What's Happening

Viroqua Visit the doorway to the Driftless Region

Street Talk for the week of Jan 213, 2011

By Emily Joy Rozeske

The Viroqua Chamber Main Street’s goal for 2011 is to reinvigorate our organization and evaluate our impact in Viroqua and beyond. Our first project was to refine our physical identity with a new logo and name. Now, the Viroqua Chamber Main Street, our name says a little bit more about what we do to people outside of Viroqua. We are a Chamber of Commerce and a WI Main Street community. Our job will always be to create partnerships and be a partner in progress for Viroqua, thus saying goodbye to the “Viroqua Partners” is a bittersweet farewell. We also have a new logo (see above)! It takes important elements from the City of Viroqua logo and a historic logo of the Viroqua Partners. It also recognizes the heart of Viroqua, our downtown, a place of history and gathering.
As we grow, we need residents that understand the importance of a strong community to help us reach our full potential. Is there something that you can do to help us make 2011 an outstanding year for Viroqua? Can you help our office fold the quarterly business mailing (2.5 hours every 3 months), volunteer with a friend or your family to help sell Kickapoo Coffee at the VCMS booth during the Farmers Market (6.5 hours a Saturday), help our Design Committee weed the perennial gardens on Main Street (4 hours one weeknight this summer) or become a Twinklefest Parade coordinator (1.5 hours the day after Thanksgiving)? Maybe you can commit to 2 hours a month to be a part of one of our committees. I have included a synopsis of each of our committee’s below (Design, Promotions and Economic Restructuring). If you are interested in being a part of the Viroqua Chamber Main Street and one of our committees, we welcome your involvement. If you do not have time to commit but would like to support the Viroqua Chamber Main Street, considering becoming a member. Come and be a part of positive change in Viroqua!

Design Committee
Mission: Enhance the attractiveness and physical image of Viroqua.
Projects:
1) Restore the Viroqua Community Mural.
2) Beautify Main Street (purchasing flower baskets for the lampposts and organizing the maintenance of the downtown perennial beds.
3) Administer the Façade Grant to improve the face of Viroqua.
4) Promote a cohesive look to the Downtown to encourage pedestrian traffic.

Promotions Committee
Mission: Developing and refining a unified, quality image of Viroqua as the best place to live, work, play, and visit.
Projects:
1) Coordinate promotion of businesses for City-wide events.
2) Improve current VCMS events (City-Wide Rummage Sale, Twinklefest, Crazy Days, Viroqua Farmers Market, Halloween Safe Trick or Treat)
3) Work with the City of Viroqua Tourism Committee to attract visitors to our community.

Economic Restructuring
Mission: To strengthen existing businesses and recruit new ones.
Projects:
1) Sponsor business networking opportunities throughout the year.
2) Administer the Marketing Incentive Grant for new businesses in Viroqua.
3) Establish resources to spark new business opportunities
4) Support our current businesses with education and resources.
I would like to make a special thank you and apology for not mentioning two very important VCMS members in our member “thank you” a couple of weeks ago. Susan Sordahl and Bette Schoenemann are both individual members that were regretfully left off of our list and I would like to personally thank them for continuing to believe in the Viroqua Chamber Main Street.