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So far Staff has created 51 blog entries.

Advocacy That Drives Change

Advocacy 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 law. For instance-CEDC for years have been advocating for the establishment of a Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation Talent Recruitment Grant Program which would provide funding to help local governments and organizations attract new residents from outside the state— showcasing what makes Wisconsin an exceptional place to live, work, and build a future. This was realized this past year when Wisconsin Act 15 was signed by Governor Evers. The grant program is now open to eligible applicants with a mission of economic development, workforce [...]

Advocacy That Drives Change2025-12-11T16:23:11-06:00

Ripples of Giving: How We Raise the Chippewa Tide Together

Today, on the Day of Giving, we are reminded of the power of generosity and the impact it has on shaping our local communities. Here in the Chippewa Valley, the Chippewa County Economic Development Corporation (CEDC) is more than just an organization—it is a catalyst for growth, opportunity, and resilience. Our work is powered by community investment because when our community invests in economic development, everyone benefits. After all, a rising tide truly lifts all boats. Economic development is not just about attracting businesses or creating jobs; it is about building a stronger foundation for everyone. At CEDC, we create an environment where businesses can grow, entrepreneurs can thrive, and residents can access new opportunities. By expanding manufacturing and retail opportunities, supporting startups and small businesses, and investing in critical infrastructure, the benefits [...]

Ripples of Giving: How We Raise the Chippewa Tide Together2025-12-02T16:36:13-06:00

Gratitude, Growth, and the Orange Army

Here in Chippewa, usually the first real cold of the season settles in around Thanksgiving. The Chippewa River starts to grow quiet, frost laces the windows of our downtown boutique shops, and orange and pink dots emerge in the woods as Wisconsin’s legendary “orange army” heads out for deer season. It’s a time marked by traditions—family tables, early-morning hunts, and the simple comfort of being together. That same spirit of connection is what fuels CEDC mission and actions. We’re more than an office on Technology Way. We’re neighbors helping neighbors build the entrepreneur ecosystem where businesses strengthen our communities, create opportunities, and position the next generation for continued wealth creation. Entrepreneurship in rural Wisconsin isn’t for the faint of heart! Often, you’re up early, long before sunrise, sometimes firing up the coffee pot [...]

Gratitude, Growth, and the Orange Army2025-11-21T13:44:54-06:00

Connecting Across Borders: CEDC Welcomes Polish Delegation with a Roundtable Discussion

At CEDC, we recognize that discovering new solutions and recipes to success begins with connection. Whether those connections are across the county or across the globe, collaboration is what fuels innovation and progress. That belief was on full display this week as CEDC welcomed a delegation of Polish mayors, part of the Congressional Office for International Leadership (COIL) exchange program and hosted by the Chippewa Falls Rotary Club, to the Chippewa Valley. The group joined us for an economic development roundtable discussion at Miron Construction’s state-of-the-art office in Lake Hallie—bringing together public and private sector leaders to share insights, ideas, and opportunities for growth. The day began with breakfast and time to connect, followed by a formal kickoff featuring a bipartisan proclamation of welcome presented by Senator Jesse James and Representative Rob Summerfield. [...]

Connecting Across Borders: CEDC Welcomes Polish Delegation with a Roundtable Discussion2025-11-04T16:38:30-06:00

Failing Forward: Building a Stronger Entrepreneurial Community

Our entrepreneurial community is no stranger to big dreams—and equally big challenges. Picture this: a room buzzing with energy, not from polished pitches or victory laps, but from candid tales of ventures and business ideas that didn’t quite make it. Prior to HATCH 2025, during the second week of November—Startup Week—CEDC is inviting founders, innovators, and supporters to a unique business celebration: a cocktail reception at EastBay Lodge in Lake Holcombe. Here, we’ll raise a glass not just to our successes, but to the lessons learned from failure. Why does CEDC celebrate these business idea setbacks? Because failure is often the best teacher. When local entrepreneurs openly discuss projects that didn’t pan out, it fosters a culture of honesty, resilience, and shared learning. At CEDC, we believe innovation thrives in an environment where [...]

Failing Forward: Building a Stronger Entrepreneurial Community2025-11-05T14:02:59-06:00

CEDC Works to Strengthen Wisconsin’s Defense Manufacturing

Every October is recognized as Manufacturing Month, and this year, CEDC spotlighted innovation, collaboration, and opportunity within Wisconsin’s defense manufacturing sector. Through two key events — the Defense Manufacturing Supply Chain Conference (DMSCC) and the Collaborative Showcase at W.S. Darley & Co. — CEDC and its partners brought together manufacturers, educators, and defense industry leaders to strengthen local supply chains and highlight the vital role manufacturing plays in driving regional growth. Connecting Wisconsin’s Defense Manufacturers More than 60 manufacturers from across the Chippewa Valley and beyond gathered for the first time in Chippewa County to attend the Defense Manufacturing Supply Chain Conference, hosted at Chippewa Valley Technical College (CVTC). The conference was organized in partnership with CEDC, CVTC, the Wisconsin Procurement Institute (WPI), and NDIA Great Lakes. The sold-out conference focused on unlocking [...]

CEDC Works to Strengthen Wisconsin’s Defense Manufacturing2025-10-22T14:10:05-05:00

From Design to Delivery: Ashley Furniture Showcases Innovation for Manufacturing Month

As part of Manufacturing Month, a CEDC Collaborative Showcase was hosted by Ashley Furniture Industries in Chippewa Falls—spotlighting one of Chippewa Valley's premier manufacturing facilities. Manufacturing Month is a national celebration in October that highlights the importance of the manufacturing industry to Wisconsin's economy and helps promote careers in manufacturing. For years, CEDC has proudly marked Manufacturing Month as a way to honor the region’s thriving manufacturing industry and highlight the critical role it plays in the Chippewa Valley’s economy. Each October, CEDC brings together local manufacturers, educators, community partners, and workforce development leaders to a collaborative showcase that highlights innovation, advanced technology, and skilled craftsmanship. Through these events, CEDC provides opportunities for stakeholders to see firsthand how manufacturing drives growth, creates quality jobs, and fuels innovation. Since 1945, Ashley Furniture—known then as [...]

From Design to Delivery: Ashley Furniture Showcases Innovation for Manufacturing Month2025-10-17T15:03:07-05:00

Rogers Behavioral Health Expands Access to Mental Health Care in the Chippewa Valley

Rogers Behavioral Health is inviting community members, leaders, and partners to attend an upcoming Open House on Wednesday, October 15, at Chippewa Valley Technical College in Chippewa Falls. The event marks an important milestone as Rogers continues to inform and educate more local citizens about their expansion project in Chippewa Falls. This event offers an opportunity to meet Rogers’ leadership team, learn more about their services, ask questions, and explore ways to collaborate in supporting mental health and wellness throughout the region. Having a mental health facility like Rogers Behavioral Health in our community provides significant advantages for both local well-being and economic development. This investment of over 12 million dollars not only fills a critical gap in care, but also supports a healthier, more resilient, and economically vibrant community. Access to mental [...]

Rogers Behavioral Health Expands Access to Mental Health Care in the Chippewa Valley2025-10-17T15:39:50-05:00

Investing in People: CEDC Hosts UW-Stout MOC TWI Course

At CEDC, we recognize that employee turnover can be just as significant a challenge as finding new workers. To stay competitive, the Chippewa Valley needs access to high-quality workforce training—and who better to deliver that than our partners at the UW-Stout Manufacturing Outreach Center (MOC)? Last week, we were proud to host MOC’s Training Within Industry (TWI) Job Relations course, where local professionals learned how to strengthen communication, build trust, and lead more effective teams. The program empowers leaders to get results through people—by treating individuals fairly, addressing issues promptly, and fostering a respectful workplace culture. The TWI  program is a time-tested cornerstone of manufacturing leadership. Developed in the United States during World War II to rapidly train and upskill a workforce hit hard by the war , these proven methods found new [...]

Investing in People: CEDC Hosts UW-Stout MOC TWI Course2025-10-08T10:37:44-05:00

The Heartbeat of Western Wisconsin: The BEAR Podcast

If you care about the future of Chippewa, rural innovation, or the heartbeat of western Wisconsin, there’s one podcast you can’t afford to overlook: The BEAR Podcast, hosted by Charlie Walker of the Chippewa Economic Development Corporation. BEAR stands for Business Expansion, Attraction, and Retention—but it’s more than an acronym. It’s a mindset. It’s a movement. And it’s your front-row seat to the conversations shaping our region’s economic future. Podcasts have emerged as one of the most powerful tools for storytelling, knowledge-sharing, and community connection. For CEDC, the BEAR Podcast offers a fresh, engaging way to share insights, elevate local voices, and connect with stakeholders in a more personal, meaningful way. Unlike newsletters or press releases, this format brings warmth, personality, and authenticity to the table. It breaks through the noise of traditional [...]

The Heartbeat of Western Wisconsin: The BEAR Podcast2025-10-01T19:43:03-05:00
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