Madison Reporter

The City of Portage is experiencing growth in its downtown area, with new businesses set to open soon. This development follows a partnership between UniverCity Alliance and Columbia County from 2021 to 2024, which involved collaboration with University of Wisconsin–Madison students and faculty on economic development projects.

Steve Sobiek, director of business development and planning for the City of Portage, has been instrumental in these efforts. "What do we want Portage to look like in 10 to 20 years?" Sobiek said. The partnership aimed to connect local governments with university resources to advance community priorities. It was supported by the Alliant Energy Foundation, and Sobiek serves on the board of directors for the Columbia County Economic Development Corporation.

Projects completed during this partnership include a design for a dog park at North Side Park, a trade market analysis for a new business park, and strategies for creating an accessible community for residents who speak English as a second language. "It has helped us grow our community, attract businesses, attract residents, and attract a more diverse workforce successfully," Sobiek said.

Gavin Luter, managing director of UniverCity Alliance, highlighted the benefits of such collaborations: “We are grateful for our partners in Portage and Columbia County sharing their local expertise,” he said. “Portage has been empowered with new information completed by our students."

A significant aspect of this growth is the construction of Rolling Prairie, a 100-lot subdivision—the first in over two decades—featuring amenities like a dog park. The decision to expedite the dog park's construction was influenced by its potential appeal to future residents. "It forced us to get off the dime faster," Sobiek noted.

In response to an influx of workers from Puerto Rico attracted by local manufacturers such as Dawns Foods and TriEnda, plans were developed through UniverCity to integrate non-English-speaking residents into the community. Alan Tipple worked on this project during his studies at UW–Madison: “Being able to see the real work people are doing...enabled me to acquire another perspective that I wasn’t going to find in the classroom,” Tipple stated.

Anna Joy conducted a trade market analysis as part of her master's degree program at UW–Madison. Her research informed decisions that led companies like Shopko Optical and Domino’s Pizza to establish themselves in Portage. “The experience I gained working with government is unmatched," Joy remarked about her involvement.

Sobiek credited these initiatives with helping recruit businesses: “It really was what we were looking for.”