The ‘college county’

by Tom Schalmo

Thursday, October 19, 2006 00:00

The City of Madison is often referred to as a "college town," where rowdy students crowd the downtown streets on the weekends, innocent residents cringe at the thought of Halloween and not wearing red on game day is a cardinal sin.

But, for different reasons, Grant County in extreme Southwestern Wisconsin can be considered a "college county."

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville is an integral part of the economy and community in Grant County, as residents rely on the university through its many campus initiatives.

Members of the UW System Board of Regents got a first-hand look at the progress UW-P has been making, as the board held its October meeting there earlier this month.

Charles Runde, president of First National Bank of Platteville, told the Board of Regents that UW-P is an economic leader in the area.

"UW-Platteville is the largest employer in Platteville and the largest employer in Grant County," Runde said. "UW-P is extremely important to the economic well-being of the region."

Part of the importance UW-P has played was in helping to develop a city business incubator, a group of people working to expand Platteville's business impact.

"[The university] embraced the idea and worked with us to make it happen," Runde said. "The incubator is an important component to our industrial arsenal."

According to Runde, a dairy-modernization task force for the region also exists. The task force consists of a number of UW-P faculty members, Runde said, and aims to increase milk production and financial performance of the producers.

In addition, UW-P Chancellor David Markee and his staff have developed a plan to allow students from neighboring states of Iowa and Illinois to attend UW-P at a more competitive rate.

"Chancellor Markee, with the Tri-State Initiative, is leading us to develop closer and more productive relationships with our neighbors in Dubuque and Galena," Runde said, adding this is one of many ways UW-P is developing relationships with border states.

A Platteville initiative also helped create ArtsBuild, a program that provides artists in Southwest Wisconsin with the tools they need to succeed in starting their own businesses.

"ArtsBuild has become a model in the state," he said. "Earlier this spring, it was recognized as the top rural development initiative by Wisconsin Rural Partners."

Runde added that the arts industry has been an "untapped resource" in the local economy.

The program has also been praised by Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton and has spread throughout the state.

Impacting the community

UW-P Student Senate President Colton Janes told the regents about a number of initiatives the student body has taken part in as part of an effort to improve the community.

The campus puts together an annual 15-hour telethon broadcast that Markee said has raised $750,000 in Wisconsin Badger Camp scholarships for state youth, providing the funding students need to attend the camp that serves people with disabilities.

Janes added that every year, 175 student and Greek organizations participate in a variety of service projects, which bonds them to the campus area.

"The students who attend UW-Platteville really make this community their home," Janes said.