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.
Portage County
Portage County is a county located in central Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 70,377. The county seat is Stevens Point. Portage County was created in 1839 and is named after the Fox-Wisconsin Waterway, a historic portage route used by Native Americans and European settlers. The county is known for its many lakes, rivers, and outdoor recreational opportunities, including the Tomorrow River State Trail, the Wisconsin River and the Ice Age Trail. The county is home to the city of Stevens Point, which is the county’s largest city and the regional center for commerce, industry, healthcare, and education. The county also has several small towns and communities, including Plover, Rosholt, and Amherst. The county has a diverse economy, with healthcare, manufacturing, and service industries being the main drivers.
NEWCOM
The counties of northeastern Wisconsin have a long history of working cooperatively to address the public safety needs of the area. This latest effort, called the North East Wisconsin Public Safety COMmunications or NEWCOM, will create a group that will identify the communication needs for the area, so the 500 plus law enforcement and public safety organizations can communicate effectively throughout the Region.
The group formed under Intergovernmental Agreement §66.0301, Wis. Stats in 2006
Meetings 2025
February 6th
May 1st
August 7th
November 6th
| Sherri Congleton | Vilas County | Chair |
| Ryan Berdal | Marathon County | Vice-Chair |
| Rozanne Kahan | Price County | Secretary- Treasurer |
| Andy Faust | NCWRPC | NEWCOM Contact |
Larry Raikowski
Portage County
John Pavelski
Portage County
Ray Reser
Portage County
Portage County Locally Developed, Coordinated Public Transit-Human Service Transportation Plan 2019-2023
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 2013 and are due to be updated
for 2019.
Portage County Locally Developed, Coordinated Public Transit-Human Service Transportation Plan 2014-2018
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 2008 and are due to be updated
for 2013.
Almond-Bancroft Safe Routes to School Plan 2012-2017
Safe Routes to School (SRTS) began as a European phenomenon about thirty years ago and caught on in New York City in 1997. In the 1970s, Denmark had Europe’s highest child pedestrian accident rate. Implementing the first Safe Routes to School program, planners in Denmark identified specific road dangers around the country’s schools and took steps to remedy the hazards. Since 1970, the child pedestrian crash rate has dropped by 80% in Denmark.
Portage County Locally Developed, Coordinated Public Transit-Human Service Transportation Plan 2008
The federal transportation bill known as SAFETEA-LU (Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users), passed in 2005, requires the preparation of coordination plans for entities that will access FTA (Federal Transit Authority) funds. SAFETEA LU states that projects funded from the following three programs must be derived from a locally developed, coordinated public transit-human services transportation plan. The stated goal is to maximize the three programs’ coverage by minimizing the duplication of similar, overlapping services. SAFETEA-LU also stipulates that the plan be developed through a process that includes representation of public, private and non-profit transportation and human services providers, and participation by the public.
