La Crosse’s Uptowne summit hits $22,000 goal, ready to roll

100 people donated $24,465

The Uptowne summit to discuss a makeover of the north side La Crosse business district is a go.

After raising $22,000, the business group wishes to bring in “the nation’s top urban innovators” to help re-brand what has been known as Old Towne North to Uptowne.

Hours before the Kickstarter campaign was scheduled to end, the group eclipsed its goal Wednesday raising $24,465 from 100 backers – two who pledged at least $2,500.

“A lot of this has to do with how can we repackage this and how can we emphasize some of the lighter, quicker, cheaper kinds of improvement strategies to bring this place back to life,” Uptowne summit organizer Andrew Londre said.

The next step is to bring in those national consultants, though the group will be listening to those nearby, as well.

“We’re trusting that the people who know this area the best are going to be the ones that are going to come up with the best long-term solution,” Londre said

The money from the Kickstarter would not have been available had time run out before the goal was achieved, and the group is setting aside the extra $2,265 raised through the campaign for projects down the road.