Keeping Wisconsin cities’ downtown economic environments vibrant is a key goal of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation. One way they promote this is through their “Main Street Place-Makeover” contest which provides the winner with technical assistance from Ayres Associates and the WEDC Main Street staff to redesign its outdoor space, along with $5,000 towards the resulting project. Two regional cities are among the three finalists being considered for this year’s WEDC award.
Manitowoc’s Craft Creek Brewing Company is a three-year-old microbrewery in downtown Manitowoc’s River North district. As that business grew – along with the numbers of customers bringing their furry friends along for the visit – Craft Creek decided to repurpose an adjacent driveway space for outdoor dining. However, that space lacks ambience and the brewery would like to reconfigure and design it to better support events like its Bike ‘n’ Brew, Dogs Day Out and others.
Meanwhile, Victoria’s Pet Nutrition of Fond du Lac is hoping to do its own upgrade in the interest of serving pet owners living and visiting nearby. The long-time downtown Fond du Lac merchant of natural pet food and supplies uses an adjacent pathway and rear parking lot as a pet relief area, not only for its customers but also for guests of the historic, and pet-friendly Hotel Retlaw located across the street. Victoria’s plans to use the possible prize winnings to renovate a space that’s now overgrown and lacks lighting, shade, seating, and other needed amenities.
The third finalist this year is Coloma Creamery of Coloma, which also plans to convert an unused area for dining with outdoor seating for its customers as well as for those patronizing a pub and coffee shop that occupy the same building.
The WEDC’s Main Street Place Makeover contest is now in its third year, with the latest winner to be announced mid-month.
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