Serving Whitman County since 1877
Approximately 50 people from the LaCrosse area last Thursday attended a meeting hosted by LaCrosse Community Pride to discuss ways to continue to get the town back on the map.
The Pride group invited Robin Ohlgren of the Southeast Washington Economic Development Association to conduct roundtable discussions about LaCrosse’s assets, improvements and additional economic development.
The session was in the gathering place segment of the restored LaCrosse Market building.
Pride board member Alex McGregor said SEWEDA wasn’t paid for the evening’s meeting because it’s a service the organization provides for members. McGregor Company is a member.
McGregor introduced folks to the session.
“It’s tremendous to see the turnout,” he said in a booming voice that filled the meeting room.
“I’m excited to see everybody,” he said before he began a powerpoint presentation about LaCrosse, its history and the town’s recent accomplishments.
LaCrosse has quite a story and is defying the odds, McGregor said as a slide showed newspaper clippings about the small town dying.
The “Strategies for Success: Building Upon a Great Start,” presentation was complete with historical photos and was full of hope for the town’s future.
“There’s remarkable people who have roots in LaCrosse,” McGregor said.
“A town that has produced four generations of remarkable people. Look at the photos of 90 years of LHS graduates - doctors, bankers, builders, business and civic leaders ... A town of remarkable farm families ... Was being given its last rites by the media five years ago.” A photo of a newspaper article from the Spokesman-Review was shown.
Among photos were ones of a room filled with cardboard boxes, a flyer about an empty bank branch and the market on fire, “The store was a mess, the cafe was also, the bank was closed ...”
“It is quite a story ... of friends who have come from near and far to help as electricians, contractors, roofers, of young people from town and campus, who’ve helped defy the odds to help provide a store, a bank, a library, a medical office and a business center ...”
“Plumbers, electricians and more. ‘I am glad you called and I am happy to give back to my home town ...’ Local kids and a WSU fraternity helped clean up the junk ...”
“Could a community of 300 get a bank to come to town? One hundred and thirty-two families vow to switch to any bank willing to come to town ... LaCrosse 1, FDIC 0. Library+Grocery+Cafe+Bank=The Little Town That Could and Did!”
“We’ve gone from what many thought an impossible situation to a situation full of possibilities.”
“We have deep roots and a fine heritage,” he said. “It’s time to grab another gear.”
A “needs” list included more volunteers, more inspired ideas and more contributions for work that’s been done and projects to complete.
“From here, we can go as far as our imagination and drive and community spirit takes us,” McGregor said in the presentation. “Let’s compare notes. What would we like this community to be? What do we want it to be for our kids and theirs? How can we get there? Who will pitch in to help get it done?
“‘The Little Town that Could’ is off to a good start and with your help it will be ever stronger.”
Ohlgren asked the meeting participants to establish goals for the town, how to grow the economy in and around LaCrosse and broaden support.
She then gave the different tables assignments such as listing 10 things to do in town, what the town does well and what are the rare cultural elements in town such as architecture, art, commerce, cuisine, customs, geography, history and people.
She also asked about infrastructure, collaborations that enhance a regional flavor, and marketing that includes tourism, luring young families and entrepreneurs, specific businesses and industries.
One group highlighted LaCrosse’s assets such as the rock houses, the park and railroad and then came up with ideas such as an antique store, antique farm equipment display, quilt store and display, better signage on SR 26 to get visitors off the highway and into town, capitalizing on the town’s history by installing plaques noting the origin, developing a city website and walking paths including a pathway to Pampa Pond.
Ohlgren asked people to switch tables to discuss different issues with different people. After a few minutes people were asked to go to another table for discussion and then discussion topics were displayed on boards for meetings attendants.
Most participants indicated they would return for a second meeting.
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