Economic Development
Location |
Distance in Drive Time to Major WI Cities |
Climate |
Population
Utilities/Services/Transportation |
Education/Employee Training |
Taxes |
Major Employers for 2004 - 2005 |
Additional Information
The VDA, Inc., and the City of Viroqua actively seek new industry and are willing to offer their assistance. (The VDA, Inc. is a private, not-for-profit corporation with responsibility for development of the City's industrial park.)
The city-owned industrial park has 58 acres that remain available (out of 115 acres) for development. Water, sewer, and electric service are installed to the property line. Streets are paved with asphalt cement bituminous pavement. Click here for a PDF map of the industrial park.
Viroqua, the county seat of Vernon County, is conveniently located at the intersections of US Highways 14, 61 & 27 and State Highway 56. This provides direct and convenient access to prime markets and suppliers.
Viroqua has an excellent elementary and secondary school system and is also the home of the Western Wisconsin Technical College - Viroqua campus. WWTC offers ongoing training for your employees and can develop customized training for specific business or industrial needs.
Our locally operated Viroqua municipal utility offers sewer and water services. Electrical services are provided by Xcel Energy while Madison Gas and Electric provides natural gas service. Telephone and internet services are provided by Frontier Communications and Vernon Telephone Cooperative; and cable television is available through Mediacom Communications and Vernon Communications.
Media companies serving Viroqua include the Vernon County Broadcaster, a weekly newspaper, and radio stations WVRQ AM & FM and WDRT. Local network affiliated television stations originate in La Crosse and Eau Claire.
Location:
| County: | County Size: | Region | Nearest Major City: | Distance: |
| Vernon | 795 sq. mi. | Southwestern Wisconsin, bordering Minnesota & Iowa | La Crosse, WI | 33 mi. |
Distance in Drive Time to:
| La Crosse, WI | Madison, WI | Milwaukee, WI |
| 45 minutes | 2 hours | 3-1/2 hours |
Climate:
| Temperature | Annual | January | July |
| Average (deg. F°) | 43.3° | 12.9° | 69.4° |
| Precipitation | Total | Snow |
| Annual Average (in.) | 33.0 | 42.7 |
Population:
| 1980 | 1990 | 2000 | 2005 (est) | |
| City of Viroqua | 3,716 | 3,922 | 4,335 | 4,394 |
| Vernon County | 25,642 | 25,617 | 28,056 | 29,189 |
| Wisconsin | 4,705,767 | 4,891,769 | 5,363,675 | 5,580,000 |
Utilities/Services/Transportation:
| Utilities: Electrical Provided by: Xcel Energy Supplied by: Dairyland Power Cooperative Natural Gas Supplied by: Madison Gas & Electric Water Supplied by: Viroqua Utilities Source: Deep Wells Max. Pumping Capacity: 2.2 MG/D Peak Daily Use: 0.45 M/GD Storage Capacity: 500,000 gal. Sanitary Sewer Supplied by: Viroqua Utilities System Type: Activated Sludge w/ultraviolet disinfection Design Capacity: 600,000 G/D Avg. Daily Use: 325,000 G/D Telecommunications Supplied by: Frontier Communications and Vernon Communications Digital Service: Yes, 100% Offering a full range of digital voice, data, internet and networking service. Alltel & US Cellular provide wireless services.
Services: Fire Protection Volunteer Fire Department Fire Protection Class: 5 Rescue Squad Tri-State Ambulance Staff: Licensed Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics Police Viroqua Police Department provides 24 /7 coverage for the city Medical Hospital: Vernon Memorial Hospital Clinics: Gunderson Lutheran Clinic, Hirsch Clinic |
Transportation: Highways Nearest Interstate: I-90 Distance: 33 miles (40 minutes) Next Nearest Interstate: I-94 Distance: 50 miles (59 minutes) U.S. Highways: 14, 61, 27 Trucking Major Motor Freight Carriers Serving Area: Conway CCX, Millis Trucking, Madison Freight, Fuch’s Trucking, Roadway Express, Koschkee, NM Transfer, Consolidated, Jahns Transfer, US Holland, UPS, Fed Ex Rail Service Burlington Northern (30 miles) Piggy-back available Soo Line Amtrak Air Service Commercial Airport (nearest): La Crosse (35 miles) Airlines Serving American Eagle, Northwest Airlines, Skyway/Midwest Charter Service Also Available Next: Dane County Regional-Madison, WI (98 miles) Local Airport: Viroqua Municipal Airport Rwy 11/29 - 3,346 ft paved Rwy 2/20 - 2,555 ft grass Barge/Port Facilities available at La Crosse (30 miles) |
Education/Employee Training:
| Nearest Universities: UW La Crosse Viterbo College Distance: 33 Miles |
Nearest Technical College: WWTC Distance: Main Office 33 Miles (La Crosse, WI), With Local Campus in Viroqua |
Employment Services: Vernon County Job Center Vernon Area Rehabilitation Center |
Major Employers for 2004 - 2005:
| Name | Product/Service | # of Employees |
| Vernon County | County government | 510 |
| Vernon Memorial Healthcare, Inc. | Health care | 415 |
| Nelson Fleetguard, Inc. | Manufacturer of exhaust systems | 276 |
| Bethel Home | Nursing home | 245 |
| Vernon Area Rehabilitation Center | Vocational, residential & day services | 225 |
| Wal-Mart | Discount Retailer | 190 |
| Viroqua Area Schools | Elementary & secondary education | 186 |
| Vernon Manor | Skilled care nursing facility | 126 |
| NCR Corporation | Printing forms and specialty labels | 80 |
| City of Viroqua | Municipal government | 70 |
| McDonald’s | Restaurant | 65 |
Taxes:
(Manufacturing machinery, equipment & inventories are EXEMPT in Wisconsin)
| Tax | Rate |
| Corporate Income | 7.9% Flat |
| State Sales | 5.0% |
| County Sales | 0.5% |
| Property ('04 - net assessed) | $24.45/$1,000 |
Financial Incentives for Business:
- Tax Increment Financing
- Western Wisconsin Technology Zone (Tax Credits)
- Vernon County Revolving Load Fund
- Main Street Loan Pool (Facade Program)
- Industrial Revenue Bonds
For additional economic development information, please contact:
City Administrative Consultant/VDA Director Jeff Gohlke at:
(608) 637-3251 x18 or cityadmin@mwt.net
Additional economic development information can be found at these links:
- www.wwjobcenter.org
- www.worknet.wisconsin.gov
- www.worknet.wisconsin.gov/worknet/jsprofile_results.aspx?
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