News and Media

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...Continue Reading

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...Continue Reading

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...Continue Reading

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...Continue Reading

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...Continue Reading

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...Continue Reading

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...Continue Reading

The past 2025-26 school year was a milestone marker for the Badger State. For the first time ever, single-year youth apprenticeship participation soared past the 12,000-student mark — the most in the United States. That’s also a 7% increase over the previous year, which had been the state record.Those Wisconsin...Continue Reading

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...Continue Reading

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...Continue Reading

During the recent WEDC trade mission to Africa, state officials sought to deepen the economic ties between Ghana’s Niche Cocoa and Wisconsin.The trade mission took place July 20-25, featuring diplomatic meetings with local officials in both Ghana and South Africa as well as visits with African businesses and institutions and...Continue Reading

After nearly a decade guided by the strong leadership of President & CEO Dave Minor, the Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce has announced who will lead the business advocacy organization into its new chapter: Ashley DeMuth.Inside the Eau Claire Chamber office downtown, where the announcement was formally made on...Continue Reading

Gov. Tony Evers, together with the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC), today announced that in fiscal year 2026, which ended June 30, 2026, WEDC invested $229 million in 67 of Wisconsin’s 72 counties, supporting hundreds of local businesses, nonprofits, partner organizations, and communities throughout the state. The investments are supporting...Continue Reading

Hudson River Rats manager Chris LaBreche and River Falls Fighting Fish general manager Josh Eidem were being interviewed on the Fox 9 Town Ball Tour broadcast from First National Bank of River Falls Field last Wednesday night, when LaBreche recalled the first time Eidem talked about building a ballpark in...Continue Reading

St. Croix Health has broken ground on its new hospital south of Highway 8 in St. Croix Falls, marking the start of construction on a 100-acre campus designed to replace the aging facility and position the health system for decades of growth.Parking shortages, aging infrastructure, and limited space for expansion...Continue Reading

Now that the Dairy Month promotions of June have passed, Wisconsin's 1.27 million milk cows can relax and go about their daily routines. Bring on real summer activities. July means neighborhood lemonade stands and they represent Free Enterprise 101 and the Basics of Entrepreneurship rolled into a couple hours of...Continue Reading

The City of Eau Claire intends to purchase over 230 acres of land along County Highway EE –  within the Town of Union in Eau Claire County – for $1.75 million.As shared in the City Council agenda packet for the Tuesday, July 14 meeting, the City plans to sign a...Continue Reading

Drive-in movie theaters are fewer and further between these days, and after Eau Claire’s Gemini Drive-In shuttered in 2015, the next closest outdoor movie destination became Chetek’s Stardust Drive-In Theater (995 22nd St.).Longtime owner Nicholas Meyer (not to be mistaken with Volume One publisher, Nick Meyer), alongside his family, saw...Continue Reading

What began as an entrepreneurial vision and opened it’s doors in October 2025 -6Four Accord is quickly becoming one of the Chippewa Valley’s most unique destinations. Nestled just outside Cameron, Wisconsin, 6Four Accord is redefining what it means to visit a unique gathering place. More than a reindeer farm, it...Continue Reading

In 2023, University of Wisconsin-River Falls Political Science Professors Moira Lynch and Davida Alperin (now retired), recognized a need.“Political science and international studies majors recognize the important value of completing an internship while earning their degree at UWRF,” Lynch said. “Internship opportunities bridge the gap between the educational and professional...Continue Reading

In mid-June, roughly a dozen young teens wearing white chef coats lined up at stations inside a classroom resembling a real industrial kitchen.They gingerly cut slices of avocado, cucumber and mamenori — soy paper — before finally using a bamboo sheet to roll the ingredients into a log of sushi.Their...Continue Reading

After roughly three decades of false starts and at least eight years of work by one local couple, Amery broke ground this week on the city's new hotel, a $12 million, 60-room Best Western Plus that developers say will open next year.Ron and Debbie Anderson, longtime Amery furniture retailers, hosted...Continue Reading

Over the past two weeks, two incoming developments have been announced for the growing commercial corridor off of Chippewa Crossing Boulevard and Hwy 29.The first, Tractor Supply Co., shared its groundbreaking plans for a 21,930-square-foot “prototype store” at 715 Chippewa Mall Dr., Chippewa Falls – which required the purchase of...Continue Reading

Recently, CEDC hosted Wisconsin State Representative Rob Summerfield for a Business Expansion, Attraction, and Retention (BEAR) visit at B&L Transport to discuss the company’s continued investment at the former frac sand processing facility and explore opportunities to strengthen the site’s long-term economic potential.During the visit, B&L Transport provided an update...Continue Reading