CEDC Board Meeting at Automation Displays Inc. Strengthens Regional Economic Connections

At CEDC fostering strong partnerships is central to our BEAR mission. Our recent board meeting, hosted at Automation Displays Inc. (ADi)’s Eau Claire campus, provided a dynamic platform for strategic discussions, relationship building, and exploring opportunities to drive economic growth in the Chippewa Valley. The meeting also welcomed new board members Mark Bergh of B&B Electric, Matt Guse of MRS Machining Co, and Jason Plante of Market & Johnson, whose expertise strengthens our collaborative efforts. The gathering brought together our CEDC board members who come from several different industries, each bringing their own unique perspectives to the table. The agenda featured our CEDC Board Meeting, roundtable discussions, and a tour of ADi’s state-of-the-art facility, creating an environment for collaboration on shared challenges and innovative solutions. Founded in 1971 by two engineers from a [...]

CEDC Board Meeting at Automation Displays Inc. Strengthens Regional Economic Connections2025-06-27T13:22:02-05:00

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

CEDC’s First Entrepreneur Showcase of 2025

We sincerely thank all of our CEDC investors who attended our first entrepreneur showcase in 2025; its success was truly remarkable. Special thanks to KYMA and their team for hosting us at their facility, allowing community leaders to discover the innovative manufacturing they bring to our community. We are fortunate to have them here. The morning started with Momentum West and the Chippewa Valley's Economic Development professionals gathering to collaborate and update each other on everyone's projects and activities that raise and improve Western Wisconsin's economy. Following the roundtable discussion, over forty community leaders enjoyed a complimentary taco bar lunch, after which they attended a KYMA company presentation by Frederik van Heerden. Van Heerden presented a high-level overview of the energy landscape to the CEDC stakeholders and business leaders, covering its historical context [...]

CEDC’s First Entrepreneur Showcase of 20252025-02-17T10:47:38-06:00

Revolutionizing Quality Control: How AI-Powered Vision Inspection is Transforming Manufacturing

The second session of the Manufacturing Competitiveness in the 21st Century series, held today at the Chippewa Valley Technical College (CVTC) campus in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, spotlighted the transformative potential of Vision Inspection with AI Deep Learning. Organized in collaboration with the UW-Stout Manufacturing Outreach Center (MOC), Wisconsin Procurement Institute (WPI), and CVTC, the event brought together manufacturing professionals eager to explore AI-driven automation as a catalyst for operational excellence. AI-Powered Machine Vision: A New Standard in Quality Control Dr. David Ding, Professor and Program Director at the University of Wisconsin-Stout's College of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Management, led discussions on how AI-powered machine vision systems are revolutionizing quality control and defect detection. Using advanced techniques such as pattern recognition, image segmentation, and deep learning, these systems achieve up to 99% accuracy [...]

Revolutionizing Quality Control: How AI-Powered Vision Inspection is Transforming Manufacturing2025-02-17T11:00:45-06:00

CEDC and BDO Zone Featured in Business in Focus Magazine

Chippewa County’s rich heritage, cultural diversity, economic growth, and designation as a BDO Zone are prominently highlighted in the latest edition of Business in Focus (BIF) Magazine. With a readership exceeding 250,000 executives across the United States and Canada, BIF Magazine is a premier source for business news and insights, reaching influential decision-makers shaping today’s economy. Its digital platforms are trusted for up-to-date developments and trends in economic growth and innovation. Through exclusive interviews with industry leaders, BIF dives into the stories behind their successes, providing valuable insights to its audience. “These are exciting times for CEDC and Chippewa County,” says Charlie Walker. “We are building on our traditionally strong agriculture and manufacturing base, and the BDO Zone will help us expand even further. It’s terrific to be recognized in this BIF publication.” [...]

CEDC and BDO Zone Featured in Business in Focus Magazine2024-11-18T11:45:27-06:00

Cadott High Students Study Chippewa Valley Careers

To increase awareness about the benefits of working in the trades, CEDC continues to collaborate with our local schools. We were pleased to assist Cadott with their Career Expo in early April. Through our many Business Expansion And Retention (BEAR) visits, we know the importance of skilled trades. These jobs vary from mechanics to construction workers, from welders to hairstylists, and are a critical component of our labor force. For years, interest in these skill trade jobs has continued to decline - in part because of the continued push by parents, teachers, and student peer groups to go to a university and get that four year degree. CEDC investors and stakeholders throughout the Chippewa Valley gathered in the gym at Cadott High School for one reason - to educate CHS students that the [...]

Cadott High Students Study Chippewa Valley Careers2022-04-05T14:04:22-05:00

CVIC Board Holds Meeting at CVTC

The Chippewa Valley Innovation Center (CVIC) was established in 1986 by Eau Claire County, the City of Eau Claire, Chippewa County, Eau Claire Area Economic Development Corporation, Chippewa Economic Development Corporation, and Chippewa Valley Technical College (CVTC) as a regional partnership for the purpose of supporting new and emerging entrepreneurial businesses in the Eau Claire area. During their 36 year history, the CVIC has successfully proven to be a productive tool in growing our region's entrepreneurial ecosystem. Their current facility, located on 3132 Louis Avenue in Eau Claire, specializes in assisting manufacturing startups. Recently, the CVIC Board had their monthly meeting at Chippewa Valley Technical College's Manufacturing Education Center, adjacent to the Eau Claire Gateway Campus, where Board members were able to tour and receive an update on the Advanced Manufacturing Center's activities. This [...]

CVIC Board Holds Meeting at CVTC2022-03-24T14:09:00-05:00

BEAR Discussions Podcast with Wade Latz

Join us for a special BEAR Discussions Podcast episode being recorded LIVE on Zoom, featuring CVTC Manufacturing Instructor Wade Latz. In addition to touching the lives of college students daily. Latz also started a nonprofit called Manufacturing Save Our Schools (SOS) Alliance, which works with school districts to provide a more realistic education to school age students. Thank you, St. Joseph's Hospital in Chippewa Falls for being our partner in this educational series.

BEAR Discussions Podcast with Wade Latz2022-03-02T10:08:26-06:00

Generations Academy Students Receive Tour of CVIC

Generations Academy is a non-profit charter school in Eau Claire, WI that specializes in individual development and project-based learning. Recently, the Generations Academy students had a business unit; every child from five to eighteen years old was instructed to come up with a business idea. In addition to the hands-on experience they got from their business projects, two groups of students were also able to see small businesses in action by receiving a tour of the Chippewa Valley Innovation Center (CVIC). CVIC Board President and CEDC Board Chair, Tom Waldusky, guided both groups of students through each bay in the building. The students also got to hear from and speak with two CVIC tenants: Dave Espeseth, owner of Excel Medical Corp., and Anthony Nied, owner of Safe & Simple Organic Lawns. Both had their [...]

Generations Academy Students Receive Tour of CVIC2021-12-04T12:03:51-06:00
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