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The Story of Steaks, Strategy, and the Secret Sauce for Economic Development

The steaks hit the grill with a satisfying hiss, smoke curling into the early evening air. Dan adjusted the heat and turned to Charlie, who stood nearby sipping a bourbon old-fashioned, sleeves rolled up and a smirk forming. “Careful,” Dan said, “you’ll end up branding that grill with a motivational quote.” Charlie laughed. “Dan-Funny you say that. I’ve had this phrase stuck in my head all week: ‘Be Kind, Rewind.’ Sounds cute, right? An era of VHS manners- Camaros and cassette tapes. But the longer I’m in economic development, the more it feels like a good playbook.” Dan leaned against the restaurant railing, curious. “Alright, I’ll bite—what’s kindness got to do with infrastructure and investment?” “Everything,” Charlie said. “At Chippewa Economic Development Corporation, we’re here to grow our community—not just by building business [...]

The Story of Steaks, Strategy, and the Secret Sauce for Economic Development2025-07-01T16:36:14-05:00

2025 CEDC Annual Meeting Highlights Community as the Core of Economic Growth

The 2025 CEDC Annual Meeting, was held on Friday, May 16. The meeting coincided with Economic Development Week, a time to reflect on regional progress and sets the tone for continued growth and collaboration. The theme of this year’s annual meeting was Communities at the Core. The gathering-one of the Chippewa Valley’s largest business networking events-is a time for local economic development stakeholders to reflect on the organizations past 12 months of work in assisting local businesses, making entrepreneur connections, and helping local communities grow. Over 350 attendees connected at the Eau Claire Event District while keynote speaker Sylvie Nelson, a nationally recognized leader in workforce development, reminded the audience that bold ideas and going beyond expectations is the only way to create real change for communities. “Businesses Must Step up even more, go above [...]

2025 CEDC Annual Meeting Highlights Community as the Core of Economic Growth2025-06-03T16:23:12-05:00

Powering Progress: Celebrating Economic Development Week in the Chippewa Valley

Since 2016, the International Economic Development Council’s Economic Development Week has recognized the vital role that economic development organizations and professionals play in shaping thriving communities across the nation. At the Chippewa Economic Development Corporation (CEDC), we are proud to be part of this national celebration and to champion the Power of Partnerships—the collaborations that drive innovation, foster growth, and create lasting changes throughout the Chippewa Valley. This year, Economic Development Week takes place May 12–16, 2025, offering an opportunity to spotlight the tireless efforts that build vibrant, inclusive, and resilient local economies. Throughout the week, CEDC will showcase the essential work we do to support small businesses, attract investment, and strengthen our region’s economic foundation. We invite you to follow our social media for daily highlights, tune in to our BEAR Discussions podcast, and [...]

Powering Progress: Celebrating Economic Development Week in the Chippewa Valley2025-04-15T12:17:51-05:00

Fostering Innovation: The CEDC Collaborative Showcase at VSA

At CEDC, we sincerely thank all our investors, business leaders, and entrepreneurs who participated in the CEDC Collaborative Entrepreneur Showcase today at Valley Sports Academy (VSA) in Lake Hallie, WI. A special thanks to VSA for hosting such a fantastic event in their state-of-the-art facility. The CEDC Collaborative Entrepreneur Showcase highlights the innovators in our community, providing a platform for them to share their journeys, discuss challenges they’ve faced, and outline their goals for the future. By demonstrating that no entrepreneurial path is the same—and that every entrepreneur encounters obstacles—these showcases reassure and inspire emerging business owners. A powerful example from today’s event came from VSA founder Brian Seubert, who shared that he never had a mentor and had to learn many difficult lessons on his own. He emphasized the value of mentorship, [...]

Fostering Innovation: The CEDC Collaborative Showcase at VSA2025-03-07T10:34:41-06:00

CEDC Highlights Local Innovation at Collaborative Entrepreneur Showcase

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CEDC Showcases Local Innovation at Collaborative Entrepreneur Showcase Lake Hallie, WI—On March 6th, the Chippewa Economic Development Corporation welcomed over 50 investors, business leaders, and entrepreneurs to the second Collaborative Entrepreneur Showcase of 2025, held at Valley Sports Academy (VSA). Those in attendance had the opportunity to collaborate, connect, and share innovative ideas that will drive Chippewa County’s economy further. As part of CEDC’s commitment to Business Expansion and Retention (BEAR), the showcase was crucial in fostering entrepreneurship and driving economic growth throughout the Chippewa Valley. By bringing together innovators and industry professionals, the event encouraged collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and community engagement—all essential to the region’s thriving business ecosystem. Attendees had the unique opportunity to explore VSA’s state-of-the-art facilities, discover groundbreaking business concepts, and engage in meaningful conversations with fellow entrepreneurs. [...]

CEDC Highlights Local Innovation at Collaborative Entrepreneur Showcase2025-03-07T18:36:40-06:00

Collaborative Entrepreneur Showcase

Thursday, March 6, 2025 Valley Sports Academy Lake Hallie, WI Join us for an inspiring morning as we highlight VSA, showcase their innovations, and connect with community members! This event provides a platform for entrepreneurs to share their ideas, gain exposure, and build valuable relationships. The event starts at 7:00 a.m. with breakfast and runs until 10:00 a.m. Don’t miss this opportunity to discover and support the incredible businesses shaping our local economy!

Collaborative Entrepreneur Showcase2025-03-03T10:11:46-06:00

Empowering Rural Chippewa: CEDC’s Role in BEAD Engagement

Broadband expansion is a transformative force for rural communities in Wisconsin, and the Chippewa Economic Development Corporation (CEDC) is dedicated to supporting this important initiative. CEDC several years back formed a Chippewa broadband expansion committee whose aim is to improve internet access for rural areas in Chippewa County. As of January 2025, approximately 10% of Wisconsin is still unserved, and 18% is underserved in terms of broadband access. This marks significant improvement compared to previous years but still leaves many rural residents, especially those in Eastern Chippewa County without adequate internet connectivity. The Wisconsin Public Service Commission has deployed to date over $345 million since 2019 to improve or build new access to broadband. CEDC helped play a crucial role in supporting broadband expansion and the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) programs [...]

Empowering Rural Chippewa: CEDC’s Role in BEAD Engagement2025-01-28T13:51:06-06:00

From Fear to Confidence: CEDC’s Collaborative Entrepreneur Showcase Inspires Success

Entrepreneurship is often seen as a path to freedom, innovation, and financial success. Yet, for many aspiring Chippewa entrepreneurs, the fear of failure can be a crippling barrier. This fear, while natural, can prevent brilliant ideas from coming to life and innovative solutions from being developed. The Chippewa Economic Development Corporation (CEDC) understands that overcoming this fear is essential for entrepreneurs looking to carve their path in the business world. “What keeps many would-be entrepreneurs from succeeding—or even trying to succeed—is fear of failure,” says Charlie Walker, president and CEO of the Chippewa Economic Development Corporation. “Helping entrepreneurs overcome that fear is one of the goals of the Chippewa EDC, which for decades has been laser-focused on cultivating the investment of talent and capital in Chippewa County.” This goal is closer than ever, [...]

From Fear to Confidence: CEDC’s Collaborative Entrepreneur Showcase Inspires Success2025-01-16T15:02:38-06:00

Join CEDC for Startup Week Wisconsin!

November 11-15 marks an exciting time for the Chippewa Economic Development Corporation (CEDC) as we celebrate Startup Week Wisconsin in the Chippewa Valley! Each year, we join forces with our economic development stakeholders to gather entrepreneurs, investors, and business leaders from across the Chippewa Valley, supporting and energizing the local startup ecosystem. This week-long celebration brings together community members dedicated to driving growth and fostering innovation, creating valuable opportunities for startups to thrive. Throughout the week, a variety of events will unfold across the region, including workshops, panel discussions, networking events, and keynote speakers. Each is aimed at fostering innovation, providing resources, and creating opportunities for startups to grow and succeed. Events such as CEDC’s HATCH which takes place in various venues throughout the Chippewa Valley each year. HATCH provides a unique platform [...]

Join CEDC for Startup Week Wisconsin!2024-11-01T15:02:13-05:00

Get Ready for HATCH 2024: The Ultimate Idea Pitch Competition!

Entrepreneurs, innovators, and dreamers—this one’s for you! On Wednesday, November 13th, 2024, during Startup Chippewa Valley Week, Chippewa Falls will be buzzing with creativity and excitement as CEDC's HATCH returns. This year’s event promises to be bigger and better than ever, offering a $5,000 grand prize to the most promising business idea! HATCH is more than just a pitch competition; it’s a platform for local entrepreneurs to shine, connect with community leaders, and get their innovative ideas in front of a panel of experienced judges. Whether you're an entrepreneur looking to scale your next big venture or a community member excited to witness the latest ideas that could shape the future, this event is for you. Why You Should Attend: Meet the Entrepreneurs: Some of the brightest minds in the Chippewa Valley will [...]

Get Ready for HATCH 2024: The Ultimate Idea Pitch Competition!2024-09-16T15:58:06-05:00
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