BONDUEL, WI- Bonduel’s economic momentum was on full display Thursday as Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) Deputy Secretary and COO Sam Rikkers visited the village to tour new developments, meet local leaders, and see firsthand how recent investments are shaping the community’s future.
Village officials guided Rikkers through downtown businesses, upcoming improvement areas, and major residential projects including Sunrise Court and the Bear Trail Crossing apartments. Leaders say the new housing boom is already fueling broader growth.
“But I think the housing is gonna drive further downtown development,” Peter Thillman of Shawano County Economic Progress Incorporated said during the visit. “People bring more retail, people bring more commercial, it’s gonna make a big difference going forward. I think you’re gonna see phenomenal growth here for the next five years.”
Local leaders emphasized that the progress isn’t accidental, but part of a coordinated long-term effort.
“It’s a holistic plan that we have set for the village,” Municipal Operations Director Jesse Rankin noted. “Rikkers wanted to come see what we’ve been doing and the great things that are going on here in Bonduel.”
Rikkers echoed that sentiment, praising the collaboration and vision behind the community’s growth.
“The leaders of Bonduel are a team that are really moving this rural community forward faster than we’ve seen in a lot of rural communities,” he said. “They had a chance to show us some of the new housing that’s going in, the planning that’s making that happen. And then all of the small businesses that are really starting to take root and create that community is making Bonduel a place that folks are clamoring to move to.”
The visit was part of WEDC’s continued outreach during Shop Small Wisconsin, a statewide initiative encouraging residents to support local small businesses throughout the holiday season. Officials say Bonduel’s combination of downtown revitalization, business growth, and expanding housing opportunities reflects exactly the kind of community-driven progress the campaign hopes to elevate.
Local leaders called the day a success, saying the visit helped shine a spotlight on Bonduel’s rising profile and the strong partnerships driving its development.
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