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There’s no time like the present, especially for local entrepreneurs-to-be who are in need of a how-to and resource rundown. The City of Eau Claire Economic Development Division (ECEDD) recently launched its “Business Startup Toolkit,” a comprehensive review of how to do the damn thing.The online hub is organized into...
Workforce numbers, child care and housing have long been challenges facing manufacturers in Barron County, but the adoption of artificial intelligence and automation has been altering the equation.State Rep. Dave Armstrong, R-Rice Lake, brought together several area legislators, including Romaine Quinn, R-Birchwood, education leaders and economic development specialists at Northwood...
Data centers are top of mind for key Wisconsin industry leaders, as the new developments make waves in construction, manufacturing and other sectors.The topic featured prominently in the Wisconsin Bankers Association’s 2026 Wisconsin Economic Report, which includes perspectives from the heads of other business groups in the state.That includes Wisconsin...
The health care sector is responsible for 15.3% of jobs in Wisconsin, and these jobs are projected to grow by 8.15% by 2032, adding 33,520 jobs in that time.Helping the workforce meet this opportunity is a key priority. Aligning with recommendations by the Governor's Task Force on the Healthcare Workforce,...
Shake off the post-holidays slump and get rewarded for shopping local by snagging the Downtown Winter Passport, a first-time initiative created by and for a number of Chippewa Falls small businesses.The “passport” – available to pick up for free at all participating businesses – doubles as an invitation from local...
As Wisconsin ages, UW-Green Bay looks to older adults to boost enrollment — and keep minds sharp
Jan 14 2026Inside University of Wisconsin-Green Bay’s Christie Theatre, retired judge Mark Warpinski leads a discussion about how judges decide on the sentences they impose. Roughly 50 students nod along, take notes and eagerly wave their hands in the air to debate how they’d sentence someone for a hypothetical crime.The unusually lively...
Business owner Derrick Edwards is doubling down on artificial intelligence. “We are an example of an organization that is all in on AI in every respect,” Edwards said of AGS Data Systems, the company he founded in River Falls in 1999. “Every employee we have is provided with multiple AI...
Kayla Schoonover and Zachery Uzlik were set on becoming their own bosses. After some test trials, the duo discovered that the dirty soda trend — the act of customizing sodas with flavored syrups, creating different types — made for a profitable endeavor.Since launching the Dirty Soda Company last July, the...
Your economic development website is more than a brochure — it’s your digital front door for site selectors, corporate location advisors, and potential investors. When consultants evaluate communities, the first impression often comes from your online presence. A strong digital marketing strategy for economic development begins with a website that...
As data centers appear more often in national and regional headlines, it’s natural for local communities—especially rural ones—to have questions. These facilities are large, energy-intensive, and highly technical, and without the right safeguards in place, they can raise concerns about utilities, water resources, and long-term community impact. At CEDC, we...
Tens of thousands of people put the Northern Wisconsin State Fairgrounds (NWSF) on their summertime bucket lists every year, drawn to the Chippewa Falls destination by more than the mouthwatering scents of sweet kettle corn and promise of thrilling carnival rides.The arts and entrepreneurial fabrics of the wider Chippewa Valley...
The Department of Workforce Development (DWD) encourages employers to apply for Wisconsin Fast Forward (WFF) grants, which aim to address the state's demand for skilled workers. Employers in every industry and of all sizes across Wisconsin are eligible to apply for this round of WFF funding to train their workers.The...
A team of engineering students at UW-Stout designed an innovative nonstandard pallet stacker for Arcadia-based Ashley Furniture, which plans to quickly implement the machine in its facilities.Within their Senior Design Experience II capstone course, the team was tasked with building a machine that could lift and hold 6-foot-long, 100-pound pallets...
St Croix Economic Development Corporation Announces 2025 Business of the Year Award Winners
Jan 5 2026St. Croix Economic Development Corporation today announced the winners of the 2026 Business of the Year awards. The awards honor outstanding businesses for their exceptional growth, community impact, and contributions to the local economy.“Each winner has an amazing story and brings energy and passion to what they do and how...
Geopolitics today are fast-changing and affecting development everywhere. I addressed some of these impacts in a recent webinar for Golden Shovel Agency, and the high number of questions from participants showed just how engaged developers are right now. Since I was not able to get to all of the questions,...
The Corner Italian, located along Broad Street, is set to open its doors in January.This business marks the second restaurant Kevin Champlin owns — the first being Kevin's Italian Bistro in Eden Prairie, Minnesota.Champlin sold his bistro earlier this year, but was drawn to open his new venture in his...
Collaboration between industry and academia in the world of healthcare happens every day in some places.While that happens at UW-Eau Claire, a recent collaboration looking to improve the nursing workforce overall has put part of the university’s perspective on academic-practice partnerships in a national resource.Kristen Abbott-Anderson, dean of the College...
Advocacy That Drives Change
Dec 11 2025Advocacy is at the heart of CEDC’s mission. Each year, we unite businesses, community leaders, and partners to meet with legislators and elevate the issues that matter most to Chippewa County. Over the past three years, CEDC has supported more than 27 bills, with over a dozen now enacted into...
City Administrator Alex Mansfield will prepare a detailed report on commercial interest in Amery's south industrial park property after Metro East received inquiries from multiple brokers. The city is also moving forward with a website redesign to improve public access to services and information.The department heads shared news of accomplishments...
With the end of the college semester near, students at UW-Stout gathered to showcase a little bit of their work they had done over the past several months.“This is one of the main events that the College of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Management (STEMM) holds throughout the year to...
With a design inspired by her adventures with her black lab, Max, University of Wisconsin-Stout studio art major Jaelyn Logterman won the 2026 Wisconsin State Park and Forest vehicle admission pass design contest, recently announced by the state’s Department of Natural Resources.“It is a privilege to know that my artwork...
A new advocacy group called the Northwoods Policy Network has formed to promote the state’s northern region, with a focus on business attraction and economic viability for rural communities.Paul Schecklman, the nonprofit’s executive director, says the group aims to drive conversations around what’s important for northern Wisconsin and help achieve...
Nonprofits across the St. Croix Valley now have access to two regional funding opportunities aimed at strengthening families and fueling creativity.The St. Croix Valley Foundation announced that its First Thousand Days Grant Program, supporting early childhood well-being, and the Valley Arts Grant Program, which expands access to the arts, are...
Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery began as a farmer collective more than a century ago, and has since grown to sell its Wisconsin cheese curds nationwide — all while staying rooted in the city that gave it its name.Tom Aslin, Sales Director of the Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery, explains how a local company...