Distinguished Service Award Presented to Steve O'Malley

Board Treasurer Bob Burg presented the Distinguished Service Award to Steve O’Malley in recognition of his lasting leadership and dedication to strengthening the community. His commitment to regional development continues to leave a meaningful and enduring impact.

The La Crosse Area Development Corporation (LADCO) has named Steve O’Malley the recipient of its 2026 Distinguished Service Award, recognizing a career defined by strategic leadership, collaboration, and lasting impact on regional economic development.

The Distinguished Service Award honors individuals whose long-term commitment and vision have produced measurable results for the region. O’Malley’s tenure as La Crosse County Administrator exemplifies that standard, with decades of work that strengthened partnerships, expanded economic opportunity, and positioned La Crosse County for future growth.

Throughout his career, O’Malley demonstrated a deep understanding of how thoughtful development and cross-sector collaboration drive economic vitality. Many of the region’s most significant economic development initiatives during his tenure were the result of partnerships he led or supported, often in close coordination with LADCO, municipalities, utilities, and private-sector stakeholders.

One of the most notable projects was the West Salem Business Park, which began as a partnership among LADCO, Xcel Energy, and CenturyLink under the leadership of then-Chairman Doyle. That effort evolved into Wisconsin’s first Village–County Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district and a unique revenue-sharing agreement that continues to benefit both the Village of West Salem and La Crosse County.

O’Malley also led the redevelopment of the former Lakeview Health Care Center site, a project that avoided demolition costs for the County while enabling construction of a new facility and transformation of the site into a mixed-income housing development. In addition, he partnered with 13 Wisconsin counties to form the Mississippi Valley Health Services consortium, preserving the region’s largest employer in West Salem. That initiative earned LADCO’s Triangle of Achievement Award and has generated an average of $800,000 in annual revenue to La Crosse County over 18 years since 2008.

Another key achievement was the redevelopment of Pettibone Point, formerly the Park-Plaza site. Through strategic use of TIF, the project fully recovered 100 percent of the County’s lost tax revenue and repaid all demolition and asbestos abatement costs, while leaving vacant land available for future development.

O’Malley also proposed and guided expansion of the International Business Park along Highway 16, including the County’s sale of more than 25 acres to the City of La Crosse for $1 million. The County reinvested those funds into Neighborhood Revitalization Grants, extending the project’s impact beyond the business park and strengthening neighborhoods throughout the city.

Beyond physical development, O’Malley championed investment in people and education. Working with the City of La Crosse, the School District, and community partners, he played a key role in creating the La Crosse Promise Foundation. With $1.5 million secured from three anonymous donors, the Promise provides scholarships to incentivize new home construction in challenged neighborhoods and supports Future Center services in La Crosse schools.

Among his most complex professional accomplishments was guiding a multi-part real estate transaction under the leadership of County Board Chair Tara Johnson. That effort included selling the former County Administration Building for housing redevelopment, purchasing the Associated Bank building for a new County Administration Center, and selling vacant Lot C to Weber Holdings to enable the Belle Square housing and commercial development—all while accommodating the relocation of Associated Bank.

Collectively, these projects reflect a career rooted in results-driven leadership and collaboration. O’Malley’s work consistently strengthened partnerships among the County, LADCO, municipalities, utilities, businesses, and nonprofit organizations.

For his decades of service, commitment to collaboration, and lasting contributions to economic development across the region, LADCO is proud to present the Distinguished Service Award to Steve O’Malley.