that we would love to have filled,” he points out. “There are opportunities for businesses to locate on the first floor with apartments on the second and third. But that’s a struggle in a community our size, especially when you’re close to communities of 18 or 30 thousand. It’s difficult to draw that downtown business, when they’re only going to see a handful of clients or customers, and when they can put up a in, put up a building and a parking lot, and open the doors.” Stratford also has two Tax Increment Districts (TIDs) that offer Tax Increment Financing (TIF) for commercial, industrial, and residential projects. “In the past two weeks, we’ve had ongoing conversations with three developers; one has already come and evaluated the lots that we have available, and a second one is in the process of finding the perfect spot. Once land acquisition has been completed, the Village will get involved and say,‘What are you looking for from us, and what are we able to offer?’” THE NEED FOR HOUSING As business continues to grow in Stratford (from 2021 to 2022, the local employment grew at a rate of 8.48%), Grell says the Village’s main focus is finding adequate and affordable housing for its growing population. One option would be to fill up unused space downtown. “There are a couple of empty buildings downtown With branches in Marshfield, Spencer, and Stratford—communities we’re proud to be a part of—we’re committed to helping you thrive. Our dedicated team is here to deliver exceptional financial solutions tailored to your unique goals, offering the expertise and personalized service you deserve. At Partners Bank, we don’t just meet expectations—we exceed them. partnersbankwi.com 715.384.4005 Marshfield 715.659.2430 Spencer 715.687.2411 Stratford Discover the personal touch of banking with Partners Bank. 197 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 05, ISSUE 12 STRATFORD, WI
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