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Marketing and University Communication UW-Green Bay, CL 815 2420 Nicolet Drive Green Bay, WI 54311-7001 (920) 465-2626 E-mail: hildebrs@uwgb.edu Last update: 9/27/07 |
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In
the News Archive - Year:
June 13, 2004 Revitalization program gives Gillett new life Effort is on to revamp city's downtown district By Elaine Kauh
The organization, which is part of the state Main Street Program, is working to enhance community life while revamping the city's downtown district.
So far, it has organized events, documented the history of downtown buildings and surveyed local businesses. On June 18, Gillett, a city of about 1,300 residents, will launch its new farmers' market.
All this was done with the help of student interns, who gained work experience while assisting with marketing, research, logo designs and other areas.
"It's been very exciting because I like to turn these students loose and see what they can come up with," said Diane Nichols, program manager of Revitalize Gillett.
So far, seven University of Wisconsin-Green Bay students have worked for Revitalize Gillett, which will continue the internships.
Cassie Suring, a UWGB history major who will be a senior this fall, researched the feasibility of a museum, which the local historical society wants to start. It's one of the goals of Revitalize Gillett.
Last summer, Suring spent one day a week visiting small museums in the region to find out what's required to start one, from space needs to equipment and staffing.
"I really enjoyed it. I'm really interested in museums," said Suring, who's from the nearby village of Suring. She also learned a lot about area history and confirmed her aspirations to be a museum curator.
Interns did research, design
Damien Schmitt, who graduated from UWGB in May with a fine arts degree and graphics minor, designed posters and brochures for Revitalize Gillett programs and events.
He'll continue to work for the organization on a project-by-project basis over the summer, including the design of a Gillett city logo.
"It was excellent work experience," said Schmitt, a Green Bay resident. The internship helped him build a solid portfolio and showed him what it's like to pitch ideas to boards and committees, win design approvals and meet deadlines.
"It's a big process," Schmitt said. "It was exciting that way, too."
Nichols said many of the projects allowed students to work independently and do many tasks from campus. The internships, which paid a $300 stipend, generally lasted for a semester.
One intern did time-consuming research into the history of downtown buildings, which date back to the 1800s. With limited funds and staff, this could not have been accomplished this soon, Nichols said.
Niche filled for college
Nichols learned about UWGB's internship programs from a former student in late 2002. She contacted Career Services, and in January 2003 some faculty members visited Gillett to learn more about the Main Street Program.
"At that point we had been in existence just six months," Nichols said.
Linda Peacock-Landrum, UWGB's director of Career Services, was among the visitors. She saw Revitalize Gillett as a unique internship opportunity for projects like historical research.
"That filled a niche that's not readily available," Peacock-Landrum said. "Our students got wonderful experience."
Nichols also has worked with interns from Northeast Wisconsin Technical College.
The internships won recent recognition when the state Main Street program awarded Revitalize Gillett an honorable mention for 2003 in the category of Public-Private Partnership in Downtown Revitalization.
Revitalize Gillett won a second honorable mention for its Grow-It-Make-It-Market conference, which introduced local farmers to value-added agriculture. Schmitt designed the conference logo and brochure.
Downtown has challenges
Revitalize Gillett is one of about 33 Wisconsin Main Street organizations.
The state Department of Commerce established the program in 1987 to support historic and economic revitalization of downtown districts.
Despite the good start for Revitalize Gillett, the organization has a long way to go.
Goals include turning around the downtown business district, which has struggled over the decades as highway bypasses, the economy and other factors took their toll.
"I'd like to see the downtown community grow," said Owen Farrell, owner of the family-run OJ's Midtown Restaurant on Main Street.
He's a member of the Revitalize Gillett board and believes that if businesses market themselves and maintain quality, they can compete.
"People have to work at it, too," he said.
One challenge has been getting motorists to get off the main roads on their way up north.
"Highway R had a big impact. It diverted so much traffic," Farrell said as he cooked up bacon and eggs on a Wednesday morning.
OJ's sign declared it was "voted best pies in the state." The distinction comes from Wisconsin Trails magazine.
Farrell said an OJ's billboard on Wisconsin 32 has helped direct motorists to the restaurant, which has steady local customers and has been seeing more out-of-towners.
"A lot of the time we don't recognize half the faces out there," he said.
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