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So far Charlie Walker has created 335 blog entries.
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CEDC Hosts Area Developers

CHIPPEWA FALLS, WISCONSIN – On Tuesday, April 26, 2022, from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm, the Chippewa Economic Development Corporation (CEDC) will be hosting a Developers Update. Stewart Wangard, founder/CEO of Wangard Partners, Inc. in Milwaukee, will update attendees on their Chippewa Crossing real estate projects. Wangard Partners believes in building valued partnerships by bringing together key stakeholders in the community to ensure their project’s success. Dante Tomassoni, COO of Development at P&R Companies of Duluth, MN, will be discussing what the company looks for in a community when building their projects. Since 2010, P&R Companies prides themselves on designing and constructing their buildings to the highest industry and construction standards, making them as energy efficient as possible and reducing the carbon footprints of their properties. The event will be held at the [...]

CEDC Hosts Area Developers2022-04-18T12:50:13-05:00

Festival Foods Purchases 7.4 Acres in Chippewa Falls

Wangard Partners, Inc. (Wangard), a Milwaukee-based full-service real estate development firm, announced today the sale of a 7.4 acre site in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, to Festival Foods (Festival). Wangard’s Chippewa Crossing development covers approximately 60 acres, and is located at the intersection of Seymour Cray Sr. Blvd and Chippewa Crossing Blvd. Festival plans to start construction on their new store in the spring in 2023 and open later that year. “We are very excited to have Festival Foods as the anchor for our Chippewa Crossing development!" said Stewart Wangard, CEO and Chairman of the Board. “Festival Foods is a very successful, Wisconsin-based grocery brand and their presence in Chippewa Falls will be an impactful option for the community.” "We are so excited to see new development in the Chippewa Crossing area," stated Charlie [...]

Festival Foods Purchases 7.4 Acres in Chippewa Falls2022-04-08T10:33:10-05:00

Cadott High Students Study Chippewa Valley Careers

To increase awareness about the benefits of working in the trades, CEDC continues to collaborate with our local schools. We were pleased to assist Cadott with their Career Expo in early April. Through our many Business Expansion And Retention (BEAR) visits, we know the importance of skilled trades. These jobs vary from mechanics to construction workers, from welders to hairstylists, and are a critical component of our labor force. For years, interest in these skill trade jobs has continued to decline - in part because of the continued push by parents, teachers, and student peer groups to go to a university and get that four year degree. CEDC investors and stakeholders throughout the Chippewa Valley gathered in the gym at Cadott High School for one reason - to educate CHS students that the [...]

Cadott High Students Study Chippewa Valley Careers2022-04-05T14:04:22-05:00

CVIC Board Holds Meeting at CVTC

The Chippewa Valley Innovation Center (CVIC) was established in 1986 by Eau Claire County, the City of Eau Claire, Chippewa County, Eau Claire Area Economic Development Corporation, Chippewa Economic Development Corporation, and Chippewa Valley Technical College (CVTC) as a regional partnership for the purpose of supporting new and emerging entrepreneurial businesses in the Eau Claire area. During their 36 year history, the CVIC has successfully proven to be a productive tool in growing our region's entrepreneurial ecosystem. Their current facility, located on 3132 Louis Avenue in Eau Claire, specializes in assisting manufacturing startups. Recently, the CVIC Board had their monthly meeting at Chippewa Valley Technical College's Manufacturing Education Center, adjacent to the Eau Claire Gateway Campus, where Board members were able to tour and receive an update on the Advanced Manufacturing Center's activities. This [...]

CVIC Board Holds Meeting at CVTC2022-03-24T14:09:00-05:00

Showing Off Some STEAM

I was amazed: I didn’t need a ticket, and I attended a great event! The curtain went up at Chippewa Falls Senior High School (“Chi Hi”) and opened the STEAM production. It was alive with activity as hundreds of students circled the campus, taking the time to visit with a large array of Chippewa Valley businesses and educational institutions. This was STEAM Night, and it was about learning, it was about the opportunities of our area, and it was about “showing off” some STEAM Careers. So, what is STEAM, you ask? Originating from the STEM educational movement started in the early 2000s, STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics. Its aim is to round out the US educational curriculum to include hands-on activities that help our young future workers develop practical [...]

Showing Off Some STEAM2022-06-13T08:48:21-05:00

Water’s Edge Cheese Curds Expands to Downtown Chippewa Falls

This week, Water’s Edge Cheese Curds made their official debut in the city of Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin by hosting the Chippewa Economic Development Corporation's (CEDC's) Business Expansion and Retention (BEAR) Visit and a tour of their production facility. CEDC's BEAR Visit program is aimed at recognizing and supporting the accomplishments of our local businesses. We understand that 80 percent of all jobs created in a community are those from existing businesses whom we support and encourage. The BEAR Visits also open up a dialogue for everyone present to engage in a conversation about the supply chain, workforce, the business climate, and other economic issues. Over 12 years ago, Water’s Edge Cheese Curds started in a small building in Jim Falls, Wisconsin. Beginning as a secret recipe in the kitchen of a Northwoods Wisconsin supper [...]

Water’s Edge Cheese Curds Expands to Downtown Chippewa Falls2022-03-09T09:29:54-06:00

Advocating for Solutions

Dr. Lona Cook, Chair of the Chippewa Economic Development Corporation's (CEDC's) Advocacy Committee, noted that “the CEDC has been busy this past quarter working with our local legislators to support the use of Environmental Remediation Tax Increment Districts (ERTIDs), support more broadband funding, reduce healthcare costs, continue funding workforce apprenticeship and customized training grants, and take steps to solve the Chippewa Valley’s workforce housing crisis.” Recently, Charlie Walker, President and CEO of the CEDC, went to Madison to voice the organization’s support for establishing a state income tax income program for workforce housing. Through CEDC’s Business Expansion and Retention (BEAR) Visits, one of the main topics of concern for our local companies are (1) finding available talent and (2) having adequate housing for this talent in our communities. With this feedback, the CEDC's [...]

Advocating for Solutions2022-03-04T18:00:54-06:00

PMI- Bloomer’s Talent Creator

There are some who believe that within the next 15 years about half of all US Manufacturing firms will close their doors! Currently, worker shortages are empowering existing workers to do some rethinking. They now have the opportunity to reconsider what jobs they want to do, where they want to live,  and what industries they want to work in. Manufacturing appears to be at a disadvantage because many potential workers do not view manufacturing jobs as secure and stable compared to those in other industries. Finally, there is an acceleration to all things digital-Industry 4.0 that has the potential to leave many manufacturers behind because they are slow to invest in technology. To survive manufacturing companies need to move away from being consumers of talented workers and become better creators of manufacturing talent. [...]

PMI- Bloomer’s Talent Creator2022-02-22T20:05:11-06:00

We Love Our Board!

Any organization wouldn’t be what they are without its Board of Directors. For CEDC, these are members of our business community who volunteer their Time, Talent, and Treasure. Doing this, they ensure that the mission of the organization is carried out by formulating economic development policies and programs that are unique, engaging, and effective. Just over the last several weeks, there have been numerous examples of where the CEDC Board of Directors have gone above and beyond. They continue to set the standard as best in practice for economic development corporations' Board of Directors. It's only fitting - on Valentine's day - that we not only send a shoutout to our loved ones, but we at CEDC remind them of how much we appreciate them with all our hearts. BEAR Listening Sessions They [...]

We Love Our Board!2022-03-01T09:15:14-06:00

BEARs, Tacos, and Broadband Coverage

CEDC investors had the opportunity to gather around the lunch table, have some tacos, and receive a broadband grant update. This topic is of utmost importance because as we enter what is known as the Sixth Wave of Innovation, the foundational basis is broadband. Communities that do not have high-speed internet are playing catch-up and are classified as still being in the Fifth Wave. Artificial intelligence and robotics, the Sixth Wave of Innovation, will be the driving economic base for growing communities in the future. For the Chippewa Valley to remain competitive, we will need to get even more aggressive in our support of high-speed broadband deployment. Chippewa Valley telecoms have been aggressively working to expand high-speed internet coverage throughout the area, leveraging these broadband grant programs. Bloomer Telephone Co., Citizens Connected, Mosaic [...]

BEARs, Tacos, and Broadband Coverage2022-02-10T16:50:23-06:00
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