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A pergola is being built on the Village Green. It is the centerpiece of a revitalization project for which the city of Ripon received a $50,000 Vibrant Spaces grant from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. The Village Green is owned and operated by Ripon Main Street, Inc.
The city of Ripon is receiving a $50,000 Vibrant Spaces grant from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) to fund the beautification and revitalization of the Village Green, a public community space in downtown Ripon owned and operated by Ripon Main Street, Inc.
The Vibrant Spaces Grant program is designed to help cities and towns revitalize underused spaces to build community and attract future residents.
Through this grant program, communities across the state of Wisconsin will be investing in their workforce attraction and small business development by creating inviting, walkable spaces in their downtowns, arterial districts and economic centers.
“Investing in vibrant communities where people want to live, work and raise families is critical to attracting and retaining workers in our state,” said Missy Hughes, secretary and CEO of WEDC, the state’s leading economic development organization. “These grants will help communities create new gathering places in thriving downtowns to draw in residents, visitors, new businesses and investments.”
To improve the image of Ripon’s downtown historic district and provide the community with accessible public space, WEDC’s Vibrant Spaces Grant will go toward the revitalization of the Village Green.
The centerpiece of this improvement will be an accessible pergola that will serve as a community gathering space and event venue. Additional improvements planned include new park benches, decorative fencing, planters, electrical upgrades and decorative lighting.
When not being used for events, the Village Green will serve as a place for downtown visitors to relax while visiting local businesses and provide space for employees and business owners to socialize and network.
This project aims to create an inviting transition between the growing downtown and the nearby Ripon College, and is designed to attract visitors and future residents for years to come.
“Main Street has been working for more than 30 years to establish the Village Green as a primary gathering space for the community,” Ripon Main Street, Inc. Executive Director Craig Tebon said. “Securing a Vibrant Spaces grant enables us to establish a feature on the south end of the downtown that will add vibrancy to the district throughout the year.”
The events and activities organized by Main Street aim to enhance the image of the community, making Ripon a desirable place to live, work and play.
Whether through hosting engaging events like the summer concert series, Santa and the reindeer during the holiday season, or ice skating during the winter, Ripon Main Street is working to enhance the economic vitality of the central business district.
“The city of Ripon is excited to support Ripon Main Street to assist with the investment in the Village Green, and grateful that the WEDC selected this impactful project in our community,” Ripon Mayor Theodore Grant said. “The project highlights the joint commitment of Ripon Main Street and the city to elevating our downtown and making it an even greater destination.”
The Vibrant Spaces Grant program is an initiative within WEDC’s Community Development and Investment grant program. Projects were evaluated based on their ability to create visible and pedestrian-oriented public spaces that attract and accommodate multiple users and activities. Successful projects demonstrated that they would benefit the local district, nearby businesses and the community as a whole. Communities were required to match grant funds and begin construction this summer.
More information may be found at www.wedc.org/programs-and-resources/vibrant-spaces/.
