Wisconsin Rural Regional Housing Summit Series Presents: The Driftless Region

Hillsboro, Wisconsin – April 15, 2025 – The UW-Madison Division of Extension – Vernon and La Crosse Counties are thrilled to announce the second stop of the Wisconsin Rural Regional Housing Summit Series, a groundbreaking initiative designed to address the pressing housing challenges faced by rural communities across Wisconsin. This series of four regional workshops aims to build local capacity, facilitate regional partnerships, and strengthen connections to local, state and federal stakeholders whose participation will be instrumental in shaping the future of housing in rural Wisconsin. Contacts:

  • Hannah McKeever, Community Development Educator, Vernon County, hannah.mckeever@wisc.edu, 608-637-5281
  • Charlotte Peters, Community Development Educator, La Crosse County, ckpeters2@wisc.edu, 608-785-9593

Event Details:

  • Date: Tuesday, May 6, 2025
  • Time: 8:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.; with optional Habitat for Humanity Hillsboro Housing Development Tour following session close.
  • Location: Hillsboro Brewing Company, 206 E. Madison Street, Hillsboro, Wisconsin
  • Registration: $25.00 – The Driftless Rural Housing Summit. Online registrations close on Thursday, April 24, 2025. In person registrations may occur on the day of the event; contact Hannah McKeever, Vernon County Community Development Extension Educator, for more details. hannah.altimus@wisc.edu.
  • Sponsorships & Exhibitors: Spaces still available! Contact Hannah McKeever for more details.

About the Summit: The Wisconsin Rural Regional Housing Summit Series will feature a series of tailored events over the next 18 months, including workshops in Lac du Flameau and in the Wisconsin Rapids/Stevens Point area. The Hillsboro event follows the initial launch of the series in Ashland County from Novembe 2024. Each event is customized to address local issues of concern, with format presentations, panel discussions, networking opportunities, and resource takeaways. It will cover critical issues affecting housing in rural areas, with a specific focus on Crawford, Juneau, La Crosse, Monroe, Richland, Sauk, and Vernon Counties. Attendees will have the chance to engage directly with experts and peers, gaining valuable insights and resources to help guide future housing initiatives in their regions.

Key Highlights:

  • Presentations: Review of data, strategies, and case studies providing direction for rural communities to increase housing availability and access.
  • Panel Discussions: Engaging dialogues with experts and stakeholders on critical housing issues.
  • Networking Opportunities: Connect with fellow leaders, share knowledge, and collaborate on actionable solutions.
  • Resource Takeaways: Valuable insights and tools to guide future housing initiatives.

An EEO/AA employer, University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension provides equal opportunities in employment and programming, including Title VI, Title IX, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act requirements.

Please make requests for reasonable accommodations to ensure equal access to educational programs as early as possible preceding the scheduled program, service, or activity. For communicative accommodations in languages other than English, please contact oaic@extension.wisc.edu. For communicative accommodations based on a disability, please contact Heather Lipinski Stelljes at: heather.stelljes@wisc.edu for the public.