PROJECT OVERVIEW:
TASK FORCE ON THE RURAL
ECONOMY (APRIL, 2003)
The rural Marathon County
economy is in a depressed state. Historic low prices for agricultural
goods such as milk and ginseng, and other rural issues are impacting
the ability to deliver government services, education, security,
healthcare, quality of life, and our future well-being. A depressed
rural economy can also contribute to poor land-use decisions.
In response, the leadership
of Marathon County government sponsored this process to address
the issue of the rural economy. Specifically, "what can Marathon
County do to improve the rural economy?" Marathon
County UW-Extension (UWEX) staff provided facilitation assistance
and support. For the purpose of this project, "rural" was defined
as those areas (including all townships, villages, and municipalities)
outside of the Wausau/Mosinee metropolitan area.
Planners hoped that
this process would identify three to five initiatives that county
resources could be directed to in order to improve the rural economy.
Those initiatives, and other significant findings of the task
force, will be shared and discussed within Marathon County government
and with others that may have some influence on improving the
current situation. Project planners and advisors included: Brad
Karger, Deputy Administrator; Keith Langenhahn, County Board Chairman;
Mike Wildeck, UWEX Dairy Agent; Ken Barnett, UWEX Field Crops
and Farm Management Agent; and Mary Kluz, UWEX Community Resource
and Development Agent.
The most current data
available was gathered for consideration by task force members.
In fact, UW specialists compiled and analyzed data from the 2000
census and found an annual economic impact of more than $833 million
in Marathon County from the on-farm and ag processing sectors.
RECENT PROGRESS
The Task Force published
a Final Report in April 2003 which proposed three primary initiatives
for Marathon County Government to take action on, and listed a
number of other important ideas for their consideration. Those
initiatives and other ideas were then presented to more than ten
other community groups, organizations, and governmental bodies
for their input. A hardcopy version of the Final Report on the
Marathon County Task Force of the Rural Economy is available from
Mike Wildeck, Marathon County UW-Extension.
At their October 13 meeting, the Marathon
County Extension Education Committee took action supporting UW-Extension's
leadership on Initiative #3 (Marathon County should create a farm-based
cooperative network...). On October 16, the Partnership for Progressive
Agriculture Steering Committee approved PPA's leadership on Initiative
#1 (Marathon County should create an agricultural transition program...).
And finally, on November 10, the Marathon County Economic Development
Corporation Board determining that MCDEVCO should take leadership
for Intiative #2 (Marathon County should coordinate a community
business-based, cooperative network...). It is understood that
other agencies and organizations will be making contributions
to all of these initiatives, but the lead agencies are responsible
for progress and results on their respective initiative.
Throughout 2004 and
2005, Task Force initiatives will be reflected in work plans and
activities of the lead agencies. At UW-Extension for example,
staffing changes were made which accommodated the new position
of Agricultural Development Agent, effective January 1, 2004.
This is a shared position between Lincoln and Marathon County,
with strong emphasis on supporting Initiative #3 and rural economic
development in Marathon County.
RELATED MATERIALS
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