City of Neillsville Receiving $50,000 Vibrant Spaces Grant From Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation

Tuesday, June 20th, 2023 -- 10:00 AM

The City of Neillsville is receiving a $50,000 Vibrant Spaces Grant from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) to fund the construction of O’Neill Creek trailhead in downtown Neillsville.

The Vibrant Spaces Grant Program is designed to help cities and towns revitalize underused spaces to build community and attract future residents. Through this grant program, communities across the state of Wisconsin will be investing in their workforce attraction and small business development by creating inviting, walkable spaces in their downtowns, gateway districts, and economic centers.

“Investing in vibrant communities where people want to live, work, and raise families is critical to attracting and retaining workers in our state,” said Missy Hughes, secretary and CEO of WEDC, the state’s leading economic development organization. “These grants will help communities create new gathering places in thriving downtowns to draw in residents, visitors, new businesses and investments.”

WEDC’s Vibrant Spaces grant will support the first phase of creating multi-generational and inclusive outdoor activities in downtown Neillsville. The O’Neill Creek trailhead will be accessible and include a playground designed for children with special needs, adult fitness stations, wheelchair glider swing, kayak launch, and picnic shelter. Additionally, the site will include public restrooms in downtown Neillsville.

The trail will provide a safe route for visitors and residents to walk and cycle in the city and enhance pedestrian access to the downtown. By creating walkable and accessible spaces in downtown Neillsville, the city aims to make Neillsville an attractive place to live, work, and put down roots.

The trail and trailhead will accommodate a variety of outdoor recreational activities and provide downtown visitors with a place to relax in nature while visiting local businesses.

“O’Neill Creek trail has been a part of the City’s strategic plan for many years,” explained Neillsville Mayor Dewey Poeschel, “and the WEDC grant will help us to achieve that goal.” Poeschel continued, “It’s through projects of this type that we elevate the standard of living in our community. This is just one of the initiatives we are working on in an effort to attract and retain talent to fill local job vacancies and boost economic development.”

The Vibrant Spaces Grant Program is an initiative within WEDC’s Community Development and Investment (CDI) grant program. Projects were evaluated based on their ability to create visible and pedestrian oriented public spaces that attract and accommodate multiple users and activities.

Successful projects demonstrated that they would benefit the local district, nearby businesses, and the community as a whole. Communities were required to match grant funds and begin construction this summer.

More information can be found online at: https://wedc.org/programs-and-resources/vibrant-spaces/ 

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