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Cadott School District: A Launchpad for Technical Careers and Regional Growth

The School District of Cadott’s brand-new Technical Education Center is opening doors for the next generation of makers, builders, and problem-solvers in Chippewa County. With more than 29,000 square feet of modern space and advanced, industry-relevant equipment, this investment gives students hands-on experience in high-demand skilled trades while strengthening the region’s future workforce. This center is a perfect fit for CEDC’s BEAR Showcase, which spotlights projects and partners that are driving economic growth and workforce development across Chippewa County. Local, regional, and state economic development and business leaders were honored to tour the new Technical Education Center and see its impact firsthand, gaining insight into how this investment in education will translate into long-term workforce and economic benefits for the region. Partners discussed how the Center will help address talent needs in manufacturing, [...]

Cadott School District: A Launchpad for Technical Careers and Regional Growth2026-02-03T16:38:24-06:00

Data Centers, Done Right: Positioning Us for Responsible Growth

As data centers appear more often in national and regional headlines, it’s natural for local communities—especially rural ones—to have questions. These facilities are large, energy-intensive, and highly technical, and without the right safeguards in place, they can raise concerns about utilities, water resources, and long-term community impact. At CEDC, we believe the question is not simply whether data centers belong in Chippewa, but under what conditions they make sense. For several years, CEDC has worked alongside state and local leaders to ensure communities are informed, protected, and positioned to take advantage of data center opportunities when they arise—and when they align with local priorities. When developed under the right conditions, data centers can be a strong fit for Chippewa's broader economic development strategy. They represent significant, long-term private investment and contribute a stable [...]

Data Centers, Done Right: Positioning Us for Responsible Growth2026-01-14T17:40:28-06:00

Where Community Meets the Season

There’s something magical about a room full of people who share a common purpose, and the CEDC Christmas Collaboration Gathering was exactly that. Even as a winter storm swept across the Chippewa Valley, partners, investors, entrepreneurs, and business leaders braved the weather to come together, proving that a little snow and ice couldn’t dampen the spirit of collaboration. The View in Chippewa Falls glowed with holiday spirit and laughter as guests arrived, greeted by friendly faces, hors d’oeuvres, and the comforting hum of conversations. Old friends caught up, new connections were made, and every handshake and smile felt like a reminder of the strength of our community. Collaboration in Action It wasn’t just a Christmas party, it was a celebration of the relationships that drive economic growth across the region. Stories of local [...]

Where Community Meets the Season2025-12-19T12:56:30-06:00

Advocacy That Drives Change

Advocacy is at the heart of CEDC’s mission. Each year, we unite businesses, community leaders, and partners to meet with legislators and elevate the issues that matter most to Chippewa County. Over the past three years, CEDC has supported more than 27 bills, with over a dozen now enacted into law. For instance-CEDC for years have been advocating for the establishment of a Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation Talent Recruitment Grant Program which would provide funding to help local governments and organizations attract new residents from outside the state— showcasing what makes Wisconsin an exceptional place to live, work, and build a future. This was realized this past year when Wisconsin Act 15 was signed by Governor Evers. The grant program is now open to eligible applicants with a mission of economic development, workforce [...]

Advocacy That Drives Change2025-12-11T16:23:11-06:00

Ripples of Giving: How We Raise the Chippewa Tide Together

Today, on the Day of Giving, we are reminded of the power of generosity and the impact it has on shaping our local communities. Here in the Chippewa Valley, the Chippewa County Economic Development Corporation (CEDC) is more than just an organization—it is a catalyst for growth, opportunity, and resilience. Our work is powered by community investment because when our community invests in economic development, everyone benefits. After all, a rising tide truly lifts all boats. Economic development is not just about attracting businesses or creating jobs; it is about building a stronger foundation for everyone. At CEDC, we create an environment where businesses can grow, entrepreneurs can thrive, and residents can access new opportunities. By expanding manufacturing and retail opportunities, supporting startups and small businesses, and investing in critical infrastructure, the benefits [...]

Ripples of Giving: How We Raise the Chippewa Tide Together2025-12-02T16:36:13-06:00

Gratitude, Growth, and the Orange Army

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 [...]

Gratitude, Growth, and the Orange Army2025-11-21T13:44:54-06:00

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 see it in his eyes: the weight of what he’d seen, and the pride of having stood for something bigger than himself. When he came home after serving 25 years in the Army, he didn’t stop serving. He just changed uniforms. He opened a small business in our hometown—a modest shop with a worn wooden counter, a coffee pot always on, and a handshake that meant something. It wasn’t just a place to earn a living. It was a place where our neighbors [...]

From the Battlefields to Main Street: A Veteran’s Gift of the Entrepreneurial Spirit2025-11-12T14:43:02-06:00

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 of the Congressional Office for International Leadership (COIL) exchange program and hosted by the Chippewa Falls Rotary Club, to the Chippewa Valley. The group joined us for an economic development roundtable discussion at Miron Construction’s state-of-the-art office in Lake Hallie—bringing together public and private sector leaders to share insights, ideas, and opportunities for growth. The day began with breakfast and time to connect, followed by a formal kickoff featuring a bipartisan proclamation of welcome presented by Senator Jesse James and Representative Rob Summerfield. [...]

Connecting Across Borders: CEDC Welcomes Polish Delegation with a Roundtable Discussion2025-11-04T16:38:30-06:00

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 warm with history, string lights threaded like constellations. It’s intimate the way a good idea is intimate: close enough to hear a heartbeat, big enough to hold a room’s attention. Name tag, handshake, another handshake. Early evening is for orbiting, they told us, and so I orbit: investors in soft blazers, judges with notebooks like shields turned into harps, mentors whose eyes crinkle with the kind of experience you can only earn by surviving. I mention my company in a sentence, then again [...]

A Day in the Life of a Founder2025-10-21T16:20:29-05:00

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. For years, CEDC has proudly marked Manufacturing Month as a way to honor the region’s thriving manufacturing industry and highlight the critical role it plays in the Chippewa Valley’s economy. Each October, CEDC brings together local manufacturers, educators, community partners, and workforce development leaders to a collaborative showcase that highlights innovation, advanced technology, and skilled craftsmanship. Through these events, CEDC provides opportunities for stakeholders to see firsthand how manufacturing drives growth, creates quality jobs, and fuels innovation. Since 1945, Ashley Furniture—known then as [...]

From Design to Delivery: Ashley Furniture Showcases Innovation for Manufacturing Month2025-10-17T15:03:07-05:00
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