Images Marshfield, WI: 2010

Destination: Downtown

Beautification, improvements drive business to city center

CITY OFSUSTAINABILITY Community efforts power progress toward energy independence

Video tour of the historic Upham

Mansion

What’s Online

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2010 | IMAGESMARSHFIELD.COM

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FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:Marshfield Area Chamber of Commerce & Industry

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CONTENTS

FEATURES

4 DESTINATION: DOWNTOWNMarshfi eld has been hard at work peeling back the years and polishing downtown to its original charm.

6 CITY OF SUSTAINABILITYCommunity efforts power progress toward energy independence.

10 TASTE TOKYO AND BEYONDMarshfi eld has a variety of restaurants that offer international fare and fl air.

DEPARTMENTS

2 Almanac: a colorful sampling of Marshfi eld culture

11 Portfolio: people, places and events that defi ne Marshfi eld

14 Business Feature

18 Biz Briefs

19 Chamber Report

21 Sports & Recreation

23 Education

24 Arts & Culture

25 Health & Wellness

27 Community Profi le: facts, stats and important numbers to know


®

2010 EDITION | VOLUME 3

MARSHFIELD IMAGESMARSHFIELD.COM 1



Almanac

Downtown DaysDuring the last weekend in July, thousands descend upon

the closed-off streets of downtown Marshfield for Hub City Days,

where activities include concerts, crafts, and an antique car and

tractor show. What’s more, grill masters compete in a pork cook-off,

and a brewfest tent features dozens of craft beers – perfect for a hot

July afternoon.

The festival, organized by Main Street Marshfield, got its name from

the city’s nickname, which stems from its history as a train hub. See

for yourself what the hubbub is all about at the seventh annual event

on July 31, 2010.

A Fair To Remember

Ever heard of cricket-spitting?

This unusual competition

brought the national spotlight to

the Central Wisconsin State Fair,

which draws 100,000-plus to

Marshfield each year beginning

the Wednesday before Labor Day.

Other fair events included an

NTPA-sanctioned truck and tractor

pull, petting zoo, a train ride

through the fairgrounds and

live entertainment such as country

star Craig Morgan. Activities were

staged at a variety of venues,

including cattle judging at the

World’s Largest Round Barn.

As for the cricket-spitting, the

competition was divided by age,

and two winners were a father and

son who spit their crickets more

than 22 feet and 10 feet,

respectively.

Where the Wild Things AreEighty years have passed since the official dedication of Wildwood

Park & Zoo in July 1930, though the zoo was around more than

20 years before then.

Today, the Marshfield attraction is one of the largest municipal zoos

in Wisconsin. Spanning 60 acres, Wildwood Zoo is home to more than

200 animals. Visitors can enjoy a drive-by viewing of grizzly bears,

buffalo, timber wolves and other large animals. If you prefer to pedal,

you can bike the trails that surround the zoo and park area.

The zoo is open seven days a week but is closed on holidays;

admission is free.

2 IMAGESMARSHFIELD.COM MARSHFIELD

Fast Facts The 29th annual

Dairyfest takes place in Marshfield June 4-6, 2010.

Marshfield is the largest city in Wood County, but a small part of the city also extends into Marathon County.

Demographics Daily ranked Marshfield and Wood County No. 20 on its list of America’s Dreamtowns.

The Marshfield Middle School building is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Marshfield is home to the world’s largest round barn.

Each year, 15,000 people from around 30 countries visit Marshfield’s Jurustic Park, an unusual attraction featuring iron sculptures.

WOOD

MARATHON

PORTAGECLARK

Auburndale

Arpin

Marshfield

Wisconsin Rapids

Nekoosa

Spencer

Stratford

Edgar

Greenwood

Granton

Colby

Neillsville13

10

54

13

153

153

29

52

64 64

97

97

29

73

73

13

39

Junction City

Abbotsford

POPULATION (2008 ESTIMATE)Marshfield: 19,239

Marathon County: 134,735

Wood County: 76,680

LOCATIONMarshfield is in the center of the

state of Wisconsin at the

intersection of state highways

97 and 13. The city is just north

of where state Highway 13 meets

U.S. Highway 10.

BEGINNINGSMarshfield was named after

John J. Marsh of Haverhill, Mass.

He was one of the original

proprietors of the town site.

FOR MORE INFORMATIONMarshfield Area Chamber

of Commerce & Industry

700 S. Central Ave.

P.O. Box 868

Marshfield, WI 54449

Phone: (715) 384-3454

Fax: (715) 387-8925www.marshfieldchamber.com

Marshfield At A Glance

What’s Online ee Take a virtual tour of Marshfi eld, courtesy of our award-winning photographers, at imagesmarshfi eld.com.

Marshfield

The Governor Lived Here

Step back in time at Upham Mansion.

The home of former Wisconsin

Governor William Henry Upham has

been restored to Victorian-era glory.

The mansion, built in 1880, features

period furnishings as well as a rose

garden with plant species dating back

to the Roman Empire.

The North Wood County Historical

Society uses the mansion for displays,

research and activities. The downtown

building also serves as the setting for

the annual Dairyfest’s Pie and Ice

Cream Social in June, the Fall Festival

in October and several other events.

Upham Mansion is open Wednesdays

and Sundays from 1:30 to 4 p.m.

What’s Online ee Peek into Upham Mansion’s past in a quick video at imagesmarshfi eld.com.




B rick paths guide your steps along the flowerpot-lined street, dotted with inviting park benches and old-fashioned lampposts in the shadow of impressive storefronts.

Welcome to the new old Marshfield.The historic Wisconsin city has been hard at work peeling

back the years and polishing downtown to its original charm. After much preparation, a $9 million street beautification project and a matching grant façade improvement effort kicked off in the spring of 2009. Today, the fruits of the revitalization are visible not only in the quaint, appealing environment, but also in the increased foot and motor traffic to the downtown area.

“We just brought back an atmosphere that we were missing for a long time,” says Denise Sonnemann, director of Main Street Marshfield, an economic development program focused on downtown revitalization and historic preservation. “Downtown was, you know, you drive through it to get from point A to point B. We wanted it to be more of a destination.”

Since the reopening of downtown, which was essentially

closed off while the street and storefronts underwent the transformation, the new look has been a boon to small business owners. Not only have loyal customers returned, but new visitors are also venturing downtown to see the change for themselves. The allure of the upgrades, combined with the tendency to shop closer to home during an economic downturn, means Marshfield’s downtown business owners are experiencing a surge of interest.

“I think a lot of the big chains are struggling right now, but if you look at the little stores, the small businesses, they’re doing OK because they don’t have all the financial pressure,” Sonnemann says. “It’s also more laid back. Everybody that goes to the big stores, they don’t take the time to relax and window shop. That’s something that happens in the downtown, because there are so many unique stores and you want to go to all of them. Whereas, if you just go to Walmart, they have everything, and you kind of miss out on all that.”

The renewed interest in downtown this project has created is not only a welcome side effect of this successful project but also a catalyst that helped get the project off the ground. “I think the downtown is basically the pulse of what happens in a city,” Sonnemann says. “It’s what makes the city unique.”

Restoring downtown builds pride in a community, according to Jason Angell, director of planning and economic development for the city of Marshfield. That pride is manifested in bustling streets. The more people head downtown, the more businesses want to be a part of the marketplace, attracting even more people, and the cycle continues upward. The revitalization project kick-starts that cycle, he says.

“In order to attract businesses downtown or individuals downtown, the first thing you’ve got to do is get them to at least look at your building, so a facelift was definitely needed,” Angell says.

To get shop owners in the spirit of change, the city offered a matching grant program for historic façade restoration. The program received so much interest that it quickly exhausted its $50,000 budget – and was given an additional $100,000 by the city council.

Roughly 10 businesses have taken advantage of the offer so far, with costs ranging from $3,000 to almost $100,000.

“We’ve been extremely pleased with the program, and we really hope that we can continue this program for many years to come and expand it to other areas of the community, outside just the downtown,” Angell says. “We hope that it’s something that will spark overall community redevelopment in the areas that need it.”

WELCOME TO THE NEW OLD MARSHFIELD

STORY BY MICHAELA JACKSON | PHOTOGRAPHY BY J. KYLE KEENER

“Downtown is basically the

pulse of what happens in a city.

It’s what makes the city unique.”

The newly renovated South Central Avenue in downtown Marshfield

DowntownDestination:


Contact Main Street Marshfi eld to learn about walking history tours of downtown, downtown happenings and upcoming events, façade grant applications, and much more:

Main Street Marshfi eld 222 S. Central Ave. Suite 205Marshfi eld, WI 54449Phone: (715) 387-3299Fax: (715) 387-2286www.mainstreetmarshfi eld.com

More Insight


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I n Marshfield, it’s easy being green – and getting easier every day. Thanks to efforts spearheaded by the Sustainable Marshfield Committee, the city has joined the ranks of Wisconsin Energy

Independent Communities.To qualify for this innovative partnership between

the state and its cities, Energy Independent Communities voluntarily agree to adopt the goal of getting 25 percent of their electricity and transportation fuels from renewable sources by the year 2025. Marshfield had already started down that road when it was chosen as one of 10 pilot communities to be awarded a 25x25 Grant from the Wisconsin Office of Energy Independence. The majority of the $28,750 grant was designated for creating a plan to reach that goal.

Amy Peterson, a LEED-accredited planner with MSA Professional Services, has been helping draft the formal plan that will energize the city’s efforts going forward. “Buildings are the biggest energy users in our communities, so the first thing we will be looking at is retrofitting buildings to make them more energy efficient,” she says. “Receiving the 25x25 Plan Grant really puts Marshfield at the forefront of

COMMUNITY EFFORTS POWER PROGRESS TOWARD ENERGY INDEPENDENCE

STORY BY CAROL COWAN

A cord at Marshfield Utilities is used to charge the batteries of the company’s hybrid electric bucket truck.

SustainabilityCity


sustainability in the state and places the city in the running for other competitive grants.”

Already in the works is the Energy Efficiency Conservation and Block Grant, through which federal monies distributed by the Wisconsin Department of Commerce could funnel up to $225,000 into Marshfield to replace lighting, windows and HVAC systems in municipal buildings. The city also has applied for the $500,000 EPA Climate Showcase Communities Grant, which would fund an energy manager for the city, among other things.

“Of course, none of this would be happening without the passion of the Sustainable Marshfield Committee and the support of the city,” Peterson adds.

Powered by the efforts of Sustainable Marshfield, achievements to date include Natural Step sustainability training for city officials; Marshfield Utilities’ purchase of a hybrid truck; energy audits of municipal buildings, businesses and homes; passage of green legislation; 3,000

compact f luorescent light bulbs given out to the community; the first annual Green Living Expo; and a new fire station that is being built to LEED-certification standards.

“We’re pretty young as a group,” says Marty Anderson, chairman of the Sustainable Marshfield Committee, which officially launched in September 2007, “but we’ve already achieved some significant successes. I’ve been amazed.

“We held our first Green Living Expo on Oct. 3, 2009. We wanted to focus on giving people tangible ways to implement sustainable practices into their everyday living. The community has responded positively, and we’ve had very strong support from the city leadership.”

Jim Benson, energy and water conservation coordinator for Marshfield Utilities, uses a thermal imaging camera and a computer program to conduct energy audits and generate reports detailing the ways homeowners can make their dwellings more energy efficient.

“With just a small amount of promotion, Jim is booked

J. KYLE KEENER

J. KYLE KEENER


Energy Audits With JimWHAT FACTORS INTO A MARSHFIELD UTILITIES ENERGY AUDIT?

When Jim Benson, energy and water

conservation coordinator for Marshfield Utilities,

goes out to conduct an energy audit for a

homeowner, he looks at a number of factors.

First, he takes into consideration the year the

home was built and its directional orientation.

He does an inventory of appliances – what brands

and how old they are.

And he comes armed with a few essential tools.

“I use a thermal imaging camera, and, starting at

the exterior, I look for cracks in the foundation.

I check the windows to see whether they have

single or double panes. I check the door seals, the

heating system, insulation, water-heater temperature.

I have a form that I fill out as I go,” he says.

Once he has collected the data, he uploads it

into a computer program that calculates the low-

cost and no-cost measures the homeowner can take

to reduce energy costs and consumption. He then

provides a comprehensive report to the homeowner,

along with pictures of the problem spots.

Some easy fixes? “Sealing cracks at the sill plate

is very effective,” Jim says. “Caulking and weather

stripping around windows and doors and covering

windows with plastic film in the winter are easy

to do. Installing extra insulation is also very simple.

The vast majority of fixes are simple and low cost.”

If you’re prepared to invest a little more, Jim

suggests considering new appliances. “Appliances

that are 10 years old or older are generally

50 percent less efficient than new Energy Star

appliances,” he says.

To find out more, visit Marshfield Utilities online

at www.marshfieldutilities.org/homenergyaudits.

– Carol Cowan

solid,” Anderson adds. “Marshfield Utilities will probably have to hire one or two more Jims.”

And Marshfield’s efforts are spreading. Sustainable Marshfield has delivered presentations throughout central Wisconsin and served on several advisory panels for other communities. Wisconsin Rapids-based Energy Composites Corp., a manufacturer of components for wind energy and other clean technologies, is working with the National Energy Research Laboratory and the Department of Energy to develop a certified training program for wind-energy component workers. The first such program in the world, it will be offered at Mid-State Technical College and will likely serve as a model for industry certification throughout the country.

Clockwise from top left: Energy auditor Jim Benson uses a thermal imaging camera; Mid-State Technical College’s solar panels; Marshfield Utilities’ hybrid electric truck

TODD BENNETT

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Local Flavor

Taste Tokyo and BeyondMARSHFIELD DINERS HAVE A WORLD OF INTERNATIONAL CUISINE CHOICES

Marshfield may have a population of just 19,000, but eating out can

feel like traveling the globe.The city has a variety of restaurants

that offer international fare and flair. For example, fans of Mexican food can frequent places such as El Mezcal and El Jalapeno, while those who prefer Italian can visit Gianeselli’s to order a fresh plate of Chicken Parmesan or butternut squash lasagna.

Meanwhile, China Chef gives the city a f lavor of the Far East, as does the menu at the popular Royal Tokyo Teppanyaki & Steak House, which is located in a historic train depot.

“When I first opened my restaurant in May 2001, I thought it was time for Marshfield diners to experience another variety of different cuisine,” says Hui Kiew Law, owner of Royal Tokyo. “I decided to establish the teppanyaki style of cooking here in Marshfield, with teppanyaki being another word for hibachi. It features top chefs cooking the meals on a grill right in front of the customers, and the diners seem to love the theatrics as much as the food.”

Law says his restaurant struggled during its first couple of years due to construction on Veterans Parkway that made it difficult for motorists to access Royal Tokyo.

“However, once the roadwork was finally completed, people got to know us and helped spread the word about our fine reputation,” he says. “Now we have an excellent location, and the historic train station building makes my business even more interesting than it already is.”

Menu options include rib-eye steak, filet mignon, lobster, shrimp, scallops and chicken. Royal Tokyo is only open for dinner from 4:30 to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.

“Marshfield diners have quite a few interesting international cuisine options to choose from,” Law says. “We at Royal Tokyo are pleased to be part of it all.”

– Kevin Litwin

Royal Tokyo Teppanyaki & Steak House’s Fried Bean Curd, top, and Royal Tokyo Roll


Portfolio

That’s the SpiritSAINT JOSEPH’S EMERGENCY SERVICES TRANSPORT PATIENTS THROUGHOUT REGION

Look, up in the sky … and also on the roads.

In the winter of 1993, the Ministry Health Care network launched a new program called Spirit Medical Transportation Services and based its operation at Saint Joseph’s Hospital in Marshfield. Spirit, a ground and air medical transport service, has since added ground bases in the communities of Rhinelander, Weston and Woodruff.

Spirit’s mission is to provide a helicopter or ground ambulances to transport adult, pediatric, neonatal and high-risk obstetrical critical care patients to area medical centers that have been alerted about their arrival. The service area includes all of central

and northern Wisconsin.“On average, the Spirit helicopter flies

more than 600 missions a year, while the ground transport teams average more than 2,800,” says Terri Richards, executive vice president of Saint Joseph’s Hospital. “The crews are highly skilled teams who pay special attention to safety.”

One nurse and one paramedic make up the staff for the helicopter and each of the ground ambulances. Spirit crews transport patients to a variety of hospitals throughout the region, although high-risk newborns needing specialized care and treatment are almost always transferred to Saint Joseph’s Children’s Hospital. The Marshfield facility has the highest-level

neonatal intensive care unit in this part of Wisconsin.

“In each of our communities, we provide not only a service but fill a critical need,” says Monty Gallegos, regional director of Spirit Medical Transportation Services. “Today more than ever, many of our communities are strapped for resources, so we recognize that our presence fills many needs in a most compassionate manner.”

Gallegos points out that compassion is what all Spirit teams strive to provide.

“It’s about understanding the customer and always doing what is right,” he says. “The greatest strength of Spirit Medical Transportation Services is in its personnel.”

Saint Joseph’s Hospital

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Portfolio

Marshfield is a two-college town, home to Mid-State Technical

College and the University of Wisconsin-Marshfield/Wood County.

Energizing the enrollment at MSTC are the five associate degree programs in renewable energy. Degrees offered are renewable energy specialist, energy efficiency technician, biorefinery technology, renewable electricity technician, and renewable thermal energy technician.

“Before gas went to $4 [per gallon], these programs were getting popular – but now they are very popular,” says Ron Zillmer, associate dean of the Technical & Industrial Division. “A lot of industries around Marshfield rely on natural resources and energy, so our college decided to focus a lot more on the environmental theme.”

Zillmer says graduates of these programs find jobs in industries that can involve wind turbines, fuel cell technology, solar water heating, waste wood boilers, solar panels, f luid processing and ethanol technology.

“Students can be hired not only as installers but as designers, salespeople, marketers and distribution specialists,” he says. “We carefully researched the renewable energy industry both nationally and internationally, and came up with these five programs that will remain vital and popular for students for years to come.”

And at UW-Marshfield/Wood County, the college has initiated a FastTrack program that focuses on the needs of the working professional. The program is structured so that students can begin a course at any date, attend classes one night a week and complete a course within five weeks instead of 15.

“Class offerings include introduction to business, composition, applied chemistry, public speaking, music appreciation, college algebra, accounting, business ethics and women’s studies,” says Melissa Lake, director of university relations at UW-Marshfield/Wood County. “Students are required to attend class Tuesday evenings from 6-9:15 p.m., then enjoy the flexibility and convenience of learning online.”

Enrolling Right Along


www.centralcitycy.com

HOUSE OF HEATING INC.

M arshfield Clinic and TEAM Cos. broke ground in September 2009

on a $15 million data center facility that will be housed within Mill Creek Business Park in Marshfield. TEAM is an Iowa-based data center and management company, and its Marshfield endeavor becomes the company’s fourth data-related building project in the Midwest.

Marshfield Clinic’s Cattails Software will be the first tenant in the data center. The software service provider offers commercial health care information technology for Marshfield Clinic as well as other clients throughout Wisconsin.

The data center construction project will be built in three phases, with Marshfield Clinic and Cattails Software ultimately using half of the building space being developed in Phase One. The other half of the 16,000-square-foot Phase One structure will be available for lease to other IT-based customers.

The other two phases will eventually see another 30,000 square feet added to the overall complex, with construction to occur whenever the need arises.

Mill Creek Business Park itself is located at the intersections of U.S. Highway 10 and state Highway 13, which makes it easy for tenants to access transportation corridors. The business park offers f lexible zoning and multi-sized lots, and companies currently doing business at Mill Creek include Alliance Collections, Donnelley Marketing and Dental Crafters.

– Stories by Kevin Litwin

TEAM Players

TEAM Cos. data center rendering


www.lennoxdealer.com/houseofheating


BusinessS

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M arshfield may not be a sprawling metropolis, but the bustling city has plenty to offer in the way

of goods and services, and a dedicated group of community leaders is out to convince everyone in town that shopping locally is the wave of the future.

Buy Local started, appropriately, with meetings at a corner table of the locally owned Blue Heron BrewPub. Today, businesses around town sport Buy Local window decals and posters, and a snazzy Web site has turned the concept into a full-blown movement.

“It is so easy to just hop in the car and go to a big mall somewhere and not realize that if you try to buy local first, everything that you can buy locally is going to improve Marshfield,” says Melissa Darr, a founding member

of Buy Local Marshfield. “We want to educate the consumers so they understand the benefit and the need for buying local. We need them to understand how the money they spend affects the community.”

The Buy Local team, along with committed volunteers and local businessowners, has gone door-to-door throughout a 22-mile radius of Marshfield, personally encouraging businesses that have not yet jumped on board to join the program, which is funded by the Marshfield Area Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Marshfield Economic Development Association.

“We were the primary supporters to say, ‘Great idea. We’ll help you out as much as we can if you can get the program up and running,’” says

BUSINESS LEADERS TEACH COMMUNITY TO THINK ‘BUY LOCAL’

STORY BY MICHAELA JACKSONPHOTOGRAPHY BY NAME

STORY BY MICHAELA JACKSON | PHOTOGRAPHY BY J. KYLE KEENER

ShoppingNeighborhood

The Buy Local team supports shopping at places such as Founders Square, top, and Figi’s Outlet, bottom row, both located on North Central Avenue.

CHECK OUR VITALS

Marshfield Area Chamber of Commerce & Industry

... A Great Place to Grow a Business!


access to larger metro markets

research facilities

system, technical college and

and distribution



Business

Scott Larson, executive director of MACCI. In the vein of buying local, the chamber also offers popular gift certificates, good at any Marshfield businesses, that bring in excess of $800,000 every year.

One area the Buy Local team and the chamber hope to improve is business-to-business interaction in Marshfield. “If someone is adding on and they need new windows, we want them to look for a Marshfield vendor to buy those windows,” says Darr, senior manager of quality assurance for Figi’s Inc., a mail-order food and specialty gift provider. “It’s really educating businesses, as well as a businessowner learning, ‘Why is that important?’”

Local businesses that have jumped on the Buy Local bandwagon are already seeing results. Figi’s Outlet, the storefront for Darr’s employer, has made connections with local food

producers since the Buy Local effort got under way. The outlet is also enjoying new partnerships with local hotels to provide food-filled welcome baskets for guests. Figi’s customers are enjoying the fruits – or, more accurately, the cheeses – of Buy Local, as well.

“Just getting in that different merchandise has been truly amazing – customers tasting it and explaining to them about local dairy farmers and being able to support them,” says Ginger Jansen, a supervisor at Figi’s. “I think it’s just opening the public’s

eyes, just seeing that sign, or the decals, or being able to put that on our product – that we’re getting it locally. Why not shop with us versus going out of the city? And why not bring more business back into our community?”

It’s a movement that Jansen feels has been a long time coming – and one she hopes is here to stay.

“I think it’s something that Marshfield has really needed,” she says. “And in these times, staying local and supporting local business is crucial, especially for smaller communities.”

Wisconsin cheeses, sausage, fudge and preserves are just some of the locally sourced gifts sold by Figi’s Inc.

“We want to educate the consumers

so they understand the benefi t and the

need for buying local.”


Biz BriefsBUSINESSES – BOTH LARGE AND SMALL – THAT HELP DEFINE

COMMUNITY’S ECONOMIC CLIMATE

LANG FURNITUREBiz: bedroom furniture manufacturerBuzz: Established in 1966, Marshfield-based Lang Furniture is nationally renowned for its bedroom furniture collections. The family-owned company, founded by Jim Lang and now run by his two sons, produces Wisconsin-made furniture using high-quality raw materials. Lang’s products, which include beds, desks, dressers, armoires and suites, retail in 41 states.www.langfurniture.net

TRADITIONS ON CHESTNUTBiz: kitchenware and cooking schoolBuzz: Jill and Charles McCauley’s efforts to help Marshfield residents buy local are twofold. Jill runs a kitchenware shop called Traditions on Chestnut, which doubles as a cooking school. In 2009, her husband opened a sister business next door. Market on Sixth features a wide array of cheeses from Wisconsin and various wines “that you can’t find in the grocery store,” Jill says.www.traditionsonchestnut.com

UNITED FCSBiz: financial services cooperativeBuzz: The farmer-owned United FCS provides credit and financial management services to agricultural producers and other agribusinesses. These services include mortgage and operating loans, crop and life insurance, accounting and tax services, and retirement planning. United FCS has 12 locations, including a new facility on North Central Avenue in Marshfield.www.unitedfcs.com

TEXSAND DISTRIBUTORSBiz: frac sand processorBuzz: Texas-based TexSand is opening a new processing plant in Marshfield because the area has an abundant supply of frac sand, a form of natural sand with rounded grain structure. TexSand buys sand from mining companies, then processes and distributes it primarily to energy service companies. The Marshfield plant will employ around 30-35 people.www.texsanddist.com

ScorecardBUSINESS AT

A GLANCE

$1,013,092Retail sales ($1,000)

$13,440Retail sales

per capita

$75,173Accommodations

and food service

sales ($1,000)

5,500Total number

of firms

Source: U.S. Census QuickFacts

Business


Getting Down to BusinessCHAMBER’S PROGRAMS WORK TO GROW BUSINESS IN PRESENT, FUTURE

Even as it works to enhance economic growth and

development now, the Marshfield Area Chamber of Commerce & Industry has plenty going on to ensure a solid future as well.

The nearly 600-member chamber prides itself on customizing its programs and services to help not just business sectors but individual businesses within them. The organization is able to take a micro approach that’s very beneficial in many ways, says Scott Larson, executive director.

“We can refine what we’re doing for a particular member or particular group with a specific interest area,” Larson says. “We provide resources in workforce development, as well as economic and community development in general. We provide opportunities for networking and marketing for our members, but we also make sure that we’re offering advocacy services for

them and the greater community.”By drilling down to specifics, the

chamber is able to tackle a multifaceted topic, such as workforce development, and focus on one or two specific issues. For example, it operates the Marshfield Area Human Resources Association, which provides a network for business and human resources professionals within the community to share information such as, for example, new issues in workers’ compensation.

The chamber also has gotten into the health-care arena with a career connections program designed to work with area hospitals and other medical-related businesses to provide on-the-job vocational training for students.

“The hope there is that not only will the business get some help, but the student workers will find an interest in these careers and get more vocational training, then come back to the area to find work,” Larson says.

Students also are front and center in the chamber’s outreach efforts to eight area school districts, as well as its participation in a statewide youth apprenticeship program that lets it connect high school juniors and seniors with local business partnerships for hands-on training in 17 different areas.

On the broader economic development front, the chamber always helps grow its existing businesses, but it also uses outside marketing efforts and the city’s strategic plan, developed in early 2008, to bring in new businesses and industry sectors that ensure the area’s continued viability.

“We see the chamber as a linchpin, and we want to be the predominant entity or organization dealing with economic development,” Larson says. “It’s good for the community, and it’s the kind of service we need to be providing for our members.”

– Joe Morris

Business | Chamber Report

The Marshfield Area Chamber of Commerce & Industry staff

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ECONOMIC RESOURCES

Marshfield Area Chamber

of Commerce & Industry

P.O. Box 868


(715) 384-3454


City of Marshfield

630 S. Central Ave., 6th Floor

P.O. Box 727


(715) 387-6597

www.ci.marshfield.wi.us

Main Street Marshfield

222 S. Central Ave., Suite 205


(715) 387-3299

www.mainstreetmarshfield.com

GOVERNMENT OFFICES

Marshfield Fire & Rescue

Department

412 E. 4th St.


(715) 486-2094

Marshfield Assessor’s Office

630 S. Central Ave.


(715) 384-3856

Business | Economic Profile

ECONOMIC OVERVIEWMarshfield is home to the Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation,

one of the nation’s leading medical care and research facilities that

performs cutting-edge work in epidemiology, farm medicine,

clinical research, human genetics and informatics.

TAXES

0.5%County Sales Tax

5%State Sales Tax

5.5%Total Sales Tax

TRANSPORTATION

Greyhound Bus Lines

400 S. Central Ave.


(715) 387-4030

www.greyhound.com

Marshfield Bus Service

1507 N. Anton Ave.


(715) 387-0101

(800) 380-1287

Marshfield Municipal Airport

400 W. 29th St.


(715) 384-9385

Marshfield City Clerk

630 S. Central Ave., 5th Floor,

P.O. Box 727


(715) 384-3636

Marshfield Police Department

110 W. First St.


(715) 387-4394

INDUSTRIAL SITES

Marshfield Air Business Park

Marshfield East Industrial Park

Mill Creek Business Park

Norwood Industrial Park

Yellowstone Industrial Park

MARSHFIELD

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Sports & Recreation

Whether you just want to play around with your putter or do your best impersonation of Phil Mickelson

on the PGA tour, Marshfield has greens galore.For practice putts and mini golf with the kids, Legends

Golf Center is focused on fun. For the more serious stroke fanatic, Marshfield Country Club, started in 1922, is a public course offering 18 beautifully manicured holes well suited for golfers at all levels of expertise. In 1965, PGA golf pro Darrell Acker Sr. purchased the property, and it’s still owned by the family today. Recent renovations include the MCC Grille, which serves food and beverages, and a new deck.

Also in Marshfield, River Edge Golf Course offers 18 holes overlooking the Yellow River with a driving range, pro shop, and bar and grill.

In nearby Stratford, Mystique Meadows, a nine-hole course that opened in 2005, is a dream almost two decades in the making. “It was my weekend hobby for about 18 years,” says owner Jack Slominski. “When other guys were going to parties, I rented a bulldozer and worked on my golf course.”

Though he claims he’s “not really much of a golfer,” Slominski bought an old farm with 20 acres, then added

80 more acres and built the entire course by hand (with help from a few friends and experts).

“I’ve hauled in a lot of the rocks myself and made waterfalls with stacked boulders,” he says. “I constructed all the 2-, 3- and 4-acre ponds on the place, carved them out myself, and designed the course around them. One of the most unique things about Mystique Meadows is that when you get in the middle of the course, you can only see two farmhouses. No houses, no cars, no traffic. This is the country.”

The public course also boasts a new, all-glass clubhouse overlooking the greens with a custom-built waterfall pond in the back. Slominski has also outfitted the clubhouse with wildlife everywhere, including stuffed bears, elk, deer, moose and ducks.

Though he’s more likely to be found tinkering with the greens than joining a group of his members or regulars, Slominski enjoys his course in his own way. “I play once in a while, but I’m not very good at it,” he says. “My goal in life isn’t to golf. My goal is building a golf course and watching it develop – and I’ve had a lot of fun doing it.”

– Danny Bonvissuto

Strokes of LuckGREAT GREENS ABOUND FOR GOLFERS OF ALL LEVELS IN MARSHFIELD

Jack Slominski, right, opened the golf course Mystique Meadows in

2005 with the help of his wife, Judy. J. K

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Six weeks-1st day of Kindergarten

4K-2nd grade

Pre-K & 3rd-5th grade

6th-8th grade

9th-12th grade

www.marshfieldareacatholicschools.org


When it comes to the next generation, Marshfield is

paving the path to success.The mid-size community offers

both public and private educational resources comparable to cities far larger in terms of both academics and extracurriculars.

By the numbers, the Marshfield School District is no lightweight in the educational ring. Based on academic performance, the Marshfield High School is ranked No. 347 out of 27,000 schools nationwide. In the state, the school ranks second only to an International Baccalaureate high school in Milwaukee.

The district as a whole consistently places first or second in the Wisconsin Valley Conference in terms of standardized test scores, well above the state average.

“The academic part of it, there’s no question that’s outstanding,” says Bruce King, superintendent of the Marshfield School District. “But the other part we’re very proud of is the diversity of opportunities for kids. We’ve been very fortunate in Marshfield to have a very supportive community, and as a result, we have not had to have the same level of cutbacks in programs and services that other schools have. We have a comprehensive co-curricular program.

Comprehensive CurriculumsSTUDENTS SCORE WITH ACADEMICS AND ATHLETICS AT MARSHFIELD’S PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS

Education

You name the athletics and clubs and organizations, and we have it.”

In spring 2009, Marshfield High School beat out students from 300 schools in places such as San Diego, Massachusetts and other coastal locales to win the National Ocean Science Bowl championship.

“The national championship here,” King says proudly. “We’re sitting in the middle of rural, landlocked Wisconsin.”

The community’s private school options make the grade too. Marshfield Area Catholic Schools serves roughly 550 students from 6 weeks old through 12th grade. Due to its size, the system is extremely close-knit and very relationship-based, according to the Rev. Don Meuret.

“Being a smaller school, we have small class sizes, which means more attention paid to individual students,” says Meuret, a past president of the school system who acts as the intermediary between the area bishop and the school administration.

MACS is academically rigorous, with students scoring in the top percentiles of the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills, a national standardized test, and above the state average on ACT scores. However, athletic activities and community services also serve as pillars of the system.

For example, Columbus Catholic High School is the second smallest school in its conference but offers 14 sports, while the largest schools offer only 10.

“Any Catholic school is required by our canon law to be a school of excellence, that we have to strive in every possible way,” Meuret says. “There are tons of opportunities for the students.”

Ultimately, the graduates are the proof of both school systems’ success. Marshfield students go on to top universities around the country, including many Ivy League schools, thanks to the all-important primary and secondary education they receive here. “Schools are the heart of our community,” King says. “We have a very, very strong program, and we’re happy with it, but we want to continue to improve it.”

– Michaela Jackson

The picture of health has new meaning at Marshfield Clinic.The well-known clinic prides itself on top patient care,

but there is also something unusual about the unassuming medical center on North Oak Avenue – it doubles as home to a nonprofit museum and art gallery.

New Visions Gallery resides in a 1,600-square-foot space in the lobby of the Marshfield Clinic’s Marshfield Center location. Since 1975, the gallery has been providing a delightful diversion for those awaiting procedures or appointments.

“It’s a unique setup, because we get a lot of visitors who would not normally venture out to an art gallery, as well as many who would, ” says Mary Peck, New Visions Gallery director.

Peck says Marshfield Clinic is committed to the philosophy that art can provide comfort and visual stimulation to patients, staff and visitors.

The gallery houses a variety of art, including Japanese prints, Haitian paintings, Aboriginal art and West African sculpture and masks. These permanent exhibits are located throughout the clinic and are open to the public.

In addition, rotating exhibits feature a variety of art forms such as national traveling exhibitions, noteworthy works on loan from private and public collections, and work from local artists and students.

“The student show gets a good response,” Peck says. “It showcases emerging local talent from students grades K-12.”

Each summer the gallery organizes a national exhibit titled “Culture and Agriculture.” This yearly ag-themed display is popular because the subject matter is easy for the community to relate to, Peck says.

“The exhibit brings people in with a familiar theme and then shows them something they might not anticipate through the use of contemporary and unexpected media,” Peck says.

A volunteer board of directors and a team of more than 70 volunteers work to help make the gallery a success and participate in an annual fundraiser, Fun d’Arts, to help generate the funds needed to keep the gallery going. They are also involved with Marshfield Art Fair, held annually on Mother’s Day.

The Gallery Shop lets visitors take a piece of the gallery home with them while helping fund the exhibits. Shoppers can purchase jewelry, pottery, woodenware, glass, journals, art reproduction cards and more, which are created by talented artisans from across the country.

New Visions Gallery also provides educational services to the community by offering guided school tours, lectures, demonstrations and workshops.

Through its educational offerings and conveniently located exhibits, the New Visions Gallery in the Marshfield Clinic provides an unexpected dose of culture to the thousands of people who walk through its hallways each day.

– Laura Gallagher

A Healthy Dose of ArtLOCAL GALLERY FLOURISHES IN A SURPRISING SETTING

Arts & Culture

New Visions Gallery at Marshfield Clinic

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What if your doctor could type basic information about you

into a computer and immediately tell you not only your recommended dose for a given medication, but also how your body is likely to respond?

Improper prescription errors could be avoided, you could be given the right drug the first time, and you could plan from the outset how to address any side effects that might occur.

In Marshfield, this level of customized health care is closer than you think.

“We’re in the middle of nowhere,” says Catherine McCarty, Ph.D., M.P.H., principal investigator for the project. “But here in rural Wisconsin, we are

respected around the world as leaders because of what’s called a biobank that we have – the Personalized Medicine Research Project.”

In 2002, the project began with an effort to convince everyone at least 18 years old in 19 zip codes surrounding Marshfield to be a part of the biobank, which today contains DNA, plasma and serum samples for roughly 20,000 people. The database, which also draws information from medical records, is the largest population-based biobank in the nation.

With such highly sensitive information being stored, security and privacy are utmost priorities for project participants, says McCarty, herself a

member of the biobank.The project covers two umbrellas

of research: one studying how genetics predict a person’s response, good or bad, to a given medication; and two, how genes and environmental or personal exposures interact to increase the rise of development and progression of disease. Between the two research umbrellas, 20 different projects are under way at all different phases ranging from design to clinical testing.

The research includes work by everyone from epidemiologists to statisticians to health economists. Ultimately, the goal is to provide information to physicians in a usable format.

“We have shared lab space with the clinical production lab, so it should be a seamless transition from research through to the clinical lab when it’s time to transfer from research to having the tests available clinically,” McCarty says.

The project also relies on a 20-member community advisory group, which includes members from dairy farmers to a state legislator, to discuss issues of importance to consumers.

“People chose to get involved, for the most part, for altruistic reasons. People want to make a difference. An individual, right here in central Wisconsin, can be involved in research that is potentially going to make this big of a difference for clinical care,” McCarty says. “It’s exciting to be a part of it in all aspects, and to feel like right here, in the middle of nowhere, we are making this impact on scientific discovery and, hopefully, sooner rather than later, on health-care delivery for everyone.”

– Michaela Jackson

Health Care To OrderPERSONALIZED MEDICINE MAKES STRIDES AT THE MARSHFIELD CLINIC

Health & Wellness


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Clearwaters Hotel & Convention Center www.clearwatershotel.com

Felker Brothers Corporation www.felkerbrothers.com

House of Heating Inc. www.lennoxdealer.com/houseofheating

Innovative Machine Specialists Inc. www.innmacspe.com

M&I Bank www.micorp.com

Marshfield Area Catholic Schools www.marshfieldareacatholicschools.org

Marshfield Area Chamber of Commerce & Industry www.marshfieldchamber.com

Marshfield Clinic www.marshfieldclinic.org

Marshfield Savings Bank www.marshfieldbank.com

Ministry Health Care www.ministryhealth.org

Re/Max American Dream www.americandream-wi.com

Roehl Transport Inc. www.roehl.net

Schalow’s Nursery Inc. www.schalows.com

The Boson Company Inc. www.bosonco.com


www.felkerbrothers.com

www.roehl.net

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marsaaaaaaaaars

Community Profile

SNAPSHOTMarshfield has all the benefits of small-town living with the

educational and health-care facilities of a much larger city.

It was ranked Best Place to Live in Wisconsin and 20th Best

Place to Live in America by Demographics Daily.

THIS SECTION IS SPONSORED BY

WEATHER

2 FJanuary Low Temperature

21 FJanuary High Temperature

58 FJuly Low Temperature

81 FJuly High Temperature

EDUCATION

OverviewMarshfield offers an excellent

choice of public or private

educational opportunities. The

schools offer a safe, quality

education and are among the

highest rated schools in the

entire country.

Educational FacilitiesMid-State Technical College

2600 W. Fifth St.


(715) 387-2538

www.mstc.edu/marshfield.htm

University of Wisconsin -

Marshfield/Wood County

2000 W. 5th St.


(715) 389-6530

www.marshfield.uwc.edu

Marshfield School District

1010 E. Fourth St.


(715) 387-1101

www.marshfield.k12.wi.us

Marshfield Area Catholic Schools

710 S. Columbus Ave.


(715) 387-1177

www.marshfieldarea

catholicschools.org

HEALTH CARE

Medical Facilities

Marshfield Clinic

1000 North Oak Ave.


(715) 387-5511

(800) 782-8581

www.marshfieldclinic.org

Saint Joseph’s Hospital

611 Saint Joseph Ave.


(715) 387-1713

www.stjosephs-marshfield.org

MARSHFIELD



www.forwardbank.com

www.marshfieldbank.com

Serving Wisconsin Since 1965

10474 County Road A Marshfield, WI 54449

(715) 591-3478 Fax: (715) 591-5523

Toll-free: (800) 944-1985

Visit us at www.schalows.com

Landscape Design/Build

Brick Pavers Installation

Complete Garden Center

Irrigation Installation

Lawn Development

Retaining Walls Construction

A Member of Associated Landscape Contractors

of America and Wisconsin Landscape Federation


www.ministryhealth.org

www.bosonco.com

www.schalows.com

www.mibank.com

www.innmacspe.com

Ad Index 12 CENTRAL CITY CREDIT UNION

C2 CLEARWATERS HOTEL

& CONVENTION CENTER

28 FELKER

BROTHERS CORPORATION

13 HOUSE OF HEATING INC.

28 INNOVATIVE MACHINE

SPECIALISTS INC.

28 M&I BANK

22 MARSHFIELD AREA

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS

16 MARSHFIELD AREA

CHAMBER OF

COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

C4 MARSHFIELD CLINIC

27 MARSHFIELD SAVINGS BANK

28 MINISTRY HEALTH CARE

C3 RE/MAX AMERICAN DREAM

26 ROEHL TRANSPORT INC.

28 SCHALOW’S NURSERY INC.

28 THE BOSON COMPANY INC.

www.prairierundental.com

www.designunlimitedmfld.com

www.prairierun.com

www.marshfieldclinic.org

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