Driftless Development
Driftless Development forms with mission of enhancing area economy
By Ted Pennekamp
There is a new economic development organization in Crawford County which has formed in order to help boost the county’s and the region’s economy. Within the past 30 days, the Crawford County Economic Development Corporation and the Prairie du Chien Economic Development Corporation have merged to form Driftless Development Incorporated, which was recently approved by the state of Wisconsin.
In fact, the Driftless Development transitional board held a meeting at noon on Dec. 13 to discuss the various aspects of the new organization, including the articles of incorporation, the bylaws, the plan of merger, the transfer of assets, policies and other issues.
The transitional board will run Driftless Development until the end of June when a permanent board will be set up, said acting director of Driftless Development, Jim Bowman, who is the former executive director of the Crawford County Economic Development Corporation.
Bowman said the name Driftless Development was chosen because there are at least eight other Crawford counties in the Upper Midwest.
“Crawford County is not unique by name,” said Bowman. “But, we are unique by region. We wanted a name that shows we are regional, broad-based and diverse and also a name that has a brand identity. People know what the Driftless Region is.” Bowman said that Crawford County will need to be a part of the “sub-name,” however.
The transitional board will lead and direct a strategic planning process to help improve the economy of the county and region.
“We welcome and encourage any interested individual, business or organization to participate with the strategic planning,” said Bowman, who noted that the transitional board would like to get a strategic plan launched in the first quarter of 2018.
“What do we want to become? What is our common vision and how do we want to get there?” asked Bowman about helping the county and its businesses grow. “What has worked in the past and what can we quickly achieve that is meaningful and measurable? What will be the programs and services we offer and what will be our operating costs?”
Bowman also said the transitional board will also look at a five-year fundraising campaign that involves both the public and private sectors.
“We would like to get a lot done in short order,” said Bowman, in noting that Driftless Development is still looking for a few more people to be part of the transitional board and to be part of committees that will be formed to oversee various aspects such as fundraising or a housing study, for example.
Currently, transitional board members include County Board Chairman Tom Cornford, Prairie du Chien Mayor Dave Hemmer, Prairie du Chien Interim City Administrator and Police Chief Chad Abram, Wauzeka-Steuben District Administrator Robert Sailer, Nelson True Value owner and former Prairie du Chien Economic Development Corporation member Dan Kanis, Johnson One Stop owner Artie Johnson, Sherry Quamme of the Ferryville Tourism Council, former Crawford County Board Chairman and former Crawford County Economic Development Corporation member Pete Flesch, Sasha Dull of Crossing Rivers Health, Crawford County Board member and Prairie du Chien School Board member Duane Rogers, and Mark Forsythe of People’s State Bank.
Bowman said Driftless Development will be working not only with Crawford County residents and business people, but also with those of Richland, Vernon and Grant counties as well as the neighboring state of Iowa for the betterment of everybody.
“This doesn’t stop at county or government borders,” said Pete Flesch. “We will be working under the spirit of collaboration. You can’t think small and pen yourself in. Organic Valley, for example, has an economic impact on Crawford County.”
Bowman said Driftless Development will be working towards enhancing the five pillars of economic development:
•business retention and expansion
•workforce development
• entrepreneurship
•downtown redevelopment, and
•marketing and communication.
