[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6210018,"mediaKeyId","3728594-2268d7b79044f3573b30961c7287390f","parentId",3728594,"title","Committee discusses workforce housing, strategic planning as choke points for local growth","audioSeconds",367,"startMs",737225,"endMs",1104935,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3728594-2268d7b79044f3573b30961c7287390f&start=737&end=1104","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3728594-2268d7b79044f3573b30961c7287390f/thumbnail_737225.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6210018/Sawyer-County/Wisconsin/Committee-discusses-workforce-housing-strategic-planning-as-choke-points-for-local-growth","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6210018-59dd548906f8565bec0da2e2f9319030/orig.mp4?Expires=1770977608&Signature=e8Ns8M1B0G4jGwGCSedE-2lvBWeTmz-tAAzHgZ~UYjCROse451csgeXUDns-vF3qfocC8fqhu692VaaG2nnZwW3iPJny1bcXgLoQmfoLBkGPBCbAvWajleGT74KdJ4JN0J~n~kk-n72b8CnDhMplWlh1HL6L-CefhlDl74PxQPIR8LKUb6AllmBXtV8h5zgT-5m5iHDGZ6xvlvW44VwxfzANwKmsDbDceyKQ2rLhOEs4Z1DjhjjNJ2jmbrOe7EoJx6LGXGRfG6qFQ8KZCPpSVguppPLg-udXDxL-cQaZKg7HsbcISyeAYPZ9mFDORuOg6RM70xNgcqXIf9q19j7M1g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Sawyer County, WI","date","2025-06-10T00:24:59.473Z","article","Committee members discussed workforce and senior housing needs in Sawyer County and emphasized starting a strategic planning process to align economic development, housing and other county priorities.

A county official described a recent groundbreaking in Washburn for a 40‑unit affordable living complex targeting workforce and senior housing and said the project involved collaboration with the Wisconsin Department of Administration, HUD, Extension and local partners. Committee members said housing availability is limiting employer recruitment and recommended a strategic plan to make committee reporting and decisions more data driven.

One committee member said a practical step would be another assessment of recent housing development and zoning changes to determine what is being built and whether it is affordable. “I think it's more of the $200,000 homes, not the 3 and up thousand dollar home $100,000 homes,” a committee member said, arguing that a focused assessment would show what housing types are coming online.

Members discussed timing for a strategic planning process, with one member suggesting a late‑summer start to avoid budget season. The board asked committees to bring ideas and data points to the next meeting to inform goals for economic development and to ensure committee reports feed into a countywide strategic plan.

Committee members also relayed community anecdotes about restaurant prospects tied to the availability of workers; one member said rumors that a Culver’s franchise would not come to the area are sometimes driven by concerns about worker availability.

No formal motions or votes were taken on housing or strategic planning at the meeting; members agreed to gather proposals and data for future meetings.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Economic Development and UW Extension 2025 06 09","oneSentenceSummary","Committee members discussed workforce and senior housing needs, strategic planning to guide economic development goals and data needs, and local anecdotes tying business recruitment to worker availability.","taxTitle","Sawyer County, Wisconsin","taxId",73055,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6210024,"Sawyer County Alliance says it supports Seeley Forest trail system but wants crossings adjusted",156,552980,709855,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3728594-2268d7b79044f3573b30961c7287390f&start=552&end=709","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3728594-2268d7b79044f3573b30961c7287390f/thumbnail_552980.jpg","/articles/6210024/Sawyer-County/Wisconsin/Sawyer-County-Alliance-says-it-supports-Seeley-Forest-trail-system-but-wants-crossings-adjusted","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6210024-202061eefd0b4d674d3b0bdb6600e64b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770977608&Signature=dSrKcTdQ8ClCfdj609sKus~djBaGfbNBaWoCYyEbWqP78oQM1y5Qkb~BKIuwLVStIP25XzPvn7Ohlqkp9Z876s9sbS6Pzi3c8xB~RLFWSq9x-Y9kAOq8Hb7kmfiILfGJ54Qpt9QmphBvBGvARDxlQoWdVaLr7uLosNizkREClU~9OWkH0cu3t6QUQYlHHD4FQy9O0gnkG0uqdEO7wD9xzO2ZPcfuBuOwgd4xMppP9lxbO6NTQjTiw0DyDlkzKBEdzXaonTnKle0lyRqfcH89xcLDw2GoV7YrFDvjqj65luZMmhDvf0by5FlfkXT1lAN5TVBxH43cmj3JYVzlj2rylQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Kathy LaRue, representing the Sawyer County Alliance, told the committee that the Alliance is not opposed to the Seeley Forest trail system but raised concerns about trail alignments that would encroach on existing Alliance trails.

LaRue said the Alliance met with the trail planning group for more than a year, repeatedly raised concerns and offered solutions, including guidance on applying for federal Recreational Trails Program (RTP) funds. LaRue said the RTP funding is derived from gas taxes paid by motorized recreation users and can be used for non‑motorized trail development.

“ We never were. We don't have any issues with it. We were simply against anything that encroached upon our trails,” LaRue said at the meeting. She added that, after listening to Forestry Administrator Greg Peterson speak at the county board meeting, it became clear that Peterson had additional reasons for opposing the trail as proposed.

LaRue said the Alliance would welcome a trail in the county if planners work with the Alliance to prevent encroachment and consider funding and alignment options. No county action was taken on the trail at the meeting; LaRue’s remarks were made during public comment.","Kathy LaRue of the Sawyer County Alliance said the group is not opposed to the Seeley Forest trail system but wants design changes to avoid encroaching on existing Alliance trails and urged better coordination and use of RTP funds.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6210029,"County staff says final two ARPA broadband projects complete and paid out",18,520050,538235,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3728594-2268d7b79044f3573b30961c7287390f&start=520&end=538","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3728594-2268d7b79044f3573b30961c7287390f/thumbnail_520050.jpg","/articles/6210029/Sawyer-County/Wisconsin/County-staff-says-final-two-ARPA-broadband-projects-complete-and-paid-out","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6210029-59b19ea29459cd8527bf3ddc3a98480a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770977608&Signature=n9Wi25RWNsurUbh8w7EBssWWImxku6UHkY5U8V9kvxdyvuHCitvl3nAD3vpg3o2RkeHR6duZ-2iTICWYPQGUEISN3T9qd-hzu-qGwq-aHGSmkMZrAoCsiJwZiFQYGbayGfMZP5ZvShAK9n-wINaXPSL6jwL6MjXCpa3A3axSqZrSHLaQ~lkxvgSpjRNoL-xDFigUDxi4Q~N3DPeb30tNHabsfX5ZzJ-VzoBd5tMZr5DF-6g~EzJS3CUs5bl-JcVQ4CcmGiVf~L9XVK-t9SflHilvD571idSSDykMMVBQIEodVJqyAI8RvoNX7zqQjOVVdguDS2~wGr77jz-z2CxVUw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","County staff told the committee that the final two broadband projects financed with American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds have been completed and paid out, and that the county likely will not have additional ARPA broadband projects in the near term.

A county official described the two projects as the last of the ARPA‑designated broadband work and said the county has finished what it had set aside those funds to support. No further details about project scope, contractors, or dollar amounts were provided during the update.

No formal motion or vote was taken on the broadband report; it was presented as an informational update.","County staff reported the completion and final payment of two broadband projects funded with ARPA money, saying this likely will be the last round of ARPA broadband payments for now.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6210033,"Hayward Lakes Visitors & Convention Bureau reports strong website engagement, launches summer promotions",243,254685,498190,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3728594-2268d7b79044f3573b30961c7287390f&start=254&end=498","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3728594-2268d7b79044f3573b30961c7287390f/thumbnail_254685.jpg","/articles/6210033/Sawyer-County/Wisconsin/Hayward-Lakes-Visitors-Convention-Bureau-reports-strong-website-engagement-launches-summer-promotions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6210033-7a1cf0961d44fd9f0fdf442a0316637d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770977608&Signature=JW2LeyuWWG~EI~y3E6SkZeGh8ottEHXIGO1dKV-vvh4IhqRsoVdijPJ6OD4TXflnN8sDHHvzUDGw7K9dvYvaVpTtniROYqe1tibZmMgsSYkLoJFQbuqlSjBDwhZHdw2FtTaHStooJyx~DyVMRYuma0MvWELBNL~39N~0Xsj-Q9axpDfeqA9cRwSy8LFlU4-d4aUJIZlxxHY5mXlE0-tDr7483z6h-b73YY-SPevAE-AM6ikrHlqlt2upG2VInWeoCvdjlNFkqasUdHMLTVMBgSNnrL1BOj~vAYfns-VvKooH33-kMzyu07D6Q8d6qJA95whSiHJogaTA4eOYXXkZRA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Hayward Lakes Visitors & Convention Bureau told Sawyer County officials at the committee meeting that website engagement is up year‑over‑year and that the bureau will run multiple summer promotions to collect visitor information and expand its email list.

A bureau representative reported 10,279 engaged sessions on the website and said 77.4% of visitors access the site via mobile devices. The representative said the bureau updated its site to be mobile‑friendly and added features such as a “call now” button on member listings to help convert visitors into customers.

The bureau said its summer staffing began Memorial Day weekend with three temporary staff through June and two temporary staff through the rest of summer in addition to two year‑round staff. The bureau and the Hayward Area Chamber of Commerce are running a summer contest (June–August) to win a large stuffed bear and $100 in chamber bucks and will ask entrants for city and state only to help target marketing.

The bureau also described an annual vacation guide cover photo contest with a $500 prize and a “win a day of fishing” giveaway with professional fisherman Chad Grigsby; winners receive an overnight stay at the Holiday Inn Express. The bureau representative said state economic‑impact numbers are under embargo until the next day but indicated Sawyer County’s tourism impact was positive despite a difficult winter.

No committee action or vote was recorded on the bureau’s update.","The Hayward Lakes Visitors & Convention Bureau reported year‑over‑year website growth, high mobile traffic and several summer marketing promotions and contests aimed at improving visitor tracking and email lists.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6210038,"University of Wisconsin–Extension says FoodWIse depends on SNAP‑Ed; county to scope regional crops educator",195,55165,250224,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3728594-2268d7b79044f3573b30961c7287390f&start=55&end=250","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3728594-2268d7b79044f3573b30961c7287390f/thumbnail_55165.jpg","/articles/6210038/Sawyer-County/Wisconsin/University-of-WisconsinExtension-says-FoodWIse-depends-on-SNAPEd-county-to-scope-regional-crops-educator","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6210038-23bb15d7e1a77f5efde62f6f4eb7f8e3/orig.mp4?Expires=1770977608&Signature=GUFlZWAj-4S0yWY9N2oOJGqoLki3hbi6Bapdu~WdnmMGeZLGRqESil3z9pXS3dt95Hw5R~fgiADXNvDgQUy~9vgdIDhU4p5oZeebnR-uOywwZUZLUjhc1gXBDyaY92-ie3nTPYWQvM~cCtX1Z82OXJVRPF-fF-2gV2ouzIA3bQCIbImM9QXmytBVo2lBWSfEOxHIlkwVlR2T~-Mh55grKb8ni053KKNZ7Wfh9L5Ofn1EieBVXCmFzTZv1ywpE53qAFyD5fd4XJAH-hrwmcGOD2gewzH3VdBE2hOhAZXAeh8L~2O4bCa6Wq8EA3JtM9x2cW4y4ELUrCDhGZvPFPDiGg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A University of Wisconsin–Extension representative told Sawyer County officials at the committee meeting that the county will move forward over the next month to scope a regional emerging crops educator position and that local FoodWIse programming depends on SNAP‑Ed funding.

The extension representative said the position being scoped would follow the program area of current educator Kevin Chishol, who is retiring. The representative said the position is being considered as a regional hire shared among neighboring counties; if Burnett County joins, Sawyer County’s share would fall from 0.33 of a full‑time position to roughly 0.25.

The representative warned county officials about a separate funding risk for nutrition education programs. “FoodWise would go away if SNAP Ed goes away. Kind of bottom line,” the University of Wisconsin–Extension representative said, adding that the extension will circulate more information about how SNAP and SNAP‑Ed funding is impacting communities.

The representative said the FoodWIse program is funded through federal sources and multiple funding layers administered through the university and does not represent a direct county expense. The extension representative said they will provide the committee with a one‑sheet summary of local agricultural activities and a FoodWIse impact sheet for Sawyer County by email.

No formal motion or vote was recorded on the position or program funding at the meeting. The extension representative said staff will continue scoping the regional crops educator position and will proceed unless the committee directs otherwise.","A University of Wisconsin–Extension representative told Sawyer County officials the county will scope a regional emerging crops educator position as the current educator retires and warned that loss of SNAP‑Ed funding would end the local FoodWIse program.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee discusses workforce housing, strategic planning as choke points for local growth

Sawyer County Alliance says it supports Seeley Forest trail system but wants crossings adjusted

County staff says final two ARPA broadband projects complete and paid out

Hayward Lakes Visitors & Convention Bureau reports strong website engagement, launches summer promotions

University of Wisconsin–Extension says FoodWIse depends on SNAP‑Ed; county to scope regional crops educator