Providing Economic Development, Geographic Information Systems, Intergovernmental Cooperation, Land Use Planning and Transportation Assistance since 1973
The Adams County Economic Development Strategy was prepared for the County’s official economic development organization – Adams County Economic Development (ACED) – and is intended to act as a guide for economic development efforts within Adams County.
The Strategic Plan strives to:
Provide an economic context of the County.
Review socio-economic trends throughout the County that are important to understand the County’s strengths, weaknesses, issues, and opportunities.
Analyze past and current economic data, as well as projections, for the County to identify it’s economic strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities.
Identify and describe the County’s existing infrastructure.
Develop a set of strategies to help guide economic efforts within the County.
The Adams County Land and Water Resource Management (LWRM) plan was developed to assist the county in managing and protecting the land and water resources throughout Adams County.
At the root of the county Land and Water Resource Management (LWRM) plan concept is the cooperation and coordination of all agencies and groups within the county that have a role in land and water resource management. This plan coordinates everyone’s efforts, and focuses on how the County’s Land and Water Conservation Department will work with the other agencies.
Land and Water Resource Management (LWRM) Plans provide counties an opportunity to explain how they will meet the state performance standards and prohibitions (NR 151 and ATCP 50) to reduce runoff and protect water quality, as well as address other local land and water resource management concerns. The LWRM Plan provides the counties with the ability to develop local strategies to address the concerns; budget the limited staff and cost share dollars toward these concerns; provide for integration of programs and funding from all sources; and develop a variety of implementation tools.
Adams County All Hazards Mitigation Plan (AHMP) Update describes and documents the process used to develop the plan update. This includes how it was prepared and who (committee, organizations, departments, staff, consultants, etc.) was involved in the update process. It also describes the local government involvement, the time period in which the update was prepared, and who to contact to answer questions and make recommendations for future amendments to the plan.
In 2025, Centergy, Inc. worked with the North Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (NCWRPC) to produce this study in response to growing concerns over housing affordability. This study recommends a variety of strategies and programs that each individual community may explore depending on their own needs to encourage the construction and rehabilitation of needed housing, along with recommendations for a possible Regional Housing Fund. The Centergy Region includes Adams, Lincoln, Marathon, Portage, and Wood Counties.
In 2024, Adams County Economic Development (ACED), in partnership with the Adams County Housing Committee and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Partners Network (RPN) worked with the North Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (NCWRPC) to produce this study in response to growing concerns over housing affordability. The Local Initiatives Support Coalition (LISC) and Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) soon partnered with ACED and Adams County to further enhance this project.
This project consisted of robust data collection, public surveys, public open houses, and stakeholder interviews to understand which housing types are highest in demand, and what barriers prevent an adequate supply of desired housing. This study recommends a variety of strategies and programs that each individual community may explore depending on their own needs to encourage the construction and rehabilitation of needed housing.
We have been creating economy overviews for all ten of our counties along with Centergy and Grow North regions. We have reports from 2018 to 2024 – More information is about EMSI reports HERE. We also have historic reports back to 2013 if you are intrerested.
Every few years, NCWRPC updates basic demographic and economic development information in the form of County Profiles, which provide a snapshot of current economic trends and opportunities for economic growth. Included is a map of business park locations where acreage is available as well as contacts for various economic development agencies and programs.
The primary purpose of this outdoor recreation plan is to provide continued direction toward meeting the current and future recreation needs of the City of Adams.
Adoption of this plan by the Adams City Council and subsequent acceptance by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) will continue the City’s eligibility for Land and Water Conservation Fund (LAWCON), and Stewardship Fund money.
Non-profit groups, foundations, and the general public may also use this document to coordinate their own private efforts for developing outdoor recreation facilities.
Federal transit law requires that any projects selected for funding under the Section 5310 Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities (formerly titled Elderly and Disabled Capital Assistance Program) must be derived from a “locally developed, coordinated public transit-human services transportation plan”. This requirement was implemented as part of the SAFETEA-LU legislation and the requirement continues under the new transportation legislation, FAST Act (Fixing America’s Surface Transportation). The purpose of the coordinated planning process is to have stakeholder involvement in the assessment of elderly and disabled transportation, and to provide strategies and goals to improve those transportation alternatives. These coordinated plans were last completed in 2019 and are due to be updated for 2023.
The broadband strategy presented at narrowing the digital divide in Adams County by enhancing broadband connectivity and accessibility. Additionally, this strategy will pinpoint obstacles and objectives related to expanding infrastructure and promoting broadband adoption. Consequently, Adams County will be in a stronger position to seek and, hopefully, secure BEAD funding for broadband deployment.
