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New London economic-development priorities for 2026: staffing, development pipeline and new businesses
Summary
Committee members discussed 2026 priorities including staffing (a community development director search), residential and commercial development pipelines, and local business updates: Quiet World Brewing (planned 2027), a new convenience store at 1102 E Cook St., and an upcoming ribbon-cutting for Tri County Chiropractic.
City economic-development staff and committee members on Dec. 2 reviewed priorities for 2026 and provided business updates, citing ongoing residential projects, TID activity and staffing plans to handle a rising workload.
Staff reported ongoing residential development interest, naming projects including the SC Suderski Wolf River expansion and multiple subdivision proposals, and said staff are working on development agreements. The city is recruiting a community development director to assist with zoning, plat review and land-use tasks; the position closed with 13 applications and staff hope to have a candidate identified in roughly a month.
Economic-development staff also summarized commercial activity and business updates. April said Quiet World Brewing has selected a proposed location and is set to open in 2027. "Quiet World Brewing is set to open in 2027," she said. Staff also reported a convenience store planned for 1102 East Cook Street, a ribbon cutting for Tri County Chiropractic in January, and that the Miller and Press Star buyers guide location at 301 S. Pearl St. closed on Nov. 17.
Committee members discussed data resources that can inform decision-making: staff said Wisconsin DOT traffic-count data are accessible through ArcGIS and cited examples, including a downtown point with a May 2025 count of about 7,800 vehicles per day and Shawano Street readings above 7,000 and in places exceeding 10,000. Members discussed using TID funds, facade-improvement grants and targeted advertising as tools to support downtown businesses and noted tight budgets will require careful prioritization.
Staff also briefed the committees on potential agenda items for early 2026 (hotel feasibility, transportation updates, childcare and housing) and said the city would revisit façade grants, billboards and Spark placemaking design as planning and grant timelines permit.
