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September 14, 2026
WAUPACA – Residents in the Waupaca area now have access to a state-of-the-art business center.
Whether residents need to use its business equipment and services, access free internet or use the center’s telehealth services, Laura Colbert – Waupaca’s director of parks and recreation – said there is something for everyone.
Colbert said the recently opened Waupaca Business Center had been a dream of city leaders for some time, but was finally made possible by a $4.125 million Flexible Facilities Program grant from the State of Wisconsin’s Department of Administration.
“It was leftover ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, signed by then-President Joe Biden to help stimulate the economy following the COVID-19 pandemic) funds,” she said. “The grant required a focus on health monitoring, education and digital connectivity.”
Colbert said when city officials first learned the grant money was available, they sat down with the local chamber of commerce and the school district to brainstorm what they needed and wanted, and what they could do with the multi-million-dollar grant.
“In three different city plans, we identified the need for a business incubator or business center, if you will, and a remote-working location for people,” she said. “This grant really made our needs become a reality.”
In finding a suitable space to build the center, Colbert said the city utilized its existing recreation center, in addition to razing another structure and building something new.
“They had a rec center that was in demand, especially during the winter months,” she said. “But they noticed that, because they didn’t have a larger space to accommodate the requests they were getting, they were having to turn away a lot of entities.”
Colbert said the existing rec center used to be a school, with the building serving as the school’s tech-ed shop.
The building morphed into different uses over the years, she said, but it was eventually vacated.
Instead of trying to retrofit the building into something new when the city received the grant, Colbert said they decided to tear the building down and expand their existing gym.
“You know how it is with old buildings and trying to retrofit it into something else,” she said. “Sometimes you run into more problems than you would if you just built new.”
The telehealth room, classrooms, AV studio and the business lounge, Colbert said, are all now housed in a new building that was added onto their existing rec center.
In addition, she said the “blue gym” in the rec center was expanded, and now boasts 5,400 square feet that includes two pickleball courts, a volleyball court, a basketball court and two batting cages.
“The rec center can now accommodate many of the groups that used to be turned away for lack of space,” she said.
Opened with great fanfare
Having broken ground in July 2025, Colbert said the new business center celebrated a grand opening Aug. 5, which was attended by 75-100 people, including several local, regional and state officials and dignitaries.
She said Gov. Tony Evers was in attendance at the unveiling, along with Assistant Deputy Secretary Diana Moss from the Wisconsin Department of Administration and James Bond, Wisconsin’s state secretary of Veterans Affairs.
“I’m actually on the state Board of Veterans Affairs, so James came because he knows me personally, and also this facility can really help veterans,” Colbert said, adding that the new center is part of the City of Waupaca’s comprehensive plan to help spur economic and development plans within the city.
At the grand opening, Evers said the new facility provides additional spaces for folks to gather and learn.
“A main driving factor in this project is expanding access to tech – the technology needed for folks to get ahead,” he said. “Access to high-speed, reliable internet can help with growing a business online, paying bills or finding a job.”
Others attending the ribbon cutting and grand opening, Colbert said, included the local chamber of commerce and city officials, including the city council and members of the city’s parks and rec board.
“I think so many officials came because it was a sizable state grant,” she said. “The business center created with the grant money is an important one that will benefit many people, even tourists who come to the area and may need to conduct business while here.”
Colbert said two gender-neutral, accessible bathrooms are also part of the new center and gym.
Many offerings
In general, Colbert said the business center aims to provide professional assets for local entrepreneurs, remote workers and tourists.
The facility addresses a lack of public meeting space, she said, and provides essential health and technology resources to a small-city population.
Colbert said other highlights include:
- An AV studio to provide a professional, creative space for activities such as podcasting, virtual meetings, music production, audiobook recording, analog-to-digital conversion for VHS and cassette tapes and the creation and editing of videos, photos and audio.
- A flexible, modern coworking area ideal for remote professionals, travelers and freelancers seeking a fully equipped workspace with reliable internet, professional ambience and networking opportunities.
- Three rentable, private business suites, suitable for entrepreneurs transitioning from a home office or starting a new business.
- Two meeting rooms available for public use. Each room features flexible seating and tables, a large-screen television and the necessary technology to support a variety of meetings and activities.
- Two dedicated telehealth rooms equipped with the technology and amenities needed to support a wide range of remote healthcare services.
“These rooms are amazing because they’ve been outfitted through our local ThedaCare hospital with medical equipment,” Colbert said. “Let’s say you need to go to the doctor for your child’s earache; you can borrow the otoscope available and hold your phone up to that otoscope. If your child has an ear infection, the doctor can prescribe medicine over your telehealth appointment.”
Colbert said there are several other advantages of the telehealth rooms, including measuring weight and blood pressure – all in real time, with a doctor over the phone or internet.
Some nominal fees will be required, she said, for forthcoming portions of the business center.
However, for the remainder of 2026, Colbert said everything in the center is free to use.
Beyond 2026, she said the lounge and telehealth rooms will always be free, but the AV studio cost has not yet been determined.
“That charge will be determined by its 2026 usage,” she said. “Meeting rooms will be available for rent at $25 an hour for Waupaca residents and $50 an hour for nonresidents.”
Colbert said thus far, the center has been “very well received” by the Waupaca community.
“We encourage folks to come and tour the center to see everything it has to offer,” she said.
The center is currently open weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. and weekends from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Colbert said visitors will need a code to get in, though, as well as a reservation for rooms like the AV room and classrooms.
For more information on the business center and to receive a code, navigate to waupacarec.com.
