Issue link: http://www.insightdigital.biz/i/100667
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ���We have had a lot of interest in the convention center because of the hotel. We really anticipate our convention traffic improving, which will help us during our offseason when we don���t have a lot of events that attract tourists.��� ���Wendy Hielsberg, executive direc tor of the Oshkosh Convention & Visitors Bureau industry,��� Kleman says. ���Our downtown is very strong.��� The area will get even stronger A closer look Opportunity Oshkosh: a strategy L ike many cities, Oshkosh has multiple players involved in economic development, including the city, county, the chamber of commerce, the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and two economic development groups. A new initiative called Opportunity Oshkosh brings them all together for a coordinated marketing campaign, which will tout everything the community has to offer. Once an industry cluster study is complete next spring, that campaign will then be rolled out to targeted markets as a way to bring more businesses to Oshkosh. Russ Potratz of Strata Communications Inc. led the effort for a kick-off event in late November that shared the Opportunity Oshkosh brand, website and several videos featuring a variety of Oshkosh business and community leaders sharing what they think makes the region unique. ���Our goal is to get out the Opportunity Oshkosh message to businesses as well as community members,��� he says. ���We���re bringing everyone together with the common goal of promoting economic development in the area. Every organization does something a little bit different, but, in the end, it���s all about promoting Oshkosh as a great place to live and do business.��� this spring when the hotel attached to the recently renovated Oshkosh Convention Center opens. In 2012, the UW-Oshkosh Foundation teamed up businessmen John Pfefferle and Rich Batley to purchase the out-of-date City Center Hotel and turn it into a state-ofthe-art full-service hotel, now known as the Oshkosh Premier Waterfront Hotel & Convention Center. Wendy Hielsberg, executive director of the Oshkosh Convention & Visitors Bureau, says the new hotel is already attracting attention. ���We have had a lot of interest in the convention center because of the hotel,��� she says. ���We really anticipate our convention traffic improving, Miles Ki Embracing the past... Building for tomorrow Co Miles Kimball Company The Brands You���ve Come to Trust Miles Kimball @mileskimball.com Walter Drake @wdrake.com Easy Comforts @easycomforts.com 40 | Insight ��� J a n u a r y 2 013 Exposures @exposuresonline.com As We Change @aswechange.com A Great Place to Work For career opportunities log on to: mileskimball.com w w w. i n s i g h t o n b u s i n e s s . c o m