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So far Staff has created 53 blog entries.

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

Opportunity Zone 2.0: Charting the Next Chapter for Chippewa County

CEDC knows that economic development is about more than attracting investment. It’s about creating lasting opportunities for growth that benefit everyone in our area. That’s why in 2016/17  CEDC  advocated for the establishment of a Chippewa County Opportunity Zone, what is known as Census Tract 105 in Chippewa Falls. This area was identified as  a Low-Income Community Opportunity Zone and forwarded on to the state and federal government for designation. Covering 7.4 square miles and home to around 5,400 residents, the Census Tract 105 was officially designated as the only Opportunity Zone in Chippewa County. This federal designation provides tax incentives for investors who direct capital into projects that revitalize underserved areas. As a result, Chippewa Falls gained  valuable projects and attracted new investment that increased the net new construction and brought more tax revenue into local governments coffers. For [...]

Opportunity Zone 2.0: Charting the Next Chapter for Chippewa County2025-09-23T15:30:52-05:00

Driving Defense Contracts – Jobs and Growth for Chippewa and Western Wisconsin

For communities across Wisconsin, economic development organizations (EDCs) such as the CEDC play a critical role in supporting local businesses. Encouraging participation in the defense supply chain is one part of strengthening our region. Chippewa Valley’s role in supporting our nation’s defense is both substantial and growing. With our partners, CVTC, WPI, and NDIA, CEDC is helping organize and promoting an upcoming Defense Manufacturing Supply Chain Conference (DMSCC).  This conference provides a unique opportunity for manufacturers, suppliers, and innovators to learn how to better engage with the Department of Defense (DOD) and the broader federal contracting landscape. Events like this one can: Connect local businesses to federal opportunities they may not otherwise pursue. Help diversify revenue streams for manufacturers, protecting against downturns in other markets. Encourage workforce development and job creation through high-skill, [...]

Driving Defense Contracts – Jobs and Growth for Chippewa and Western Wisconsin2025-09-16T13:45:04-05:00

CEDC Champions $16 Million Mental Health Facility to Serve the Chippewa Valley

CEDC is collaborating with Senator Jesse James and Representative Clint Moses to strengthen mental health services in the Chippewa Valley, championing a transformative project that will expand access to critical mental health services. CEO Charlie Walker recently testified before the Wisconsin Assembly in support of Assembly Bill 388, and before the Wisconsin Senate for Senate Bill 407, advocating for the release of a $10 million state grant to support Rogers Behavioral Health Project. He was joined by CEDC Board Member Maureen Carlson, who also testified in support of SB 407. Their testimony highlighted the urgent need for improved mental health resources in the region following recent hospital closures that left communities underserved. Walker emphasized the strain on local systems, while Carlson noted how the proposed facility would relieve pressure on emergency departments and [...]

CEDC Champions $16 Million Mental Health Facility to Serve the Chippewa Valley2025-09-09T10:50:36-05:00

CEDC and Momentum West Map the Future for Rural Businesses

Visibility counts—and we’re making it count. CEDC and Momentum West have partnered up to help rural businesses boost their digital presence and get discovered. It starts with a practical brochure that walks owners through the steps of getting listed on Google Maps and Apple Maps—two of the most critical platforms for customer visibility. For rural businesses, being mapped is no longer optional—it’s essential. In economic development, the phrase “Not marked, not known” couldn’t be more true. Accurate mapping isn’t just about putting a pin on the map—it’s about unlocking opportunity. Most consumers, nearly 98% in the U.S., use the internet to find local business information, often through their phones. More than half search specifically for local businesses on their mobile devices, and 76% of those searches result in a store visit within 24 [...]

CEDC and Momentum West Map the Future for Rural Businesses2025-09-02T13:04:14-05:00

CEDC Engages Local Businesses to Shape Chippewa County’s Comprehensive Plan

CEDC recently brought together business leaders from across the county in Cadott for a collaborative session aimed at gathering firsthand insights from those directly involved in the local economy. Engaging local businesses in updating the county’s comprehensive plan is crucial, as it ensures that strategies guiding land use, infrastructure, and economic growth align with the realities and aspirations of the community. This meeting marked an important step in shaping the plan, a long-term blueprint that will guide development, investment, and infrastructure decisions for years to come. During the session, CEDC highlighted several key strategies designed to address challenges facing Chippewa County. These included supporting workforce development initiatives to attract and retain skilled talent, expanding broadband access to ensure businesses and residents can compete in a digital economy, and promoting infrastructure improvements that enhance [...]

CEDC Engages Local Businesses to Shape Chippewa County’s Comprehensive Plan2025-09-09T13:48:30-05:00

Building Connections, Creating Jobs: The Impact of CEDC’s BEAR Visits & Showcases

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 [...]

Building Connections, Creating Jobs: The Impact of CEDC’s BEAR Visits & Showcases2025-09-12T13:15:15-05:00

Legislators Visit Area Manufacturers with CEDC to Foster Statewide Collaboration

In the heart of Chippewa County, manufacturing isn’t just an industry—it’s a cornerstone of our community growth, innovation, and economic resilience. That’s why it’s so critical to bridge the gap between policymakers and those that power our local economy. One old fashion way to do that is to just invite them in. CEDC helped coordinate a visit from Representative Clint Moses, who took that commitment a step further by also inviting Wisconsin Assembly Majority Leader Tyler August to join him on learning more about some of the region’s leading manufacturing companies: TTM Technologies, KYMA Batteries, and Alliance Plastics. This wasn’t just a photo op—it was a hands-on opportunity for legislators to witness the ingenuity, challenges, and day-to-day realities of Wisconsin’s manufacturing sector. Engaging directly with manufacturers is one of the most effective ways [...]

Legislators Visit Area Manufacturers with CEDC to Foster Statewide Collaboration2025-08-20T16:28:55-05:00

Shining a Spotlight on Second-Stage Success with BEAR ’25

Wisconsin—and the Chippewa Valley in particular—lags behind some other states and regions in new business formation and job creation per startup. The rate of new business launches has also declined in recent years. Recognizing this challenge, the Chippewa Economic Development Corporation (CEDC) has been working to change the trend. We’re focusing on increasing support density, backing founders, and building a stronger ecosystem for growth—especially for second-stage companies. You might be surprised to learn just how many second-stage companies operate right here in western Wisconsin. These are typically privately owned, growth-oriented firms with annual revenues between $1 million and $50 million and at least 10 employees. They’ve moved beyond the early hurdles of starting up and are now focused on scaling their operations, expanding into new markets, and creating lasting value in their industries. [...]

Shining a Spotlight on Second-Stage Success with BEAR ’252025-08-15T16:23:18-05:00
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