City of Wausau. MWC file graphic
WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — A Central Wisconsin community will be one of three to participate in a new pilot program focused on economic recovery.
The City of Wausau has been selected by the Wisconsin Department of Revenue and the Wisconsin “Stop the COVID Spread” Coalition to be one of three cities to test out a community-based approach on figuring out how to economically recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Mayor Katie Rosenberg says the program aims to “rocket propel” the economy back to where it was pre-COVID 19.
“They’re using a process called Appreciative Inquiry. The Secretary [Department of Revenue] speaks very highly of this process. Basically, we’re trying to get community-centered plans for how to relaunch after COVID. But while understanding that not everyone is vaccinated and all of this,”.
Department of Revenue Secretary Peter Barca has recommended the Appreciative Inquiry process for the project due to successful past experiences using it in Congress during the Clinton Administration. The process is a strengths-based improvement methodology that brings stakeholders together to share ideas, agree, on the best initiatives to pursue, and collaborate to implement them. AI utilizes a ‘SOAR’ process where participants identify Strengths, Opportunities, Aspirations, and Results.
Wausau is holding its first meeting of the pilot program on Monday afternoon. Rosenberg says that community members involved in the project are from a wide range of leaders. “Business folks, some other government people, non-profits, hospitals. And actually, I got a sneak peek at the RSVP list. Apparently, we are doing the best out of all the RSVPs, which I’m not surprised by. But we have lots of people, just a good cross-section of Wausau,”.
The pilot program is in its early stages so it’s not entirely clear how it will take shape. But Rosenberg expects there will be a lot of listening to do in their first meeting on Monday. “I expect us to do a little bit of listening because we’re going to need to know a little bit more about how to proceed.
“I’m really just excited to hear from people because I only get what I go out to seek right now because people are kind of hunkered down. We haven’t had lots of opportunities like this to bring the whole community together. So I’m really just excited to hear from people about how they’re doing and what they need to succeed,”.
The other cities selected by the state to participate in the pilot program are Green Bay and Rhinelander. The project is expected to last for the next few months.
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