BACK TO BASICS. The Chippewa Economic Development Corp. continues to serve as the first point of contact for business attraction and site selection in Chippewa County. Pictured is one CEDC's Legislative Speed Dating events.

Community is not a unique concept, but there is an argument to be made that the Chippewa Valley community is unique. Certainly, the Midwest finds itself in an interesting position in recent years: more and more people are moving out of the country’s metropolitan and coastal cities, and landing in our neck of the woods. Born-and-raised Midwesterners have known what some are just now discovering: the fabric of our area is simply built different, with communities at the core.

Over the past year, the Chippewa Economic Development Corp. (CEDC) has been continuously reminded that economic momentum doesn’t come from policies or plans alone but from its stakeholders and communities. Chippewa County’s strength wasn’t built from the top down, but from the inside out. This understanding has guided the CEDC as the organization has worked to shape a stronger future, continuing to keep the community central in everything it does.

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COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IS CRITICAL FOR LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO SUCCEED

SYLVIE NELSON

CEDC ANNUAL MEETING KEYNOTE SPEAKER, PRESIDENT & CEO OF ADIRONDACK EXECUTIVE SERVICES

Economic Development Week, celebrated in May each year, also marks the CEDC Annual Meeting, slated for Friday, May 16. The Annual Meeting is one of the Chippewa Valley’s largest business networking events and serves as a space to reflect on the past 12 months of local progress, connection, and shared success; recognizing the individuals, businesses, and organizations that create the area’s unique fabric – and the vital role CEDC plays in creating strong, thriving communities.

This year’s Annual Meeting expects to welcome over 350 attendees, held at the Eau Claire Event District. The event begins at 7am (with breakfast served at 7:30am!) and a keynote speaker will take the stage at 8:15am. The 2025 CEDC keynote speaker will be delivered by a nationally recognized leader in workforce development: Sylvie Nelson.

HATCH Competition.

As president and CEO of Adirondack Executive Services and SDN Innovation, Nelson has first-hand experience in bringing bold ideas to fruition and creating real change for communities, including her advocacy for child care and thriving wages in Washington, D.C.; championing equity, innovation, and strong communities; bringing AI into New York classrooms to better prepare kids for future jobs; and more.

"Community involvement is critical for local economic development to succeed," Nelson said.

More Than Networking

Of course, CEDC does more than host its annual meeting and business networking events. As the first point of contact for business attraction and site selection in Chippewa County, CEDC provides valuable insights into local incentives, regulations, workforce availability, proximity to suppliers, and community sentiment – key elements influencing decisions, and fostering long-term investment.

The site selection process remains a critical core factor in bringing in new businesses and supporting expansion of existing ones, stimulating overall economic activity in our community. Over the past year, CEDC has played a pivotal role in supporting and providing due diligence to nine projects that considered Chippewa a potential site for expansion.

"The Chippewa EDC's impact on the Chippewa Valley is beyond impressive. Charlie Walker and his staff are true professionals, from helping entrepreneurs to working with existing businesses, developers, and companies looking to expand in our region."

maureen carlson

cedc board of directors chair, business development manager of greenfire management services

Through popular initiatives like HATCH, The Big Idea, and the Collaborative Entrepreneur Showcase, CEDC continues to advocate for critical local investment, opening the door for continued innovation and opportunity. The organization also brings hands-on workshops and trainings to the community, including BEAR Workshops, which help bolster and empower the area’s workforce.

HATCH COMPETITION. CEDC’s entrepreneurial pitch contest, HATCH, offers a aspiring entrepreneurs a platform to showcase their innovative ideas. Held each fall, the contest provides a structured environment for evaluating business concepts, fostering local innovation, and creating a ripple effect in our local economy. During the 2024 event, held at the River Bend Winery and Distillery, seven HATCH participants gained valuable exposure by presenting to local judges and investors, and provided the winner with $5,000.

THE BIG IDEA. CEDC has hosted over a dozen Big Idea meetings with local vitalistic (holistic, integrative, alternative) healthcare providers in the Chippewa Valley to gain their perspectives on improving the current medical model – and how to make it accessible and affordable. Since the closure of St. Joseph’s Hospital in Chippewa Falls, CEDC has continued to focus on assisting the area’s medical providers and systems; The Big Idea’s aim is to leverage the trend of holistic integration into traditional healthcare and systems, driven by a belief that patient-centered care which values diverse healing modalities, will positively impact the community and its entrepreneurs. The Big Idea group is planning its 2025 symposium – slated for Oct. 22 from 11am-3pm at the Chippewa Valley Technical College-Chippewa Falls Campus – to explore how entrepreneurs can stay ahead of these trends. 

COLLABORATIVE ENTREPRENEUR SHOWCASE. The Collaborative Entrepreneur Showcase is a series of events designed to raise awareness about the vital role specific local businesses play in our economy and community. Over 125 people attended the series. “The businesses that host the events are fantastic examples of the collaboration and partnerships that exist in Chippewa,” CEDC President and CEO, Charlie Walker, said. “It’s a fun way to bring our community together to hear presentations from specific local small businesses and generate support and connections for them.”

BUSINESS EXPANSION AND RETENTION (BEAR) WORKSHOPS. The CEDC organized eight BEAR Lunch and Learn Workshops last year, which continued to provide business owners with tangible strategies for growth. BEAR Workshops are structured training sessions designed to enhance the skills and knowledge of business owners, management and other key staff; with the purpose of equipping participants with the tools they need to identify new business opportunities, improve efficiency, and increase profitability, they are limited to no larger than 12 individuals per session. After each workshop, private follow-up meetings are arranged for presenters and interested attendees to continue building relationships and potential collaborations. Complementing the BEAR Workshops, the BEAR Discussions Podcast offers an honest, insightful look into the reality of entrepreneurship: it’s exhilarating – and it’s also tough. The podcast is designed to fuel ambition, reignite passion, and serve as a reminder to entrepreneurs on why they started in the first place.

FARM TECHNOLOGY DAYS. In 2021, CEDC was tasked to lead the effort in organizing the 2024 Wisconsin Farm Technology Days, hosted in Chippewa County. CEDC Board of Directors Member, Rob Mooney of Alliance, was selected to head the project. Wisconsin Farm Technology Days is the state’s premier agricultural event, showcasing the latest advancements in farming technology and practices. In 2024, the event provided over 40,000 attendees with hands-on experiences, educational opportunities, and access to cutting-edge equipment and solutions. Through CEDC’s support and Rob Mooney’s leadership, the event was extremely successful and raised over $145,000.

One of CEDC’s signature advocacy initiatives is speed dating – legislative speed dating, that is. As an economic development organization, CEDC is committed to working with state legislators and policymakers to promote pro-growth policies and programs which further Western Wisconsin families’ ability to prosper. The organization’s Essential Legislative Speed Dating event gives local business owners and community leaders the opportunity to engage in quick, focused conversations with elected officials – ultimately raising awareness about critical issues in our community and mobilizing economic development stakeholders toward collective action. 

This past year's Essential Legislative Speed Dating event found several key, shared topics from community members:

1. The need to strengthen our area's energy infrastructure
2. Work to modernize TIF laws
3. Promote the creation of a statewide deal closing fund
4. Improve our area's talent attraction and retention
5. Continue efforts to address the impact of local hospital and clinic closures
6. Support the Chippewa Valley Technical College System's budget request

Looking Ahead

While CEDC also offers a myriad of programming and networking opportunities – with the Annual Meeting serving as a celebration of those, and more – the organization is also readily looking to the future.

Through everything, CEDC worked to elevate economic opportunity, amplify business success, and build a more resilient future for Chippewa County. As the organizations looks ahead, its programs, partnerships, and shared commitment to the community will continue to drive innovation, foster meaningful connections, and strengthen the fabric of Chippewa County.

Chippewa Economic Development Corp.

Phone: (715) 723-7150

Email: staff@chippewa-wi.com

Address: 770 Technology Way, Chippewa Falls

Website: chippewa-wi.com

Facebook: @ChippewaEconomicDevelopmentCorp

LinkedIn: @ccedc

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