2025 Municipal Survey Results

Pierce County Spoke Up: Local Leaders Sparked an Exciting Vision for Economic Growth!

By: Lauren Highfill, Executive Director, PCEDC

Pierce County, WI – This year, 16 of our municipalities came together for a municipal listening session, a dynamic exchange of ideas that is shaping how Pierce County Economic Development Corporation (PCEDC) and its partners champion growth. It was more than a meeting; it was a powerful collaboration.

Pierce County, WI: Insights flowed freely at this first-ever event hosted at the Chippewa Valley Technical College in River Falls, WI. The room was filled with a tangible sense of energy where ideas flowed freely. The comprehensive feedback collected from 64% of Pierce County’s municipalities was pivotal, providing a robust foundation for strategic action across key areas like housing, infrastructure, business development, tourism, quality of life, and workforce readiness. Municipalities identified Housing and Infrastructure and Business Retention and Expansion as the top priorities for Economic Development improvement in Pierce County.

Survey Results

(Note: We’ve summarized the key takeaways from our survey, highlighting the top priorities for action, with 1 indicating the highest-ranked concern for respondents.)

Housing & Infrastructure: Building a Better Tomorrow

It was clear that more homes were needed, and the message focused on diverse housing options: senior housing, “move-over” housing, and smart in-fill housing to maximize our spaces. On the infrastructure front, and rated as the highest priority, the call to address infrastructure in Pierce County was loud and clear. Other important areas discussed included increased capacity for water, sewer, and electric. Improved county roads and bridges were also a concern. In addition, four municipalities communicated the importance of addressing façade and structural improvements to give our business districts a vibrant facelift!

Housing:

1. Lack of Affordable Housing
2. Lack of Workforce Housing
3. Aging Housing Stock
4. Insufficient Infrastructure

Critical Infrastructure Needs:

1. Water and Sewer Upgrades
2. Energy Infrastructure
3. Improved Roads and Bridges
4. Reliable Transportation
5. High-speed internet

Business Attraction & Retention: Rolling Out the Welcome Mat!

Our municipalities were eager to see businesses flourish, and they pinpointed some key areas to tackle, including quality buildings, making new construction more affordable, and ensuring we had infrastructure-ready sites. Also included in the comments were building and façade improvements, innovative workforce housing incentives, and bold infrastructure expansion.

When it came to supporting Pierce County businesses, access to financing, smart tax incentives, workforce training programs, and streamlined permitting were cited as key factors in helping attract and retain businesses in Pierce County. And what kind of business did our municipalities cite as most beneficial for Pierce County Economic Development? Almost equally, Agro-Tourism, General Tourism-Related businesses, Manufacturing, Small Businesses, and High-Tech industries were pinpointed as pivotal to Pierce County.

Business Attraction and Retention Needs (Barriers):

1. Lack of Available Land
2. High Cost of Business
3. Burdensome Regulation
4. Insufficient Workforce

What Incentives & Support Would Be Helpful for Business Attraction and Retention:

1. Access to Financing
2. Tax Incentives
3. Workforce Training Programs
4. Streamlined Permitting

Types of Businesses You Would Like to See Expand or Develop in Pierce County:

1. Agro-Tourism
2. Tourism Related Business
3. Manufacturing
4. Small Businesses
5. High Tech Industry

Tourism in Pierce County: Unleashing Our Natural Charms!

Our municipalities knew what made Pierce County special! They highlighted the natural beauty, recreational opportunities, historical sites, and vibrant cultural attractions as prime tourism magnets. They also noted the importance of new trails, local tourism-related businesses, and events and festivals as impactful for our region. What kind of support did they want from the PCEDC? Municipalities cited regional marketing campaigns, game-changing tourism development grants, and valuable training for our tourism businesses.

Tourism in Pierce County: What tourism-related development opportunities exist in your municipality?

1. Developing Trails
2. Promoting Local Businesses
3. Supporting Local Events and Festivals

What level of support from the PCEDC would help develop and promote tourism in your municipality?

1. Regional Marketing Campaigns
2. Tourism Development Grants
3. Training for Tourism Businesses

Quality of Life: Nurturing Our Community!

Our communities focused on essential needs that truly impacted economic growth. A critical shortage of childcare options, the need for more mental health services, better access to quality healthcare, and substance abuse treatment were identified. Addressing these issues meant helping our residents thrive, reducing obstacles to employment, boosting productivity, and reducing absenteeism. Solutions suggested included increasing childcare subsidies, expanding access to healthcare, and providing robust support for local healthcare providers.

Quality of Life Indicators: What health and childcare solutions/investments would you like to see addressed to support economic growth?

1. Increase Childcare Subsidies
2. Expand healthcare access
3. Support for Local Healthcare Providers

How do health and childcare needs impact the ability of your residents to participate in the workforce?

1. Difficulty Finding/Keeping Employment
2. Reduced Productivity
3. Increased Absenteeism

In your municipality, what are the most pressing health and childcare needs that impact economic development?

1. Shortage of Childcare Options
2. Lack of Mental Health Services
3. Lack of Access to Quality Healthcare
4. Substance Abuse Treatment

Workforce & Education: Empowering Our Future!

To keep our workforce strong and vibrant, suggestions included creating dynamic apprenticeship programs, hands-on job training, strong partnerships with higher education, and stronger support for career development. These initiatives were key to fostering a skilled and ready workforce!

What workforce and education needs would be most helpful?

1. Apprenticeship Programs
2. Job Training Programs
3. Partnerships with Higher ED
4. Support for Career Development

Looking Ahead: A Unified Vision for Pierce County!

This listening session wasn’t just about identifying challenges; it was about sparking solutions and igniting a collaborative spirit! The overall message is clear: a balanced economic development strategy is needed. This means prioritizing infrastructure improvements (especially façade improvements and utility expansions), tackling our housing shortages with a focus on affordability, and embracing a balanced approach to attracting a diverse range of businesses. Most importantly, there is a strong call for enhanced collaboration and coordination – partnerships between government agencies, municipalities, and the PCEDC, ensuring that both our vibrant cities and charming rural areas get the attention they deserve.

The PCEDC was thrilled to receive this invaluable feedback. Stay tuned for more exciting developments as we work together to make Pierce County an even better place to live, work, and thrive!