Success By Design In Downtown Wausau
If someone asked you to describe what a healthy, vibrant downtown community look likes you would probably use words like "colorful, unique, attractive, and full of life". What you might not realize is that you've just described the elements of downtown Wausau that our organization's Design Committee is dedicated to enhancing and maintaining.
Good design is important to our downtown because it enhances the attractiveness of the business district. Historic building rehabilitations, colorful banners, landscaping, and lighting all improve the physical image of the downtown as a quality place to shop, work, play, and live. It is this that sets the stage for reinvestment of private and public dollars into our downtown.
To support and enhance the hard work our community puts in to improving and maintaining the physical appearance of District everyday, our Design Committee coordinates the programs and services outlined below.
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Sign and Sign Maintenance Grants To enhance the visual appeal and user-friendliness of downtown Wausau's River District the Design Committee administers a Sign and Sign Maintenance Grant Program. This Program financially supports the efforts of business owners to design, create, install and maintain signage that is effective for the business while complementing the architecture of the building it adorns and the overall image of the River District. In recent years, this Program has assisted the development and funding of more than 10 new signs in downtown Wausau's River District. Download The Sign And Sign Maintenance Grant Application Here!  New signage is eligible to receive awards up to $500.
Sign Maintenance Grants award a 50% reimbursement of total maintenance costs, up to a $100 maximum. Pictured: Terradea Salon & Spa, 2010 Grant Recipient Near West Side Master Plan Promotion The Design Committee is also dedicated to promoting improvements outlined in the Near West Side Master Plan. Developed in 2007, the Near West Side Master Plan provides comprehensive recommendations to guide public and private improvements that will ensure the long-term economic vitality of Wausau's Central Business District. To assist the development and implementation of the physical improvements identified in this plan, the Design Committee will be facilitating focus groups on topics related to the visual appeal, user-friendliness and safety of the area. These sessions are likely to be scheduled for early spring. Click here to link to the Near West Side Master Plan.
Amenity Enhancements Another important focus of the Design Committee is to make sure that our downtown community offers amenities necessary to provide patrons a unique, user-friendly experience. By observing the District and listening to the needs of downtown business owners and patrons for enhanced amenities we're able to organize projects and partnerships that do just this. An example of this work is the recent coordination of a partnership with the City of Wausau and Park Department to develop a Planter Adoption Program. This Program will provide businesses the opportunity to plant and maintain a planter along 3rd and Washington Streets as a means to add visual interest to our downtown landscape. Additional information on this Program will be made available in the coming weeks. Free Design Assistance To further promote the preservation of the River District's historic character, we also offer free design assistance to business and property owners interested in doing interior and exterior renovation projects. This service results in plans and suggestions developed by a Design Specialist that can be implemented to take advantage of and enhance the District's unique history and charm. Coupling this design service with low interest loans available through the City of Wausau's Community Development Department helps the private sector make a big impact on the visual appeal of our community. ____________________________________
Who Serves On This Committee?
The Design Committee is made up of the following dedicated volunteers:
- Mary Forer, Marathon County Historical Society
- Dawn Follendorf, Main Street Wausau
- Gary Gisselman, Marathon County Historical Society
- Maryanne Groat, City of Wausau
- Dave Oberbeck, Oberbeck Architecture LLC
- Jane Welter, Stewart Inn Bed & Breakfast
If you have an interest in partnering with us on any of the initiatives outlined above, or would like more information on how to get involved, contact Dawn Follendorf at 715.845.1328 or Dawn@MainStreetWausau.org. This committee gathers the third Thursday of every month at noon in the Main Street office (316 Scott St.). | 
