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Gather, Grow, and Give: CEDC November Entrepreneur Month with the 6G Hatch Event

November is National Entrepreneurship Month, a time when communities across the country pause to recognize the people who take ideas, turn them into ventures, and strengthen local economies one business at a time. This year, the Chippewa Economic Development Corporation (CEDC) marked the month by partnering with the Stanley Chamber of Commerce to host the 6G Hatch Event—an evening designed around six simple but powerful words that capture the entrepreneur journey: Gather, Growth, Groundwork, Grace, Grit, and Grind. The event held at Debbie's on Broadway brought together over 45 founders, side hustlers, established business owners, and people still sketching their ideas on napkins. What made the night work was not a formal agenda or a single keynote. It was the simple decision to put entrepreneurs in the same room centered around the 6G's. [...]

Gather, Grow, and Give: CEDC November Entrepreneur Month with the 6G Hatch Event2026-11-11T16:42:50-06:00

Beyond the Award: Why Recognition Matters

We know that economic development rarely happens because of one project, or one person. It happens when businesses, communities, educators, financial institutions, elected officials, utilities, entrepreneurs, and economic development stakeholders work together toward a common goal. That is why recognition from our peers and outside organizations matters so much. For the CEDC, economic development awards are not simply plaques for the office. They provide an opportunity to benchmark our work against communities and organizations across Wisconsin, the Midwest, and the nation. More importantly, they provide third-party recognition of the innovative work being done throughout Chippewa. National economic development organizations (our peers) give awards as a way to validate a local economic development organization's vision and mission, demonstrate their impact, recognize their staff and partners, increase credibility with local stakeholders, and share their successful [...]

Beyond the Award: Why Recognition Matters2026-11-10T15:22:16-06:00

Strong Ideas Don’t Grow in Isolation: The Value of Bringing Entrepreneurs Together

Entrepreneurship takes initiative, persistence, and a willingness to take risks. But building a business doesn't mean building it alone. Yesterday, entrepreneurs, business leaders, and community partners gathered in Eau Claire for Startup Day, hosted by Eau Claire Area Economic Development Corporation. The event brought together people building businesses, pursuing ideas, and contributing to the entrepreneurial ecosystem across our region. CEDC appreciated the opportunity to be part of such a great event and to connect with others who share a passion for supporting entrepreneurs and strengthening our regional economy. One of the biggest takeaways from gatherings like Startup Day is a simple one: entrepreneurs need each other. Better Ideas Come From Better Conversations Starting a business often means navigating unfamiliar territory. Founders have to test assumptions, evaluate markets, make decisions with limited information, and [...]

Strong Ideas Don’t Grow in Isolation: The Value of Bringing Entrepreneurs Together2026-11-10T15:23:24-06:00

Growth Starts With a Conversation

When Sam Walton was building Walmart, he made a point of visiting communities and seeing things firsthand as he looked for places where his business could grow. He understood the value of getting to know an area and the people behind the businesses and communities he encountered. That hands-on approach reflects a principle that still matters in economic development today: understanding a business and its community is an important part of recognizing its potential. Every business starts somewhere. An idea takes shape, an entrepreneur takes a chance, or an established company begins considering what's next. But growth doesn't always come with a clear roadmap. Sometimes, the first step is simply asking a question, talking through a challenge, or exploring what's possible. At CEDC, those conversations are an important part of what we do. [...]

Growth Starts With a Conversation2026-10-20T17:17:46-05:00

The Stage Changes. The Support Doesn’t.

On October 6, CEDC was proud to be in Milwaukee for Launch Wisconsin, an event hosted by the Wisconsin Technology Council that brought together entrepreneurs, investors, business leaders, economic development professionals, and supporters of Wisconsin’s growing entrepreneurial ecosystem. The Wisconsin Technology Council deserves a lot of credit for putting together an event that creates meaningful opportunities for entrepreneurs to showcase their businesses, make connections, and learn from others who are working to build and grow companies across the state. The energy throughout the event was a great reminder of the entrepreneurial talent and momentum happening throughout Wisconsin. For CEDC, the trip had a particularly important purpose: showing up for one of our own. From Chippewa to Milwaukee Earlier this year, Jose Lagunas Jr., founder of Rockwell Home Management, stepped onto the stage at [...]

The Stage Changes. The Support Doesn’t.2026-10-07T17:18:23-05:00

Champagne Orchard of Opportunity: Cultivating Growth

Few stories better illustrate entrepreneurial resilience than those of the Dixon's Apple Orchard owners-the Mullane family. Dixon's Apple Orchard has a long history in New Mexico and was once one of the state's most recognized apple-growing operations. The orchard was located near Peña Blanca, north of Albuquerque along the Rio Grande corridor, and became especially famous for its unique Champagne Apple, a variety discovered growing wild in a New Mexico canyon and cultivated by the family for generations. The family built one of New Mexico's most beloved agricultural destinations, dating back to 1944 and their orchard was more than a business; it was a treasured tradition for families throughout northern New Mexico.  Then disaster struck. A devastating wildfire, followed by severe flooding in 2011, destroyed much of the orchard and ultimately made it [...]

Champagne Orchard of Opportunity: Cultivating Growth2026-08-27T15:05:14-05:00

Where Big Ideas Take Root: BEAR at the Orchard & the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

Ask almost any successful business owner in the Chippewa Valley how they got where they are, and you'll rarely hear a story about doing it alone. Behind nearly every thriving local company is a network of mentors, lenders, investors, educators, fellow founders, and community members who showed up at the right moment. That network is the entrepreneurial ecosystem, and strengthening it is at the heart of what we do at CEDC. An entrepreneurial ecosystem is the network of people, organizations, and resources that help businesses launch, grow, and succeed. It includes access to capital, mentorship, technical assistance, and training—plus the relationships that help founders keep moving forward when challenges arise. Think of it like an orchard: a single tree can survive on its own, but a healthy orchard—with good soil, pollinators, and careful [...]

Where Big Ideas Take Root: BEAR at the Orchard & the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem2026-07-30T12:50:27-05:00

Dream to Destination: How 6Four Accord is Creating the Chippewa Valley’s Newest Agritourism Experience

What began as an entrepreneurial vision and opened it's doors in October 2025 -6Four Accord is quickly becoming one of the Chippewa Valley's most unique destinations. Nestled just outside Cameron, Wisconsin, 6Four Accord is redefining what it means to visit a unique gathering place. More than a reindeer farm, it is a place where agriculture, entertainment, local food, and community come together to create an experience unlike any other in the United States. During a recent CEDC Business Expansion And Retention (BEAR) Visit, our team had the opportunity to explore the growing property, learn about the journey of owners De Anna and Tyler Westphal, and record an upcoming episode of the BEAR Discussions Podcast. Walking the grounds, it quickly became clear that this isn't simply another business—it's the realization of a dream that [...]

Dream to Destination: How 6Four Accord is Creating the Chippewa Valley’s Newest Agritourism Experience2026-07-08T17:06:53-05:00

Mahalo for Business Inspiration: What Hawaii Taught Me

Ten days in Hawaii. White sand beaches, sea turtles, shave ice, and sunsets that reinforce that God is Great and Grand. By any measure, it was a perfect vacation. And yes — out of those ten glorious days, I spent one of them touring local entrepreneurs. My family was not surprised. I tried. I really did. But somewhere between the snorkeling and the Mai tais, I spotted a small roadside stand with a line of locals wrapped around the corner, and the economic developer in me woke right up. Why does this work? What's the story here? Who is behind this? Before I knew it, I had introduced myself and was asking the owner how they got started. It's not a problem. It's a calling. One Day I made the most of my self-imposed "workday" [...]

Mahalo for Business Inspiration: What Hawaii Taught Me2026-06-22T16:00:09-05:00

Built Here, Growing Here: Celebrating Local Investment in Chippewa County

CEDC projects rarely happen overnight, they are often measured in milestones. A groundbreaking marks the beginning of the vision, while a ribbon cutting celebrates the successful completion of the project that took planning, partnership, and perseverance to bring to life. So, for us, the ribbon cutting is more than a celebration, it is the visible result of months of collaboration, commitment, and confidence in a community. That reality was on full display as CEDC joined community leaders, business partners, and members of the Chippewa Falls Area Chamber of Commerce to celebrate the ribbon cutting of Water’s Edge Cheese Curds' new production facility in the Lake Wissota Business Park. The celebration was especially meaningful considering where the project began. As winter blanketed the Chippewa Valley in frost, CEDC continued its work alongside Chippewa County [...]

Built Here, Growing Here: Celebrating Local Investment in Chippewa County2026-06-22T13:22:29-05:00
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