"ArtsBuild" takes Top Rural Development Initiative honors at Leadership Summit

Appleton - Wisconsin Rural Partners, Inc. (WRP) awarded Top Rural Development Initiatives for 2006 at a ceremony in the Radisson Paper Valley Hotel, Appleton. The awards were presented by WRP president Dennis Deery, followed by a reception held in conjunction with the 4th Annual Wisconsin Community Leadership Summit, hosted in partnership with the Wisconsin Rural Leadership Program and the University of Wisconsin - Extension.

Three initiatives received Top Initiative rankings, while four additional nominees were awarded Honorable Mention. Award winners were able to network with community leaders from throughout the Midwest who attended the summit.

The Top Rural Development Initiatives for 2006 are:

1. ArtsBuild
2. Waupaca Health Communities; Youth on Boards Initiative
3. Shawano County Rural Health Initiative

Honorable mentions were given to Countryside Park Cooperative in Cumberland; Tri-County Regional Economic Development Corporation covering Waushara, Marquette and Green Lake counties; Gogebic Range Leadership Academy of Iron County; and Washington Island Brands of Door County.

The top-ranking ArtsBuild is an economic development program in southwest Wisconsin offering a wide range of assistance to local artists interested in beginning or expanding arts-related businesses.

More details on Wisconsin's Top Rural Development Initiatives in the following PDF files:

• PowerPoint presentation of awards
• Summary Briefs of all 2006 awardees
• ArtsBuild
• Waupaca Health Communities; Youth on Boards Initiative
• Shawano County Rural Health Initiative
• Countryside Park Cooperative
• Tri-County Regional Economic Development Corporation
• Gogebic Range Leadership Academy
• Washington Island Brands

Read more about these initiatives and top initiatives from previous years by visiting our database of profiles.