Broadband, a new library, tourism and a plan

ELLSWORTH – At the Ellsworth Area Chamber of Commerce monthly member meeting on Thursday, July 22, area organizations gave updates on housing solutions, addressing blight, economic development, broadband and the new public library building in Ellsworth.

Ellsworth Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Team Member Kim Beebe said the wheels of change really began with the construction of the new Ellsworth Elementary School in 2017-18, followed by the Design Ellsworth initiative in October 2018, which led to the development of the E3 Community Development Committee.

First up for area organizations was Joe Folsom, the executive director of the Pierce County Economic Development Corporation. He has held that role for 3.5 years; he said he’s supposed to be retired, but he’s having too much fun.

The PCEDC recently received a $22,750 Joint Effort Marketing Grant to help fund the marketing campaign “Exploring the Backroads of Pierce County.” The campaign will highlight a series of themed road trips exploring the picturesque hills, coulees and rural backroads of Pierce County, while connecting visitors with the area’s artisans, recreation, dining establishments and taverns. The campaign will also include the development of an electronic searchable directory and map of resources and road trips, a promotional website and digital marketing campaign. The idea is to build a coalition of tourism businesses to promote the county’s communities.

“A new route will be available next week,” Folsom said.

Broadband

Folsom said he has been busy attending town board meetings to discuss Pierce Pepin Cooperative Services’ plan to start offering high speed internet service through SwiftCurrent Connect. Folsom has been asking towns to designate their American Rescue Plan Act funds for broadband expansion in the county; four have agreed as of Thursday, July 22.

Phase 1 construction begins in September 2021 and will offer service starting from the southern area of River Falls down into Beldenville and areas in all directions around Ellsworth. The goal is to reach 1,500 homes and businesses over 175 miles. Future plans include installing 800 miles of fiber to serve all communities in PPCS’ service area. The fiber will be installed along PPCS’ existing electric lines.

Public-private partnerships are the key to success, said Folsom. PPCS is working with BevComm to find a way to bring quality broadband to all county residents.

Brooke Cupp, a customer service representative from PPCS, encouraged customers to go to https://swiftcurrent.coop/ and register their address. This is not signing up for high-speed internet, but it helps PPCS secure grants. In the first week since PPCS announced SwiftCurrent Connect, more than 1,800 people have registered.

“This is huge for people out in the country,” said Beebe. “It’s coming to your area before you know it.”

Folsom said the only limiting factor right now is not the feasibility, but the funding piece.

Beebe reminded people to contact their County Board supervisor to express support for broadband. “There are still people on the County Board who think internet won’t be around,” Beebe said.

Village of Ellsworth

Village President Becky Beissel excitedly told attendees that a lot is going on in the village behind the scenes. A new interactive, user-friendly village website should be live in about 10 weeks. It will include more information, such as committee summaries, their purpose, mission and members; WisDOT updates, village board meeting agendas and minutes, concession stand schedules, bill pay options and the ability to sign up for news alerts.

The village is also working on rebranding itself, since the current logo contains “a cheese curd that looks like a rock,” Beissel said. The Connect Communities Committee will work on visual branding, and bring it back to the village board. Once complete, the “Welcome to Ellsworth” signs and light pole banners will receive a facelift.

Also in the works are “downtown design guidelines:” currently, none are in place. For example, the village of Amery has approved colors, materials, planters, benches and facades in order to promote a unified design scheme.

Beissel and Village Administrator – Clerk/Treasurer Nicole Stewart touched on the village’s comprehensive plan update, which is about to begin. A steering committee will begin work with UW-River Falls on the plan in September, which is a 10year plan for the community, mandated by the state. A strong plan can secure grants for projects such as parks, trails, sidewalks, housing and roads, Beissel said. The last plan written in 2010 was more of a template rather than an actual working plan.

The Community Development Authority, a committee under the village board umbrella, was created during the Design Ellsworth initiative. It recently updated its bylaws and mission statement, and will always have three active projects going.

Currently, the CDA is:

•Looking at vacant lots in the village to find a way to market them to developers, especially those with existing infrastructure. There are 253 vacant lots in the village. This may include examining existing zoning to see if it’s limiting any development opportunities.

•Creating a Tax Increment District sales package for developers with hard and soft incentives.

•Tackling blighted properties in the village.

Library

Library Director Tiffany Meyer updated attendees on the building remodeling progress at 388 W. Main St., where the library hopes to be settled by February 2022. The current fundraising total for the library’s move is $736,000; this doesn’t include the $500,000 from the village nor the money used to buy the building.

“This is impressive considering last February we were at $89,000,” Meyer said.

The library will continue fundraising, in hopes that they will secure enough to renovate the bathrooms in the BMO Bank building as well. The building will have four times the space the current library has, as well as room for a teen room, local history room and more.

Currently, $225,000 in grants are still pending; the library’s fundraising gala will be held Oct. 16 at the new library building, with live and virtual auctions, food and cocktails, and programming.

“This library is for everyone, not just those who work there,” said Caroline Herfindahl, the library youth services/programming coordinator. “We are excited for you.”

Photo by Sarah Nigbor