Our local manufacturing business visitation BEAR Visits and Showcase Programs continues to achieve notable successes and demonstrates substantial value to our economic development strategy. Almost everyone has heard, and local Chippewa data consistently shows that most new jobs in our area are created by our existing manufacturing businesses.
Utilizing regular BEAR visits and Showcases allow our Board of Directors, stakeholders, and economic development support teams to identify and address real-time challenges faced by our local manufacturers. These events often lead to timely solutions that support local company growth as well as builds meaningful relationships, facilitates resource sharing, builds trust, and fostering innovation among local businesses. In fact, several studies show that economic development organization-driven connections help local firms adapt quickly to changes and can boost productivity by facilitating knowledge transfer and pooling local talent.
Local Manufacturers play a critical role in the tax base and social fabric, and their ongoing investments strengthen community resilience and economic health. CEDC connecting events like these were held this past summer at TLD Wollard, TTM Technologies, Hixwood Metals, Cadrex , Automation Displays and Alliance Plastics. Support for manufacturing within our community ensures that the sector’s growth directly creates local jobs and stimulates small business ecosystems.
In sum, a local manufacturing business visitation program such as BEAR and Showcases are a proven, high-impact economic development approach that prioritizes the needs and growth of current employers. They reduce isolation, cultivate resilient business environments, and ensure that the local economy benefits from shared innovation and collective action. Finally-it fosters job creation, efficient use of resources, and strategic planning while enhancing the competitive advantage of Chippewa