Planning Agency Receives Award For Its Role In Wood Technology Facility

The innovative Wood Technology Center of Excellence located on the Antigo campus of Northcentral Technical College is earning accolades for one of its partners.

The North Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission, based in Wausau, has received a 2012 Innovation Award from the National Association of Development Organizations Research Foundation for its role in the project.

The project, a partnership of Langlade County, Northcentral Technical College, Langlade County Economic Development Corporation and the North Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission, was developed to establish a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to forestry work force training.

The 22,000 square foot facility opened in 2011. The project is intended to strengthen forest products manufacturing and provide the training needed to keep northern Wisconsin, including Forest, Lincoln, Oneida, and Vilas counties, competitive today and in the future.

“For more than 25 years, the Innovation Award has provided regional development organizations throughout the nation a unique opportunity to showcase their important work and their critical role in promoting economic development in rural areas,” NADO President Russell Cowley, executive director of the Six County Association of Governments in Richfield, Utah, said. “The creativity and significant, long-term impact of regional programs and projects like the Wood Technology Center of Excellence are the key to advancing the economic growth and sustainability of our nation’s regions and communities.’’

The North Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission was established in 1973 to serve a 10 county region in north central Wisconsin. It provides assistance in the areas of economic development, geographic information systems, intergovernmental cooperation, land use planning, and transportation.