News and Notes from MRRPC

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Holmen welcomes a new subdivision

HOLMEN, Wis. (WXOW) - The Village of Holmen continues to grow and now there is even more room for new homes.

On Thursday, the community welcomed a new 66 home subdivision near Evergreen Elementary School.

Those behind the project said the selling point for this subdivision is the location because of its close proximity to the school and to downtown Holmen...

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Second Chicago-Milwaukee-Twin Cities passenger train on hold until 2024

The start-up of a second passenger train every day from Chicago, through Milwaukee, to the Twin Cities has been delayed until next spring.

For a while, the states of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois had been hoping to start what`s called the TCMC during this year. But now, there`s delay of additional months.

Lisa Stern is Chief of Railroads and Harbors at the Wisconsin Department of Transportation and she says the partnership is just being prudent.

"We`re coordinating with three states — Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois. Additionally, making sure we have sufficient equipment. We just want to make sure that when we start the service, it is successful. We want to make sure we`ve dotted all our i`s and crossed all our t`s. And really, that`s what we`re looking to do," Stern says.

Stern says there doesn`t need to be any track construction before the TCMC gets underway. But she says eventually there will be some.

"We can start current service with the existing infrastructure. But we will need that infrastructure to maintain and sustain the freight rail growth, and passenger trains, as well," she says.

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War Eagle apartment, retail combo proposed for Black River property off causeway

A $21-million apartment and retail complex is being planned in La Crosse’s River Point District.

City committees are looking at designs for the War Eagle Building.

The project would offer two floors of commercial business space, along with 52 apartments on the upper floors.

The six-story building, to be named after the old War Eagle riverboat, is proposed for a lot next to the Black River...

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Governor Evers attends ribbon cutting for Bluff Prairie Community Solar Project in Red Mound

RED MOUND, Wis, – Governor Evers was just one of the dignitaries to attend a ribbon cutting ceremony in the unincorporated community of Red Mound this week for a unique, first of it’s kind, community solar project that aims to make renewable energy affordable for everyone. The Bluff Prairie Solar Farm project was years in the making and was the result of an extensive collaboration between the State of Wisconsin Office of Energy Innovation, Vernon Electric, CouleeCap and One Energy Renewables of Madison.

Vernon Electric CEO Craig Buros said their Co-op has done other community solar projects in the past, and they have been very popular and successful, usually selling out before the facilities are even completed, but the Co-op has been looking for ways to make renewables affordable to people who did not have the resources to invest in the upfront cost....

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Gundersen Health shows pathways to healthcare careers

LA CROSSE, Wis. (WLAX/WEAU) – While the shortage of healthcare workers is still an ongoing issue, one local healthcare system is attempting to gain the attention of potential future workers. First News at Nine’s Dashal Mentzel has more.

Local high schools were invited by Gundersen Health system to hear about careers in healthcare. Gundersen hoped to get around 150 students to show up to the event, they ended up doubling that. Kim Jackson, Gundersen Career Development Advisor, says, “Now that we have a much larger group of students here with us, we’re hopeful that they will make connections, that they will get excited about things and maybe really start to explore some of the academic programs that they could go into to get into those career areas.”...

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Flood-control dams in Driftless Area failed after catastrophic rain. Some residents say a new approach is needed.

Federal experts say replacing the aging dams isn`t cost effective. Residents hope conservations practices can help them learn to live with the water.

At the bottom of a steep country road outside of Cashton, Tucker Gretebeck`s farm opens up into a narrow valley, where tall grass hides fields of pumpkin vines and a small, unnamed creek.

"It`s got a lot of natural energy, just by the way the sun comes up and over the side of the valley," he said. "At this time of the year, when you get the fall colors, it`s something that can`t be reproduced."

Greteback milks around 50 grass-fed cows for nearby Organic Valley. Much of his farm sits on top of the ridge above, but the tucked-away valley is where he pastures cows in the hottest part of summer and runs a pick-your-own pumpkin patch in the fall...

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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.

Staff

JON BINGOL

Executive Director

jon@mrrpc.com

KEN HARWOOD

Planner

ken@mrrpc.com

ANDREW MILLER

Planner

andrew@mrrpc.com

SARAH OFTE

Administrative Assistant

sarah@mrrpc.com

1707 Main Street

Suite 435

La Crosse, WI 54601

Phone: 608.785.9396

Fax: 608.785.9394

Email: plan@mrrpc.com

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Regional Economic Development Entities

Mississippi River Regional Planning Commision	WEDC West Central	Coulee Regional Business Center	THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI MANUFACTURING ALLIANCE
	Vernon Co. Economic Development	La Crosse Area Development Corporation	SBDC La Crosse
Economic Development	Community Development	Economic Development	Economic Development

Trempealeau County Economic Development		Vernon Economic Development Association	Workforce Connections, Inc.
The Pierce County EDC	Western Dairyland Economic Opportunity Council	Job and Business Development (JBD) Program
Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority	USDA Rural Development Wisconsin	Xcel Energy Economic Development	Economic Development