Updated: 8/15/2007; 1:04:41 PM

Dispatches from the Frontier
Musings on Entrepreneurship and Innovation

daily link  Thursday, November 06, 2003

City within a Village

Yesterday, I had the pleasure to speak with Terry Whipple of Juneau County Economic Development Corp.  He told me about an intriguing project he's pursuing that he calls a "city within a village."

Juneau County is in central Wisconsin and is the home of just 25,000 people.  Historically, the county's economy was dominated by manufacturing concerns, which have been beset by the drive to automate, streamline, and outsource.  More recently, entrepreneurial endeavors have begun to take center stage.  However, Terry understands that there is an urban advantage when it comes to building companies.  Among the many initiatives he and his colleagues are taking to address the challenge is a project that calls for converting an old manufacturing facility into a place that emulates some of the key advantages of urban business life - diversity, shared infrastructure, easy interaction, and energy.  Unlike like myriad incubators that offer a low rent and a stagnant environment, Terry is aiming to create something that could have real legs.  An unexpected take on the urban village.

 
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Copyright 2007 © W. David Bayless