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Welcome to Tomah, James Bialecki.

Bialecki, who just completed two terms as mayor of Onalaska, was named as the new city of Tomah administrator last week. He begins his job early next month.

He arrives in a community with a set of economic challenges that mirror the nation as a whole -- a limp economy, soaring gas, food, and health care prices and a general anxiety that things are headed in the wrong direction. Fortunately, Bialecki arrives to a city with some unique strengths:

* Transportation: Tomah’s proximity to the Interstate highway that has spawned retail, motel and restaurant development on the north edge of town. Tomah also has access to a major rail line when soaring diesel prices are forcing more goods to be moved by train.

* Stable job base. The Veterans Administration Hospital, Fort McCoy and Volk Field all provide stable, good-paying federal government jobs. Given world events, it’s hard to imagine these facilities will do anything but expand.

* Reasonable real estate. Tomah has a sane real estate market that has avoided the boom-and-bust cycle that has engulfed regions that are littered with overbuilt, overpriced homes.

The biggest and most immediate challenge for Bialecki -- and the rest of city government -- is to revitalize Tomah’s downtown. The relocation of the Western Technical College Tomah campus, along with the new Area Community Theater, has provided the downtown a new anchor around which development can grow. The challenge for city leaders is to make downtown a destination point for shopping, dining, education and culture. WTC is an important part of Viroqua’s downtown, and there is no reason why the Tomah campus can’t have the same impact.

It’s encouraging that Bialecki decided to move to Tomah rather than commute. By doing so, he has made a statement that he is personally invested in the success of our community. As he assumes the job of city administrator, he’ll work with friendly people who are committed to the long-term vitality of a city that continues to be a good place to work and raise a family.

James Bialecki will like it here.