Invest in Crawford County's Future

DDI sits at the intersection of the public and private sector — which opens doors that neither can open alone. As a county-level nonprofit with an economic development mission, DDI identifies, writes, and administers grant programs that require exactly that structure. And by coordinating with municipalities, businesses, and community organizations, DDI amplifies the impact of every dollar that comes in.

DDI has secured over $1.3M in grants for Crawford County businesses, tourism, and community development — and in 2026 was awarded a $500,000 WEDC Talent Recruitment Grant to attract new households and workers to the region.

Whether someone is launching a startup or trying to grow an established business, DDI brings experience, connections, and persistence to the table. We help entrepreneurs think through what they actually need, connect them to the right technical and financial resources, and work across organizations and municipalities to remove barriers that no single business can move alone.

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DDI helps Crawford County businesses navigate grant opportunities, connect with technical assistance providers, and identify the right next step — whether that's SBDC, UW Extension, or a funding program they didn't know existed.

Crawford County's most important work often happens at the intersection of organizations, sectors, and funding streams. DDI coordinates the conversations, connects the resources, and provides the organizational backbone that turns good ideas into funded, built projects — from downtown revitalization and farmers markets to placemaking grants and community initiatives that need an organizational home.

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DDI directly operates Driftless Downtown Prairie du Chien — including the farmers market and downtown programming — and serves as fiscal agent for Connect Communities Gays Mills and the Fort Fun playground project.

A county that attracts businesses and residents is one that's easy to find, easy to evaluate, and impossible to ignore. DDI is building that case for Crawford County — getting available properties in front of site selectors through the LOIS platform, pursuing revitalization and façade improvement grants, and developing the River Country brand to sharpen how Crawford County presents itself to the businesses and residents it wants to attract.

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DDI is actively working with communities to get available properties listed and visible to statewide business prospects.