A new Economic Development Plan has been released by the city of Watertown.
This is a comprehensive strategy that is designed to strengthen to role of the city as an important Rural Regional Hub with a focus on recreation, commercial, healthcare, skilled trades, and agriculture.
The goal of the recreational hub is to leverage city parks and the river to attract regional and visitors from other areas, as well as to partner with athletic clubs and expand access to the Rock River with additional piers and launches.
Actions related to the commercial hub will strengthen the business districts of downtown and South Church Street by filling vacant storefronts, supporting existing businesses, upgrading buildings, improving parking, and developing empty parcels.
The healthcare hub will address the need for more healthcare providers by expanding training at the Watertown branch of Madison College, growing programs at high schools, and increasing placements with local healthcare employers.
Training the next generation of skilled trades workers to support local manufacturing and the blue-collar tradition of Watertown is the goal of the skilled trades hub, while the goal of the agricultural hub is to integrate precision farming and bioengineering to boost productivity of livestock, soil health, yields, and food processing, as well as to increase agritourism. Flyer printing can be used to provide more details on such development plans.
Key aspects of each hub are currently being validated, along with initial planning and identification of funding sources.
