Welcome to Gateway to The Driftless
We’re a private, nonprofit organization created to promote growth in northwestern Dane County sustained by our area’s wealth of outdoor recreation and abundant natural resources. The Gateway project area is defined by the Lower Wisconsin River, US Highway 12, the West Beltline Highway, the Miltary Ridge & US Highway 18/151, and the Iowa County/Arena line.
The Villages of Cross Plains, Black Earth, Mazomanie, and Arena, the Wisconsin Heights School District, the local Chambers of Commerce, and other nonprofit mission organizations have endorsed the Gateway project, joining individual supporters across the region. Gateway to The Driftless is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Here is a basic Q&A about Gateway to The Driftless:
What is the need for your organization?
Dane County is the fastest-growing county in Wisconsin. The Gateway to The Driftless organization is a community response to a critical question facing our unique corner of the world: What will this special place we call home look like 20 years from now?
What is your vision for the region?
The Gateway to The Driftless region will be known for its abundant outdoor recreation opportunities, rich natural heritage, special spirit of place, small-town quality of life, and business-friendly attitude to residents, visitors, and employers and employees.
What is your organization’s mission?
The Gateway to The Driftless organization will strengthen the local economy through the preservation and enhancement of our natural resources, regional heritage, and quality of life.
How will you achieve your mission?
The Gateway to The Driftless organization will work to brand and promote the region through an interactive website and other marketing tools and communication. We will actively engage with both private and public community partners for regional initiatives that showcase our natural resources, encourage the development of appropriate infrastructure, and promote responsible economic development of the region in support of our mission.
Gateway to The Driftless Board of Directors & Officers (January 2023)
Peter Antonie, Chairperson
Ben Swanson, Vice Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer and Cross Plains Community Representative
Open, Black Earth Community Representative
Open, Mazomanie Community Representative
Brian Mooney, Village of Cross Plains Representative
Mitch Hodson, Village of Black Earth Representative
Peter Huebner, Village of Mazomanie Representative
For more information about the Gateway organization, please contact us.