Some changes for Downtown Rhinelander, Incorporated.
Faced earlier this year with the loss of revenue from a Business Improvement District, the organization has downsized and will have no paid staff in a few weeks. Several businesses petitioned the city of Rhinelander to eliminate the BID district, gaining enough square footage to make the petition happen. With that revenue loss, DRI determined changes had to happen, says President Dan Kuzlik. But he says they're hoping other organizations will pick up the slack...
".... we'll be turning over many of the events we've had over the past 10 years to other groups. A lot of things won't change, they're just going to be a little different as to how they're organized and who is organizing them...."
Kuzlik says they will also work to help downtown businesses maintain their buildings. He says they will continue to support the Business Incubator at the West Davenport Street location. He says they will also support maintaining parking lots and Downtown Works, a low interest revolving loan fund set up by DRI. Downtown events may continue as local businesses step forward to run them and fundraisers will be given over to other community groups.
