News & Events

Breaking Ground: Walworth County & WCEDA Host Housing Summit

Summit Focused on Finding Meaningful Solutions to the County’s Housing Shortage

(ELKHORN, WI): Walworth County and the Walworth County Economic Development Alliance (WCEDA) will host the Breaking Ground: Walworth County Housing Summit to find solutions to the shortage of middle-income housing. The summit will bring together local municipal and business leaders, educators, state and local housing and community development experts, funding and resource partners, builders and contractors, non-profit organizations, and residents to explore the state of housing in the county, solutions, and incentives. 

“Right now, the American dream of owning a home is not attainable for most in Walworth County,” says Walworth County Economic Development Alliance Executive Director Derek D’Auria. “The lack of workforce housing is impacting the health of our communities, our local economy, and our school systems. Our goal is to bring together leaders from across sectors to work side-by-side on solutions to meet the housing needs of our residents.” 

The Breaking Ground: Walworth County Housing Summit will take place on Monday, September 25, 2023, from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at the Abbey Resort, 269 Fontana Blvd., Fontana. An optional lunch will be served. This event is open to the public. Registration is required; please register at https://bit.ly/WalCoHousingSummit. Questions may be directed to WCEDA at 262-564-3212.

A 2023 housing study conducted by the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (SEWRPC) on behalf of Walworth County found that demand for housing in the County will grow over the next several decades. A few takeaways from the study illustrate the County’s housing challenges:

• The County is expected to add 16,500 households by the year 2050, creating a long-term demand for about 17,000 additional housing units. 
• In the near term, there could be a demand for over 5,600 additional housing units in the County by 2030. When compared to the number of housing units developed in the County over the last 10 years—about 3,700—it shows that there is much work to be done.
• The median annual household income in Walworth County is about $69,400. According to the Wisconsin Realtor’s Association, the median sales price of a home in Walworth County was $316,250 in 2022. A household would need to have an income of at least $90,000 a year to afford the home. 

To view the full study, visit Housing for a Healthy Walworth County. 

QPR Suicide Prevention Training to be Held at Health and Human Services 

(ELKHORN, WI): In recognition of September as National Suicide Prevention Month, Walworth County Health and Human Services will host suicide prevention training for anyone over the age of 16. 

QPR—or Question, Persuade, Refer—is practical, proven suicide prevention training that empowers people to recognize the signs of crisis in others and provide potentially life-saving intervention and support. Just as people trained in CPR save thousands of lives each year, people trained in QPR learn how to recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to question, persuade, and refer someone to help. 

“Suicide is complicated and tragic and often preventable,” says Walworth County Public Health Specialist Patty Stritesky. “Knowing the warning signs for suicide and how to get help can save lives. Throughout September, mental health advocates, prevention organizations, survivors, allies, and community members unite to promote suicide prevention awareness. Taking part in suicide prevention training is a simple yet impactful step that anyone can take to make a difference.” 

This free suicide prevention training is scheduled for Wednesday, September 27, from 5:30 to 7 p.m., at Walworth County Health and Human Services, 1910 County Road NN, Elkhorn. Space is limited; registration is not required but strongly encouraged. You may register by visiting https://bit.ly/3PrzApR, emailing walcoph@co.walworth.wi.us, or calling 262-741-3200.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 for 24/7 crisis support or chat 988Lifeline.org for connection with a trained crisis counselor.

Steve Watson writes, “The morning of Sept 9. Temperature 48° and Foggy. A plethora of spiderwebs adorning the barrier on the Wisconsin St. scenic overlook.

Ok you arachnologists.
Look what’s in this morning mist.
Webs aplenty shape and size.
Dew drops let us scrutinize.
Webs of death for little guys.
Spiders weave these deadly traps.
To catch a snack or lunch perhaps.
Webs are woven almost every day.
Shiny for attraction,
Not for interception.
To catch their prey.”

Our thanks to Steve Watson for yet another fascinating nature photo compilation.

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WHITEWATER- September 12, 2023- Whitewater Leads is excited to announce that they are expanding their ability to improve literacy for children within the Whitewater area. 

Over the past six years, through their partnership with the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, Whitewater Leads has given away over 24,000 free books to children from birth until their fifth birthday within the Whitewater area.

Through the increase of donations, Whitewater Leads was able to expand to give four elementary literacy grants last school year. The recipients of the Whitewater Leads elementary literacy grants for the 2022 – 2023 school year were Shannon Frye – kindergarten teacher at Lincoln Elementary, Lisa Kaminski – reading interventionist at Lincoln Elementary, Jill Whitney – fifth grade teacher at Washington Elementary, and Jacquie Sedmak – fourth grade teacher at Lincoln Elementary. Shannon Frye stated, “The Whitewater Leads Grant allowed me to purchase Boogie Boards to be used in the classroom. The Boogie Boards allow students to write, draw, and trace on an easy to use and clean device. These boards are a welcome addition to our classroom to practice literacy skills and more. Boogie Boards are a liquid crystal paper and allow students to write without the need for paper or messy ink (like dry erase boards). They erase completely at the click of a button. My classroom is grateful for the purchase of these boards to enhance our literacy program.” More information about each grant winner from the 2022 – 2023 school year is available on the Whitewater Leads website, whitewater-leads.org.

This school year, Whitewater Leads plans to give away up to six literacy grants to Whitewater Unified School District staff. These grants will give WUSD students additional literacy opportunities. 

Molly Fuller, Whitewater Leads co-president stated, “ We are extremely excited to be able to expand our ability to help kids in our community. Being able to raise enough money to give away over 24,000 free books is an absolute honor. Now, to be able to give away literacy grants to help our elementary aged students is a dream come true.” 

To apply for a literacy grant worth up to $500, WUSD staff can submit their grant proposal to whitewaterleads@gmail.com. If you have a child/children who are not yet five, live in the Whitewater Unified School District area, and would like to receive free monthly books, you can sign them up at imaginationlibrary.com today. 

Whitewater Leads, Inc. works to support literacy, in all of its diverse forms, throughout and within the boundaries of the Whitewater Unified School District of Whitewater WI.

It’s time once again for #FlashbackFriday with the Whitewater Historical Society.

This view of Main Street in Whitewater dates from c.1920. One good way of dating Main Street photos is by looking at the old Commercial Bank building, left center. This building was constructed in 1914 for the new Commercial and Savings Bank, established 110 years ago in 1913. Of course, the bank became just the Commercial Bank, which more recently became the PremierBank. The bank moved from this distinctive Classical Revival building to a modern bank building designed in an even more distinctive Wrightian contemporary architectural style where it is located today.

Join us next week for more from the Whitewater Historical Society.

(#5492PC, Whitewater Historical Society)