City awarded $34,000 Vibrant Spaces Grant

CLINTONVILLE – The city of Clintonville has been awarded a $34,000 Vibrant Spaces Grant from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) to develop the vacant lot at 19 S. Main Street, the property where the Merc building used to stand.
The development of the property will include transforming the vacant lot into a community-friendly space featuring landscaped gathering areas, an accessible walking path, event infrastructure, and seasonal flexibility to host farmers markets, concerts, and holiday celebrations. The project is being referred to as “The Merc Project.”
“This is a major step forward for our community,” said Caz Muske, city administrator for the city of Clintonville, in a press release. “The Merc Project will not only enhance downtown vibrancy but also support our local businesses by drawing more foot traffic and energy to our Main Street.”
The space will be designed with safety, accessibility, and aesthetics in mind. Planned features include: public seating opportunities and food truck access, riprap installation and parcel grading for safety, pathways that enhance pedestrian access and connect to nearby Olen Park, and electric access for lighting and vendor operations.
The city is collaborating with Whispering Pines Landscaping, American Fence, and a concrete company, along with community partners such as Onward Clintonville and the Chamber of Commerce, to bring the project to life.

“This space is for everyone in Clintonville,” said Clintonville Mayor Steve Kettenhoven, in a press release. “Whether you’re here for a community event or just a quiet walk along the river, The Merc will represent our community’s spirit, resilience, and vision for the future.”
Property history
The city lot was once the home to a three-story building that was most known for housing The Merc store. But the building eventually started deteriorating, and the site was cleared with support from CDBG Close and SAG funds.
Muske told the Clintonville Tribune-Gazette via email that the city originally applied for the Vibrant Spaces Grant through WECD in 2023, but the city was not selected. The city applied for the grant again in December 2024, and was selected.
Project details
The project is estimated to cost $70,189, and the city must match the $34,000 grant amount. The funds for the city’s matching funds were approved in the city’s 2024-26 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) which includes various department projects that the city utilizes general obligation bonds for, Muske said.
Muske said the city hopes to start work on the project in June or July, with the exact date dependent on the schedules of the contractors doing the work. The project is expected to be completed by the end of November.
While there is no definite plan for the space, Muske said the city has worked with the Clintonville Chamber of Commerce on a number of ideas to utilize the space. Some ideas included using the space for the farmer’s market, as well as additional space for existing events such as Fall Frenzy and Christmas festivities.
“Currently, the grade from the river to sidewalk on 11thStreet is so significant, we are unable to utilize the area,” Muske said. “The goal of the project is to create a less aggressive grade for a versatile space to use for future opportunities such as seating, vendors, fishing, events, and much more.”
Without the grant, Muske said the project could have been completed only if the city cut a project from its CIP, used general reserve funds, levied for the project within the city’s operational budget, or levied for it within the capital budget with additional bonding in the city’s next borrowing cycle.
“The city continues to heavily rely on grant funding and state aid for all department projects/operations to continue to keep the operational and debt levy stable,” Muske said. “The city’s departments are always researching feasible grant opportunities and will continue to do so for the benefit of the community.”