With assistance from an outside entity, Whitewater officials are hoping to find out what the city excels in, and where it can improve, in fostering small businesses within the community.
The Community Development Authority on Nov. 21 discussed with City Manager Cameron Clapper the partnership, which involves the University of Wisconsin-Extension and is being funded through a grant opportunity.
“This is an effort to find out what we do right, what we don’t do right, what we need to do to retain businesses and attract businesses,” said CDA board member Al Stanek, who chairs the group.
From his vantage point, Stanek said he sees opportunities from the UW-Extension effort, which will include taking the pulse of the city’s existing small business community.
“I think there’s a lot of positives,” he said.
The small business study that is underway was one of several issues discussed amid a broader conversation about business attraction and retention.
Clapper, who has been assuming the role of the city’s economic development director on an interim basis alongside his regular duties, also announced the proposed public-private partnership tied into the expansion of the Irvin L. Young Memorial Library is no longer on the radar.
“That has stopped — the private development component,” Clapper said.
However, Clapper added an expansion of the library is still in discussion. He said library staffers continue to look at areas of concern and considerations are being made for smaller scale improvements.
Clapper also announced the creation of a business development guide that will be geared, in part, toward business developers.
