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 and sending the kids off to school before you tackle the day. You’re juggling repairs, customers, paperwork, and the unpredictable curveballs that come with running a business and raising a family in this amazing place we call Chippewa Valley.

We see the work.
We see the risk.
We see the heart.

And we are proud to stand alongside you in every season—supporting, funding, coaching, and celebrating the wins that have lifted the area forward.

To Our Investors and Champions—We Are Grateful

Thanksgiving reminds us just how fortunate we are to have partners who believe in this organization. To the local banks, family funds, community foundation, small businesses, and individual supporters who quietly but consistently invest in CEDC—thank you.

You’ve helped young entrepreneurs turn ideas into real companies.
You’ve backed expansions that created new jobs.
You’ve supported manufacturers, retailers, food entrepreneurs, and growing innovators who make our communities stronger every year.

Your belief in our mission and the importance of local progress is one of our community’s greatest assets.

Because Gratitude Is a Wisconsin Tradition

In true Midwestern fashion, “thank you” is something we say often—sometimes with a handshake, sometimes with a plate of pie or a venison snack stick after a good hunt. This Thanksgiving, we want to say this a little louder:

Thank you to the entrepreneurs who keep our main streets alive!
Thank you to the lenders and investors who choose community over convenience!
Thank you to our board members, partners, and volunteers who show up, pitch in, and do the work without needing recognition!

You all are the reason Chippewa County continues to grow, thrive, and create opportunities for the next generation.

As many families gather, and as much of Wisconsin heads to deer camp before the holiday meals begin, CEDC will be closed November 27th and 28th Thanksgiving week. We hope you enjoy rest, celebration, and maybe spend a little time in the woods. Happy Thanksgiving, safe hunting, and thank you for all you do!