Progress — 2014
Page 39
Eagle River Revitalization Program
offers projects to keep city attractive
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piled and used for developing our work
plans and goals for the next five years.
BY AL PITTELKO
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
EAGLE RIVER REVITALIZATION PROGRAM
Ongoing projects
Some ERRP projects are ongoing
year after year and are as follows:
Flags and Flowers. Each year, flags
are mounted on all street poles on Wall
St. and Highway 45. There are more
than 100 flags that have to be replaced
every year. This program is funded completely by donations from businesses, organizations and private donations. Volunteers replace the flags and the city
crew puts them in place. The flags go up
before Memorial Day and stay up
through Veterans Day
Artscape. ERRP will once again be
sponsoring Artscape 2014. The ERRP
design committee solicits local artists to
submit their artwork to be displayed on
the 40 banners that hang from the street
lamps on Wall St. A brochure is made up
and will again be promoted as a walking
tour. More than 70 pieces of artwork
were received last year, which is then juried down to 40. The banners are up
from Memorial Day to Veterans Day.
Farmers Market. Since 2001, the
Eagle River Farmers Market has
brought you the best of the North Woods
from May to October. Located north of
the Highway 45 bridge, the offerings
typically include vegetables, flowers,
honey, breads, meats, cheeses, maple
syrup and much more. The mission of
the Farmers Market is to create a special destination for the convergence of
agriculture and community. New this
year is a Winter Farmers Market held
every Wednesday through April from
noon to 6 p.m. at the Veterans of Foreign
Wars post in Eagle River.
Sign Grant Program. Sign grants
are available through the ERRP office.
Sign grants are offered to enhance the
image of the community as well as the
business to which it is associated.
Grants are available for 50% of the cost
of the sign up to a maximum of $500.
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“The Eagle River Revitalization Program will build upon Eagle River’s tradition as a vital and attractive destination,
improve the business environment and
enhance the quality of life.”
That is the mission statement of the
Eagle River Revitalization Program
(ERRP) — celebrating its 15th anniversary in 2014.
A healthy, viable business environment is crucial to the economic health
and civic pride of the entire community.
It retains and creates jobs, provides a
stronger tax base, establishes businesses that use public services and provides
tax revenues for the community. Revitalizing our community also will preserve
the symbols of our community’s unique
heritage for future generations.
The ERRP is entering its 15th year of
working with the city of Eagle River to
revitalize the community. There are five
areas in which the ERRP can offer assistance to local businesses. They are reinvestment loans, sign grants, design assistance, small-business counseling and
market analysis.
These services are all free in conjunction with the Wisconsin Main Street
Program. Just call to set up an appointment for any of needs you may have.
New projects
New projects for the ERRP this year
are as follows:
Business Plan Contest. This contest is open to those who want to start or
expand a business in the city of Eagle
River. The purpose is to encourage entrepreneurs to formulate plans for a new
and/or expanding business property that
will be located in the city of Eagle River.
The winning business plan will describe
a new/expanding business that will be
successful for the owner and the community. Prizes are offered to the winner.
First place is $2,000 cash and a $1,000
media package, second place is $1,000
and third place is $500. Sponsors for this
contest are Associated Bank, BMO Harris Bank, First National Bank, River
Valley Bank, Vilas County News-Review
and Heartland Communications.
Lunch n’ Learn. The Economic Restructuring Committee organizes and
facilitates biweekly one-hour Lunch n’
Learn meetings during January through
April that cover a broad range of business development issues. All business
owners, employees or just the curious
are welcome to come, meet, eat and discover at the Lunch n’ Learn series. These
sessions are free and are held at Eagle
The Eagle River Revitalization Program has completed many projects in the city, including Artscape banners on light poles and landscaping.
—Contributed Photo
River Roasters on West Pine Street in
Eagle River from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30
p.m. The first program was Jan. 8 and
will continue on Wednesday every two
weeks until the end of April.
Bike Rack Grants. Beginning in
2013, this project offers businesses the
op