Community Corner

🌱 How a $2.2M grant will reshape River Falls’ startup hub

Coming up on the River Falls Patch calendar: Farm to Table on the Kinnickinnic River

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Greetings River Falls! Your go-to source for what's happening in town is here. Stay in the loop and read on. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • How a $2.2M grant will reshape River Falls' startup hub
  • How River Falls' new Gold Tier status could reshape downtown
  • Will River Falls soon allow wider driveways across city neighborhoods?

Also on today's calendar: Sycamore Fall Wellness Event and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: What do you call a belt that is made of watches? 🤔 (Answer below!)

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Weather forecast:

  • Thursday: Clouds and sun; less humid, with a high of 67 and low of 40 degrees.
  • Friday: Sunshine mixing with clouds, temps: high: 62, low: 47.
  • Saturday: Mostly cloudy with a shower, with a high of 66 and low of 45 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. St. Croix Valley Business Innovation Center receives $2.2 million grant for expansion (piercecountyjournal.news) — River Falls just secured a $2.2 million federal grant to expand the St. Croix Valley Business Innovation Center, adding new industrial bays and office space for local startups. City leaders say the larger facility will help more entrepreneurs launch and stay in the region, strengthening jobs and economic growth for River Falls and surrounding counties.
   

2. River Falls recognized as Gold Tier in WEDC's Connect Communities Downtown Revitalization Program (piercecountyjournal.news) — River Falls has been named a Gold Tier member of Wisconsin's Connect Communities program, giving the city extra tools and expert support for revitalizing its historic downtown. Local leaders say the designation will help strengthen downtown River Falls' identity, attract investment, and keep Main Street a vibrant destination for residents and visitors in the years ahead.
   

3. A curb appeal? River Falls City Council considers new driveway ordinance (riverfallsjournal.com) — River Falls City Council is weighing a new driveway ordinance that would allow single- and two-family homes citywide up to 30-foot-wide driveways, potentially saving many homeowners from costly changes. At the same meeting, the council advanced long-range fiscal and capital plans, approved funding for a fire station renovation, celebrated a major business innovation grant, and noted recent community events.
   

4. Assistance dogs arrive to learn new tricks at UWRF (riverfallsjournal.com) — Ten assistance dogs in training have moved into UW–River Falls residence halls, where students will help raise and socialize them through the Falcon FETCH program. Over the semester, River Falls students will take the dogs to classes and activities, gaining hands-on animal training experience while preparing future assistance dogs that will eventually support people with disabilities across the region.
   

5. UW-River Falls professor identifies new orchid species unique to Palau island (wcwisconsinnews.com) — A University of Wisconsin–River Falls biology professor has identified a new orchid species, Agrostophyllum lkou, found only on Babeldaob Island in Palau, after years of fieldwork and archival research. The discovery, now formally published, could support conservation of this critically endangered plant and highlights advanced botanical research happening right here at UW–River Falls.
   

📸 Around River Falls

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🗓 Upcoming Events in River Falls

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📣 River Falls Shout Outs!

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Ebenezer Senior Living posted a job opening for Chef - AL in River Falls. Apply here.
  • Starbucks Corporation posted a job opening for shift supervisor - Store# 81575, 708 N. MAIN STREET in River Falls. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near River Falls here.

Ok River Falls! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: A waist of time. (Thank you Martin L. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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