Community Property

Acquiring, accepting, holding, leasing, managing, administering and/or liquidating in an orderly fashion, donations, bequests and Property for the benefit and/or purposes of incourage Community foundation, Inc. Community Property currently owns an office building at 478 and 480 east grand avenue in Wisconsin rapids, that it rents in part to incourage, and in part to three third-party local businesses.

In a coordinated effort with its supported organization, incourage Community foundation ("incourage"), Community Property acquired the former daily tribune newspaper and wfhr radio building, a historic local mid-century Property located on the banks of the Wisconsin river in downtown Wisconsin rapids, Wisconsin, in december of 2012. The redevelopment of the Property (the "tribune") is being informed by incourage's commitment to place-based investing and user-centered decision making for southern wood county's future, whereby incourage has engaged over 2,000 residents in the planning and decision-making process so far. The tribune is being designed to reflect resident priorities and capitalize on Community and regional assets. From the beginning, the tribune has been about much more than redeveloping a building. It is a demonstration of a user-centered process toward realizing incourage's vision of partnering with residents, businesses, and civic leaders in rural central Wisconsin to co-create an inclusive, adaptive, and sustainable Community that works well for all people. The redeveloped facility will be an economic and Community hub to serve as a laboratory for innovation for southern wood county and central Wisconsin with a particular focus on the needs of rural communities. It will serve as a hub for entrepreneurial and small business activity, a focal point of regional collaboration and innovation, and a dynamic Community place for work, play, and commerce. As a recap of the multi-year journey so far, phase one in 2013 and 2014, consisted of four public meetings where everyone in the Community was invited to share their ideas for the future use of the space, including encouraging residents to shift their thinking from "me" to "we." Phase two in 2014, consisted of seven public meetings whereby the Community was invited to participate in activities related to the potential design and sustainability of the facility. Phase three in 2015 and 2016, consisted of ten public meetings in which participants focused on deepening relationships, further defining potential programming within the facility, and developing resident-led fundraising opportunities to help realize the building. In 2017 and 2018 Community members explored how similar projects in other regions developed, and fundraising efforts at the state and national level expanded. In 2019, the state of Wisconsin department of administration announced a $3 million matching grant opportunity for the tribune's future reconstruction, and incourage and the university of wisconsin-stevens point announced a collaboration to provide expertise for sustainable economic change in central Wisconsin. During 2020 to 2022 collaborations with key stakeholders in regional economic transformation and growth continued despite the challenges presented by covid interruptions to business as usual. A feasibility study initiated in late 2022 and completed in 2023 includes promising opportunities that are being actively pursued. A comprehensive business plan is being prepared beginning in early 2024 in support of realizing the full potential of this important Community asset that will prioritize end-use ideas that will celebrate local assets, connect residents, and act as a catalyst for future downtown development. At its core, the tribune will be a true Community social enterprise focused on cultivating entrepreneurs and growing a sustainable local economy. To learn more, visit incouragecforgleadtribunebuilding and form 990 for incourage Community foundation, inc.since its purchase, the Property has been maintained in a holding pattern awaiting redevelopment and has been utilized occasionally for tours and activities like having served in prior years as a central coordination point for incourage's Community picnic and hosting tribune "teasers", which are mini demonstration versions of the types of activities that will one day happen at the fully redeveloped tribune. In the later part of 2015, the state of Wisconsin approved redevelopment plans for the Property improvements and select interior remediation and demolition was undertaken. Fund development continues toward realizing the complete renovation of the Property.