Economic Development Strategic Plan
Background
Introduction
In 2011 the City of Marshfield’s Common Council employed a consultant firm to conduct an economic development assessment for the Marshfield area. A primary recommendation from this assessment was the transition of the Marshfield Economic Development Association (MEDA) to a stand-alone organization held accountable to the City’s Common Council and the Marshfield community. While MEDA had successfully created a cooperative economic community, there was lack of a shared vision and strategies to achieve that vision. After a year of planning utilizing results from the economic assessment, the Marshfield Economic Development Board (EDB) was created and members were formally approved in July 2012.
The role of the EDB is to direct, oversee, and coordinate all economic development activities related to the investment of City funds, to adopt plans and strategies designed to foster business growth and development, and to ensure that the City and its partners work in a cooperative manner to promote coordinated economic development in the community. The EDB will perform a variety of duties including, but not limited to: prepare and maintain a comprehensive economic development plan; act as the City’s agent in committing economic development resources; prepare an annual budget, with funding allocations for all partners; identify other possible funding sources; coordinate efforts to effectively and efficiently meet its critical objectives; and, communicate frequently with its partners, the general public, and the Common Council. To achieve its mission, the EDB may seek assistance from all local, regional, and state organizations that may add value to economic development.
The EDB and the Marshfield community will benefit from a long term economic strategic plan that provides clear vision and achievable strategies. In addition to the Marshfield community, it is expected that other rural areas affiliated with Marshfield will benefit through workforce opportunities, economic growth and diverse retail trades. The ripple effects to other rural communities are natural given the proximity and current relationships or networks in place.
Key benefits:
· With vision and strategies in place, goals and objectives can be determined and communicated. In addition, measurable results can be tracked and accounted for.
· With effective training and development, staff and EDB board members can ensure knowledge and understanding of the dynamics of economic development. With this understanding in place, economic discussions and decision making can be more productive with efficient use of time and educated decisions.
· With an EDB website developed, clear and consistent communications can be shared with the Marshfield community. Beneficiaries of the website include various audiences such as local business, potential new business, city officials, community citizens and other economic development organizations.
· With planned project documentation, materials can be created to support outreach or replication of an economic development plan for other rural communities. This makes the project beneficial to many rural areas as opposed to simply the Marshfield community.
What is Economic Development?
No single definition incorporates all of the different strands of economic development. Typically economic development can be described in terms of objectives. These are most commonly described as the creation of jobs and wealth and the improvement of quality of life. Economic development can also be described as a process that influences growth and restructuring of an economy to enhance the economic well-being of a community. In the broadest sense, economic development encompasses three major areas:
· Policies that government undertakes to meet broad economic objectives including inflation control, high employment and sustainable growth.
· Policies and programs to provide services including building highways, managing parks and providing medical access to the disadvantaged.
· Policies and programs explicitly directed at improving the business climate through specific efforts, business finance, marketing, neighborhood development, business retention and expansion, technology transfer, real estate development and others.
The main goal of economic development is improving the economic well-being of a community through efforts that entail job creation, job retention, tax base enhancements and quality of life. As there is no single definition for economic development, there is no single strategy, policy or program for achieving successful economic development. Communities differ in their geographic and political strengths and weaknesses. Each community therefore, will have a unique set of challenges for economic development.
Overall Process for Preparing an Economic Development Plan
Evaluation of Economic Opportunities
Community Overview
Economic History of Marshfield, WI
In 1851 and 1853, when the area was still forested, U.S. government surveyorsworking on foot with compass and chain, marked all the section cornersin 6 by 6 miles (9.7by9.7km) square which now includes Marshfield,Hewitt andCameron.When done, the deputy surveyor filed this general description:
This Townshipis nearly all Dry land, There being no Swamp of consequence in it. There being to much clay & rocks in it. Particularly that part which containsFir & Hemlock. The surface is rough & uneven(?) and rather to flat for anything but meadow. There is some goodPine but to much scattering to make it an object. The Township is well watered with small streams but none of them are of sufficient size forMilling purposes. The streams are lined with Alder & many of them producing goodhay. There are no improvements in this Township. (Wright, O. J."Interior Field Notes (Oct 1853)". Board of Commissioners of Public Lands. Retrieved 18 March 2011)
Marshfield was settled much later than many surrounding towns. The first building at Marshfield came in 1872. Unlike Marshfield, earlier communities were located on rivers, which at the time were highways through the forests of central Wisconsin.
In 1872 theWisconsin Central Railwaywas building the leg of its line fromStevens Pointthrough the forest to what would becomeColby, heading north forLake Superior. The railway needed a supply depot between those two towns, and Marshfield was about midway. At the railroad's request, Louis Rivers, his wife and child, and his brother Frank came to the area and started cutting an opening in the forest. They built a two-room log hotel at what is now the corner of Depot and Chestnut streets, with bunks in the west room and tables, benches, bar and store in the east room. That crude building between the stumps was the first permanent structure in Marshfield. (Kleiman, Jeff, ed. (1997-2000).The Marshfield Story 1872-1997. Amherst WI: Marshfield History Project.)
The first industry was astaveandspokefactory located near the railroad.In 1878William H. Upham, later governor of Wisconsin, built asawmill near the railway with amillpond. By 1885 he had added a general store, aplanning mill, a furniture factory and a flour and feed mill. Other businesses started, too: an alcohol factory, hotels, saloons, stores, newspapers,blacksmith, and amilliner. There were also churches and schools. The city wasincorporatedin 1883. By 1885 the population exceeded 2,000.
The late 1800s saw a burst of railroad building. In 1872 the Wisconsin Central built the first line through town. In 1887 Upham Manufacturing started a line south from town to haul logs fromCameronand Richfield. In 1890 a line Neillsville was built. In 1891 a line was built from Centralia (now Wisconsin Rapids), another to Greenwood, and a third fromWausauto Marshfield came from the north. In 1901 a second line was built from Wisconsin Rapids to Marshfield. By 1903 thirty-eight (38) passenger trains stopped daily in Marshfield. With so many tracks intersecting in the community, Marshfield was nicknamed "Hub City".
Marshfield was also important to the agricultural industry. Dairying began to organize ascheese factoriesstarted up, such as Nasonville Dairyin 1885. Roddis and then Blum Brothers made wooden cheese boxes in Marshfield. By 1921 the Blum plant was making 3,500 boxes a day.In 1907 the first cold storage plant was built in town, to store local cheese before shipping it by rail to larger markets. Ice cream factories followed,and processing of eggs, chickens, and liquid milk. In 1923 a spokesman for theSoo Line Railroad said that Marshfield shipped more dairy products than any other city in the United States.
St. Joseph's Hospital began with six beds in 1890 operated by theSisters of the Sorrowful Mother. The hospital offered early health insurance. Lumbermen could pay a flat rate, and in exchange St. Joseph's would care for them in case of injury. In 1916, six local doctors formed agroup practiceclinic in the second story of the Thiel building downtown, calling the practice, theMarshfield Clinic.
Wood-working and building continued long after the pines were cut. During WWII Roddis Lumber and Veneer producedplywood and other composites and was "theallies’largest pre-fabricator of wood forliberty ships." Felker Brothers also produced components for the Liberty Ships. The Frey brothers started building Rollohomes in 1947, and were followed by other manufacturers ofmobile andmodularhomes. With consolidation ofdairy and thelate-2000’s recession, some of these industries have contracted, but the medical complex has expanded, now employing thousands. Roehl Transport has also become a large national enterprise.In 2011 three new plants opened on the east side of town to process sand forhydraulic fracturing of oil and gas wells.
Economic and Demographic Profile
Regional Context and Setting
The City of Marshfield is located in the geographical center of Wisconsin, in portions of Wood and Marathon counties. The City is home to approximately 20,000 residents and enjoys recognition for its world class medical facilities and overall quality of life. The City is served directly by State Highways 13 and 97, and US Highway 10.
Historically, Marshfield grew and developed as a railroad community. Several railroad corridors bisect the City and the early street grid was laid out parallel to the railroads. Central Avenue is the primary arterial route through the community and growth has occurred concentrically around the downtown business district. Veteran’s Parkway is another arterial that brings traffic to the core of the City.
Marshfield has received many accolades and is recognized for its high quality of life. The City is proud to be considered the "Best Place to Live in Wisconsin and Eighth Best Place to Live in America" according to Bizjournals.com. In 2000, Demographics Daily recognized Marshfield for its excellent health care, schools, supply of good jobs, and small-town character. Other qualities considered were vitality, connection to cultural mainstream, and low cost of living. Thanks to the world-class health care provided by Marshfield Clinic and Saint Joseph’s Hospital, Marshfield ranked in the top 10 for health care and was also in the top 50 for the education and freedom from stress categories.
Marshfield is considered part of the central Wisconsin “Ruro-plex.” This term was coined by former governor Lee Dreyfus and describes the three-county / four-city community of Marshfield, Wausau, Stevens Point, and Wisconsin Rapids. A central theme of this regional growth center concept is economic and employment growth that exceed the State’s average.
Demographics
Historical Population Growth
Marshfield has witnessed steady growth for most of the past 40 years. The 2000 Census marked the first time in recent history in which the City’s population decreased. Current estimates indicate, however, that the population is again growing with over 400 new residents since the 2000 census. According to the U.S. Census, as of 2004, the entire City of Marshfield had an estimated population of 18,644. Since 1980, the City’s growth rate (2.8 percent) has been slower than that of Wood County (3.8 percent), Marathon County (13.1 percent) or the State (14.0 percent).
Table 2.1 Historical Population Growth
Year City of Marshfield Wood County Marathon County Wisconsin
1960 14,153 59,105 88,874
1970 15,758 65,362 97,457 4,417,821
1980 18,527 72,799 111,270 4,705,642
1990 19,293 73,605 115,400 4,891,769
2000 18,800 75,555 125,834 5,363,715
Source: Wisconsin Department of Administration/ US Census
Gender and Age
The 2000 Census shows that Marshfield’s population is 52% Female and 48% Male. This percentage is unchanged from the 1990 Census. A detailed breakdown of age characteristics is found below. The City of Marshfield shows similar age characteristics to that of the surrounding counties and State.
Table 2.2 Age of Population
City of Marshfield / Wood County / Marathon County / Wisconsin2000 / % Change 1990-2000 / 2000 / % Change 1990-2000 / 2000 / % Change 1990-2000 / 2000 / % Change 1990-2000
Under 5 years / 1,117 / -1.2% / 4,634 / -1.4% / 8,098 / -1.0% / 34,2340 / -1.0%
5 to 9 years / 1,140 / -1.8% / 5,217 / -1.4% / 9,383 / -0.8% / 37,9484 / -0.6%
10 to 14 years / 1,237 / -0.3% / 5,837 / 0.0% / 10,058 / 0.0% / 40,3074 / 0.3%
15 to 19 years / 1,301 / 0.5% / 5,663 / 0.6% / 9,702 / 0.4% / 40,7195 / 0.5%
20 to 24 years / 1,161 / -0.8% / 3,859 / -0.9% / 6,799 / -1.0% / 35,7292 / -0.8%
25 to 34 years / 2,421 / -4.7% / 9,026 / -4.5% / 16,347 / -3.6% / 70,6168 / -3.6%
35 to 44 years / 2,899 / 0.7% / 12,425 / 2.0% / 20,823 / 1.5% / 87,5522 / 1.5%
45 to 54 years / 2,618 / 5.4% / 10,415 / 3.8% / 17,471 / 3.8% / 73,2306 / 3.9%
55 to 64 years / 1,559 / 0.8% / 6,883 / 0.7% / 10,832 / 0.4% / 45,7741 / 0.1%
65 to 74 years / 1,404 / -0.9% / 5,522 / -0.4% / 8,075 / -0.7% / 35,5307 / -0.7%
75 to 84 years / 1,362 / 1.5% / 4,324 / 1.0% / 6,057 / 0.5% / 25,1621 / 0.2%
85 years and over / 581 / 0.9% / 1,750 / 0.6% / 2,189 / 0.5% / 9,5625 / 0.3%
Source: Wisconsin Department of Administration/ US Census
Race
Marshfield’s population is predominately white (97.1), with a small percentage of Asian residents (1.4) and small populations of African American (0.4) and American Indian (0.2) residents. This trend is similar to that of Wood and Marathon counties:
Table 2.3 Race of Population
Percent ofMarshfield
Population / Percent of Wood
County
Population / Percent of
Marathon County
Population / Percent of State of
Wisconsin
Population
White / 97.1 / 96.4 / 93.8 / 88.9
Black or African American / 0.4 / 0.3 / 0.3 / 5.7
American Indian / 0.2 / 0.7 / 0.3 / 0.9
Asian / 1.4 / 1.6 / 4.5 / 1.7
Other Race / 0.2 / 0.3 / 0.3 / 1.6
Source: Wisconsin Department of Administration/ US Census
Educational Attainment
The following table shows education levels in Marshfield and surrounding counties. The City has a higher percentage of residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher (21.1 percent) when compared to Wood County (16.9 percent) or Marathon County (18.3 percent). This can be attributed, in part, to the City’s employment base which includes the Marshfield Clinic and St. Joseph’s Hospital, which together comprise the largest medical facility in central Wisconsin.