Signage Assistance Marketing & Promotional Tools
Architectural Renderings Real Estate Assistance
Business Counseling Near West Side Collaboration
NEW - Property Improvement Grant Crime Prevention Tools
Other Local & State Business Development Resources
Signage Assistance
Sign and Sign Maintenance Grants
Are you interested in investing in new signage? Would you like to freshen up your current signage? Allow Main Street Wausau to assist you! In recent years, our Sign Grant Program has assisted the development and funding of more than 10 new signs in Wausau’s River District. To keep your business and the District looking its best, we are now offering a Sign Maintenance Grant to financially support your efforts to maintain your signage.
Our Sign Grant awards a 50% reimbursement of total eligible project costs for the creation of new signage, up to a maximum award of $500.
Our Sign Maintenance Grant awards a 50% reimbursement of the total eligible sign maintenance costs, up to a maximum of $100.
The following businesses are recent Sign Grant recipients:
  
Ask An Expert Program
Want advice from an expert on the type of signage that will best fit your business, your building, and the River District environment? Contact us for a free, one-on-one on site consultation with an experienced member of our Design Committee.
Architectural Renderings
Free Design Assistance
As a Wisconsin Main Street community, River District property and business owners interested in overcoming a design challenge are eligible to receive free design assistance from a Wisconsin Main Street Design Specialist. This includes recommendations on appropriate facade renovations including paint, color, signs, windows, awnings, masonry and renderings of proposed work. This assistance also includes recommendations based on budget considerations and building's historical qualities as well as guidance on how to proceed with the project. This service is entertained on a first-come, first-served basis. Contact us for additional information on how to get connected with this resource.
Business Counseling
Free Small Business Counseling
Free, confidential, one-on-one small business counseling is available from the Wisconsin Main Street Program. It is available to prospective and existing business owners and covers all aspects of owning or operating a business - from start-up questions to long range planning.
The service is available to businesses that are operating successfully as well as those experiencing difficulty, and has been utilized by dozens of businesses in the District. In fact, the best, most progressive businesses are always looking one or more steps ahead. Just one good idea for a new product or service, one market assessment to help you make a better informed decision, or one new technique for managing your business could make the difference in becoming more profitable.
Want to take fresh look at your business by utilizing this confidential outside assistance? Contact us for additional information on how to get connected with this resource.
NEW - Property Improvement Grant
Property Improvement Grant / Application
If you are planning for or considering making improvements to the property you own or operate a business out of in the River District, Main Street Wausau is now offering Property Improvement Grants. The Property Improvement Grant provides financial assistance for the development of plans and/or technical services associated with structural modification for existing and new business enterprises or income generating rental units.
The Property Improvement Grant awards a 50% reimbursement of total eligible project costs for the creation of new signage, up to a maximum award of $500. Download the grant program and application for details on eligible expense and how to apply.
Marketing & Promotional Tools
Business Profile on WausauRiverDistrict.com
Heighten the awareness of your business or organization among community members and visitors to the Wausau area by completing a profile for your business on this site. Doing so will add exposure to your business and your products and services, as well as provide users an opportunity to connect with you virtually through direct links to your website and social media pages. Contact us to receive your username and password to log-in and begin creating your profile! If you already know your log-in information and would like to modify your profile, visit this link to log in.
Facebook
The businesses and organizations in the River District make this community “upstream from the ordinary”. Main Street Wausau takes full advantage of the River District Facebook page to promote all the fantastic work you do – and we encourage you to do the same by posting your happenings on the River District Facebook page as well!
Not on Facebook but would like your message to reach the River District’s 700+ Facebook followers? Contact us to post a message on your behalf! Want to begin using Facebook to promote your business but don’t know how? Contact Dawn to set up a one-on-one session to explore Facebook, determine if it’s right for you, and - if you’re ready - create a page of your own.
What’s Up In The River District?
‘What’s Up In The River District?’ is a free weekly email blast that contains a listing of events and happenings taking place at businesses and organizations in Wausau’s River District. This email currently reaches more than 750 subscribers - and the list is growing weekly! Click here to sign up to begin receiving these emails. Continue reading for instructions on how to submit your event or happening. (The events and happenings that you submit also live on the Hot Happenings tab of our website.)
How to Submit Information To Be Included In ‘What's Up In The River District?’: If you have something you'd like to include about your business in the next edition of ‘What's Up In The River District?’, please let us know! Information included about upcoming events in the District is limited to businesses located within the River District neighborhood. Similarly, event locations are limited to the River District neighborhood. Click on the River District BID tab to see if your business or happening is located in the District.
Submissions should be done by email, and be relatively short (approximately 65-70 words or less). Please include the following information: date, time and location of event; contact information and short description. Note that items may be edited for space. Website and social media links are encouraged. Graphics will not be included. Items to submit include but are not limited to: festivals, art shows, bringing well known people to your business, sales, fundraisers - anything you think is appropriate.
Submit your event information to Dawn Follendorf at Dawn@MainStreetWausau.org by noon on Tuesdays. "What's Up In The River District?" is e-mailed every Wednesday.
Real Estate Assistance
River District Market Profile
Click on the 'Market Facts & Stats' tab for information on the District that you can assist you in selling or leasing space available in your property. Click here for a pdf version of the River District's Market Profile or contact Main Street Wausau for color copies of this piece for use with your recruitment efforts.
Real Estate Listings
Want to give your development opportunity additional exposure by being listed on our For Sale Or Lease listing? Contact us to submit information on your available properties to be listed on our site. The more we know, the better our ability to assist you in getting your property sold or leased.
Near West Side Collaboration
Since June of 2011, Main Street Wausau has been gathering Near West Side stakeholders on a regular basis to establish development priorities for the area and plans for how we will work together to generate positive changes relative to these priorities. Click here to view a document outlining these development priorities and initial plans for change. Click here to download the Near West Side Master Plan, a planning document created in 2008 and adopted by the City of Wausau that provides recommendations to guide public and private improvements over the next one to two decades.
Since these meetings began, positive change has spurred - from pedestrian safety enhancements and plans for beautification at the City level, to volunteer clean up efforts coordinated by The Salvation Army. Contact us to be included in communications and meeting notices related to these efforts.
Crime Prevention Tools
As a business or property owner, you can take a proactive role in reducing criminal opportunity in and around your property by participating in a variety of crime prevention initiatives to decrease your losses and increase your bottom line, including the following:
Report Suspicious Activity
Businesses can prevent crime by reporting suspicious persons or activities to the Police Department without delay so law enforcement officers can investigate them. The dispatch non-emergency number is 715.261.7798.
Pass on information about suspicious persons or activities to the Main Street office. Our office will distribute this information by email to our business community to alert employees and residents of the activity. Contact Dawn at Dawn@MainStreetWausau.org or 715.845.1328 to do so.
Security Survey
Reduce your vulnerability to crime by taking advantage of a FREE Security Survey courtesy of the Wausau Police Department. During a Security Survey, a Police Officer will visit your business and evaluate its physical and procedural security measures. The officer will inform you of how your particular business may be most susceptible to crime, and factors that may make their business an attractive target to prospective criminals. The officer will complete the survey by offering specific suggestions on security improvements you may want to consider to lower your potential to become a victim of crime. Officers can also work with you to target specific concerns or issues you may be experiencing. To schedule a Security Survey, contact Wausau Police Department Patrol Captain, Dwayne Dachel, at 715.261.7808.
Be Informed
The Wausau Police Department makes available the following resources to keep you informed of criminal activity:
Daily Report Log: Each non-holiday weekday, a log is displayed of the reports generated by Officers during the prior 24 hours, or prior 72 hours, if on a Monday. This content of this log is an information sharing tool. If additional information is sought on any specific topic, you are to contact the Wausau Police Department at 715-261-7800 or police@ci.wausau.wi.us.
Crime Mapping: Virtual and pdf crime maps can be accessed by visiting www.ci.wausau.wi.us /departments/police
Local / State Business Development Resources
Click the links below for information on the following types of resources
Financing / Financial Information Resources
River District Resources
Main Street Wausau, Inc.:
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Sign and Sign Maintenance Grant Program (see resource details above)
Lenders in the District:
City Resources
Community Development Department:
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Commercial Rehabilitation Loan Program (link to document)
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Rental Rehabilitation (link to document)
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Weatherization Program (document?)
Marathon County Resources
Marathon County Economic Development Corporation (McDEVCO):
State Resources
Department of Financial Institutions (DFI)
Wisconsin Business Development
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Provides assistance accessing various government related loan programs such as New Markets Tax Credit, Capital Access Program, and SBA Loans.
WHEDA
Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC)
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To learn more about WEDC programs, contact our region’s Area Development Managers, Deb Clements at 715.344.1381 or Deb.Clements@Wisconsin.gov
Wisconsin Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
Federal Resources
Small Business Administration
Educational / Business Development Resources
River District Resources
Main Street Wausau, Inc.:
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Small Business Counseling (see above for resource details)
City Resources
Entrepreneurial and Education Center
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Entrepreneurial Boot Camp
Marathon County Resources
Wausau Region Chamber of Commerce
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SCORE: Starting and Surviving in Business, A pre-business workshop
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Educational Programs and Entrepreneurial Training Courses
Marathon County Economic Development Corporation (McDEVCO)
Regional Resources
Central WI Alliance for Economic Development (Centergy)
North Central Technical College
UWSP – Small Business Development Center
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Counseling and Workshops
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Automated Business Resources Directory Line
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Trade Area Mapping
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Business Plan Development
State Resources
Wisconsin Business Wizard
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Use this tool to determine licensing, permitting and regulatory requirements, obtain necessary application forms, identify available state resources, and access other valuable business-related information.
Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation
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For assistance navigating and accessing WEDC programs, contact our region’s Area Development Managers, Deb Clements at 715.344.1381 or Deb.Clements@Wisconsin.gov
Wisconsin Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation
Federal Resources
Small Business Administration
“Starting A Business” Guides
Planning or Expanding Your Business – A Getting Started Guide, Produced by Centergy
Starting a Business? Here’s Help! - Produced by Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation
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