APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) – After what they are calling a successful 2016, Appleton Downtown Inc. is looking to the future.
Marketing Director Anne Wiegman says 13 new businesses entered the downtown district last year, bringing the occupancy rate to 81%. With four new businesses joining Appleton Downtown Inc, Wiegman says the group now has over 250 members.
According to Wiegman, over 500,000 people attended a total of 126 downtown events in 2016.
Weigman says popular events from a year ago, such as the weekly farmers’ markets, summer concerts, and fashion show are back for 2017.
However, she says Appleton Downtown Inc. is most excited about construction of the new Fox Cities Exhibition Center.
Wiegman expects the project will be finished in late 2017 and notes the building has already been booked to host events in early 2018, including the Governor’s Conference on Tourism next March.
She says the facility, located behind the Radisson on Lawrence Street, will have the ability to accommodate a number of events including: large conferences, company meetings, and weddings.
Construction started last fall, and Wiegman says it will allow the downtown to attract new clients since the interior gathering space will be significantly larger than that offered in any existing downtown building.
