By Dave Fidlin
Correspondent
Citing eight years of successful collaboration, city officials recently voted unanimously in favor of renewing an agreement with the Downtown Whitewater Inc. organization.
Each year, the Common Council reviews its agreement with Downtown Whitewater and discusses a number of criteria, including how much in city tax dollars will go toward funding the organization’s operations.
The 2014 agreement is virtually the same as prior years. The city will continue to disburse $20,000 in public funds to Downtown Whitewater, with the caveat officials within the organization raise $40,000 – either through cash or in-kind donations – to enhance the downtown business community.
Dave Saalsaa, who serves on Downtown Whitewater’s board of directors, came before the Common Council last week and discussed the organization’s past, present and future.
In 2013, Saalsaa said Downtown Whitewater went through a number of pivotal changes, including new leadership on the board of directors. With the changes, he said, comes a renewed vision for the downtown community.
“We continue to do our work, and we’ve created an environment that allows the private sector to do its best work,” Saalsaa said.
Read the rest of the story in this week’s Whitewater Register.
