Create Wisconsin Hosts “Creative Economy Tour” in Ripon and Princeton
with Sen. Joan Ballweg
Highlighting Local Creativity, Entrepreneurship, and Opportunity
Create Wisconsin, the state’s community cultural development organization, will host a “Creative Economy Tour” with Sen. Joan Ballweg, 14th Senate District, in Ripon and Princeton on Wednesday, August 31. Tour hosts also include The Heist, Ripon, and Horseradish Kitchen, Princeton.
Mal Montoya, Board President of Create Wisconsin, stated, “We are thrilled that local, regional, and state leaders are participating in the tour. This area and the 14th Senate District in general is a prime example of how local business, the creative sector, regional partners, and state agencies can work together to help grow and diversify Wisconsin’s economy.”
The tour will highlight investment in the region’s tourism and entertainment sector.
Tourism is big business regionally and the state continues to be a premier travel destination. Wisconsin’s tourism industry saw a record-breaking year in 2022. According to 2022 economic impact data, the tourism industry generated $23.7 billion in total economic impact, surpassing the previous record year of $22.2 billion set in 2019. The total economic impact in Fond du Lac County increased by nearly 14% in 2022 over the prior year, from $241 million to $274 million, while Green Lake County experienced a 19% increase, the second largest percentage increase behind Dane County, from $52 million to $62 million.
Meanwhile, statewide direct visitor spending in the recreation and entertainment sector, including arts and cultural businesses, which had been hardest hit during the pandemic, increased by $330 million in 2022, to nearly $2 billion, or roughly 13% of the statewide total $14.9 billion.
“Create Wisconsin is pleased to showcase the regional creative economy,” Montoya said. “We are extremely appreciative that Sen. Ballweg is joining us on this tour as a champion for the creative economy, small business, and entrepreneurship.” Montoya pointed to the Senator’s leadership as chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Tourism and as a member of the Joint Committee on Finance as being instrumental to securing increased tourism and promotion funding of $30 million as part of the recently enacted 2023-23 state budget bill.
Beth Haskovec, Director of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation’s Office of Rural Prosperity will also participate in both sessions of the tour.
TOUR SCHEDULE AND PARTICIPANTS (as of 8-28-23)
10 am TOUR AND ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION
Sam Luna, The Heist, Ripon
Rachael Avery, Thrasher Opera House, Green Lake
Mandy Kimes, Ripon Chamber of Commerce
Ric Damm, Ripon College
Craig Tebon, Ripon Main Street
Sam Handley, Green Lake Festival of Music
Noon: TOUR, LUNCH, & ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION
Matt Trotter, Horseradish Kitchen and Parlor Hotel, Princeton
Mark Judas, Princeton Chamber of Commerce
Katie Menting, Thrasher Opera House, Green Lake
Lisa Maier, Green Lake Area Chamber of Commerce
Shane Foreman, 3D Health/Levee Contemporary Gallery, Princeton
Carson Wegner, emerging entrepreneur
Greg Wright, Spark Towns
The media is welcome and encouraged to attend. Contact Anne Katz at Create Wisconsin (608 255 8316 | akatz@createwisconsin.org | for details.
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