Hillsboro kicks off busy weekend with Gundersen Fun Run
Though a bit chilly and breezy, yet sunny, last Saturday walking and running enthusiasts came out for the Annual Gundersen St. Joseph’s Hospital and Clinics Fun Run. The fundraiser primarily benefits St. Joseph's rehabilitation department. “We've held this, probably at least 20 years, if not 30 years,” said Gundersen St. Joseph’s Hospital and Clinic’s Marketing & Community Relations Manager, Dan Howard. “Our rehab department staff spent a lot of time putting on this event, planning it, doing all of that kind of stuff. All the proceeds go towards the rehab department.” Howard pointed out St. Joseph’s recently purchased a vestibular rehab system, which is for treating vertigo. Physical Therapist Mark Sullivan and the main organizer of the Fun Run uses the department’s newest system to treat patients afflicted with vertigo, a condition that can at times be debilitating.
Howard stressed, the Fun Run plays a huge role in raising funds to purchase equipment like this, to better serve the people of Hillsboro and its surrounding communities.
The Fun Run was sort of the kick-off for Hillsboro’s Oktoberfest that intended to draw people to the city of Hillsboro. The city is in the beginning stages of developing their first Chamber of Commerce. Howard is also involved. “Every three years, St. Joseph’s does a community health needs assessment. One of the major issues that our community faces is socio-economic situations. We've been focusing on social economics and economic development. So, people who are born poor, have poor health outcomes, and people that are born into more affluent backgrounds have better health outcomes. Which kind of makes sense,” Howard said.
The idea for a Chamber of Commerce, initially initiated by the City of Hillsboro, picked up steam when City Administrator Josh Finch took the reins on the project. Finch reached out to Howard and a few other businesses to have the conversation about the benefits a chamber could/would have on social and economic development. “I’ve been part of a steering committee to get a Chamber going”, said Howard. He added, “The Chamber is now open for membership.”
Oktoberfest, held the same day as the Fun Run, is the first big event put together by the chamber. Howard pointed out that funds raised by the event go back to the Chamber. “The goal really is to run an event that gets people to stay overnight and spend money in town.”
City Administrator Finch, feels the Chamber is absolutely crucial for a small community like Hillsboro. “When I got here in 2021, it was very apparent that was going to be a focal point. During my first couple of years in Hillsboro, and after talking with several business members within the community, the need was abundantly clear that it was necessary. So, the direction technically came from the city, the common council, to pursue this. But it's also something where the timeline, everything with that, the inaugural board if you will, the people that have been working with me, like Dan Howard, that was all my doing [sic]. I did a majority of the work with them. We were able to get everything pretty much formed with the State of Wisconsin, and we're just actually waiting on our IRS status right now.” Finch acknowledged elections would be held next March to vote in a full Chamber board.
Oktoberfest was always going to happen in some variation according to Finch. Not new to working with the city, the Embresi Group, having previously worked with Hillsboro Brewing Company (HBC), Finch sought the group out to have a conversation about holding a signature event in Hillsboro and hosted by HBC. Presenting the idea to the Chamber, all were in agreement. “We wanted to have some kind of event to our name. When you're starting something like this, it's because we all believe that it'd be very important to have something tangible, something that we can show people. And the idea was some kind of event that could draw people in, great foot traffic [sic], and also promote our downtown and promote our local businesses. I mean, we've got stuff from Mr. B's Meats, we've got stuff obviously from HBC, stuff at the hotel (Hotel Hillsboro), there's some stuff at the coffee shop (Let’s Shine Coffee) that’s happened.”
Finch noted, “small communities, unfortunately are dying”, and feels having a signature event is one of the ways to help prevent that.
The fest featured German food, craft beer, hot cider, games, fire barrels, and of course live music. German music from Rukus Band, Jonny Puder, The Holler Band, led up to the event’s headliners: up and coming artist Karissa Ella and Nashville recording artist Derek Jones & The 50 South.
In referencing the formation of the Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce, Finch said, “I really do believe that at the end of the day, if we can do right by the community and try to make their lives a little bit easier by not having to raise taxes significantly, if we're able to help their businesses survive, not just survive, but thrive. That’s the whole point, isn’t it?”
Noting entry to Oktoberfest cost $20, Finch said $1 from every entry would be donated to the Emergency Medical Technician Association.
