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Community Development
Community Development
The Extension Institute of Community Development provides educational programming to assist leaders, communities, and organizations realize their fullest potential. Community Development Educators work with communities to build vitality that enhances their quality of life and enriches the lives of their residents. We educate in leadership development, organizational development, food systems, community economic development, local government education, and much more.
Vernon County Community Development Educator (Educator) maintains a broader focus on a variety of challenges surrounding community economic development. The Educator helps residents and local government entities understand economic growth and development to help them make more informed decisions. The main goal of the Educator is to provide research, resources, and education that help build and support entrepreneurial capacity.
Programs
Cohort-Based Assistance
Cohort-based technical assistance for rural entrepreneurs in underserved places, industries, and size categories.
Maximizing Success
Maximizing Success is a professional development training for organizations that support Entrepreneurs of Color.
Wisconsin REV
Rural Entrepreneurial Venture (REV) is a proven entrepreneurial development program designed to advance small town economies.
Homegrown
Homegrown is a training focused on building and strengthening local entrepreneurial networks
Community Development Publications Relevant to You
“Vernon County Leaders Participate in UW Extension ‘Homegrown’ Training”
by Maggie Cornelius
“In its service to rural communities, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Division of Extension offers a training called “Homegrown: Entrepreneurship in Your Community” for economic development leaders who want to learn how to build entrepreneurial ecosystems.”
“Rural Wisconsin Entrepreneurship Initiative Organizes First Rural Entrepreneurial Cohort”
by Maggie Cornelius
“A new program within the Community Development Institute, the Rural Wisconsin Entrepreneurship Initiative (RWEI) seeks to make business development services available to rural parts of the state not easily reached by pre-existing infrastructure. RWEI has committed to organizing 12-24 entrepreneurial cohorts in rural Wisconsin between 2024-2026.”
Community Development Information Relevant to You
Attention Vernon County Residents
Vernon County Residents and Friends – would you mind taking a quick survey about housing in our county?
This study will play a vital role in shaping future plans for Vernon County, helping us understand the barriers to housing development, and identifying the needs and preferences of our residents. The data collected will not only guide our future housing decisions but also provide valuable insights for developers and municipalities to create a more responsive and effective housing strategy.
By participating in the survey, residents will have the opportunity to share their experiences, concerns, and suggestions regarding housing in Vernon County. This inclusive approach ensures the voices of all community members are heard and considered throughout this process.
Community Development Publications
The Learning Store produces and distributes educational materials based on university research, extending knowledge to the statewide community.
Featured Publication
No-Box Thinking offers a framework for understanding the automatic and powerful resistance to change those engaged in community development often face. This book details how to convert the powerful sources of community change resistance—identity, emotion, and social connections—into powerful forces for transformational change (105 pages; 2018).
View Related Topics on the Learning Store
Latest News in Community Development
- Wisconsin’s agricultural production and food processing sectors represent 14.3% of the state’s total economic impact, contributing $116.3 billion in industrial revenues – an increase of 10.9% from 2017. Agricultural businesses in Wisconsin constitute 353,900 jobs (9.5% of jobs in the state) and $21.2 billion to labor income. Additionally, the dairy sector and its significant dedication […]
- In her role with Early Head Start, Keri Kraus works with families from pregnancy until children turn 3, visiting them in their homes for 90 minutes each week. Kraus brings activities for the children, encouraging the parents to join in. Part of that time is spent supporting the entire family and helping them set and […]
- Melanie Miller, a lifelong advocate of 4-H in Wisconsin, will be inducted into the 2024 National 4-H Hall of Fame this weekend in Boise, Idaho. Among 15 distinguished honorees, Melanie’s story is one of passion, commitment, and a deep-rooted connection to 4-H that spans generations. Growing up in a family with over a century of […]
- Coalitions in five counties are partnering up with UW–Madison Extension on a new effort to engage rural entrepreneurs and strengthen community connection. As part of a grant-funded program from Compeer Financial, Extension is providing coaching and guidance for local groups to spur sustained entrepreneurship. The groups selected for this program recently moved into a phase […]
- After a 25-year career working for the Milwaukee Police Department, Jim MacGillis was planning to retire and try something new. Then the position of police chief opened in Wauwatosa, his hometown. “I’ve got family here, and I had seen the good human beings in this department have a front-row seat during the worst of times…and […]
- During 4-H Week, we’re celebrating some of the ways that 4-H is building a ready generation in a changing world. 4-H members show they are two times more likely to make healthier choices; two times more likely to be civically active than other youth; and four times more likely to contribute to their communities. And, […]
Latest Updates in Community Development
- After a 25-year career working for the Milwaukee Police Department, Jim MacGillis was planning to retire and try something new. Then the position of police chief opened in Wauwatosa, his hometown. “I’ve got family here, and I had seen the good human beings in this department have a front-row seat during the worst of times…and […]
- Jorge Islas-Martinez immigrated to the United States more than 25 years ago. Today, he is well-known in the Whitewater community where he works as a bilingual liaison for the school district and volunteers with several organizations. One of his most recognized contributions, he started teaching English as a second language and is still running that […]
- This year, approximately 8,000 people will be released from Wisconsin state prisons. According to the Wisconsin Department of Corrections, more than half of those released will be rearrested within three years. Aaron Hicks and Frank Davis, Reentry Coordinators at the Nehemiah Center for Urban Leadership Development in Madison, who were formerly incarcerated, use their experience […]
- While running elections is an important role for municipal and county clerks, that’s not the only thing they do. Ann Hempel, elected to serve as the part-time Municipal Clerk for the Town of Unity in 2023, estimates that running elections for the 513 people who live in her township is only 5% of her clerk […]
- UW-Madison Extension awarded funding to 13 projects aimed at bringing innovative ideas to its outreach and education mission. Extension annually solicits proposals for new efforts around educational engagement, community-informed research, and practical guidance. Extension’s place-based educators across Wisconsin and specialists at UW-Madison and other UW campuses conduct needs assessments, work with local partnering organizations, and […]
Related Links of Interest
Staff
If you have any questions regarding Community Development in Vernon County, please contact:
Community Development Educator, Hannah Altimus
Extension Vernon County
UW-Madison Division of Extension
318 Fairlane Drive
Viroqua, WI 54665
Phone: 608-637-5281
Email: hannah.altimus@wisc.edu