​Cornell Wisconsin

Location: Cornell, Wisconsin

Duration: Two years

 

Scope of works

Urban planning, design and environmental research, collaborating, budgeting and proposals.

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Problem: The City of Cornell had been on the decline due to a lack of industry. It was primarily a paper Mill community and several small business that were supported by its residents. 

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Proposal: I met with the City Council of Cornell, WI, and discussed the business infrastructure and my concerns.

We discussed various business types that would be beneficial. I proposed incorporating several restaurant and business franchises because the town was being vacated by its high school graduates due to a lack of industry.

I also proposed educational opportunities (a Community College) that would provide high school graduates with a college education that was not eighty miles away. Ezra Cornell, a politician, a businessman and the co-founder of Cornell University in Ithaca New York. logged white pine along the Chippewa Valley river which was transported to build Cornell University. The City Cornell Wisconsin was named after him. 

The town consisted of approximately 1,500 residents. Before a franchise can invest in a community, it considers the amount of traffic that travels along the highway. It was important to find a franchise that would be willing to invest in the available traffic data. I researched various franchises and their parameters for business within a small town. We wanted franchises to invest in the town while encouraging the growth of local businesses.

 

Outcome:  Family Dollar and Subway are the first two restaurant franchises in the city of Cornell Wisconsin.