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2025 Wisconsin Rural Summit Agenda

Vibrant Rural Communities

April 30 & May 1, 2025 | Fort Atkinson, WI 

Wednesday, April 30  Schedule

Time

Description

Location

Two Options to tour Fort Atkinson Area

4:30 pm

Bus Tour of Fort Atkinson Area

Hosts: Rebecca Houseman, City Manager and Sarah Weihert, Public Relations Executive Assistant

Bus Leaves Country Inn & Suites

5:00 pm

Walking Tour of Downton Fort Atkinson

Hosts: Shauna Wessely, Executive Director, Atkinson Area Chamber of Commerce

    Starts at Atkinson Area Chamber of Commerce

    6:00 pm

    Welcome Reception

    PaddyShack Golf & Game Lounge
    Enjoy appetizers and drinks

    7:30 pm

    Bus Returns to Country Inn & Suites

    Thursday, May 1 Schedule | The Riverstone Event Center 
    1905 Central Coast Ln, Fort Atkinson, WI 53538

    Time

    Description

    Speaker

    7:30 am

    Registration & Continental Breakfast

    Visit Exhibitors

    8:15 am

    Welcome to Fort Atkinson

    • Kenyon Kies, WI Rural Partners President
    • Rebecca Houseman, City Manager, Fort Atkinson & Jefferson County Leaders 

    8:30 am

    Fort Atkinson's Strength | Stories of Collaboration

    A Fireside Chat in which panelists share their experiences and perspectives on what it takes to be a successful business owner who contributes to our community’s vibrancy.

    • Nova Jiongco (Crimson Salon & Spa)
    • Rachel Pattermann (Pete's Tire Service & Pattermann Realty)
    • Chris Scherer (2020 Evolve)
    • Sarah Schultz (SchultzHaus Media)
    • Ana Vega (Fort Johnson Farms)

    Conversation Facilitator:
    Logan McHone, Fort Atkinson Area Chamber of Commerce

    9:00 am

    Break - Visit Exhibitors

    9:30 am

    Session TBA 


    10:00 am

    Innovative Use of State Programs

    Join us for a panel discussion featuring rural community representatives discussing local success stories for initiatives leveraging state grants to achieve local goals. Panelists represent communities that have leveraged one or more WEDC programs to help stretch local funds and implement projects that support economic growth. 

    Panelists include:

    Greg Grohman, Grant Writer, Waupaca City/School District/Chamber

    Larkin Brekel, Economic Development and Marketing Coordinator, Vernon County

    Jason Scott, WEDC Regional Director & Brownfields Specialist


    11:00 am

    Break - Visit Exhibitors

    11:15 am

    Boost Fort Atkinson: A Challenge for Local Communities

    Fort Atkinson is soliciting business ideas from entrepreneurs to fill downtown space, they are partnering UW Whitewater and Chamber – Free rent for the year with the goal of long term rental/businesses.

    Dr. Choton Basu, Professor, UW Whitewater, Entrepreneur, Consultant, Innovator 

    Shauna Wessley, Executive Director, Fort Atkinson Area Chamber of Commerce

    12:00 pm

    Lunch

    Top Rural Development Initiatives (TRDI) Presentation

    1:00 pm

    Community Visioning in East Central Wisconsin: A Case Study 

    Discover how small communities are leveraging community support, regional programs, and innovative projects to create lasting impact in Wisconsin. This session will highlight successful outcomes that continue to build local momentum for unique placemaking efforts.

    Melissa Hunt will moderate the discussion, providing key insights on post-pandemic community and economic development trends. Melissa Kraemer-Badtke, Executive Director of ECWRPC, will outline the Small Community Technical Assistance Program, its funding sources, and its impact.

    A community representative from an ECWRPC-funded project will share firsthand how the program has benefited their community. Keely Campbell, Ayres Associates, will discuss this initiative and other programs that have contributed to advancing placemaking efforts.

    Noah Wiedenfeld, New Richmond City Administrator, will highlight a local project and its broader impact on the community.

    Melissa Hunt, Planning and Economic Development, Ayres Associates

    Melissa Kraemer-Badtke, Executive Director of ECWRPC

    Noah Wiedenfeld, New Richmond City Administrator

    1;45 pm

    Break - Visit Exhibitors

    2:-00 pm

    Collaborative Leadership for Economic Growth:
    Creating the Greater Dunn County Director of Economic Development Position

    This session will detail the creation of the Greater Dunn County Director of Economic Development position, a role born from a collaborative initiative involving the City of Menomonie, Dunn County, the University of Wisconsin-Stout, and local development corporations.

    The position was created in response to challenges identified at a countywide economic development summit, and it addresses business retention, entrepreneurship, and workforce housing. Participants will learn how this model—combining financial and strategic resources across public and private sectors—can be adapted to meet economic development needs in other rural communities.

    Adam Accola, Director of Economic Development, Dunn Economic Development

    Seth Hudson, Innovation in Dunn County & Executive Director for Corporate Relations and Economic Engagement, UW-Stout

      2:45  pm

      2025 Legislative Update: What happened, what is happening, and what's next


      3:45 pm

      Thank you! Looking forward to 2026

      CONTACT US

      Wisconsin Rural Partners
      601 Sawyer Terrace #5184
      Madison, WI 53705

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