LAIC recaps area growth, presents awards during annual meeting

The Lake Area Improvement Corporation held its annual meeting in Madison on Thursday, highlighting events from the last two years as the group wasn’t able to hold a meeting last year because of the pandemic.  The meeting was held in the new framed tent convention center at the Best Western Plus Lakeview hotel in the Lakeview Industrial Park. 

LAIC Executive Director Eric Fosheim re-capped some events of 2019, including the opening of the new hotel, the start of the Cyber Estates housing development, and the development of Dakota Butcher and Scooter’s.  He said that 2019 was also the kick off of a Downtown Master Plan.

Fosheim said in 2020, the LAIC sold three land parcels in the Lakeview Industrial Park, all to existing businesses.  Running’s, Midwest House Movers, and Infotech all are expanding their businesses in the Park.  He said that 2020 also brought the movement and expansion of several other businesses within the city.

He said that the Downtown Facade Improvement Grant program, a partnership with the Chamber, also got started in 2020.  

Fosheim said that the LAIC is kicking off it’s Forward Madison-4 campaign this year with a number of goals.  He said that includes workforce development, housing, child care, Industrial Park growth, the occupation of the group’s spec building, and the continuation of work on the Downtown Master Plan and strategic and progressive growth strategies.  

Also during Thursday’s annual meeting, the LAIC presented it’s annual Growth and Achievement Award to Global Polymer of Madison, and honored past LAIC Board President Mike Malone and retiring board member Mike Brooke.  Fosheim also recognized a couple of active members of the LAIC through the years who are retiring this year – Linda Salmonson and Jon Knuths. 

Global Polymer receives LAIC’s 2021 Growth and Achievement Award