Call Us Today! 1-715-723-7150|staff@chippewa-wi.com

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

Rogers Behavioral Health Expands Access to Mental Health Care in the Chippewa Valley

Rogers Behavioral Health is inviting community members, leaders, and partners to attend an upcoming Open House on Wednesday, October 15, at Chippewa Valley Technical College in Chippewa Falls. The event marks an important milestone as Rogers continues to inform and educate more local citizens about their expansion project in Chippewa Falls. This event offers an opportunity to meet Rogers’ leadership team, learn more about their services, ask questions, and explore ways to collaborate in supporting mental health and wellness throughout the region. Having a mental health facility like Rogers Behavioral Health in our community provides significant advantages for both local well-being and economic development. This investment of over 12 million dollars not only fills a critical gap in care, but also supports a healthier, more resilient, and economically vibrant community. Access to mental [...]

Rogers Behavioral Health Expands Access to Mental Health Care in the Chippewa Valley2025-10-17T15:39:50-05:00

Opportunity Zone 2.0: Charting the Next Chapter for Chippewa County

CEDC knows that economic development is about more than attracting investment. It’s about creating lasting opportunities for growth that benefit everyone in our area. That’s why in 2016/17  CEDC  advocated for the establishment of a Chippewa County Opportunity Zone, what is known as Census Tract 105 in Chippewa Falls. This area was identified as  a Low-Income Community Opportunity Zone and forwarded on to the state and federal government for designation. Covering 7.4 square miles and home to around 5,400 residents, the Census Tract 105 was officially designated as the only Opportunity Zone in Chippewa County. This federal designation provides tax incentives for investors who direct capital into projects that revitalize underserved areas. As a result, Chippewa Falls gained  valuable projects and attracted new investment that increased the net new construction and brought more tax revenue into local governments coffers. For [...]

Opportunity Zone 2.0: Charting the Next Chapter for Chippewa County2025-09-23T15:30:52-05:00

Driving Defense Contracts – Jobs and Growth for Chippewa and Western Wisconsin

For communities across Wisconsin, economic development organizations (EDCs) such as the CEDC play a critical role in supporting local businesses. Encouraging participation in the defense supply chain is one part of strengthening our region. Chippewa Valley’s role in supporting our nation’s defense is both substantial and growing. With our partners, CVTC, WPI, and NDIA, CEDC is helping organize and promoting an upcoming Defense Manufacturing Supply Chain Conference (DMSCC).  This conference provides a unique opportunity for manufacturers, suppliers, and innovators to learn how to better engage with the Department of Defense (DOD) and the broader federal contracting landscape. Events like this one can: Connect local businesses to federal opportunities they may not otherwise pursue. Help diversify revenue streams for manufacturers, protecting against downturns in other markets. Encourage workforce development and job creation through high-skill, [...]

Driving Defense Contracts – Jobs and Growth for Chippewa and Western Wisconsin2025-09-16T13:45:04-05:00

BEAR ’25: Wisconsin’s Statewide Pitch Showcase Tackles Mid-Stage Capital Gap- Connecting Scaling Businesses with Growth-Ready Investment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 15, 2025 BEAR ’25: Wisconsin’s Statewide Pitch Showcase Tackles Mid-Stage Capital Gap-  Connecting Scaling Businesses with Growth-Ready Investment Holcombe, WI – Positioned at the forefront of Wisconsin’s growing startup success story, the Chippewa Economic Development Corporation’s BEAR ’25 (Business Expansion and Retention Pitch Showcase) took place this week in Holcombe, bringing together second-stage companies and the investors, lenders, and business champions ready to fuel their next phase of growth. As a statewide initiative, BEAR was designed to address a persistent challenge: the lack of accessible capital for companies that have moved beyond early traction but need resources to scale sustainably. According to a recent report from the Wisconsin Technology Council, more startups across the state are entering a growth-ready phase, reflecting a shift from ideation to execution. However, this [...]

BEAR ’25: Wisconsin’s Statewide Pitch Showcase Tackles Mid-Stage Capital Gap- Connecting Scaling Businesses with Growth-Ready Investment2025-09-08T16:48:49-05:00

Smoked, Sauced, and Strategized: CEDC Heats Up!

CEDC was fired up—literally and figuratively—as our very own barbecue team, C2 BBQ, proudly competed in the inaugural Northern Wisconsin State Fair BBQ Cook-off. Thousands of BBQ cook-offs now take place annually across the U.S. and internationally, attracting pitmasters, foodies, and tourists. Events like the American Royal in Kansas City and the Jack Daniel’s Invitational in Tennessee are considered BBQ’s Super Bowls-and there is no doubt the Northern Wisconsin State Fair's cook off is headed in that direction. This sizzling new event brought together pitmasters from across the region for a day filled with smoky flavors, live music, food trucks, and festive camaraderie. But for CEDC’s team—Ken Pearson, Paul Olson, Casey Hedrington, and Charlie Walker—it was about more than just chicken and ribs. It was a chance to showcase the heart of our organization: [...]

Smoked, Sauced, and Strategized: CEDC Heats Up!2025-09-09T10:19:58-05:00

CEDC Champions $16 Million Mental Health Facility to Serve the Chippewa Valley

CEDC is collaborating with Senator Jesse James and Representative Clint Moses to strengthen mental health services in the Chippewa Valley, championing a transformative project that will expand access to critical mental health services. CEO Charlie Walker recently testified before the Wisconsin Assembly in support of Assembly Bill 388, and before the Wisconsin Senate for Senate Bill 407, advocating for the release of a $10 million state grant to support Rogers Behavioral Health Project. He was joined by CEDC Board Member Maureen Carlson, who also testified in support of SB 407. Their testimony highlighted the urgent need for improved mental health resources in the region following recent hospital closures that left communities underserved. Walker emphasized the strain on local systems, while Carlson noted how the proposed facility would relieve pressure on emergency departments and [...]

CEDC Champions $16 Million Mental Health Facility to Serve the Chippewa Valley2025-09-09T10:50:36-05:00

CEDC and Momentum West Map the Future for Rural Businesses

Visibility counts—and we’re making it count. CEDC and Momentum West have partnered up to help rural businesses boost their digital presence and get discovered. It starts with a practical brochure that walks owners through the steps of getting listed on Google Maps and Apple Maps—two of the most critical platforms for customer visibility. For rural businesses, being mapped is no longer optional—it’s essential. In economic development, the phrase “Not marked, not known” couldn’t be more true. Accurate mapping isn’t just about putting a pin on the map—it’s about unlocking opportunity. Most consumers, nearly 98% in the U.S., use the internet to find local business information, often through their phones. More than half search specifically for local businesses on their mobile devices, and 76% of those searches result in a store visit within 24 [...]

CEDC and Momentum West Map the Future for Rural Businesses2025-09-02T13:04:14-05:00
Go to Top