Our Work
Solar Energy Financing Guide: Empowering Wisconsin Local Governments
INTRODUCTION September 2020 — There is a shift toward clean, reliable and affordable electricity in the United States, and local governments and tribal nations have an opportunity to position their communities well in the growing renewable energy economy. Local governments are installing solar systems on their own buildings and land and are working with partners […]
Broadband Expansion in Wisconsin
Summary September 2020 — Gail Huycke, Community Development Specialist, leads a panel of state broadband experts and practitioners, including Jaron McCallum, Wisconsin Public Service Commission, to talk about grant opportunities to improve broadband access across Wisconsin. Webinar Recording Explore Our Lunch-n-Learn Series
Creative Uses for Downtown Buildings in Small Towns: A Sample of Ideas to Bring People Back Downtown
About September 2020 — This report provides a sample of how downtown buildings in small towns can be put to productive use in generating activity and community pride. It is intended to stimulate new ideas for reusing buildings for retail, food and beverage, services, and community spaces. Situation Small town downtowns (in municipalities with less […]
WIndicators Volume 3, Number 3: COVID-19 Vulnerable Business Owners by Race & Ethnicity
Recent analysis demonstrates that communities of color are disproportionately suffering the health impacts of COVID-19. In Milwaukee County, 29 percent of the population is Black or African American yet Black or African Americans represent 43 percent of COVID-19-related deaths1. Much like the poor health outcomes from COVID-19 are disproportionately suffered by people of color, the economic costs are likely also inequitably distributed across racial and ethnic groups.
Considering Industry and Occupation During COVID-19
Summary June 2020 — Matt Kures and Tessa Conroy discuss the industries and occupations that may be more affected by COVID-19 as the economy begins to reopen. Webinar Recording Explore Our Lunch-n-Learn Series
Shaping A City, Ithaca, NY: A Developers Perspective
Summary May 2020 — Three-part discussion with the author: Session 1: May 21, 2020 video Planning and Consultants Power of RFPs to attract developers Formation of a BID for organizing your community Power of Feasibility studies—Housing, Retail, Office Build a Strategic Plan with community input and quantitative goals. Collaboration with large institutions and private developers […]
A Trade Analysis of Wisconsin Retail and Service Markets: Updated for 2019
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY May 2020 — Using 2019 county sales tax data, we examine the strength and weaknesses of Wisconsin retail and service markets through the application of the tools of Trade Area Analysis. Only those counties that have elected to collect the optional county sales tax are included in the analysis. Because sales tax data […]
May 13, 2020 Lunch N Learn: Considering Industry and Occupation During COVID-19
Summary May 2020 — Tessa Conroy discusses what the 1918 flu can teach us about the economic impacts of pandemics. Webinar Recording Additional Materials What Does the 1918 Flu Reveal About the Economic Impacts of a Pandemic? PowerPoint Explore Our Lunch-n-Learn Series
April 29, 2020 Lunch N Learn: Measuring Downtown Vitality in Mid-Sized Communities
Summary April 2020 — Bill Ryan from the Community Development Institute and Karina Ward from Ozaukee County Extension discuss a new tool to measure downtown vitality in mid-sized communities. Webinar Recording Explore Our Lunch-n-Learn Series
WIndicators Volume 3, Number 2: Broadband in Economic Development
The Safer-At-Home order by Governor Evers put into effect starting March 25, 2020 in response to COVID-19 has drawn attention to the lack of adequate broadband in many parts of Wisconsin. As many employees work from home, students take their courses online, patients seek care through telehealth, and families entertain themselves at home with streaming services, access to broadband has become all the more apparent and the impacts more significant. Without access to adequate broadband service, employees find it difficult to work.
Broadband 101: Understanding the Lingo
The Basics Broadband: Fast, Reliable connection to the Internet Bandwidth: Amount of Data that can be transmitted at one time Latency: the delay before a transfer of data begins following an instruction for its transfer. Jitter: the variation in time delay between when a signal is transmitted and when it is received over a network […]
April 22, 2020 Lunch N Learn: Potential Impact of Covid-19 on Non-profits
Summary April 2020 — Sarah Schlosser, Annie Jones, Larry Jones are joined by panelists to discuss the impacts Covid-19 is having on Wisconsin’s non-profit sector. Panelists include Linda Ketcham, Executive Director of the Madison-area Urban Ministry, Tom Linfield, Vice-President, Community Impact for the Madison Community Foundation, and Bryce Lord, Associate Director at UW-Milwaukee’s Helen Bader […]
