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Sarah Kowal Blogging for CEDC-From Founder to Capital Connector: A Western Wisconsin Entrepreneur Comes Full Circle with BEAR ’25

When I was building WeatherVane Creamery (note: website intentionally frozen in time), I was trying to do more than just open a vibrant Wisconsin-themed deli in River Falls- I was painting a vision. I wanted people to see what I saw: a vital, community-centered, proudly Wisconsin space that could become something special right now, not “someday.”   And thankfully, people did see it. I built an advisory board of experts, restaurateurs, and dairy industry insiders. I crowdfunded. I launched investor dinners. I had the American Cheese Society's stamp of approval. I got a ton of media coverage. It was alive and moving, being the scrappy Western Wisconsin founder working tirelessly to rally Cheeseheads.   What I didn’t have… was a clear investor path. Ask any rural founder in these parts, and they’ll likely tell you a [...]

Sarah Kowal Blogging for CEDC-From Founder to Capital Connector: A Western Wisconsin Entrepreneur Comes Full Circle with BEAR ’252025-07-31T16:47:34-05:00

Time is Running Out; the Annual Meeting is Almost Here!

CEDC embodies Wisconsin's spirit of innovation, devoted to recognizing and celebrating the remarkable achievements of local businesses and entrepreneurs. To actively promote and highlight the collective successes we have accomplished together, fostering a vibrant and prosperous community, CEDC is proud to host its Annual Meeting on August 24th, 2023. Last year CEDC was proud to award Northern Crossarms Co., Inc. as the recipient of the 2022 Business Expansion and Retention (BEAR) Award. Continuously demonstrating their worthiness of this recognition, Northern Crossarms Co., Inc. has shown remarkable ingenuity in addressing the issues associated with wet treated wood decks, such as shrinking, cupping, warping, and twisting during the drying process, leading to uneven gaps and spaces, even in newer decks. Thanks to the dedication and expertise of Pat Bischel and their team of fifty skilled [...]

Time is Running Out; the Annual Meeting is Almost Here!2023-08-01T15:51:17-05:00

$4000 in Scholarships Awarded to Chi Hi Students

Thanks to the many donations to the STEAM Scholarship Program at Chippewa Falls High School (Chi Hi), the school was able to award two students with $2000 scholarships to help continue their studies in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics. These two seniors were chosen out of several applicants because of their dedication to both education and giving back to their communities. Zachary Secraw plans to attend the University of Minnesota-Duluth for Civil Engineering to "help out communities." Destiny Kolve plans to attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison, get a Bachelor's in Chemistry, and has an interest in "lab science and research based careers." It's super important for a community to help its students get a leg up so that they can in turn bring their skills back to the Chippewa Valley. The CEDC is proud [...]

$4000 in Scholarships Awarded to Chi Hi Students2022-05-25T10:31:43-05:00

We’re All Innovating Contest

Innovation can come from many directions – a small business that offers new ways of dining; a precision machining shop that tweaks a new part for ventilators; or a startup that’s using software to improve e-learning. Whatever it may be Chippewa County Economic Development Corporation (CCEDC) would like you to know about a new contest that Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) is offering for Wisconsin businesses. Wisconsin businesses of all sizes and in all industries are demonstrating resilience, ingenuity and compassion—all traits our state is well known for—in their response to COVID-19. WEDC is recognizing and rewarding these companies with Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding through the We’re All Innovating Contest, administered in partnership with the Wisconsin Technology Council.  As we work together to build a stronger economy, we [...]

We’re All Innovating Contest2020-10-01T12:23:29-05:00

2020 CEDA Winners & Finalists Announced by Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation

Economic development professionals, community leaders and businesses from across Wisconsin gathered virtually to view a live stream of the 2020 Community and Economic Development Awards (CEDA) held by Wisconsin Economic Development Association (WEDA). WEDA and its partner organizations created the CEDA program to recognize economic development best practices of businesses and organizations that are making their community a better place to live and work. The CEDA program celebrates the dedicated efforts of local, county, regional, state and private organizations that are advancing Wisconsin's economy. In turn, Chippewa County Economic Development Corporation (CCEDC) is honored to share that two companies in the Chippewa Valley were recognized and awarded in two different categories at this prestigious virtual event hosted by WEDA. Since 2008 VES, a Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin based global company that scientifically designs environmental [...]

2020 CEDA Winners & Finalists Announced by Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation2020-09-18T13:47:40-05:00

2020 IEDC Award Recipient, Paul Salm Recognized

Economic Development has always been a competitive race. There are thousands of communities that compete for talent, jobs, capital investment, and growth. To be competitive, a community must have an exceptional leader and great team working together. This is something that Chippewa County Economic Development Corporation (CCEDC) is able to state as Mr. Paul Salm has served as a past chairperson and Board of Director for the last 20 years. CCEDC would not have been able to continue this fight for economic development within the Chippewa Valley without the collaboration and support of Mr. Salm. Mr. Salm, VP-Business Banking of BMO Harris Financial Group, has exhibited a lengthy record of supporting economic development and has worked tirelessly to improve the business climate as a dedicated leader within Chippewa County. Mr. Salm has devoted [...]

2020 IEDC Award Recipient, Paul Salm Recognized2020-09-14T11:25:13-05:00

Barron County Cheese and CCEDC Recognized at Mid-America EDC’s 2019 Annual Economic Development Awards

Barron County Cheese, located in the northwestern Wisconsin town of Barron, envisioned becoming an entrepreneurial exporter in the global market. Their vision was to become an industry leader in cheese packaging and conversion, providing an unmatched quality of service to all customers through ongoing improvement in global research, teamwork, safety, versatility, and innovation. It is proof that hard work pays off as Chippewa County Economic Development Corporation (CCEDC) is proud to share that Barron County Cheese was awarded as a winner for the Entrepreneurial Award (small division) category for the Mid-America EDC’s 2019 Annual Economic Development Awards! Recognition for both CCEDC and Barron County Cheese took place at the at awards luncheon program at the Mid-America Competitiveness Conference & Site Selector Forum in Downtown Chicago. CCEDC helped Barron County Cheese seek new ways [...]

Barron County Cheese and CCEDC Recognized at Mid-America EDC’s 2019 Annual Economic Development Awards2019-12-27T10:42:51-06:00

2020 Governor’s Export Achievement Awards

The Governor’s Export Achievement Awards is now accepting nominations!   The award recognizes companies that have contributed to Wisconsin’s exporting strength by achieving extraordinary results in international markets and elevating Wisconsin’s competitiveness in the global economy.   The awards serve a dual purpose: to recognize companies’ good work, and to highlight examples of best practices in export growth so that other Wisconsin companies can learn and apply similar tactics.   Any Wisconsin company or organization successfully engaging in, or assisting in the export of, products or services produced in Wisconsin is eligible to apply. Nominations can be made by an employee of the company or organization, or by an outside person familiar with the company or organization.  

2020 Governor’s Export Achievement Awards2019-11-22T13:47:10-06:00

CCEDC Hosts Regional Entrepreneurial Pitch Contest, HATCH

The Chippewa County Economic Development Corporation (CCEDC) is paving the way for local entrepreneurs and assisting them in bringing their business ideas alive by organizing and hosting the Chippewa Valley HATCH Program. Fostering more Startup entrepreneurs makes sense because of the role they play in helping the Chippewa Valley grow and prosper. CCEDC once again teamed with the BrightStar Wisconsin Foundation, Inc. and several area local businesses at Cowboy Jack’s Saloon in Altoona, WI on Thursday October 17, 2019 to further develop the entrepreneurial eco-system. The HATCH Program-in its second year- is a rotating, high-energy idea pitch program designed to facilitate connections between prospective entrepreneurs and those within a community who support them such as industry experts, professional service firms, banks, non-profits, business leaders and investors. “Brightstar and WEDC were impressed with the [...]

CCEDC Hosts Regional Entrepreneurial Pitch Contest, HATCH2019-10-23T17:29:42-05:00
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