Village of Trempealeau Awarded Innovation Planning Grant for Downtown Revitalization and Joint Tourism Commission

Trempealeau, WI (June 2, 2025) – The Village of Trempealeau has been awarded an Innovation Planning Grant to develop a comprehensive downtown revitalization plan. The project will bring together local stakeholders and business owners to identify new opportunities for economic growth, tourism, and community engagement, and create a roadmap for a vibrant, thriving downtown.

The grant-funded study will be led by Innovative Public Advisors (IPA)—a public sector executive recruitment and strategy first. The collaborative process will include a comprehensive assessment of Trempealeau’s downtown assets and cost-saving opportunities through new partnerships, community input sessions, and the development of conceptual designs for public space improvements by GRAEF.

Village Administrator Isaac Pooler emphasized the project’s importance, stating, “Investing in our downtown and public spaces is about more than just aesthetics. It is about creating community pride and vibrancy. Our goal is to create a place that draws residents and visitors alike, a place that supports our local businesses and helps them flourish.”

Pooler continued, “Our downtown has a lot of untapped potential, with an unbeatable backdrop of the Mississippi River and the surrounding bluffs. There’s been a lot of great effort put into enhancing downtown over the years, but there are still a few unfinished plans. We want to build on those past efforts while incorporating new ideas for public space improvements and create a cohesive plan going forward.”

The Village is excited to work with IPA Partners Jess Wildes and Jay Shambeau, who have extensive economic development and tourism experience, including implementing a downtown revitalization and riverwalk project in West Bend, Wisconsin, that earned national recognition.

The grant project will also explore the feasibility of forming a shared tourism commission with neighboring communities, including the Town of Trempealeau and the City of Galesville. Pooler noted, “Our three communities together have so much to offer in terms of tourism. By investigating opportunities to work together, we can ensure that our region remains a destination for visitors and a great place for our residents.”

The study is expected to begin in the coming months and will culminate in a final plan outlining actionable strategies to strengthen the downtown core and support local businesses.