A new, highly anticipated bridge connecting southwest Wisconsin and northeast Iowa over the Mississippi River will open the afternoon of Nov. 6, transportation officials announced this week.
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News and Notes from MRRPC | |||||||||
![]() This Weeks Articles for 10/13/2026 ...
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New Wisconsin-Iowa bridge across Mississippi River to open Nov. 6 | |||||||||
![]() A new, highly anticipated bridge connecting southwest Wisconsin and northeast Iowa over the Mississippi River will open the afternoon of Nov. 6, transportation officials announced this week. The bridge, which has been in construction since 2023, will replace the historic Black Hawk Bridge that for almost a century connected Wisconsin's Crawford County with Lansing, Iowa. The original bridge, which was aging and experiencing structural issues, closed to traffic last October and was imploded in December. Officials announced in early September that the new bridge would open in November, months ahead of schedule. They credited contractors' hard work, as well as favorable weather and river conditions... ...Full Story Here ![]() | |||||||||
Boosting Our Local Arts & Economy | |||||||||
Gays Mills, Wis. – A “Boosting Our Local Arts & Economy” event will be held in Gays Mills on Saturday, November 7 from 9:00am to 1:30pm. The event will include workshops on Grant Writing, Why Public Art is Important to Communities, and how to be part of the $12.4 Billion Dollar Wisconsin arts economy. The event will include a resource fair to connect communities and artists with local and state level support organizations, granting organizations, grant writers and community development experts. The day will also feature an artist’s showcase featuring members from the Wisconsin Rural Artists. “Public art in communities not only expresses the unique character of the community, it creates a vibrancy that encourages tourism and has the potential to attract new residents,” said Kate Koziol, community and business development consultant at Why Not Seneca. “ We are working closely with our statewide partners to ensure we help local communities benefit from embracing the arts as well as helping local artists be more successful.” The event will be held at the Gays Mills Community Commerce Center, 16381 State Highway 131, Gays Mills, Wisconsin. The event is free to the public and a $5 soup and salad lunch will be available at 11:30. Local communities, artists and interested citizens are welcome to attend the event, network with support organizations and sample the local arts scene. More information is available by contacting Kate Koziol at Kate@WhyNotSeneca.com or call 608 305 4428. This event is brought to you by Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation’s Office of Rural Prosperity, Create Wisconsin, Why Not Seneca, Connect Community Gays Mills and Driftless Development, Inc... ![]() | |||||||||
Please Complete Alternative Fuels Great River Road Survey | |||||||||
![]() The Mississippi River Regional Planning Commission (MRRPC) needs your help, the survey at the link will help support the use of alternative fuel and electric vehicles along our Great River Road. It will only take a few minutes to complete and will demonstrate our interest and support for the corridor bringing federal dollars to our region. We appreciate your assistance getting this survey distributed across our Great River Road communities. If you have any questions, contact MRRPC at 608-785-9396. ...Full Story Here ![]() | |||||||||
Wauzeka Elementary School earns Wisconsin Blue Ribbon recognition | |||||||||
![]() WAUZEKA, Wis. (WKBT) — A Crawford County elementary school is among eight schools in Wisconsin to receive a prestigious state honor for academic excellence. Wauzeka Elementary School, part of the Wauzeka-Steuben School District, was named a 2026 Wisconsin Blue Ribbon School by the state Department of Public Instruction. The school earned recognition in both categories offered by the program — "Exemplary High Performing" and "Exemplary Gap Closing" — making it one of only three schools statewide to receive the dual distinction this year. State Superintendent Dr. Jill Underly credited the entire school community for the achievement. "It is an honor to recognize these exceptional schools," Underly said. "This achievement is made possible by the students, educators, staff, families, and leaders who work every day to create school communities where everyone can learn, grow, and take pride in their success. Congratulations to each of these schools on this well-deserved recognition." ...Full Story Here ![]() | |||||||||
Vernon County to celebrate community strength Nov. 4 in Hillsboro | |||||||||
![]() Vernon County will celebrate the people, businesses and organizations helping the community grow and thrive at its fourth annual Vernon County Awards Banquet on Wednesday, Nov. 4, at Willow + Oak the venue within Hillsboro Brewing Company in Hillsboro. The theme of this year’s banquet is “Stronger Together: Adapting. Innovating. Thriving.” It highlights the resilience, creativity and collaboration that strengthen Vernon County’s communities and support local businesses and organizations. Now in its fourth year, the Vernon County Awards Banquet rotates among venues throughout the county, celebrating the people and organizations making a difference in their communities. Over the past four years, the program has received more than 300 individual nominations and recognized 32 individuals, businesses and organizations with Vernon County Awards... Tickets are $32 per person and must be purchased online in advance by Oct. 23. New this year, tickets will be available online only, with no tickets sold at the door. Tickets and additional information are available at: https://2026_Vernon_County_Awards_Banquet.eventbrite.com...Full Story Here ![]() | |||||||||
Tourism Resources and Events in Our Region | |||||||||
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Trempealeau County park gets $7,000 boost for natural play area and all-abilities playground | |||||||||
![]() Riverland Energy Cooperative and Dairyland Power Cooperative presented the check this week at Pietrek Park. The cooperatives also spent a day volunteering at the site.ARCADIA, Wis. (WXOW) — Pietrek Park in Trempealeau County is receiving $7,000 from two electric cooperatives to help build a natural play area and an all-abilities playground. Riverland Energy Cooperative and Dairyland Power Cooperative presented the check this week at the park. The cooperatives also spent a day volunteering at the site. Riverland Energy Cooperative contributed $6,000 to the project. That includes $5,000 through the Federated Youth Foundation and an additional $1,000 as part of Dairyland Power Cooperative's Cooperative Contributions Program. Dairyland provided a $1,000 match... ![]() | |||||||||
Bluedog Cycles marks 21 years as a catalyst for Southwest Wisconsin’s outdoor culture | |||||||||
![]() VIROQUA, Wis. — When Pete and Alycann Taylor packed up their life in Idaho in 2005 and returned to Wisconsin with their newborn daughter, Wilma, they carried a vision to create a hub where outdoor recreation and community could thrive. Twenty-one years later, that vision has transformed the Driftless Region as Bluedog Cycles celebrates its 21st anniversary on Main Street in Viroqua. What began in October 2005 as a community bike shop offering sales, rentals, and repairs has grown into a cornerstone of local outdoor culture, driving regional tourism and establishing Viroqua as a premier cycling destination... ...Full Story Here ![]() | |||||||||
Local youth showcase top cattle at Viola Dairy Show | |||||||||
VIOLA, Wis. — Youth exhibitors gathered on a beautiful morning at the Donald Kellogg Shelter in Banker Park for the annual Viola Dairy Show, organized with leadership from Dairy Superintendent Gail Klinkner and supported by Vernon County Dairy Promotion and Vernon County Dairy Youth. A total of 34 head of dairy cattle were shown during the event. The competition concluded with Anna Cornell earning the top honor of Supreme Champion with her 3-year-old Jersey cow.Show Background and TraditionThe dairy show takes place as part of the annual Viola Horse and Colt Show, a long-standing Kickapoo Valley tradition held on the Saturday following the Vernon County Fair. First conceived in 1931 by local horse breeder S.A. “Spar” Simmons and Viola High School agriculture instructor Harrison “Eck” Eckley, the show was established to promote agricultural education and give local 4-H and FFA students an opportunity to demonstrate their hard work and project results to the community. Today, organizations like Vernon County Dairy Promotion continue this legacy by supporting local dairy youth and promoting the regional dairy industry... ![]() | |||||||||
Regional Economic Development Entities | |||||||||
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Marine Credit Union employees build beds for children in need in La Crosse | |||||||||
![]() LA CROSSE, Wis. (WKBT) -- Marine Credit Union employees in La Crosse built more than 30 beds for children in need Monday, partnering with Sleep in Heavenly Peace as part of the credit union's annual Day of Service. The bed build took place at MCU Headquarters parking lot from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The event brought together MCU employees who provided the labor while Sleep in Heavenly Peace supplied the equipment and tools needed to construct the beds. The beds will be delivered to local children without beds of their own, addressing a critical need in the community. Day of Service Across Three StatesMonday's event was part of Marine Credit Union's annual Day of Service.. The Brief
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DNR Awards More Than $250,000 For Recycling Electronics In Underserved Areas | |||||||||
![]() MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has awarded just over $250,000 in E-Cycle Wisconsin Electronics Collection Grants for 39 projects in 35 counties that will host an electronics collection site or event between October 2026 and December 2027. The grants will help fund two permanent electronics collection sites and up to 55 one-day collection events. Wisconsin’s electronics recycling law, which took effect in 2010, banned many electronics from the trash. It also created E-Cycle Wisconsin, a manufacturer-funded program managed by the DNR that supports a statewide network of electronics collectors and recyclers. As of 2025, households and schools had already recycled 440 million pounds of electronics through E-Cycle Wisconsin. Since 2022, the DNR has awarded more than $830,000 to projects in 59 counties located mostly in rural areas. These projects have supported development of nine permanent collection sites and 136 one-day collection events. ...Full Story Here ![]() | |||||||||
USDA invests $749K to expand distance learning in Wisconsin | |||||||||
![]() STEVENS POINT, Wis. (WKOW) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture awarded a $749,400 grant to Cooperative Educational Service Agency 10 in Chippewa Falls to expand distance learning access for more than 14,000 rural students and 1,900 educators across 12 Wisconsin counties. USDA Rural Development Wisconsin State Director Andrew C. Iverson announced the Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant on Tuesday. The funding will reach students and educators in Barron, Buffalo, Chippewa, Clark, Dunn, Eau Claire, Jackson, Marathon, Rusk, Trempealeau, Washburn and Wood counties. "This investment will go much further to help enrich and strengthen the lives of people who will then be able to make a difference in the lives of others across rural Wisconsin," Iverson said... ...Full Story Here ![]() | |||||||||
Mississippi River Regional Planning Commission (MRRPC) | |||||||||
![]() Working together to make the Mississippi River Region a great place to live and work.The Mississippi River Regional Planning Commission provides planning and economic development services to improve the region`s environment, economy and quality of life. We serve a nine county region, providing studies and planning services, resources and data to help with your grant applications or reporting needs, and business loans. StaffJON BINGOL Executive Director jon@mrrpc.com KEN HARWOOD Planner ken@mrrpc.com KIA KLING Planner kia@mrrpc.com JACK ZABROWSKI Senior Planner Jack@mrrpc.com SARAH OFTE Senior Office Manager sarah@mrrpc.com 811 Monitor St. Suite 201 La Crosse, WI 54603 Phone: 608.785.9396 Fax: 608.785.9394 Email: plan@mrrpc.com ![]() |