ELLSWORTH – If you could have a say in planning Ellsworth’s future, what would you do? Would you propose a new park? Would you uncover the creek in East End Park and make it a focal point? Would you try to bring new life to Main Street? Well, your opinion matters.

These are questions sparked during the original Design Ellsworth initiative in 2018. The Ellsworth Chamber of Commerce is hoping to ignite more bold conversations and new ideas about the village’s future with a new Design Ellsworth 2.0 speaker series. They’re bringing in nationally recognized voices to help the village look at challenges and opportunities facing rural communities like Ellsworth, and to inspire residents, businesses, and leaders to think big about what’s next for Ellsworth.

“A lot has happened since then (2018) and we've had some big wins,” said Executive Director Kim Beebe. “It's time to celebrate and reignite the energy and enthusiasm we experienced back in 2018 that led to some very exciting projects that we enjoy today.”

The Chamber hopes that by reigniting the same energy that came out of the 2018 effort, it can get people talking across the entire community so more ideas and plans can be put into action.

“One of the best things that came out of the original Design Ellsworth was the shared sense of ownership around projects and ideas. Instead of ‘somebody should...(fill in the blank)’ it became ‘we should...’ or ‘I can...’. New groups and committees formed, and people started to seek out ways to contribute. If the past is any indication, the more people who are engaged, the stronger and more sustainable our progress on any new initiatives will be,” Beebe said.

The first speaker in the series, set for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 7 in the Ellsworth High School Auditorium, is nationally recognized rural sociologist and speaker Ben Winchester. According to the chamber website, he brings “data, insight, and energy to the conversation about the future of small towns. With work featured across the country, Ben is known for challenging outdated narratives of rural decline—and replacing them with surprising trends that point to resilience, renewal, and opportunity.” The event is free and open to the public. No registration is required.

According to Beebe, the series is designed to be quarterly and will feature four speakers over the next 12 months.

“We’re intentionally seeking out experts who bring fresh perspectives on rural vitality, community development, and innovative growth,” Beebe said. “Each speaker is chosen to introduce new ways of thinking that can be adapted to Ellsworth’s unique character and strengths. There are so many people out there doing great work on the topic of small town living and development and we look forward to bringing some of those voices to our community.” 

The first Design Ellsworth in 2018, offered by the UW-Madison Extension’s Community & Vitality Placemaking Team, brought hundreds of residents together to imagine a stronger, more vibrant Ellsworth. Professionals from across the state volunteered their time and spent the weekend in Ellsworth to learn about the community. They hosted roundtable discussions, group exercises, and a big community night where hundreds of people came together to imagine Ellsworth's future. Community members voted on priorities and the ideas generated throughout the process were compiled into a final report, which still guides a lot of what is happening in Ellsworth today, including business growth, downtown revitalization, and community projects.

“Design Ellsworth in 2018 was a pivotal moment for our community,” said Village President Becky Beissel. “It gave us the chance to come together and shape a shared vision for Ellsworth’s future. The ideas and data gathered through that process have provided a strong foundation for the Village’s planning documents and have guided the work of many local organizations. This new series builds on that foundation by giving us knowledge and inspiration to keep moving forward together.”

The momentum from Design Ellsworth led to the new Ellsworth Public Library, the establishment of Ellsworth Trails and their work in Cairns Woods, Ellsworth Arts and their public art and mural projects around the downtown, and the Ellsworth Dog Park group, who recently finalized work on the new Pierce County Dog Park.

“Workforce housing was high on the priority list in 2018, and we currently have around 100 housing units being built in our community,” Beebe added. “Revitalization of the East End Business District was also listed among the community's priorities, and the Village of Ellsworth is currently in the process of finalizing an East End Redevelopment Plan. Big initiatives like these take time, but looking back, I'm really proud of the work that's been achieved in such a short amount of time. A lot of people have been doing some heavy lifting over the past seven years and we hope through this series of events we can celebrate our accomplishments as a community, too.”

The best way to get involved is to show up and bring a friend, Beebe said. Spread the word about the event to friends and neighbors.

“These events are free and open to everyone including residents, business owners, students, and local leaders. If you have ties to Ellsworth in any way, you're invited. Community involvement matters because when ideas come from the ground up, they’re more likely to be embraced and acted upon. Ellsworth’s progress depends on all of us working together,” Beebe said.

Beebe believes Ellsworth can become a model for what small towns can achieve while retaining small town charm and identity and having the businesses and amenities people want and need. “We have the people, the creativity, and the passion to make that happen,” she said.

To learn more about the series and to read the 2018 report, visit www.ellsworthchamber.com/designellsworth2/