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Economic Development and Tourism

Retain. Recruit. Recreate.

Help build the future of Jackson County Outdoor Recreation offerings. Anyone who has interest or uses any of the great outdoor recreation amenities offered in Jackson County is asked to complete this survey by April 17th! Your voice and ideas are appreciated: Jackson County Outdoor Recreation Plan 

 

Mission: 

To be Jackson County’s systems steward by shaping the strategy for long-term economic and tourism growth that impacts all citizens quality of life and economic advancement.

Vision:

To become a statewide benchmark of balanced economic growth and the leading outdoor recreational hub by striking a balance of quality jobs, competitive wages, strong local businesses, and thriving recreational opportunities for all communities within the county.

Jackson County is emerging as an economic development leader and Wisconsin's long-time outdoor recreational tourism destination hub. Situated as the gateway to Wisconsin's Northwoods, Jackson County has a strong home grown and recruited industrial base, the Ho Chunk Nation and its many benefits, resident elk herds, world class UTV/ATV trails, amazing public lands, and a heritage of farming, hard work ethic, and a commitment to community. Following the 2024 strategic planning process and using a multi-year evaluation, the County Board officially established a full-time Economic Development and Tourism Director position. This role is designed to drive revenue growth through business support, tourism expansion, and infrastructure investment.

The Department's Philosophy is centered around the three pillars of Retain. Recruit. Recreate.

Retain: Businesses and People. The Economic Development and Tourism Department is the champion and advocate for the existing Jackson County business owners and assess strengths, opportunities, and needs. Small businesses and home-grown companies are the lifeblood of the county economy and the community. It is the duty of the Department to develop and find programming resources that will help enhance the existing industries and workforce that have chosen Jackson County as home.

Recruit: Industry and People. Jackson County is prime for industrial and workforce recruitment (I-94 freeway system, transmission lines, natural gas, broadband IXP, railroad, water sources, electric cooperative, municipal and publicly traded utilities). A strategy of the Department is to leverage existing resources and grow opportunity instead of letting them pass through our county.

Recreate: Tourism and Outdoor Recreational Hub of Wisconsin. Jackson County boasts of a variety of high quality of life activities here that are cross-generationally desired: Swimming, SCUBA diving, snowshoeing, kayaking, biking, camping, UTV/ATV, hiking and running, Elk spotting, natural reserves and waterways. Jackson County is the Outdoor Recreational Hub of Wisconsin.

Economic Development is all about strategic system stewardship: figuring out how an area and its resources can influence decision makers and stakeholders to find the strengths, opportunities, and reasons to make that area home. The Department dabbles in every aspect of a county's offerings, from workforce, industry resources, housing, childcare, and health issues. The Jackson County leadership realized that the counties that had a steady economic development program were fairing stronger and had more consistency than the counties that didn't have a director or department. Using this strategic position to help grow the property tax base, bring in new opportunities, retain the business that have been here for the community through and through, and support a balanced quality of life is at the core of economic development. Jackson County Economic Development and Tourism is an advocate and partner to existing agencies by aligning strategies and finding resources to achieve greater success.

Internal Partners: Jackson County Forestry, Parks and Recreation, Jackson County Land Records Service, Jackson County Administration, Veterans Service Office, UW-Extension, HoChunk Nation

External Partners: Jackson County Economic Development and Tourism cannot exist in a vacuum. It is reliant upon strong, strategic partnerships that extend beyond the county borders. These partnerships with public and private entities who all share a vision of building resilient and sustainable economies for all of the communities served. (The listing of these public organizations or private entities are not an endorsement and are listed here for informational purposes only). 

 

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