https://www.momentumwest.org Momentum West News Feed Tue, 27 Oct 2026 14:18:19 +0000 en-US https://www.momentumwest.org/news-and-media/p/item/70090/one-owner-just-listed-four-highprofile-downtown-ec-buildings-for-sale https://www.momentumwest.org/news-and-media/p/item/70090/one-owner-just-listed-four-highprofile-downtown-ec-buildings-for-sale Fri, 16 Oct 2026 05:00:00 +0000 Another development in downtown Eau Claire quietly occurred yesterday, Oct. 15, as Elite Realty Group listed or re-listed four commercial properties within a half-mile stretch in the heart of downtown.Each of those properties – stretching from Eau Claire to Wisconsin Streets – is owned by Mohammad Al-Hashlamoun (or his business,... https://www.momentumwest.org/news-and-media/p/item/70089/hewlett-packard-to-pour-75-million-into-chippewa-falls-expansion https://www.momentumwest.org/news-and-media/p/item/70089/hewlett-packard-to-pour-75-million-into-chippewa-falls-expansion Thu, 15 Oct 2026 05:00:00 +0000 In a joint media release from Governor Tony Evers’ office on Oct. 15, Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) has announced its largest investment in its Wisconsin facilities – solely based in Chippewa Falls – in years.HPE plans to invest $75 million over the next five years to expand its Chippewa Falls... https://www.momentumwest.org/news-and-media/p/item/70087/hpe-expansion-reinforces-chippewa-falls-as-a-place-to-invest-innovate-and-grow https://www.momentumwest.org/news-and-media/p/item/70087/hpe-expansion-reinforces-chippewa-falls-as-a-place-to-invest-innovate-and-grow Thu, 15 Oct 2026 05:00:00 +0000 Chippewa Falls has a long history of innovation, manufacturing, and technology. The latest expansion announced by Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) is another important chapter in that story.Recently, Governor Tony Evers, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC), and HPE announced that the company plans to invest $75 million over the next... https://www.momentumwest.org/news-and-media/p/item/70084/economic-development-award-for-quinn https://www.momentumwest.org/news-and-media/p/item/70084/economic-development-award-for-quinn Wed, 14 Oct 2026 05:00:00 +0000 The Wisconsin Economic Development Association (WEDA) recently announced that state Sen. Romaine Quinn (R-Birchwood) has been awarded its Champion of Economic Development Award for his leadership during the 2025-26 Wisconsin Legislative Session on legislation designed to boost economic growth. His efforts at the State Capitol will help promote local housing... https://www.momentumwest.org/news-and-media/p/item/70086/menomonie-area-chamber-announces-new-ceo-andrew-holt https://www.momentumwest.org/news-and-media/p/item/70086/menomonie-area-chamber-announces-new-ceo-andrew-holt Thu, 08 Oct 2026 05:00:00 +0000 The Menomonie Area Chamber of Commerce has named its next CEO and president. Andrew Holt, a California native and longtime organizational leader, will begin his new role in the Chippewa Valley on Thursday, Oct. 22.The announcement, shared in an Oct. 8 media release, follows an extensive national search to fill... https://www.momentumwest.org/news-and-media/p/item/70088/the-stage-changes-the-support-doesnt https://www.momentumwest.org/news-and-media/p/item/70088/the-stage-changes-the-support-doesnt Wed, 07 Oct 2026 05:00:00 +0000 On October 6, CEDC was proud to be in Milwaukee for Launch Wisconsin, an event hosted by the Wisconsin Technology Council that brought together entrepreneurs, investors, business leaders, economic development professionals, and supporters of Wisconsin’s growing entrepreneurial ecosystem.The Wisconsin Technology Council deserves a lot of credit for putting together an... https://www.momentumwest.org/news-and-media/p/item/70083/st-croix-valley-business-innovation-center-expansion-receives-22-million-grant https://www.momentumwest.org/news-and-media/p/item/70083/st-croix-valley-business-innovation-center-expansion-receives-22-million-grant Fri, 02 Oct 2026 05:00:00 +0000 The City of River Falls and the River Falls Economic Development Corporation (RFEDC) have been awarded a grant of $2.2 million from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) for the expansion of the St. Croix Valley Business Innovation Center.Located in River Falls, the St. Croix Valley Business... https://www.momentumwest.org/news-and-media/p/item/70080/wisconsin-bankers-foundation-announces-2026-grant-awards https://www.momentumwest.org/news-and-media/p/item/70080/wisconsin-bankers-foundation-announces-2026-grant-awards Thu, 24 Sep 2026 05:00:00 +0000 The Wisconsin Bankers Foundation (WBF) has awarded six grants to nonprofit organizations advancing financial education initiatives across Wisconsin. The mission of the WBF, the non-profit arm of the Wisconsin Bankers Association, is to promote financial literacy and capability through education, scholarships, grants, and research. The grants will be presented at... https://www.momentumwest.org/news-and-media/p/item/70081/second-harvest-foodbank-of-southern-wisconsin-invests-600000-to-help-local-food-pantries-rescue-more-fresh-food https://www.momentumwest.org/news-and-media/p/item/70081/second-harvest-foodbank-of-southern-wisconsin-invests-600000-to-help-local-food-pantries-rescue-more-fresh-food Wed, 23 Sep 2026 05:00:00 +0000 Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin is investing $600,000 to help 12 partner food pantries and programs across southwestern Wisconsin expand their ability to rescue and distribute nutritious food from local retailers.Through Second Harvest’s Retail Capacity Grant, each of the 12 organizations will receive funding to strengthen the infrastructure, equipment,... https://www.momentumwest.org/news-and-media/p/item/70085/us-news-&-world-report-gives-uwstout-polytechnic-high-marks-for-engineering-programs-affordability-in-midwest https://www.momentumwest.org/news-and-media/p/item/70085/us-news-&-world-report-gives-uwstout-polytechnic-high-marks-for-engineering-programs-affordability-in-midwest Tue, 22 Sep 2026 05:00:00 +0000 UW-Stout Polytechnic placed among the 25 top regional public universities in the Midwest as well as the in top 20 “Best Value” public universities in the region, according to the latest rankings by U.S. News & World Report.The 2027 Best Colleges list released by the magazine on Tuesday, Sept. 22,... https://www.momentumwest.org/news-and-media/p/item/70078/gov-evers-wedc-join-kikkoman-to-celebrate-grand-opening-of-new-production-facility-in-jefferson https://www.momentumwest.org/news-and-media/p/item/70078/gov-evers-wedc-join-kikkoman-to-celebrate-grand-opening-of-new-production-facility-in-jefferson Fri, 18 Sep 2026 05:00:00 +0000 Gov. Tony Evers joined Kikkoman Chairman and honorary CEO Yuzaburo Mogi, representatives from the Kikkoman Corporation, and Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) Secretary and CEO John W. Miller, as well as local leaders and stakeholders, in celebrating the grand opening of Kikkoman Foods Inc.’s (KFI) newest production facility in Jefferson... https://www.momentumwest.org/news-and-media/p/item/70082/bls-data-wisconsin-august-employment-numbers-released-unemployment-ticks-down-to-32 https://www.momentumwest.org/news-and-media/p/item/70082/bls-data-wisconsin-august-employment-numbers-released-unemployment-ticks-down-to-32 Thu, 17 Sep 2026 05:00:00 +0000 The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) today announced the following information for Wisconsin’s labor market, reflecting August 2026 preliminary estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics:Employment – There were 3,046,200 people employed in Wisconsin, up 9,300 over the month and up 36,900 over the year.Labor Force – 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/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/70079/gov-evers-wedc-announce-memorandum-of-understanding-to-bolster-economic-and-educational-partnership-with-france https://www.momentumwest.org/news-and-media/p/item/70079/gov-evers-wedc-announce-memorandum-of-understanding-to-bolster-economic-and-educational-partnership-with-france Tue, 15 Sep 2026 05:00:00 +0000 Gov. Tony Evers announced that the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) and the Agence Économique Régionale (AER) of the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté (BFC) region in France have approved a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to promote closer economic and educational relations between the two organizations. The agreement creates a framework for the two... 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...