July 18, 2017 – The City of Platteville has nominated the Platteville Library Block Project for a
Public-Private Partnership award. The award is part of the Community and Economic Development Awards program created by the Wisconsin Economic Development Association (WEDA) to recognize individuals, businesses, projects and organizations that are making significant contributions to Wisconsin’s economy.
The Library Block project is a partnership between the City of Platteville, United Development Solutions, and Southwest Wisconsin Community Action Program aimed at transforming a declining area into a community asset. The transformation of the Library Block area between the Main Street Business District and the University of Wisconsin-Platteville campus includes a 72-room hotel, 22,000 square-foot public library, underground parking and a neighborhood clinic. The $16 million project broke ground in February 2016 and will be complete in early 2018.
This public-private effort took several years of planning and faced many challenges. Once complete the renovated area will increase the local tax base and retain or create an estimated 48 jobs in addition to the jobs created throughout the construction process. With $14 million in private investment, the project has already spurred additional development and expansion.
The Platteville Library Block Project is among 18 entities nominated for the third annual Community Economic Development Awards. There are six award categories: Business Retention & Expansion; Human Capital; Private-Public Partnership; Economic Development Initiative; and Economic Driver.
The Public Private Partnership award honors innovative projects that demonstrate a strong public/private sector partnership or joint venture in planning, developing and financing a project.
Nominees will be screened and selected by an impartial panel of WEDA members, partners and sponsors. Winners will be recognized at a ceremony on September 13, 2017, at The Edgewater Hotel in Madison. The awards event is open to the public. For more information and to register, please go to www.weda.org/award.
WEDA is a statewide non-profit organization with over 420 members dedicated to expanding Wisconsin’s economy. Founded in 1975, WEDA’s economic development professionals and active volunteers are dedicated to making Wisconsin a better place to live and work through economic development that focuses on retaining and expanding existing businesses; facilitating investment and entrepreneurship; and attracting new companies, employment opportunities and innovation capital.