Providing Economic Development, Geographic Information Systems, Intergovernmental Cooperation, Land Use Planning and Transportation Assistance since 1973
The NCWRPC is currently in the process of updating their Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy. The NCWRPC began this process in the summer of 2025 with adoption anticipated in early 2026. The CEDS provides a detailed assessment of economic development conditions throughout North Central Wisconsin, and identifies a Regional Economic Development Strategy, which includes goals and objectives. The CEDS also includes a list of critical regional investment projects. This then provides the foundation for the NCWRPC economic development work plan. Along with maintaining our designation as an Economic Development District (EDD), updating the CEDS provides access to grant funds from EDA for our Region
A CEDS Committee made up of economic development professionals throughout the Region has been established and will meet a total of three times throughout the process to review recent data trends, conduct a SWOT Analysis, and to establish goals and a regional strategy for the Region.
Draft chapters and meeting notes are provided below.
In 2025, the North Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (NCWRPC) produced this report in response to growing concerns over child care access and affordability. Child care impacts working families and contributes to workforce shortages across the region. This plan assesses current child care capacity through an analysis of demographics, provider availability, costs, and historical trends to present a comprehensive view of the county’s child care landscape. The plan offers several recommendations to address the identified challenges and support improvements in the child care system.
Lincoln County’s Forestry, Land, and Parks Department updates its Outdoor Recreation Plan every 5 years to identify essential outdoor recreation needs that affect the future of outdoor recreation in the County.
This Outdoor Recreation Plan (ORP) focuses upon County managed outdoor recreation facilities, and also list projects within the towns and villages. Local governments with their own ORP are referenced in this plan. All listed nature based and active recreation based projects become eligible for competitive federal and state outdoor recreation grant money when this plan is adopted by County or local municipality by resolution.
All communities within Lincoln County without their own Outdoor Recreation Plan become eligible to apply for recreation grants when the local government adopts this plan by resolution.
Non-profit groups, foundations, and the general public may also use this document to coordinate their own private efforts for developing outdoor recreation facilities.
2026 Planning Timeline
Winter 2025-2026 — Staff park analysis, plans reviewed, & demographic data analysis.
Winter/Spring 2026 — Countywide Public Input Survey distribution & tabulation.
Langlade County’s Forestry, Parks, & Recreation Department updates its Outdoor Recreation Plan every 5 years to identify essential outdoor recreation needs that affect the future of outdoor recreation in the County.
This Outdoor Recreation Plan (ORP) focuses upon County managed outdoor recreation facilities, and also list projects within the towns and Village. Local governments with their own ORP are referenced in this plan. All listed nature based and active recreation based projects become eligible for competitive federal and state outdoor recreation grant money when this plan is adopted by County or local municipality by resolution.
All communities within Langlade County without their own Outdoor Recreation Plan become eligible to apply for recreation grants when the local government adopts this plan by resolution.
Non-profit groups, foundations, and the general public may also use this document to coordinate their own private efforts for developing outdoor recreation facilities.
2026 Planning Timeline
Winter 2025-2026 — Staff park analysis, plans reviewed, & demographic data analysis.
Winter/Spring 2026 — Countywide Public Input Survey distribution & tabulation.
Juneau County’s Land, Forestry and Parks Department updates its Outdoor Recreation Plan every 5 years to identify essential outdoor recreation needs that affect the future of outdoor recreation in the County.
This Outdoor Recreation Plan (ORP) focuses upon County managed outdoor recreation facilities, and also list projects within the towns and villages. Local governments with their own ORP are referenced in this plan. All listed nature based and active recreation based projects become eligible for competitive federal and state outdoor recreation grant money when this plan is adopted by County or local municipality by resolution.
All communities within Juneau County without their own Outdoor Recreation Plan become eligible to apply for recreation grants when the local government adopts this plan by resolution.
Non-profit groups, foundations, and the general public may also use this document to coordinate their own private efforts for developing outdoor recreation facilities.
2026 Planning Timeline
Winter 2025-2026 — Staff park analysis, plans reviewed, & demographic data analysis.
Winter/Spring 2026 — Countywide Public Input Survey distribution & tabulation.
Forest County’s Forestry & Recreation Department updates its Outdoor Recreation Plan every 5 years to identify essential outdoor recreation needs that affect the future of outdoor recreation in the County.
This Outdoor Recreation Plan (ORP) focuses upon County managed outdoor recreation facilities, and also list projects within the towns and City. Local governments with their own ORP are referenced in this plan. All listed nature based and active recreation based projects become eligible for competitive federal and state outdoor recreation grant money when this plan is adopted by County or local municipality by resolution.
All communities within Forest County without their own Outdoor Recreation Plan become eligible to apply for recreation grants when the local government adopts this plan by resolution.
Non-profit groups, foundations, and the general public may also use this document to coordinate their own private efforts for developing outdoor recreation facilities.
2026 Planning Timeline
Winter 2025-2026 — Staff park analysis, plans reviewed, & demographic data analysis.
Winter/Spring 2026 — Countywide Public Input Survey distribution & tabulation.
Safe Routes to School (SRTS) programs are an opportunity to make walking and bicycling to school safer for children in grades K-8, and to increase the number of children who choose to walk and bicycle. On a broader level, SRTS programs can enhance children’s health and well-being, ease traffic congestion near the school, and improve community members’ overall quality of life.
Planning Process In 2022, the North Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission and the Wisconsin Rapids School District won a WisDOT SRTS planning grant to create a SRTS Plan for several schools in the District. In the fall of 2023, the City and District began SRTS Planning with the assistance of the North Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (NCWRPC). The NCWRPC guided the Wisconsin Rapids SRTS Task Force through the planning process.
The following schools are part of Wisconsin Rapids SRTS Planning: Wisconsin Rapids Area Middle School Grant Elementary Grove Elementary Howe Elementary Mead Elementary THINK Academy Washington Elementary Woodside Elementary
Wisconsin Rapids SRTS Task Force Ronald Rasmussen, Superintendent, WRPS Tracy Ginter, Wisconsin Rapids Area Middle School Principal, WRPS Tina Wallner, Grove Elementary Principal, WRPS Tina Miller, Howe Elementary Principal, WRPS Amber Applebee, Mead Elementary Principal, WRPS Kelly Schaeffer, Washington Elementary Principal, WRPS Julie Kolarik, Woodside Elementary Principal, WRPS Edwin Allison, Director of Buildings and Grounds, WRPS Aaron Nelson, Business Services, WRPS Officer Dan Pelot, Student Resource Officer, WRPS Joe Eichsteadt, PE, City Engineer, City of Wisconsin Rapids Kyle Kearns, Community Development Director, City of Wisconsin Rapids Kristie Egge, MPH, Supervisor of Strategic Initiatives, Wood County Health Department Hannah Wendels Scott, FoodWIse Nutrition Educator, Wood County, UW-Madison Extension
THINK Academy Kevin Whipple, Village of Rudolph President Christine Slattery, THINK Academy Principal, WRPS Roland Hawk, Wood County Highway Commissioner
Grant Elementary Sharon Schwab, Town of Grant Chairperson Nikki Calteux, Grant Elementary Principal, WRPS Nathan Check, Portage County Highway Commissioner
Staff Fred Heider, AICP, Planner, North Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission
School Data -Parent Survey AGGREGATE Results (All elementary and middle school parent surveys were tabulated together in this report.)
Wisconsin Rapids Area Middle School -Parent Survey Results Map 3A – Site Assessment (Not available yet.) Map 4A – Transportation (Not available yet.) Map 5A – School Routes (Not available yet.) Map 6A – Recommendations (Not available yet.)
Grove Elementary -Parent Survey Results Map 3C – Site Assessment (Not available yet.) Map 4C – Transportation (Not available yet.) Map 5C – School Routes (Not available yet.) Map 6C – Recommendations (Not available yet.)
Howe Elementary -Parent Survey Results Map 3D – Site Assessment (Not available yet.) Map 4D – Transportation (Not available yet.) Map 5D – School Routes (Not available yet.) Map 6D – Recommendations (Not available yet.)
Mead Elementary -Parent Survey Results Map 3E – Site Assessment (Not available yet.) Map 4E – Transportation (Not available yet.) Map 5E – School Routes (Not available yet.) Map 6E – Recommendations (Not available yet.)
Washington Elementary -Parent Survey Results Map 3G – Site Assessment (Not available yet.) Map 4G – Transportation (Not available yet.) Map 5G – School Routes (Not available yet.) Map 6G – Recommendations (Not available yet.)
Woodside Elementary -Parent Survey Results Map 3H – Site Assessment (Not available yet.) Map 4H – Transportation (Not available yet.) Map 5H – School Routes (Not available yet.) Map 6H – Recommendations (Not available yet.)
Safe Routes to School (SRTS) programs are an opportunity to make walking and bicycling to school safer for children in grades K-8, and to increase the number of children who choose to walk and bicycle. On a broader level, SRTS programs can enhance children’s health and well-being, ease traffic congestion near the school, and improve community members’ overall quality of life.
Planning Process In 2022, the North Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission and the School District of Rhinelander won a WisDOT SRTS planning grant to create a SRTS Plan for several schools in the District. In the fall of 2023, the City and District began SRTS Planning with the assistance of the North Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (NCWRPC). The NCWRPC guided the Rhinelander SRTS Task Force through the planning process.
The following schools are part of Rhinelander SRTS Planning: James Williams Middle School Central Elementary Crescent Elementary Northwoods Community Elementary Pelican Elementary
Rhinelander SRTS Task Force Robert Thom, Director of Business Services, School District of Rhinelander Kyle Raleigh, Principal, James Williams Middle School Paul Johnson, Principal, Central Elementary Alex Bontz, Principal, Crescent Elementary Gayle Daniel, Principal, Northwoods Community Elementary Candice Cook, Principal, Pelican Elementary Lloyd J. Gauthier, Jr., Chief, Rhinelander Police Department Patrick Reagan, Rhinelander City Administrator & Dept. of Public Works Director Fred Heider, AICP, Planner, North Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission
Safe Routes to School (SRTS) programs are an opportunity to make walking and bicycling to school safer for children in grades K-8, and to increase the number of children who choose to walk and bicycle. On a broader level, SRTS programs can enhance children’s health and well-being, ease traffic congestion near the school, and improve community members’ overall quality of life.
Planning Process In 2022, the North Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission and Marathon School District won a WisDOT SRTS planning grant to create a SRTS Plan for Marathon Area Elementary. In the fall of 2023, Marathon City and Marathon Area Elementary began SRTS Planning with the assistance of the North Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (NCWRPC). The NCWRPC guided the Marathon Area Elementary SRTS Task Force through the planning process.
Marathon SRTS Task Force Angela Woyak, District Administrator (Former District Administrator, Richard Parks, Ed.S.) Max Wienke, Elementary & Middle School Principal, MSD Connor Ellenbecker, MAES/MVA Associate Principal, MSD Brian Boehm, Director of Maintenance, MSD Tyler Geske, Chief, Marathon City Police Department Steve Cherek, Village Administrator – Treasurer, Village of Marathon City Fred Heider, AICP, Planner, North Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission
Spencer updates its Outdoor Recreation Plan every 5 years to identify essential outdoor recreation needs that affect the future of outdoor recreation in the Village.
This Outdoor Recreation Plan (ORP) focuses upon Village managed outdoor recreation facilities. All listed nature based and active recreation based projects become eligible for competitive federal and state outdoor recreation grant money when this plan is adopted by Village Board resolution.
