WHAT DOES THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM OFFER IN DOUGLAS COUNTY?

The Community Development Educator programs in a number of priority areas. Backed by University of Wisconsin research, Community Development Educators work with local government, civic organizations, businesses and community leaders to enhance local decision-making and help communities respond to new challenges and opportunities. These priorities change as local needs change.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM MISSION

Our mission is to strengthen people's ability to identify and solve community problems through education, citizen participation, group process, and unbiased information - allowing residents to make informed decisions, resulting in better communities.

PLAN COMMISSION ESSENTIALS WORKSHOP

The Town of Bennett will be the site of a new workshop for Plan Commissions to learn about their roles and responsibilities.  It will be held on Tuesday, May 26 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Bennett Town Hall.

WORKSHOP LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

• Roles and responsibilities of the plan commission post plan development
• Increase ability to utilize your plan for land use decision making
• Increase understanding of tools and strategies to meet certain plan goals

Towns and villages are encouraged to send members of their planning body, as hands on exercises will entail teamwork and evaluation of your local plan. Attendees are strongly recommended to bring a copy of their most recent local Land Use or Comprehensive Plan, applicable ordinances, and maps.

• Plan Commission Essentials Workshop Brochure (2 pages, 398 KB)
  

DOUGLAS COUNTY STRATEGIC PLANNING

Douglas County implemented a strategic planning process in 2007-08. The goal was to produce decisions and actions that will shape and guide our county government in the next five years. Throughout the process, we obtained feedback from a wide variety of stakeholders; including you, employees, citizens, businesses, community organizations and partners.

• Executive Summary Report (7 pages, 163 KB)

DOUGLAS COUNTY COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT

This survey identifies areas that citizens of Douglas County feel are significant problems. UW-Extension, Department of Health and Human Services, Salvation Army, and United Way collaborated on this project. The survey is posted online at www.unitedwayofsuperior.org/survey

• Final Report (7 pages, 4,585 KB)

DOUGLAS COUNTY DEMOGRAPHICS

• Demographics (4 pages, 3,348 KB)

SUPERIOR DAYS XXIV

The 25th annual grassroots lobbying trip to Madison planning process is underway. The dates are February 23-24, 2010.

Visit the Superior Days website for more information about Superior Days or to register to be a participant.

COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PREPAREDNESS INDEX

The Community Economic Development Preparedness Index examines perceptions of activities and conditions in the community, over which individuals may or may not have some level of control. The compiled responses provide a reflection of a community's readiness to:

• retain existing businesses and income,
• attract new businesses, residents, and income, and
• expand small businesses and income within the community.

As economic development strategies have become more sophisticated, the number of factors that contribute to a community's level of preparedness has grown. This means the process of completing a preparedness index as a site-based activity has become more tedious. The new web-based tool allows for the collection of input from anyone in the community and the analysis of data prior to community action planning.

• CEDPI Superior Results (12 pages, 145 KB )
• CEDPI Douglas County Results (14 pages, 155 KB)

SUPERIOR BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT MARKET ANALYSIS

• 2008 Executive Summary Report (6 pages , 520 KB)
• Downtown Webinar Series Brochure (2 pages , 129 KB)

ATTRACTING & RETAINING YOUNG ADULTS

• "Solutions" - Recommnedations of the Task Force (4 pages , 118 KB)
• "Attracting & Maintaining Young People" Initiative (45 pages , 690 KB)

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

• September 2009 News (1 page, 271 KB )

WisLines for 2009
Topics and registration brochures for all of the Local Government Center's WisLines series are now available on the LGC web site.

• Local Government Center WisLine Programs

Strategic Communications Studies

• Wood Communications Group Public Opinion Presentation (901 KB)
• Wood Communications Group Survey Toplines (13 pages, 133 KB)

County, Town, and Village Resources

• Agendas and Minutes for Local Government (35 pages, 85 KB)
• County Government Brochure (16 pages, 439 KB)
• County Government in Wisconsin (5 pages, 215 KB)
• Ethics and Conflicts of Interest (12 pages, 303 KB)
• Fundamentals of Effective Meetings (19 pages, 194 KB)
• The Annual Meeting (4 pages, 39 KB)
• The Property Assessment (2 pages, 28 KB)
• Village Powers for Town Boards (6 pages, 246 KB)
• Wisconsin Open Meetings Law (8 pages, 173 KB)
• Wisconsin Public Records Law (10 pages, 66 KB)

RELATED LINKS OF INTEREST

• Douglas County Government
• UW-Extension Local Government Center
• UW - Extension Community, Natural Resource and Economic Development
• Center for Land Use at UW-Stevens Point
• US Census Bureau - Douglas County
• WI Department of Workforce Development
• WI Department of Natural Resources (Smart Growth and Land Use: see land use center)
• Solid and Hazardous Waste Education Center (including energy)
• University of Wisconsin-Superior Small Business Development Center

STAFF

If you have any questions regarding Community Resource Development in Douglas County, please contact:

Fariba Pendleton
Community Resource Development Educator
Douglas County - UW Extension
Courthouse, Room 107
1313 Belknap Street
Superior, WI 54880-2781
Phone: 715-395-1363
Fax: 715-395-1399
Wisconsin Relay: 711
Email: fariba.pendleton@ces.uwex.edu