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About the Central Wisconsin Agribusiness Innovation Center

CWAIC is a nonprofit, tax exempt corporation whose objective is to raise funds to build an extraordinary agribusiness innovation center in Central Wisconsin. With the support of private and public sponsors, groundbreaking for the Center will take place no later than the summer of 2011.

The Center will be a multi-purpose facility with nearly 49,000 square feet consisting of business incubator space for agricultural entrepreneurs, large- and small-group classrooms, public meeting and event space, a commercial test/classroom kitchen, laboratory space, offices for lease and a distance learning lab.

The Center will link our agricultural past to our agricultural future through innovations in education, training, research and development. The Center will also be the hub for a broad collaboration of resources between agribusiness and education institutions. Ultimately, the Center will strengthen the regional economy, create new jobs in agriculture and green technologies, and train people for those careers.

Location

The Central Wisconsin Agribusiness Innovation Center is a key component of the 71-acre Clark County Agribusiness Technology Park, which is ideally located in northern Clark County, the heart of Wisconsin. Its location along four-lane U.S. Highway 29 near Owen, WI, provides easy access to larger metropolitan areas in the state and region, while still preserving its rural character.

The business park will be truly unique, since it is the only one in the region devoted strictly to agriculture. It is a place to remember the agriculture of the past, look forward to the evolving nature of the agriculture of today, and provide for the needs of the agriculture of the future.

 

Clark County is one of the leading agricultural counties in the country, home to plentiful dairy farms, award-winning butter producers, master and artisan cheesemakers, cash-cropping and ag support businesses, greenhouse, tree farms and nurseries, and a major wholesale produce auction facility. In addition, Central Wisconsin is developing a strong reputation in the bioenergy field due to the numerous alternative energy entities located in the region.

Funding

Funding for the Center is coming from a variety of sources, such as cash and in-kind donations from individuals, companies and foundations - local to nationwide - as well as grants and loans from municipal, state and federal entities.

Planned to be built with cutting edge technology and an environmentally friendly design, the nearly 49,000-square-foot Center building will cost approximately $9.8 million to construct. The federal Economic Development Administration awarded a $4 million grant for the design and construction of the building, which increases the value of other donations. Due to this EDA grant, every $1.00 donated has an effective value of $1.41.

As a 501(c)(3) organization, donations to CWAIC are tax deductible. If you or your organization believes in the mission of the Center, please become a CWAIC supporter. You can use PayPal for your gift or send it to CWAIC, P.O. Box 267, Owen, WI 54460. Please contact us if you need more information.

History

In 2005, a group of area business leaders and the Clark County Economic Development Corporation (CCEDC) began exploring the idea of an agribusiness technology center that would promote and encourage innovation in the agricultural sector.

In April 2009, the City of Owen purchased 71 acres south of U.S. Highway 29. It annexed and amended TIF #4 to include the property, creating a tax incremental financing district for the area, and adding infrastructure in the form of water, sewer, and streets to the location.

CWAIC was formed to raise funds to build the Agribusiness Innovation Center and enable donors to the building to make tax deductible contributions. The CWAIC Board of Directors includes business owners, planners, general contractors, accountants, fundraisers and community leaders. We are partners with the City of Owen and CCEDC in promoting and developing both the Central Wisconsin Agribusiness Innovation Center and the Clark County Agribusiness Technology Park.