CUBA CITY, WI. AARP (formerly the American Association of Retired Persons) is a US-based interest group whose stated mission is “to empower people to choose how they live as they age.” Many of AARP’s activities are aimed toward community development across the US. Among these activities is their upcoming National Rural Livability Workshop. AARP’s National Rural Livability Workshop is an opportunity for rural communities from Alaska to Florida and everywhere in between to share innovative practices that are making rural communities more livable when they gather in Portland, ME on June 19-21. Attendees will learn from each other through a variety of formats which include: breakout sessions, an innovation showcase, video presentations and material sharing.
The City of Cuba City, Wisconsin was selected to represent Wisconsin at this year’s Workshop. Darrin Wasniewski serves as AARP Wisconsin’s Associate State Director- Community Outreach explains the selection. “AARP-WI received the registration instructions for the Rural Livability Workshop which called for attendees presenting their first-hand experience in making a rural community more livable. Having been familiar with Bob Jones’ work in Cuba City through my previous position with Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, I immediately reached out. Bob is doing great work in southwest Wisconsin, largely under the radar, and I thought this was a perfect opportunity to spotlight the successes in Cuba City.”
Among the many successes in Cuba City is its 2017 Main Street Award for the Best Downtown Revitalization in a Community under 5,500 in population. Cuba City has also welcomed 12 new businesses in the past three and a half years. The City has no empty commercial or manufacturing properties and homes frequently sell within days there. Jones will speak to residential development at the AARP Workshop. “Rural communities have different struggles on the housing front. As many smaller cities and towns are seeing an increase in the age of their residents, it impacts both the supply and demand there. This is a nation-wide development,” stated Jones, Cuba City’s Economic Development Director. Tom Gile, serves as the Mayor of Cuba City and added, “This recognition goes a long way to show the citizens of our city that their input and support have been noticed across the region. It takes a great deal of teamwork to produce such great results, especially in a smaller community.”
Additional information about AARP’s Livable communities’ efforts can be found at: https://www.aarp.org/livable-communities/about/
Information about Cuba City can be found on the City’s website at: https://cubacity.org/
The City of Cuba City, Wisconsin was selected to represent Wisconsin at this year’s Workshop. Darrin Wasniewski serves as AARP Wisconsin’s Associate State Director- Community Outreach explains the selection. “AARP-WI received the registration instructions for the Rural Livability Workshop which called for attendees presenting their first-hand experience in making a rural community more livable. Having been familiar with Bob Jones’ work in Cuba City through my previous position with Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, I immediately reached out. Bob is doing great work in southwest Wisconsin, largely under the radar, and I thought this was a perfect opportunity to spotlight the successes in Cuba City.”
Among the many successes in Cuba City is its 2017 Main Street Award for the Best Downtown Revitalization in a Community under 5,500 in population. Cuba City has also welcomed 12 new businesses in the past three and a half years. The City has no empty commercial or manufacturing properties and homes frequently sell within days there. Jones will speak to residential development at the AARP Workshop. “Rural communities have different struggles on the housing front. As many smaller cities and towns are seeing an increase in the age of their residents, it impacts both the supply and demand there. This is a nation-wide development,” stated Jones, Cuba City’s Economic Development Director. Tom Gile, serves as the Mayor of Cuba City and added, “This recognition goes a long way to show the citizens of our city that their input and support have been noticed across the region. It takes a great deal of teamwork to produce such great results, especially in a smaller community.”
Additional information about AARP’s Livable communities’ efforts can be found at: https://www.aarp.org/livable-communities/about/
Information about Cuba City can be found on the City’s website at: https://cubacity.org/
