Village of Cottage Grove, Wisconsin

The Village of Cottage Grove is located in eastern Dane County, Wisconsin. Cottage Grove is situated within the growing Madison metropolitan area. The Village is completely surrounded by the Town of Cottage Grove. The critical economic challenges facing the Village, and the Planning Area as a whole, relate to keeping the cost of living reasonable while keeping pace with substantial development, and the demands it places on community facilities and services. Attention should continue to be given to attempts to retain and diversify the service and employment base of the Village, and to generally focus economic development efforts on small- and mid-sized companies and sites.

The Village uses Tax Increment Financing (TIF) districts to create incentives for industrial development. TIF provides for up-front public expenditures for land and infrastructure for industrial development. The resulting development pays for such initial expenditures over time through dedicated property tax revenues. The Village currently operates one TIF district for the business park on the south side of the village. This TIF district is planned to dissolve in 2000. The Village is considering a new TIF district for a proposed business park near the Interstate interchange area on the north side of the community that will focus on regional office development. The Cottage Grove Chamber of Commerce and the Economic Development Corporation also work to promote business retention and development in the community.