CEDC Blog
From the Battlefields to Main Street: A Veteran’s Gift of the Entrepreneurial Spirit
Every Veterans Day, I pause to remember a man who shaped not only my life, but the way I lead, serve, and build community. My father was a Vietnam veteran—three tours, each one a chapter of courage, grit, and sacrifice. He didn’t talk much about the war, but you could [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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, [...]
A Day in the Life of a Founder
What it's like to be a HATCH or BEAR finalist I arrive while the sky is still deciding between gold and indigo, the river breathing its cool across the street. The venue is a local treasure- a family-run roastery that turns into a candlelit listening room at night- brick walls [...]
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. [...]