City of Waupun
August 21, 2026
WAUPUN — City of Waupun leaders are excited to share that Waupun has been accepted into the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC)’s Main Street Program, joining a select group of communities that have demonstrated a sustained commitment to revitalizing their commercial districts. The Wisconsin Main Street Program is a comprehensive revitalization program designed to promote the historic and economic redevelopment of traditional business districts across Wisconsin. It is part of the nationwide Main Street America network.
Waupun joined WEDC’s Connect Communities program in 2016 with a goal of aligning the efforts of numerous existing entities, including the then Chamber of Commerce, the Community Development Authority, and the Business Improvement District. Joining the Main Street program provides Waupun the opportunity to expand on existing local efforts, deliver meaningful assistance to downtown business and property owners, and pursue new and diverse funding sources for district projects. “Strong, thriving communities are what make Wisconsin a great place for people to live, work, grow, and do business,” said John Miller, Secretary and CEO of WEDC. “WEDC congratulates Waupun for their commitment to successful community development and collaborative effort to revitalize their historic downtown.”
The City worked with business owners over the past year to participate in a cohort program with WEDC to achieve this milestone. As part of that work, Discover Waupun was formed as a local non-profit that will operate as a combined Main Street and tourism promotion organization, funded in part by the City’s Business Improvement District and room tax, positioning it to coordinate downtown revitalization and visitor promotion efforts under a single organization with a local voice.
“This designation is the payoff for nearly a decade of work by our staff, our Business Improvement District, the Community Development Authority and outside partners like Envision Greater Fond du Lac’s Ignite program and Destination Lake Winnebago Region, to bring focus and investment to Waupun,” said Rohn W. Bishop, Mayor of Waupun. “Joining the Wisconsin Main Street Program gives Discover Waupun the tools to build on that momentum, and it’s a great signal to business owners and investors that our downtown is ready for the next chapter.”
After a thorough application and review process, WEDC selects up to three communities annually to join the Main Street program. The 37 communities already participating receive the technical support and training needed to ensure their downtown districts continue to thrive as centers of community activity and commerce. “We are thrilled to welcome another vibrant and growing district to the program,” said Errin Welty, WEDC Senior Director of Downtown Development. “Waupun has already demonstrated a strong commitment to revitalization over the past decade, and we look forward to seeing what they can do with even more resources.”
Since the program’s inception in 1988, Wisconsin Main Street communities have created nearly 3,500 net new businesses and more than 17,000 net new jobs. They have also generated more than $3 billion in public and private investment and are collectively renovating more than 250 buildings per year statewide.
As a designated Main Street community, Waupun will now receive ongoing technical assistance, training, and networking opportunities from WEDC, along with access to grant funding and other resources that will help Discover Waupun facilitate the program and advance the city’s broader downtown revitalization and tourism promotion efforts.
