Category Archives: Economic Development
50 years of projects transform downtown
Let no one say that leaders in West Bend aren’t bold and forward looking. The complete rebuild of Main Street, its sidewalks and the Riverwalk are the latest projects in a long series of projects that have put downtown West … Read the rest
West Bend’s Main Street will get a face-lift
It was a half-century ago that an embryonic non-profit redevelopment group called City Centro Inc. led the way toward angle parking on Main Street and brick pavers for its sidewalks. The red brick pavers created a unique look. Bump-outs on … Read the rest
Downtown renaissance defies COVID
When the organizers of the restoration of the historic West Bend theatre were mounting their efforts in 2017 to 2019, they operated on the fundamental premise that the community would “own” The Bend. Community members far and wide pitched in … Read the rest
State leaders weak on growth initiatives
If you have been in business for a while, you will have learned that you can’t cut your way to success. Layoffs, cutbacks in new equipment, deferring maintenance, shelving R&D, may be necessary to get through some tough patches, but … Read the rest
Country needs to bring home major industries
One of the great learnings coming out the COVID near-depression is that a public-private partnership buttressed by massive government funds can produce amazing results. The delivery of the COVID vaccines in a short burst of time stunned everyone, including business … Read the rest
50 years of restoration transforms West Bend
When city planners and consultants did big thinking about the central part of West Bend 50 years ago, they all agreed that the Milwaukee River was potentially the city’s most attractive asset. The river was a draw because it was … Read the rest
COVID sidelines many workers, undercuts rebound
The COVID clamps on the available workforce explain much of the inability of the economy to get rolling again. Companies simply cannot get the available work done because they can’t muster full work forces for their operations. When one worker … Read the rest
Foxconn: more politics than business
How did we get so far off the tracks in the Foxconn train wreck in Racine County? At the bottom of the debacle were two major pieces of flawed strategic thinking running all the way from the Oval Office to … Read the rest
