Scott Allen, a representative of the West Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission, told Polk County supervisors on Dec. 16 that the commission provides planning, technical assistance and coordinating services for seven counties including Polk. He outlined the RPC's role in transportation, economic development, conservation mapping and hazard mitigation planning and said the county will see more formal presentations on the Polk County bike-and-ped plan in early spring.

Amanda (identified in the meeting packet as Amanda Veith and appearing in the transcript as "Amanda Bites"), the RPC lending specialist, described the Regional Business Fund — a nonprofit administered by the RPC — and presented program results for Polk County. "We've helped a total of 166 businesses, 76 of which were considered startups with a little bit over $8,500,000 in financing, created almost 6,600 jobs in Polk County and leveraged almost $79,000,000 in private funding," she said.

Veith outlined loan uses and examples from 2024: Little Honey Bee Nature Preschool in Centuria received a $30,000 microloan to help complete construction and open an on-site nature- based childcare program, and Unique Boutique in St. Croix Falls used a $60,000 façade loan for tuckpointing, masonry repair and new windows after acquiring a downtown building. Veith also described program oversight: a nine-member Regional Business Fund board and a local Polk County loan committee that includes county citizens and supervisors.

Supervisors asked about defaults and portfolio size; Veith answered that Polk County reported no defaults last year (two defaults regionwide) and explained that the program has roughly 400 active loans systemwide while the 166 figure represents Polk County loan activity over program history, not active loans at one time.

The RPC presentation flagged near-term items for supervisors: a Polk County bike-and-ped plan coming back to the board in spring, an RPC-maintained hazard mitigation data hub being finalized for county staff, and continued technical assistance on crash reports and Safe Routes to School funding. The commission also reminded supervisors that county board appointments to the RPC are scheduled following the 2026 spring elections.