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Recognizing Youth Apprenticeships: The Linchpin of Lasting Growth

In mid-May, the Chippewa Economic Development Organization (CEDC) brought together community leaders, business partners, and dedicated residents for its annual meeting — a morning defined by resilience, collaboration, and a shared conviction that Chippewa's best days lie ahead.  The breakfast meeting's standout moment came from keynote speaker Maggi Thorne, who took the stage at the Eau Claire Event District with calm, grounded confidence. Her message was straightforward and powerful: "never give up!" Thorne spoke candidly about the realities facing rural economies today — market volatility, inflation, workforce uncertainty, and the growing urgency for locally driven solutions. Yet rather than dwelling on those challenges, she offered a clear roadmap rooted in persistence, community ownership, and practical action. She framed economic development as a high-stakes obstacle course where resilience, precision, and teamwork determine who moves [...]

Recognizing Youth Apprenticeships: The Linchpin of Lasting Growth2026-05-26T13:13:11-05:00

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

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

Altoona High School Career Fair

The Altoona School District would like to invite you to attend our 2022 Career Fair event on Wednesday, April 27th, 2022 from 12:30-5:00 PM at the Altoona High School. See below to confirm your participation. High School students will have more options for competitive careers than any time in recent history. That is why it is critical that we work together to help increase student awareness of all of the tremendous employment opportunities in our region. Our community and our area is in need of workers. We look to the business community to support students looking to earn money, get job experience, gain employment skills and learn more about what careers they may want to pursue. We have the opportunity to partner with our community to match employers with potential employees. As part [...]

Altoona High School Career Fair2022-01-18T13:03:47-06:00

Governor Evers Stresses Importance of Wisconsin Infrastructure While Fixing Potholes

Governor Evers spent the afternoon in Chippewa Falls, WI with a shovel in his hand while discussing the importance of Wisconsin’s infrastructure alongside Department of Transportation Secretary Craig Thompson. The duo is touring the state while fixing potholes to promote the governor’s proposed roads budget for 2021-2023. Evers and Thompson also made stops in Wausau and Appleton. Evers discussed repairing bridges, roads, and investing in our transportation throughout the state as local communities like Chippewa Falls need reliable infrastructure to allow people to safely get to point A to point B. “Thompson and I want to emphasize that we feel very strongly about this issue. The hard work for repairs is done by local workers, municipalities, and cities as they are responsible for this. The state has to do their job to financially [...]

Governor Evers Stresses Importance of Wisconsin Infrastructure While Fixing Potholes2021-03-31T13:51:32-05:00

BEAR Discussion with Dr. Vijay Sasi from ABECS Global

Join us for a BEAR Discussion with Dr. Vijay Sasi owner/president of ABECS Global from Stanley, Wisconsin, is a custom manufacturing company involved with the production and distribution of animal health nutritional supplements. Specialize in manufacturing and packaging quality nutritional and nutraceutical products. ABECS Global LLC conducts business globally with specific emphasis to the USA.

BEAR Discussion with Dr. Vijay Sasi from ABECS Global2021-03-08T15:07:22-06:00

Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin Company Nordson’s EDI- Celebrates 50 Years of Global Leadership & Innovation

Chippewa County’s Lake Wissota Business Park is now the home of Nordson EDI.  What began in 1971 with a five-person machine shop in this small city of 14,000 is now Nordson Corporation’s global EDI® brand, recognized worldwide for advanced engineering and precision workmanship in the production of flat dies for film, sheet, and coating. Nordson acquired a company-Extrusion Dies Incorporated in 2012 and spent 2019 and 2020 consolidating their three EDI operations in Chippewa Falls into an extensive new modern manufacturing facility.  In 2021, the EDI team celebrates its the 50th anniversary of the EDI business which began on February 15, 1971- the day of its founding. Nordson EDI has been a long-time supporter of the communities within the Chippewa Valley and of Chippewa County Economic Development Corporation (CCEDC) and their mission to [...]

Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin Company Nordson’s EDI- Celebrates 50 Years of Global Leadership & Innovation2021-02-18T12:58:10-06:00

SMART (BEAR) Discussions

Business Expansion And Retention (BEAR) is a CCEDC economic development strategy that proactively connects with existing businesses to understand and respond to their needs. Special attention is given to our small businesses that employ 150 individuals or less. These existing small businesses and their workforce are key measuring sticks of the Chippewa Valley’s economic health.  It is important that CCEDC continues to build positive relationships with our local businesses, connect with them regularly, and follow up with them when problems are identified. CCEDC aims to proactively address small issues before they arise and become big issues that may impact critical business activities. This is what BEAR Discussions are all about! These (BEAR) discussions center around improving relationships with local governments, educational institutions, and supply chains.  CEDCC would like to thank Klaus Bauer of [...]

SMART (BEAR) Discussions2021-02-10T16:40:06-06:00
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