Lafayette County, Wisconsin – The Lafayette County Board of Supervisors is currently evaluating three major capital improvement projects, including building a replacement hospital to address the 70-year old Memorial Hospital of Lafayette County, a replacement skilled nursing facility (Lafayette Manor) built in 1962, as well as the County's Sheriff/Jail facility which faces unique challenges of its own. In addition to these projects, Lafayette County's Economic Development Department is tracking projects under consideration in seven communities within the County, including Driver Opera House, Darlington and Blanchardville swimming pools, the Benton Community Center Library and Museum, the Southwest Wisconsin Ag Innovation Center, a proposed housing project, and a new Visitor's Center. Understanding that each of these community and economic development projects will require varying funding levels, the Board of Supervisors will host an education session on community and economic planning and development facilitated by rural specialists, including Wisconsin's USDA Rural Development office. The session, entitled, Lafayette County Thrive, is scheduled for October 22, 2020, 5:30 PM and will be held at the Multi-Purpose Building located at 11974 Ames Rd Darlington. The two-hour session will introduce county and municipality leaders and planners to the "SMART Goal" planning process. SMART Goal Planning is a framework used for strategic planning, including community and economic development projects. The acronym stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-Bound. Overall session objectives include:
- To inform critical decision-making about investing in the County's essential community facilities while providing municipality leaders with a framework for their planning process.
- To develop a plan that will identify priorities based on data, needs, and analysis.
- To understand how other rural counties have successfully approached modernizing community facilities and infrastructure.
Reservations for attending the session are not required; however, participation is on a first-come basis, adhering to current COVID-19 guidelines for public gatherings.