https://www.momentumwest.org Momentum West News Feed Sat, 03 Oct 2026 16:41:13 +0000 en-US https://www.momentumwest.org/news-and-media/p/item/69747/uweau-claire-moves-up-in-forbes-list-of-americas-top-colleges https://www.momentumwest.org/news-and-media/p/item/69747/uweau-claire-moves-up-in-forbes-list-of-americas-top-colleges Thu, 17 Sep 2026 05:00:00 +0000 In Forbes’ 19th iteration of the “America’s Top Colleges” ranking, just one Chippewa Valley university cracked the 500-school list: the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.Coming in at No. 280 – up three places from last year’s list – UW-Eau Claire’s new chancellor, Dr. Ed Martini, pointed to “the collaboration at the... https://www.momentumwest.org/news-and-media/p/item/69746/new-aspirus-hospital-ready-to-open-in-chippewa-falls https://www.momentumwest.org/news-and-media/p/item/69746/new-aspirus-hospital-ready-to-open-in-chippewa-falls Thu, 17 Sep 2026 05:00:00 +0000 After just over a year of construction, the new Aspirus Health hospital and clinic is set to open for patient care next Tuesday in Chippewa Falls.In March of 2024, two Hospital Sisters Health System hospitals closed: St. Joseph’s in Chippewa Falls and Sacred Heart in Eau Claire.Anne Sadowska, the chief... https://www.momentumwest.org/news-and-media/p/item/69748/bravo-to-business-25-area-businesses-up-for-ec-chamber-awards https://www.momentumwest.org/news-and-media/p/item/69748/bravo-to-business-25-area-businesses-up-for-ec-chamber-awards Tue, 15 Sep 2026 05:00:00 +0000 The Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce’s annual business awards event, Bravo to Business, will celebrate its sixth year from 4:30-9pm on Thursday, Nov. 5, at the Florian Gardens Conference Center (2340 Lorch Ave., Eau Claire).There, the winner of each of Bravo to Business’s five categories – Business of the... https://www.momentumwest.org/news-and-media/p/item/69738/september-is-chamber-of-commerce-month-heres-how-river-falls-is-celebrating https://www.momentumwest.org/news-and-media/p/item/69738/september-is-chamber-of-commerce-month-heres-how-river-falls-is-celebrating Tue, 15 Sep 2026 05:00:00 +0000 With Gov. Tony Evers declaring September Chamber of Commerce Month in the state, the River Falls Chamber of Commerce has joined in on the celebration.Mayor Alison Page recognized the month at the River Falls City Council meeting Sept. 8.The proclamation passed by the council “encourage[s] all residents to recognize and... https://www.momentumwest.org/news-and-media/p/item/69744/new-study-reveals-uwstout-polytechnics-857m-economic-impact https://www.momentumwest.org/news-and-media/p/item/69744/new-study-reveals-uwstout-polytechnics-857m-economic-impact Mon, 14 Sep 2026 05:00:00 +0000 While the University of Wisconsin-Stout Polytechnic officially joined the UW System in 1971, its roots stretch back to 1881 when it was created as a training school. Its founder, James Huff Stout, could hardly predict the significant evolution and impact the school would have 135 years later – which now... https://www.momentumwest.org/news-and-media/p/item/69742/proposed-greenhouse-could-expand-handson-learning-at-osceola-high-school https://www.momentumwest.org/news-and-media/p/item/69742/proposed-greenhouse-could-expand-handson-learning-at-osceola-high-school Sun, 13 Sep 2026 05:00:00 +0000 Osceola High School’s Agriculture Program could once again have a greenhouse, opening the door to year-round, hands-on learning opportunities for students ranging from plant science and hydroponics to business management and crop production.The Osceola School Board recently approved phase one of the greenhouse project, authorizing Kraus-Anderson to begin design services... https://www.momentumwest.org/news-and-media/p/item/69741/amery-to-pursue-housing-strategic-plan-targeting-citys-top-identified-need https://www.momentumwest.org/news-and-media/p/item/69741/amery-to-pursue-housing-strategic-plan-targeting-citys-top-identified-need Fri, 11 Sep 2026 05:00:00 +0000 City officials are drafting a housing strategic plan intended to use every mechanism available to the city to encourage new housing construction, City Administrator Alex Mansfield told the Common Council Sept. 2.Mansfield said he has been meeting with housing development specialists to review strategies and best practices used by other... https://www.momentumwest.org/news-and-media/p/item/69740/uweau-claire-barron-county-celebrates-its-60th-year https://www.momentumwest.org/news-and-media/p/item/69740/uweau-claire-barron-county-celebrates-its-60th-year Sun, 06 Sep 2026 05:00:00 +0000 On overflow crowd filled the Blue Hills Lecture Hall at UW-Eau Claire – Barron County on Thursday as a celebration of the 60th year of the local campus began the fall series of Thursdays at the U lecture series.The campus opened with an enrollment of 109 students in September 1966... https://www.momentumwest.org/news-and-media/p/item/69743/before-they-started-stout-polytechnic-students-do-more-before-day-one https://www.momentumwest.org/news-and-media/p/item/69743/before-they-started-stout-polytechnic-students-do-more-before-day-one Thu, 03 Sep 2026 05:00:00 +0000 Because of its polytechnic focus on applied learning, industry collaborations, and career-oriented experiences, students at UW-Stout Polytechnic are poised to Do More on Day One. In fact, they often do more even before Day One: Diving into applied research that could impact space missions. Building high-value industrial skills on the... https://www.momentumwest.org/news-and-media/p/item/68947/st-croix-valley-home-builders-association-nails-momentum-wests-top-talent-initiative-award https://www.momentumwest.org/news-and-media/p/item/68947/st-croix-valley-home-builders-association-nails-momentum-wests-top-talent-initiative-award Tue, 01 Sep 2026 05:00:00 +0000 The idea behind Build My Future Wisconsin is to do just that; give high school students the opportunity to spend a day in the construction industry during a hands-on, interactive showcase held at the St. Croix County Fairgrounds in Glenwood City.For around two and a half hours, participants experience everything... https://www.momentumwest.org/news-and-media/p/item/69734/gov-evers-dwd-secure-over-11-million-in-federal-funding-for-career-services-for-wisconsinites-with-disabilities https://www.momentumwest.org/news-and-media/p/item/69734/gov-evers-dwd-secure-over-11-million-in-federal-funding-for-career-services-for-wisconsinites-with-disabilities Mon, 31 Aug 2026 05:00:00 +0000 Gov. Tony Evers, together with the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD), today announced the Evers Administration has secured over $11 million from the U.S. Department of Education to support DWD’s Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR), enabling the department to serve all eligible participants without the need to restart a... https://www.momentumwest.org/news-and-media/p/item/69737/new-affordable-housing-law-has-something-for-everybody-expert-says https://www.momentumwest.org/news-and-media/p/item/69737/new-affordable-housing-law-has-something-for-everybody-expert-says Sun, 30 Aug 2026 05:00:00 +0000 Wisconsin housing advocates and lawmakers are optimistic that a new federal law will help address the state’s shortage of affordable housing, but how agencies will fund and implement provisions in the law remains to be seen.Known as the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, the law is a sweeping package... https://www.momentumwest.org/news-and-media/p/item/69733/wisconsin-to-receive-up-to-313-million-in-landmark-meta-settlement https://www.momentumwest.org/news-and-media/p/item/69733/wisconsin-to-receive-up-to-313-million-in-landmark-meta-settlement Wed, 26 Aug 2026 05:00:00 +0000 Meta agreed Wednesday to pay $17 billion and add stronger child-safety measures to its Facebook and Instagram platforms as part of a landmark legal settlement that ended a trial over teen social media addiction and settled claims filed by 47 states.Wisconsin would receive at least $219 million and up to... https://www.momentumwest.org/news-and-media/p/item/69735/july-local-employment-and-unemployment-data-released https://www.momentumwest.org/news-and-media/p/item/69735/july-local-employment-and-unemployment-data-released Wed, 26 Aug 2026 05:00:00 +0000 The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development today released U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates of employment and unemployment statistics for metropolitan areas, major cities, and counties in Wisconsin for July 2026.In brief, the nonseasonally adjusted data for Wisconsin shows:Metropolitan Statistical Areas: Preliminary July 2026 unemployment rates increased in onemetropolitan area... https://www.momentumwest.org/news-and-media/p/item/69745/champagne-orchard-of-opportunity-cultivating-growth https://www.momentumwest.org/news-and-media/p/item/69745/champagne-orchard-of-opportunity-cultivating-growth Wed, 26 Aug 2026 05:00:00 +0000 Few stories better illustrate entrepreneurial resilience than those of the Dixon’s Apple Orchard owners-the Mullane family. Dixon’s Apple Orchard has a long history in New Mexico and was once one of the state’s most recognized apple-growing operations. The orchard was located near Peña Blanca, north of Albuquerque along the Rio... https://www.momentumwest.org/news-and-media/p/item/68826/eevy-ivy-overs-whimsical-renovation-grabs-top-honors-from-momentum-west https://www.momentumwest.org/news-and-media/p/item/68826/eevy-ivy-overs-whimsical-renovation-grabs-top-honors-from-momentum-west Fri, 21 Aug 2026 05:00:00 +0000 Strolling down N. Bridge Street, it’s impossible not to feel a surge of happiness as you peer through the windows of Eevy Ivy Over Flowers, Framing and Gifts. Quirky, punchy floral arrangements popping with color surrounded by a thoughtful curation of unique and one-of-a-kind gifts for everyone on your list are... https://www.momentumwest.org/news-and-media/p/item/68813/beyond-business-retention-young-professional-awardee-envisions-a-thriving-chippewa-valley https://www.momentumwest.org/news-and-media/p/item/68813/beyond-business-retention-young-professional-awardee-envisions-a-thriving-chippewa-valley Fri, 21 Aug 2026 05:00:00 +0000 As a lifelong resident of the Chippewa Valley, Adam Accola’s motivation is rooted in a deep commitment to the area that shaped him. Sure, he wants to see the region survive. But he also wants to see it healthy, robust… a thriving community where future generations can live, work, and raise... https://www.momentumwest.org/news-and-media/p/item/68797/uwrf-study-shows-university-has-295-million-annual-impact-on-regions-economy https://www.momentumwest.org/news-and-media/p/item/68797/uwrf-study-shows-university-has-295-million-annual-impact-on-regions-economy Mon, 17 Aug 2026 05:00:00 +0000 The University of Wisconsin-River Falls 2026 Economic Impact Study* shows that, by a conservative estimate, UWRF generates approximately $295 million in annual economic output for Pierce and St. Croix counties, accounting for 4% of the region’s gross domestic product.“The surrounding community and its members contribute immeasurably to the success of... https://www.momentumwest.org/news-and-media/p/item/68801/an-orchard-full-of-opportunity-cultivating-connections-under-the-apple-trees https://www.momentumwest.org/news-and-media/p/item/68801/an-orchard-full-of-opportunity-cultivating-connections-under-the-apple-trees Thu, 13 Aug 2026 05:00:00 +0000 On a warm August evening in Cadott, Wisconsin the Chippewa Valley’s entrepreneurial spirit continued to grow roots in one of the region’s most picturesque settings. Under the canopy of Dixon Orchard’s apple trees, the CEDC’s Business Expansion And Retention (BEAR) in the Orchard event drew more than 100 attendees for... https://www.momentumwest.org/news-and-media/p/item/68799/graski-seeks-to-keep-bakerysmall-and-personal https://www.momentumwest.org/news-and-media/p/item/68799/graski-seeks-to-keep-bakerysmall-and-personal Thu, 13 Aug 2026 05:00:00 +0000 Amery is a community built on hard workers and big dreamers. This is especially true for one of the youngest entrepreneurs in the area, Katlin Graski. One week before she graduated from Amery High School last May of 2025, Graski kicked off her dream of owning a bakery, opening Kate... https://www.momentumwest.org/news-and-media/p/item/68800/uwstout-polytechnic-announces-budget-proposals-to-build-state-workforce-next-generation-of-businesses https://www.momentumwest.org/news-and-media/p/item/68800/uwstout-polytechnic-announces-budget-proposals-to-build-state-workforce-next-generation-of-businesses Wed, 12 Aug 2026 05:00:00 +0000 UW-Stout Polytechnic Chancellor Katherine Frank joined Universities of Wisconsin Regent President Kyle Weatherly, UWs Interim President Renée Wachter and other university leaders today to announce budget proposals focused on building Wisconsin’s workforce and the next generation of businesses.The Tech for Tomorrow and Accelerate Wisconsin proposals represent new initiatives from the... https://www.momentumwest.org/news-and-media/p/item/68795/a-new-milwaukee-garden-gives-youths-a-place-to-learn-connect-and-look-out-for-each-other https://www.momentumwest.org/news-and-media/p/item/68795/a-new-milwaukee-garden-gives-youths-a-place-to-learn-connect-and-look-out-for-each-other Wed, 12 Aug 2026 05:00:00 +0000 Last winter, a vacant lot between West Concordia Avenue and North 12th Street in Milwaukee was buried in snow waiting to become a community garden. Now, hundreds of children from We Got This Milwaukee are spending their summer making each plot flourish and using the garden as a safe haven... https://www.momentumwest.org/news-and-media/p/item/68791/meeting-a-childcare-need-in-northern-wisconsin https://www.momentumwest.org/news-and-media/p/item/68791/meeting-a-childcare-need-in-northern-wisconsin Tue, 11 Aug 2026 05:00:00 +0000 In Northern Wisconsin, parents often face a seemingly endless shuttle: they work in one community, have their children in school in another, and find the only available daycare in still another.Remodeled daycare room at Shine Bright in Coleman.Andrea Schaut knew the routine all too well, so she decided to do... https://www.momentumwest.org/news-and-media/p/item/68798/northwood-tech-grads-deliver-strong-workforce-outcomes https://www.momentumwest.org/news-and-media/p/item/68798/northwood-tech-grads-deliver-strong-workforce-outcomes Thu, 06 Aug 2026 05:00:00 +0000 Employers across northwestern Wisconsin continue to express overwhelming confidence in graduates of Northwood Technical College, citing strong skills, workforce readiness and educational quality, according to the latest employer satisfaction findings.At the statewide level, employers reported that: 97% were satisfied with technical college graduates’ education, 96% would hire a Wisconsin Technical... https://www.momentumwest.org/news-and-media/p/item/68792/wisconsin-economic-summit-to-highlight-opportunities-for-shared-economic-growth-and-strategic-investments-for-the-future https://www.momentumwest.org/news-and-media/p/item/68792/wisconsin-economic-summit-to-highlight-opportunities-for-shared-economic-growth-and-strategic-investments-for-the-future Thu, 06 Aug 2026 05:00:00 +0000 The 2026 Wisconsin Economic Summit, sponsored by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC), will explore how businesses and communities in our state can strengthen their competitive advantages, invest in talent and innovation, and create a more prosperous economy.This year’s summit, “Determination to Dream,” is set for Sept. 30 to Oct...