Survey results indicated that inflation, housing, and aging workforce were the top three economic issues, and the top three goals to address these issues were:

1. Support infrastructure that ensures the future availability of a skilled and flexible workforce,
2. Support the infrastructure, public services, and facilities needed for economic development, and
3. Support a living wage.

Water quality, protecting environmental features, and severe weather were the top three environmental issues, and the top three goals to address these issues were:

1. Preserve and protect the region’s landscape, environmental resources, and sensitive lands while encouraging healthy communities,
2. Encourage planning and development of land uses that create or preserve varied and unique urban and rural communities, and
3. Expand or enhance outdoor recreation opportunities.

The top three quality of life issues were housing affordability/costs, mental health/substance abuse issues, and childcare affordability/availability, and the top three goals to address them were:

1. Promote a variety of safe and affordable housing options that meet the needs of all community members,
2. Provide and improve transportation access to people of all ages and abilities to ensure lifelong mobility and accessibility, and
3. Promote healthy lifestyles in the Region.

Survey respondents were then asked more general questions. Only 17 percent of respondents expected the Region to decline in the next 10 years, with 37 percent expecting it to stay the same and 46 percent expecting it to improve. The final, open-ended response had a variety of approaches and opinions regarding various topics covered in the plan. In general, there is support for improving housing, healthcare, education, and childcare, and a desire to protect the environment while having local control over decision making. Ultimately, the responses indicated a strong preference for economic development that revitalizes underutilized sites and responsible spending that reduces the overall tax burden.

Appendix D of the Regional Comprehensive Plan contains all responses to the Regional Comprehensive Plan Survey.

The NCWRPC has been federally designated as the Region’s Economic Development District (EDD) by the Economic Development Administration of the U.S. Department of Commerce (EDA) since 1973. As a part of that designation, NCWRPC has been able to access millions of federal dollars for the benefit of the regional economy.

Since 2018 alone, NCWRPC has helped secure over $13.4 million in investments as a result of EDA funding. Major investments include:

• $3,000,000 grant to fund the creation of the Lac du Flambeau Workforce Training & Business Development Center. The Business Development Center is a 20,000 square foot facility that provides workforce training for the local labor force for in-demand jobs as well as business development services to help entrepreneurs create and expand more businesses in the area.
• $2,638,075 grant to fund the construction of a new molding plant for the Tribally-owned Simpson Electric in Lac du Flambeau. The new facility will allow Simpson Electric to expand their production capabilities and replace their current dilapidated building. The project is expected to create or retain more than 80 jobs and generate $500,000 in private investment.  
• Mid-State Technical College was awarded a $2,000,000 grant to fund the development of the Advanced Manufacturing, Engineering, Technology and Apprenticeship (AMETA) Center in Stevens Point. The AMETA Center will be an extension of Mid-State’s Stevens Point campus. It is expected to serve over 1,500 people per year through advanced programming to traditional technical college students and high school students, incumbent worker training and new equipment and technology advancement demonstrations for central Wisconsin businesses. This EDA project is expected to create or retain more than 760 jobs and generate $2 million in private investment.
• Mid-State Technical College was awarded a $1,772,951 grant to construct a new workforce development center at their Adams County campus. The new workforce development center will provide training opportunities in the healthcare, welding and construction sectors. This project is estimated to create 150 jobs, retain 50 jobs, and generate $2 million in private investment.
• In collaboration with CREATE Portage County, the NCWRPC was awarded $543,560 to launch the CREATE Your Community Initiative. This initiative expanded the CREATE Portage County model throughout the North Central Wisconsin Region and started a network of collaborative hubs supporting entrepreneurial ecosystems, the creative economy, and quality places throughout the Region.
• North Central Technical College was awarded a $510,430 grant to support sawmill and forest products workforce development in conjunction with their Antigo campus. This project is estimated to create or retain more than 40 jobs and generate $4.4 million in private investment.
• The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (UWSP) was awarded a $500,000 grant for the purchase of composting and recycling testing equipment in an effort to support expansion of the environmental sustainability of the packaging industry in Wisconsin. This project represents an opportunity to diversify the state's critical forest products and packaging industries. This project is expected to create 50 jobs, retain 60 jobs, and generate $7 million in private investment.
• NCWRPC was awarded $400,000 to help guide economic recovery and resilience efforts during and in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. A Regional Recovery Plan, Regional Health Pandemic and Future Response Plan, and a Regional Industrial Park Inventory, Absorption, and Needs Study were conducted as part of this effort.
• Additionally, the NCWRPC has received funding to support its economic development efforts, including an update of its 5-Year Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS).

NCWRPC is starting the process to update the CEDS in summer of 2025, with adoption anticipated to occur in early 2026. The CEDS provides a detailed assessment of economic development conditions in the EDD, and identifies a Regional Economic Development Strategy, which includes goals and objectives. The CEDS also includes a list of critical regional investment projects. This then provides the foundation for the NCWRPC economic development work plan. Along with maintaining our designation as an EDD, updating the CEDS provides access to grant funds from EDA for our Region.

A CEDS committee made up of economic development professionals throughout the Region has been established. The committee will review various economic data, conduct a SWOT analysis, and work to establish goals, objectives, and policies to create a new regional development strategy. This strategy will become the foundation of the NCWRPC’s economic development work program.

For more information about EDA Funding or the CEDS Update, please contact Eric Sonnleitner at 715-849-5510 extension 306 or esonnleitner@ncwrpc.org.