The City of Watertown, WI - Government was recognized recently for 10 years of downtown revitalization efforts with an award from the Mid-America Economic Development Council. The city was nominated by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation.
“Watertown, Wisconsin has always been proud of its historic commercial district, laying the groundwork for downtown revitalization with its establishment of a historic district in the early 1990s and the decision to join the Wisconsin Main Street Program in 2000,” the award nomination says.
“However, it wasn’t until the adoption of the Riverfront and Downtown Redevelopment Initiative in 2014 that a true public-private partnership emerged to drive impactful and lasting change. As a result of this collaborative effort, overall property value in the historic district increased by 180% and foot traffic grew by one-third, including more than 58,000 unique new visitors. However, perhaps most notably, the sense of community pride has grown. Where residents previously took for granted that their historic district was functional, they now see the district as a shining example of the vitality of their community,” the nomination says.
We are fortunate to be working in a community that has had so much positive groundwork laid over the past decade by so many dedicated individuals who have recognized the opportunity here.
(Photo and quotes via Watertown Daily Times).
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