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This Weeks Articles for 8/14/2025 ...

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MRRPC Launches Small Business Development Grant Program: Turning Ideas into Action

The Mississippi River Regional Planning Commission (MRRPC) is proud to announce the Small Business Development Grant - Business Plan and Pitch Contest, a program designed to help entrepreneurs transform their ideas into thriving businesses.

In partnership with the UW-La Crosse Small Business Development Center and the Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation (WWBIC) - La Crosse Office, and with $18,000 in funding from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC), MRRPC is offering training, resources, and support to strengthen the regional economy through entrepreneurship.

Program Highlights:

Business Plan Contest: Open to new or existing businesses in the MRRPC nine-county region. Participants will develop a detailed business plan (up to 24 pages, not including cover page) covering areas such as executive summary, company description, market analysis, organizational structure, products and services, marketing strategy, financial projections, and supporting materials.

Prizes Totaling $12,000!

1st Place: $5,000
2nd Place: $3,000
3rd Place: $2,000
4th Place: $1,000
5th Place: $500
6th Place: $250
7th Place: $250

Pitch Contest: The top seven business plan winners will advance to pitch their idea in a 5-7 minute presentation to a panel of judges for a share of an additional $6,000 in funding.

Eligibility:

Entrepreneurs in the idea stage or startup stage
Existing businesses seeking expansion, operational improvements, or new market opportunities
Located within MRRPC’s nine-county region

All applications must be submitted by:
February 13th at 12:00 PM to jon@mrrpc.com.

Contact:

Mississippi River Regional Planning Commission
811 Monitor Street, Suite 201
La Crosse, WI 54603
Phone: 608.785.9396
Email: jon@mrrpc.com Website: www.mrrpc.com

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Our Annual Report

MISSISSIPPI RIVER
REGIONAL PLANNING
COMMISSION
SERVICES

Annual Report 2025

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Comprehensive Planning
Hazard Mitigation Planning
Land Use Planning
Outdoor Recreation Planning
Farmland Preservation Planning
Zoning Assistance

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Housing Studies/Reports
Comprehensive Economic
Development Strategy (CEDS)
Revolving Loan Funds
Disaster Recovery Microloans
Grant Writing and Administration
Special Reports
Economic Development Plans
Technical Assistance

TRANSPORTATION PLANNING

Regional Transportation Planning
Safe Routes to School Planning
Corridor Planning
Bicycle and Pedestrian Facility
Planning
Freight Planning
Transportation & Economic
Development

MAPPING AND DATA SERVICES

Custom Map Design
Interactive Maps and Applications
Lightcast Data Assistance
Location Based Data Services
Land Use Data

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Tourism’s impact on La Crosse County’s economy

A.J. Frels, the Executive Director of Explore La Crosse, was sharing information about how much money tourism generates for the La Crosse area Friday morning during La Crosse Talk.

During the interview with guest host Vicki Markussen, Frels broke down what visitors bring when they come to the area.

Overall, Frels said for 2024, the economic impact of tourism for La Crosse County was $519 million. Direct visitor spending for the county was $319 million, or as Frels put it, money coming right out of the pockets of visitors.

Of the 72 counties that make up Wisconsin, La Crosse County ranks #9 in direct visitor spending....

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FREE Small Business Development Clinic! Aug 14, 2025

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Designing, building homes, one section at a time

WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN – Dale Strobach, sales manager with Design Homes, Inc., said for those looking for a more affordable house-building option – with the construction process not being weather dependent – a factory-direct model home might be the answer.

According to its website (designhomes.com), since beginning operations in 1966, Design Homes has built more than 19,000 homes in 10 states.

“Our unique policy of factory-direct sales makes your new home building process as straightforward and efficient as possible,” Strobach said. “Our sales staff located at each of our eight Midwest locations is here to help guide you each step of the way. Whether you’ve found a special deal in one of our pre-built, stock display homes, or are looking to construct your own custom plan, Design Homes can provide you with the very best home at the best value possible.”...

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TANK CREEK BRIDGE UPDATE

Great River State Trail

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources - On May 15, 2025, a fire occurred on the bridge over Tank Creek located on the Great River State Trail. The fire was extinguished by the Trempealeau, Onalaska and Holmen fire departments. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation. Based on the severe damage to the bridge, it was closed immediately for all use.

The department is working to prioritize the resources needed for the design and construction of the replacement of this bridge structure.

The estimated timeline for reconstruction is 2028, pending available funding and resources. Periodic updates on the project will be made to the Great River State Trail webpage as progress is made.

Thank you for your patience as we work to restore this section of the trail.

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Ken Notes: Several elected officials, groups, and individuals are working on getting this done sooner. If you are interested in helping please call me at 608.334.2174.

The Biggest Surprise I Came Across While Hiking This Incredible Trail in Wisconsin

Perrot State Park near Trempealeau, Wisconsin, has several wonderful trails. Along them, you`ll have the opportunity to learn much about the region`s natural and human history.

Perrot State Park spans more than 1,250 acres along the soaring Mississippi River bluffs northwest of Trempealeau, Wisconsin. The park was established in 1918 after John A. Latsch, a wealthy businessman from Winona, Minnesota, donated more than 1,000 acres to the state. Latsch was an avid outdoorsman who believed that the public should have access to as much of the ruggedly beautiful Driftless Area as possible....

...I went to Perrot State Park with the expectation of hiking the moderately challenging, 3.1-mile Brady`s Bluff and Riverview Trail Loop to experience these features of the park. I was surprised, however, to learn just how much more significant history is packed into Perrot`s relatively small acreage. Along the Riverview Trail section of the hike, for example, you`ll find several effigy and conical mounds built by Woodland peoples more than 1,000 years ago. People from this culture also used the park`s unique rock formations as shelter from the elements. A sandstone shelter located along the Black Walnut Nature Trail, which you can access from the Riverview Trail near the park`s nature center, is one such example. Researchers speculate that this shelter was large enough to house a family during winter...

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Jackson County Business Survey

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Ken Notes: If you have an interest in Business or Economic Development in Jackson County please take just a few minutes to fill out this survey.

Amtrak’s Borealis train tops 250K passengers

Amtrak officials were doing a little extra celebrating over the July 4th holiday because of the Borealis line.

The train that runs daily between St. Paul and Chicago carried its 250,000th passenger over the weekend.

“The Borealis continues to be a success story in Wisconsin and our partner states,” said Wisconsin Transportation Secretary Kristina Boardman in a statement from Amtrak. “This 250,000-rider milestone clearly demonstrates the need for safe, reliable and efficient passenger rail travel options.”...

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Regional Economic Development Entities

Mississippi River Regional Planning Commision	SouthWest NorthWest State	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	The Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation (WWBIC)	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

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Iowa-Wisconsin bridge link demolition

A historic Iowa-Wisconsin bridge link will be demolished.

The demolition of the historic Black Hawk Bridge that spans the Mississippi River and links Iowa with Wisconsin is to be carried out in the third quarter of 2025. The bridge connects Iowa Highway 9 and Wisconsin Highway 82.

There have been concerns over the deteriorating condition of the bridge for some time, while it no longer meets modern safety requirements. The Black Hawk Bridge, also known as the Lansing Bridge, links Lansing in Iowa with Crawford County in Wisconsin. It is 504m in length, with a 21m clearance for vessels using the river and features a single lane in either direction...

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Wisconsin state budget allocates $5 million to talent recruitment grant program to attract out-of-state households

MADISON – A $5 million allocation in the newly signed state budget will fund a talent recruitment grant program to attract new out-of-state households to move to Wisconsin.

The budget provision directs the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp., the agency responsible for economic and workforce development, to establish a program to award grants for talent recruitment programs to incentivize households from outside the state to move to Wisconsin and help address specific workforce shortages.

For the 2025-26 fiscal year, the budget included $5 million in talent recruitment grants for WEDC to disperse. Up to $500,000 in grant money can be awarded for talent recruitment programming in a single municipality in a fiscal year.

Ken Notes: MRRPC heard from MakeMyMove, a firm contracting with WEDC to facilitate this program. Their presentation is at the link. If your community is interested in participating please contact your WEDC representative or:

Scott McCauley

Make My Move

Sr. Sales Executive
Cell: 317.902.2121

scott@makemymove.com

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Paddling the ancient Kickapoo River was the highlight of this Wisconsin couple`s anniversary

Paddling a canoe is a lot like a good marriage. In order to go forward and avoid obstacles, there has to be teamwork involved. If not, you can find yourself mired in a downed tree, lost in the high reeds of a marsh or up to your neck in water.

Over the years, my husband and I have made peace in the canoe. I let him steer while I navigate. It`s a relationship that has held together for many years. For our anniversary this year, Glen and I decided to explore some of Wisconsin`s Rustic Roads in southwestern Wisconsin. Our goal was to end up in La Crosse to visit our grandson.

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Ken Notes: The river trails in the region are a special part of MRRPC... Great Read...

Lucky Frank Farms: ‘We were always meant to bee’

Apiary is located in Driftless Area of West Central Wisconsin

ARCADIA – Lucky Frank Farms’ story, Owner Jonas Schank said, started in 2013 when he and his wife decided to order their first two three-pound packages of honey bees.

Schank said they not only fell in love with the bees, but the honey they produced was the best they had ever tasted.

Today, he said Lucky Frank Farms – located at W26999 Gaveny Road in Arcadia – serves as a one-stop shop for all things honey, which, in addition to pure unfiltered bottled honey, includes candles and beeswax products.

Schank said the nectar-producing plants the bees visit are Basswood and locust trees, as well as clover, alfalfa, aster and goldenrod.

Becoming Lucky Frank Farms

When they set out on their beekeeping adventure in 2013, Schank said the original plan was to create enough honey that their family would never run out of it....

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Contoured farm fields, vistas dotted with red barns and windmills featured along Rustic Roads

Many travelers take to the Interstate to get from Point A to Point B as quickly as possible. Beyond those four-lane concrete corridors are some of Wisconsin`s most scenic byways. The speed limit is much slower as many of the roads wind and turn.

Besides, there`s a lot to see: the majestic ridges and valleys in the Driftless Region, white-tailed deer nursing their fawns in a newly mown hayfield and plenty of agricultural vistas dotted with red barns and windmills...

Each Rustic Road has its own story to tell

The Rustic Roads Board, consisting of private citizens and legislators, meets once or twice a year to consider applications to add to the growing list.

“The Rustic Roads Board, as part of the designation process, considers all the features that are special about the road and the likelihood that it will remain unchanged,” Bonneville said. “Just having a pretty barn is not going to make a Rustic Road, but not having one is not going to break the designation.”

Rustic Road Guide

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Ken Notes: Several in our area!

Meringue Bakery: Cakes made to steal the show

Meringue Bakery in La Crosse specializes in cakes, pastries, croissants, more

LA CROSSE – The La Crosse community can have their cake – delicious, artisan cake – and eat it, too.

Jen Barney said that may be the unspoken mantra at Meringue Bakery (313 Main St., La Crosse), where palate-tempting, beautifully decorated cakes are at the heart of the business.

A pastry chef and owner of Meringue, Barney said she started the business small in an industrial, health-certified kitchen in her home basement.

But, she said the excitement for her cakes whisked feverishly, quickly taking her from a dream of doing one to two wedding cakes a week to a full-fledged business.

Media catches wind of Barney’s talents

Barney said she established the bakery in her home in 2016, looking to balance her passion for baking with the duties of being a mom...

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Highway 35 bridge construction between Holmen and Trempealeau pushed back to 2029

TREMPEALEAU, Wis. (WKBT) — The Wisconsin Department of Transportation has pushed back construction on three deteriorating bridges along Highway 35 between Holmen and Trempealeau until 2029, delaying the project by two years from its original 2027 timeline.

The project involves replacing the Tank Creek Bridge, the East Channel Black River Bridge and the West Channel Black River Bridge. The existing structures are deteriorating and require replacement along with updates to pavement, pavement markings, guardrail and other necessary infrastructure improvements.

The delay comes after the Wisconsin DOT previously revised its construction approach following significant community pushback over the original plan to close both lanes of traffic during repairs. The department now plans to keep one lane open at a time during construction to address concerns about emergency response times and economic impact on local communities.

An informational meeting on the project is set for August 19 at 6 p.m. That`s held at the Trempealeau Village Hall community room, 24455 3rd Street...

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Hardie featured at August 20th author talk

The McIntosh Memorial Library, in partnership with Vernon County Over 50, invites the community to a special author talk featuring journalist-turned-farmer Chris Hardie on Wednesday, Aug. 20, at 2:15 p.m. in the library lobby. The McIntosh Memorial Library is located on the campus of Western Technical College at 205 S Rock Ave., in Viroqua.

Hardie’s appearance was printed in the Aug. 7 issue of the Viola Epitaph-News. According to the story:

Hardie will discuss his book Back Home: Country Tales Through the Seasons, a thoughtful and often humorous collection of essays chronicling his return to the family farm in Jackson County. After leaving the farm in the early 1980s to pursue journalism, Chris and his wife, Sherry, found themselves drawn back to the land – raising Scottish Highland cattle, sheep, pigs, chickens, and more...

...The public is welcome to attend the Aug. 20 event in Viroqua.

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Ken Notes: Chris send us a chapter to run in MRRPCNotes!!!

The Great River Road

MAP		Discover Wisconsin Great River Road Video

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City of Viroqua and VARC partner to bring new childcare center to the Northpointe Development building

VIROQUA, Wis. — The Northpointe housing development nearing completion in downtown Viroqua includes a space for a daycare center. City of Viroqua staff have been searching for a provider to fill that space and this week the city and the Vernon Area Rehab Center (VARC) are announced a new partnership to bring expanded, high-quality childcare to the community. through the development of Bumble & Bloom Early Learning Center, a licensed childcare center set to open this winter in Viroqua.

Bumble & Bloom will provide full-time care, Monday through Friday, for children ages 6 weeks to 6 years in a nurturing and inclusive environment. Once fully operational, the center is expected to serve approximately 65 children and will offer a play-based curriculum grounded in early learning, emotional wellbeing, and school readiness...

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Business In Focus

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Bakery planned for Market Street

LA CROSSE, Wis. (WXOW) – A new bakery shop is set to open on Market Street in the coming months where an old residential building once sat.

The property was approved for rezoning on July 10, allowing Opus Bakehouse to establish a second location. The bakery currently operates a shop in Onalaska.

"I think this will be fantastic for the neighborhood," said Joe Endrizzi, an owner of the property and co-owner of Twinkle and Twine Design and Art Pop. "I think the city of La Crosse and La Crosse County have realized having diversity of businesses and residential in an area makes for a very vital neighborhood."

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UWL students show research skills at Summer Symposium

LA CROSSE, Wis. (WEAU) - Nearly 50 students put their hard work on display at UW-La Crosse’s annual Summer Research Symposium.

The event concludes ten weeks of research the students have done over the summer from several programs.

UWL College of Science and Health associate dean Whitney George explains why summer research is critical for students.

“During the school year, students are in and out of the classroom. They’ve got coursework and homework they have to work on, and a lot of them have jobs, too. What we can do over the summer is students can devote thirty to forty hours a week working on research, similar to a job. It allows them to be really focused and intentive with the project that they’re working on so they can make a lot of progress,” says George....

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Wisconsin Dairy Farms Open Barns for Twilight Meetings

A unique partnership between dairy producers and the organizations representing Wisconsin’s cities and counties has brought together rural community members for farm tours, critical conversations and ice cream for more than twenty years.”...

...Each ACE Twilight Meeting will kick off with a tour of the host dairy at 6:00 p.m. It will offering attendees an insider’s perspective on how animals are cared for, housed and fed, as well as a look at the milking facilities, barns and technologies dairy producers use.

Ice cream will be served at 7:00 p.m. Following ice cream, open dialogue about community issues such as wind and solar energy, water quality, conservation, roadways and transportation, educational opportunities and more. Meetings will conclude at 8:30 p.m.

Lindstrom Valley Farms – Monday, August 25

Nestled in the bluffs of Buffalo County in west central Wisconsin, the fifth-generation farm milks 1,600 cows and raises alfalfa and corn to feed their cows and youngstock. Owners Randy and Becky Lindstrom and children Deric, Nora and Andrew adopt modern technologies and innovation while honoring the tradition of sustainability and care of land and animals that has driven the farm since it was founded by Randy’s great-great-grandfather Andrew Lindstrom when he came to Wisconsin from Sweden. The dairy is located at W2184 County Rd. K, Durand, Wis...

Chapman Farms Dairy LLC – Tuesday, August 26

Three generations of the Chapman family work together on the dairy farm that was started in 1888. They milk 1,110 cows three times a day with a focus on cow comfort and raising high quality forage and grain on their crop acres. The farm is owned and operated by Gail, David & Sienna Chapman and Duane, John & Peter Chapman. The dairy is located at 21509 Gladeview Ave., Tomah, Wis...

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WEDC provides more than $1.6 million to 14 Wisconsin organizations assisting entrepreneurs

MADISON, WI. JULY 11, 2025 – Fourteen organizations supporting Wisconsin entrepreneurs with technical and financial assistance have received more than $1.6 million in the latest round of Entrepreneurship Partner Grants (EPG) from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC).

“Entrepreneurs play a vital role in driving Wisconsin’s economy forward,” said Missy Hughes, secretary and CEO of WEDC, the state’s lead economic development agency. “With the help of our partners, entrepreneurs will be able to bring new ideas and businesses to life.”...

First Nations Community Financial (aka Cedar Growth), Black River Falls — $200,000
Wisconsin Farmer’s Union Foundation, Statewide – $128,000
Wisconsin Early Childhood Association (WECA), Statewide — $200,000

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Tourism Resources and Events in Our Region

Monroe County Events Calendar	Crawford County Events Calendar Visitor Guide	Vernon County Events Calendar Visitor Guide
La Crosse County Events Calendar Visitor Guide	Trempealeau County Events Calendar Visitor Guide	Buffalo County Events Calendar
Pepin County Events Calendar Visitor Guide	Pierce County Events Calendar	Jackson County Events Calendar Visitor Guide

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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.