A new vision for Milton
Podcast Episode
Kyle Geissler talks with Janesville Gazette reporter Stacy Vogel about revitalization plans for Milton that calls for new uses for the Milton College campus.
MILTON — A UW-Whitewater group has a vision for the future of Milton:
Tourists flock to the city to learn about its history and visit its unique shops. They start with a self-guided tour of Milton College, which is resurrected as a learning institute as a satellite site for Blackhawk Technical College.
A community center and businesses such as accounting firms, law offices and health clinics anchor the campus.
From there, visitors spread out to niche shops, small entertainment venues and one-of-a-kind eateries. They stay overnight in a hotel or motel in the city.
The vision still is a dream, but UW-Whitewater’s Center for Innovation and Business Development wants to help Milton make it reality.
Bud Gayhart, director of the center’s Small Business Development Center, presented the results of a community innovation study to the Milton Chamber of Commerce, Industry & Tourism on Wednesday.
The center has been working for about a year on the project, which started with a survey to business owners, tourists, civic leaders and 3,000 area residents. About 25 percent of residents responded, Gayhart said.
The center took the survey results and crafted a list of recommendations to make Milton a tourist destination.
The city has to create its own “brand,” Gayhart said.
“When people mention the Dells, you know what it’s about,” he said. “When people mention Cedarburg, you know what it’s about. There’s no reason Milton can’t be the same way.”
Milton, he said, should be about history. The city has one of the oldest college campuses in the state, though the college closed in 1982, and it has a bona fide link to the Underground Railroad through the Milton House.
The city could market itself with a catchy slogan and logo, Gayhart said.
But first, it should anchor its commercial area in Milton College, the midpoint between its two downtown areas.
Gayhart already has spoken with Blackhawk Technical College officials, who expressed enthusiasm about opening a satellite site in Milton, he said. With an educational institute and some businesses, the college could become the “hub,” leading visitors to other areas of town.
Enacting the plan would take collaboration between businesses, government and residents, Gayhart said. He suggested creating a “revitalization committee” with five to seven members representing all three groups. The committee could create a strategic plan to put the center’s suggestions into action.
The Milton Chamber of Commerce, Industry & Tourism already has begun enacting some of the suggestions, Executive Director Christina Slaback said. It is improving its Web site and promoting niche businesses such as Leuca Guild and the soon-to-be-opened Northleaf Winery.
It will discuss other suggestions at future board meetings, she said.
Meanwhile, UW-Whitewater isn’t going anywhere, Gayhart said.
“Our plan is to stay engaged throughout the process,” he said.
MILTON PLAN
Suggestions from UW-Whitewater’s Center for Innovation and Business Development for making Milton a destination included:
-- Focusing on business retention before recruitment.
-- Using students and resources from Blackhawk Technical College, UW-Rock County and UW-Whitewater for office work, Web site production and marketing.
-- Creating a public-private partnership.
-- Creating an electronic membership directory and a “business of the month” on the Milton Chamber of Commerce, Industry & Tourism’s Web site.
-- Using holiday themes to promote the city.
May 22, 2008 at 10:47 p.m.
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No that is not the only place I look I have been around Milton for some time now and I have seen many different business's come and go but have'nt heard of any Bars closing
May 22, 2008 at 6:21 p.m.
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Isn't bringing in Blackhawk the same as, let's say, brining in a prison? That is, the money comes from the govt., and it only purports to bring in tourists (or in the case of a prisoner, prison guard families and prisoner's visiting family)? This model the UWW business professors used is a model that assumes that with a "creative class" comes investment, but the creative class doesn't come from Blackhaw Tech. but from cutting edge artists and other alternative types. Because many of these people have talent but no money and because we are centrally situated, some very good artists could, I suspect, be attracted to Milton (especially artists with families or artists that want a relatively quiet place to work). Let's try this before we establish another institution that will be costly in the longrun. Now, I should warn the folks that good artists -- the kind that will attract the folks from the cities -- can sometimes be unconventional and, yes, even controversial.
May 22, 2008 at 6:17 p.m.
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“When people mention the Dells, you know what it’s about,”.......There’s no reason Milton can’t be the same way.”
My fault, I should have been more specific. Their comment was related to instant recognition and that "Dells level" of notoriety will never happen for Milton. Other than the Milton House/stagecoach stop/slave tunnel, I would appreciate someone telling me what additional "history" exists that is suppose to be such a big draw for the tourism masses. It sure isn't an old college campus. C'mon, when was the last time you drove/flew to hike around an old educational facility? The annual chicken barbeque would bring in more people.
However, I do wish Maven the very best with Leuca Guild and hope it is a success. May your enthusiasm and creativity never cease. People like you are the only hope of the concept succeeding because if marketers are thinking the taxpayers are going to write a blank check for something that will take a couple generations and a lot of funding to bring to fruition....just not going to happen.
May 22, 2008 at 6:09 p.m.
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This seems more like a give-away to Blackhawk Tech than it does a development plan. This is modelled on the idea that colleges bring in money, but those colleges people think of are largely colleges with a residential population or liberal arts colleges that bring in more cultured, affluent parents and family. I have an idea that might actually fulfill this and would cost the govt. and town less money. Give some space away free to artists. (You can have a competition if you want and draw on the knowledgeable professors at UWW to tell you who is good.) With the free space, you could even get a couple to live here, and eventually, with some time and town support, we could have something like an artist colony here. Now, if we did that and had even one gallery with art that's interesting and cutting edge, the cultured tourists would come and would visit the Milton House. This plan, however, won't get those people at all. Eventually, some people might even begin to settle in this charming town and restore some of its historic homes.
May 22, 2008 at 4:22 p.m.
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Purrmaid, I think you should read it again. The article doesn't say it should be the same level as the Dells, only that when you hear the name, you would associate Milton with History. I don't know why everyone has to be so negative.
May 22, 2008 at 4:22 p.m.
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Last time I checked, the city employees and council all work for you! You are paying their wages or voted them in...so why are you give them your power for change, if you are not happy with the way things are? Things will change if you and I want it and get involved. It is that simple! ~Linda
May 22, 2008 at 4:03 p.m.
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You're wrong there, cardtrader-that's obviously just the only place you're looking. Like only seeing the drinkers at GM. If that's what you're looking for, that's all you'll ever see.
Maven has the right idea and is doing something about it. Let HER have her vision, too.
May 22, 2008 at 3:46 p.m.
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The City gave up on the people canceling the junction function, what makes you think the people will jump aboard this dream ride, the only thing supported in milton are the bars
May 22, 2008 at 3:18 p.m.
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This is exactly what I envisioned of Milton when I founded Leuca Guild on April Fool's Day 2007. Yes, it takes a crazy, foolish person to open a 'niche' business like Leuca Guild in a small, conservative town like Milton at the beginning of an economic turndown that has blown into a recession. But someone has to get the ball rolling and be the bullseye for the arrows that always meet change. I have a dream because I believe in the progressive, inspired energy of the founders of our town. Milton has had its ups and downs, hey that's life. Get over it! Milton has an amazing tradition, history and spirit. Our identity doesn't come from city hall and the chamber, it comes from us, the people. I believe we just need to get re-aquainted with that pride and power and move forward with enthusiasm. It is time for those aching for change to get involved. Support local Milton business first. Think BIG and then go to work! Stop complaining and do something, no matter how small. Talk to a neighbor. Hug a kid. And let's put Milton back on the map as a cool place to live, play and visit. It really is not that hard to do...join the few of us that have gotten started and join the fun! bodhi~Linda Bricco Schalk, founder of Leuca Guild ~ All Local Art*Gifts & Jewelry - Tea House (That weird place on the corner across from the Milton House in the Ezra & Elizabeth Goodrich Home...come in, visit and have a cuppa tea!) www.leucaguild.com www.discovermiltonwisconsin.com
May 22, 2008 at 3:09 p.m.
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Dibbs on the 72 Hole Mini Golf Course!
May 22, 2008 at 2:22 p.m.
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After reading the article several times, I still get the same reaction, "Huh?" Didn't they try "niche shops" and they flopped? Do tourists really "flock" to "self-guided" tours of old buildings (few that there are). This really sounds more like a Mickey Rooney/Judy Garland "Hey kids, let's put on a show" assignment for a Business 101 class...like revamping a shoe store. The most incredulous part was suggesting Milton could ever be on a tourist attraction level to The Wisconsin Dells. Guess I better call dibs on the Duck Ride concession for Lake Koshkonong.
May 22, 2008 at 1:50 p.m.
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Think they will build another skyscraper in Milton after this plan? Oh wait, that tall thing is a grain silo...
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