It’s time that Cornell’s downtown shows what it’s made of

Ray French, regional director of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, spoke Jan. 18, about what Cornell can do, through Connect Communities, to revitalize the downtown. Connect Communities provides resources to help with projects and the goal is to bring in more businesses, as well as showcasing the downtown area. Photo by Ginna Young

By Ginna Young

There’s a lot of interest from not just business owners, but also members of the Cornell City Council and volunteers of the public, to bring people to the historic downtown. But where to start?

That’s where the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) comes in, as part of Connect Communities, which help with grants and resources to revitalize downtowns.

Ray French, regional director of the WEDC, was present Jan. 18, at a council meeting, to answer a few questions. To begin, French said there are a variety of grants that are available and could possibly be suitable for what Cornell has in mind.

“They can be big or small,” said French.

City administrator Dave DeJongh asked if water and sewer are typically included in those projects, since that is often the most expensive piece of the puzzle, but French said the funding is more on the general development side. However, there could be other avenues to turn to for water/ sewer funding.

“That’d probably be more of a USDA- type of program – kind of case specific,” said French.

The WEDC mission, through Connect Communities, is more about filling vacant spaces, with a network of downtowns and resources for event planning, road construction and how businesses can stay open during that, as well as signage and driving people toward businesses.

“It’s those sorts of things that our downtown team works with…to provide that assistance,” said French. “Connect Communities really relies on the volunteer here, in the community.”

Chris Wolff, owner of The Silver Wolf on Main Street, asked if any other municipalities that are part of Connect Communities, are comparable to Cornell’s size. French affirmed that Cornell would definitely be only one of many small towns involved with the program.

Council member Floyd Hickethier questioned if the revitalization includes just Main Street, because Cornell has businesses along the two highways that meet, as well. French said it depends on how the city wants to draw the downtown borders.

“We’re not going to tell you how to plan your city,” he said, adding the WEDC is simply there to advise and connect the town with resources.

“There are a couple things specific to Cornell, that I really stand behind,” said council member Sandy Schecklman, who is already working on getting a Kwik Trip into the city and who would like to see a renovation of the old movie theater. “There’s gotta be something we can do with that, to make it productive here.”

Schecklman knows of at least one person who wants to have a business in the ground level part of their building, but has no idea who to reach out to, to make it happen.

“It’s just little things like that and I don’t have the answers,” she said.

French says a case study can be done on what the theater could be used for, such as a cafe, art gallery or, in keeping with its roots, for performance of some kind.

Before anything can be started, a Downtown Committee is needed, made up of people who want to see the downtown grow and change, with new ideas and a passion for seeing their community be the place to be.

“It’s getting those people together, to investigate and learn how to do that” said French. “All it takes is just a couple volunteers.”

DeJongh pointed out that it’s often hard to find boots on the ground to carry out ideas. However, he and others present, agreed there needs to be talk amongst the council and with other organizations, to possibly form a subcommittee.

“We’ll get our heads together and get something going,” promised mayor Mark Larson.

French says the WEDC likes to see city support, but the project is often is undertaken by a chamber or other group. Everyone at the meeting planned to take what they heard and look for others who have the same interest to make Cornell’s downtown a destination.

“I think, any time we have a project in this town, people really get behind it,” said Schecklman.