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UW’s downtown partner lauded

April 2, 2002

UW System leaders have singled out Downtown Madison Inc. for its partnership with UW–Madison on initiatives to ensure the economic future of Madison’s central business district.

In recognition of the thousands of individuals and organizations that make extraordinary contributions to UW System institutions, the Board of Regents instituted the new Partnership Award recognition program as part of the UW System’s 30th anniversary.

Each campus nominates a recipient for this award to acknowledge an extraordinary contribution to the campus and to the UW System.

UW–Madison collaborates with DMI on a number of planning, marketing and programming initiatives such as:

  • Economic redevelopment for the Capitol Square and State Street.
  • Major sports and entertainment events such as this weekend’s Wisconsin Film Festival as well as commencement, homecoming, holiday and summer activities and concerts, and other events.
  • Maps, signs and marketing featuring UW–Madison as a destination.
  • The State Street Redesign Study and Plan. — Joint planning with the DMI monthly breakfast speakers program.
  • The DMI-managed Downtown Business Improvement District.

The university also shares campus resources and expertise for DMI projects related to the downtown such as parking, traffic and circulation, open space development and zoning standards for high-density residential development.

“Partnerships are vital to the survival of any community,” says Susan Schmitz, DMI president. “We, at Downtown Madison, Inc. greatly value our relationship with the University of Wisconsin–Madison. The University adds a tremendous amount to the health and vitality of our central city.”

The UW Partnership Awards will be presented Thursday, April 4, at an evening reception that also will highlight top academic staff and teachers from throughout the UW System.

Cyrena N. Pondrom, professor of English, UW–Madison, is among the recipients of the Regents 2001 Teaching Excellence Award.

“This event will provide a special opportunity for the Regents to celebrate the excellence of the UW System and to reaffirm the importance of the individuals and organizations within and outside the UW System who are vital to our success,” says UW System Board of Regents President Jay L. Smith.
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