by GCDC | Apr 1, 2024 | News
VILLAGE OF ALBANY, WI – A proposal submitted by the Green County Development Corp. (GCDC) to beautify and create safer people-friendly spaces in downtown Albany has been selected to receive this month’s AARP Wisconsin “Small Dollar, Big Impact” grant.
AARP Wisconsin is awarding $1,000 grants each month throughout 2024 to projects across the state that are designed to make communities better places for everyone to live, work and play as they age. Judges selected this project after reviewing dozens of proposals submitted from all over the state.
Olivia Otte, Executive Director of GCDC, said the goal of the project – called the “Advance Albany Initiative” – is to ‘create a spark that allows us to build excitement and growth in the community.”
The grant will be used to buy reflective crosswalk signs, high-visibility crosswalk paint, and solar-powered LED cross walk lights. The funds will also enable the group to install new flowerpots with native plants in crosswalk islands and put small trees in sidewalk planters. Brochures and flyers about pedestrian safety will also be created and made available in the downtown library.
“By doing this, we will help to enhance the identity of the community and create a space that people want to go to,” Otte said. “This simple addition will serve as a catalyst for community engagement and social cohesion.”
The GCDC was created to serve small communities like Albany. This project, Otte explained, holds a distinctive character as it unfolds within a community characterized by its rural setting and aging population. The village, with a population of approximately 1,200 residents, exudes a sense of tight-knit community spirit.
One year ago, GCDC collaborated with community leaders to conduct first-impression tours of Albany. Key initiatives were identified, and a primary focus emerged: to enhance the downtown area by creating a more welcoming and aesthetically pleasing environment. Because of this community involvement, GCDC has collaborated with the Albany Chamber of Commerce to pursue grants and local donations to turn this vision into reality.
The group used the AARP Walk Audit Toolkit and the AARP Creating Community Gardens resource to help in their planning. “These invaluable tools played a crucial role in helping us refine our focus and identify the top priorities within our community improvement project. By leveraging these toolkits, we gained a clear understanding of the specific areas that required immediate attention and improvements,” Otte said.
Furthermore, she said, “both toolkits facilitated the development of a sustainability plan for our project. Collaborating with community groups and organizations not only diversified our resources but also fostered a sense of shared responsibility and collective ownership for the project’s ongoing success.”
Otte said the AARP grant money will help contribute to the creation of excitement and energy throughout the village.
“We deeply appreciate the AARP grant that GCDC has received, which will contribute significantly to enhancing Albany’s downtown area through beautification and safety initiatives,” she said. “This support not only aligns with Albany’s goals but also generates positive momentum, benefiting both local residents and visitors alike.”
Darrin Wasniewski, Associate State Director of Community Outreach for AARP Wisconsin, said, “We are pleased to see how Green County Development Corp. and the Village of Albany utilized AARP’s Walk Audit Toolkit and Creating Community Gardens in planning this pedestrian safety improvement.
“Older adults are disproportionately affected in traffic crashes involving pedestrians leading to serious injuries or death. We applaud all those involved for focusing on the safety of people walking as they work to create a Livable Community for all ages and all abilities,” Wasniewski said.
AARP Wisconsin’s launched its “Small Dollar, Big Impact” grant program in 2020 and is now in its fifth year of helping proposed projects move forward in rural and urban parts of the state. For more information, visit www.aarp.org/WIsdbi
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AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, with a membership of more than 37 million, that helps people turn their goals and dreams into real possibilities, strengthens communities and fights for the issues that matter most to families such as healthcare, employment security and retirement planning. We advocate for consumers in the marketplace by selecting products and services of high quality and value to carry the AARP name as well as help our members obtain discounts on a wide range of products, travel, and services. A trusted source for lifestyle tips, news and educational information, AARP produces AARP The Magazine, the world’s largest circulation magazine; AARP Bulletin; www. aarp.org; AARP TV & Radio; AARP Books; and AARP VIVA, a bilingual news source. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to political campaigns or candidates. The AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. AARP has staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Learn more at www.aarp.org.
by GCDC | Jan 10, 2024 | News
GCDC is seeking nominations for the 2023 Business Awards. Award categories are listed below. Please use the Attached Form and fill out a separate form for each nomination. Submissions are due no later than February 26, 2024.
The GCDC Executive Committee will review and select recipients, which will be announced at the Annual Dinner event on the evening of March 21, 2024 at Turner Hall in Monroe.
AWARD CATEGORIES
The Outstanding Business of the Year Award – honors an existing business that has demonstrated outstanding commitment to the county’s economic growth through innovation, job creation, new investment, and/or extraordinary long-time interest in supporting others in business.
The Entrepreneurial Spirit Award – honors an entrepreneur who leads the way for their business, demonstrating a growth mindset, a strong work ethic, a willingness to learn and find solutions to challenges, and a hunger for opportunity.
The Richard B. Schmied Leadership Award – commemorates Richard B. Schmied, remembered for the characteristics of leadership he exhibited. The winner of the award exemplifies the character of a true leader.
by GCDC | Aug 21, 2023 | News
GCDC is staying busy – there is so much going on in Green County! Check out our newsletter then sign-up so you can keep up!
https://conta.cc/43QdZMI
by GCDC | Aug 21, 2023 | News
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GCDC Spotlight
GCDC relies on private investors and public partners to support the mission of growth in Green County. We are excited to spotlight those who invest in the future of Green County.
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Blackhawk Technical College –
BTC President, Dr. Tracy Pierner
With the main campus in Janesville, and a second campus in Monroe, Blackhawk Technical College (BTC) serves Rock and Green counties.
Two of the nation’s top laboratory technician programs are available at BTC’s Monroe Campus. The Medical Laboratory Technician and the Laboratory Food Science Technician programs boast exceptional faculty, state-of-art technology, excellent careers, and nearly 100% placement rates for our graduates.
Enrollment at BTC grew significantly in 2023 (nearly 15%) with summer enrollment increases more than 30%. These increases are fueled by flexible options that fit student’s needs, the addition of new fully transferrable 2-year Associate of Arts and Science degrees to local four-year Universities, and enhanced student support available to help student’s reach their goals.
The College is a leader in education that is needed in our community’s workforce and provides local access to world class education at all post-secondary levels. Local employers are participating more aggressively in apprenticeship programs, internships, and other incumbent worker training initiatives such as providing scholarships, purchasing contract training and sending employees to continuing education and credit courses at Blackhawk.
Blackhawk Technical College is committed to the Monroe Campus and Green County community and works with our education and workforce partners to create new opportunities to further the College’s mission: “We help you build your future with a flexible education in a supportive environment”.
What strengths do you see in Green County? Green County offers close proximity to numerous metropolitan areas without the congestion of more urban areas. It has a distinct rural charm and beauty, while also providing high quality education, healthcare, and strong employment opportunities.
What do you see as opportunities, or must dos, in Green County to carry us forward? Opportunities include expanding partnerships with local High Schools to provide access to BTC programming earlier in a student’s journey, continuing to expand the training offered at the Monroe Campus such as ELL, and technical training, as well as building on the excellent associate degree programs offered in Monroe in Agriculture, Medical Lab Technology and Food Science Technology. We need to ensure the opportunities provided in Green County help propel strong economic development and we establish educational partnerships that create a pro-business environment.
What is your future vision for Green County and for Blackhawk Technical College in Green County? We must position the Monroe campus as a recognized and highly prized community resource. To do this, we must grow the Monroe campus through continued partnerships with area high schools offering dual credit, offering the college’s associate degree programs through MyEdChoice which allows students flexibility to attend classes in person or online, and continued supportive training to area employers to offer the skills and training they need to compete successfully in a global marketplace.
Why did Blackhawk Tech become a partner with GCDC and what would you like to see GCDC do more of, or get involved in? The partnership between economic development, workforce development and education is crucial and has been our focus for over 100 years. It is a symbiotic relationship that creates growth and provides industry with the skills and technology needed by business and industry, and provides higher education institutions with connections to the training and skills employers need to grow and expand. BTC would welcome participation in workforce development and training initiatives with GCDC to create more local training that meets local employers needs.
Services provided by Green County Development Corporation, a 501c3 non-profit organization,
are made possible through a combination of public and private investments.
More spotlights to come, but you can always check out our full list of investors and partners on our webpage at greencountydevelopment.com and click the investors tab
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