asid. “Employee recruitment is really getting rough. It’s getting difficult for businesses to grow and prosper.”

Members stressed that the new organization will work with adjacent counties and states as well.

“Governmental jurisdictions don’t necessarily define economic activity,” Bowman said, in recognizing that economic development does not stop at county or state borders.

The history of the Prairie du Chien Economic Development Corporation dates back to 1952, when articles of incorporation were first drafted for what was then called the Prairie du Chien Industrial Development Corporation.

According to former president Bob McDonald, “The organization changed its name about 10 years ago to reflect the focus on economic development, which includes improving the way of life for a community.” The organization was instrumental in bringing 3M, Cabela’s and Solomon Corporation to Prairie du Chien, as well as securing funding from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation to help 3M expand its product line and add jobs.

The Crawford County Economic Development Corporation is relatively new on the scene. The organization formed in 2011 as the culmination of a task force that was empowered by then-County Board Chairman Flesch, to establish an organization dedicated to improving the economic climate in the county. The opportunity to financially support the creation of the only economic development organization in the county with full-time professional staff arose from the newly available funding given annually by the Ho-Chunk Nation.

The success of the merger will be measured in years rather than by any short-term accomplishments.

“It’s not for the faint of heart. Economic development is a long-term gain,” Bowman said.

“We’re not going to know if we’re successful for another five or 10 years,” added Flesch.

That success will be built upon the steps taken by the joint committee in the next few months. The committee will provide further information on its October retreat and progress on its branding strategy, including its new name, as that information becomes available. Questions about the merger can be directed to Jim Bowman at (309) 756-8041.

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