The Buzz from WCEDA - upcoming networking events you won't want to miss and much more... |
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WCEDA is your source for all things business - workforce, expansions, location resources, financial connections, legislative advocacy, career awareness with youth, networking events, and initiatives to address county-wide issues like housing. |
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In this email... Upcoming Events l Membership News Workforce News l County Developments Economic Indicators l Other News
Valuable Resources |
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A few words from WCEDA's Executive Director, Derek D'Auria ... |
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Here's your chance to win $5,000! Pitch Perfect, Empowering Regional Startups
November 12, 2025 Have a Good Idea for a Business? It might be worth $5,000! Perfect Pitch is a business idea competition that will be held on November 12 in Kenosha. In addition to cash prizes, it's a good opportunity to connect with potential investors. Anyone who wants to put together a pitch for their idea is welcome to tryout.
**The guidelines for this year have not yet been published; however, they will be similar to the last event, held in 2022. Click here for those details. Key Deadlines -
Applications Due: September 2, 2025 by 11:59 pm
- Finalists Notified: October 1, 2025
- Finalist Workshop: October 13-17, 2025, at Kenosha Innovation Center (KIC)
- Pitch Practice Session: November 12, 2025, from 1 PM to 3 PM
- Pitch Perfect Event: November 12, 2025, at 4 PM
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| WCEDA's Annual Golf Outing Fundraiser for Kareers4Kids
September 11, 2025 Lake Lawn Resort, Majestic Oaks Golf Course |
Tee up for a great cause at our Annual Corporate Golf Outing, supporting the Kareers4Kids program! This fun-filled day of golf helps fund the facilitation of career-based learning opportunities for local students—giving them hands-on experiences that connect the classroom to the workplace and build essential skills for future success. + Plus...This may also be your last chance to play 18 holes at the iconic Majestic Oaks Golf Course before part of it is redeveloped—don’t miss it! Register your foursome today and become a sponsor to show your support for youth career exploration in our county! |
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Thought Leaders Roundtable, Zoom Meeting June 25, 2025 Where do we go from here?
That was the only agenda item at our kickoff Zoom for the Thought Leaders Roundtable — a new initiative sparked by the energy and insights shared during WCEDA’s Workforce Symposium in May. We brought together business and community leaders to explore what this roundtable could be: -
A forum for top-level leaders to exchange ideas
- A space to dig into workforce challenges and solutions
- A network built on trust, collaboration, and action
Some key themes emerged: - Longer, less frequent meetings are best
- In-person preferred, but Zoom has its place
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We’ll likely launch in September with an executive speaker to set the tone
- Topics will focus on leadership, culture, and the evolving workforce
Next up: We’re putting together a short survey to guide structure, topics, and timing. The invite for this initial meeting was only sent to Workforce Symposium attendees; however, if you're interested in joining or learning more, please reach out! Let’s keep the momentum going! |
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| Visit the event webpage for more resources. |
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WCEDA's Annual State of the County
June 26, 2025
Walworth County Health & Human Services
From an economic standpoint, Walworth County is very strong. This is good for locals businesses and good for businesses looking to locate here. Local business leaders were in attendance looking to find out more about the state of the county, including state and region perspectives. It was a great opportunity for them to learn how our taxes are being spent, as well as the tax implications for the future and how this all impacts business development going forward.
Additionally, this year Ehlers Public Finance Advisors did a segment on how Tax Incremental Financing (TIF) is playing a growing role in supporting housing development. This presentation explored both the benefits and challenges associated with its use. In recent years, TIF has sparked debate, with some viewing it as overused. The session aimed to separate fact from fiction and provide a clearer understanding of how TIF is being applied to housing projects. |
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| Attention businesses!
Get out your schedules because it's time to get some Career-Based Learning Experiences on the calendar! All summer long, WCEDA will be looking to meet with member businesses to come up with some dates for the 2025-2026 school year. We've met with the schools, and we all agree that by getting events on the calendar in the summer, schools will easily be able to sign up when they are back in session in September. Here are some ideas for experiences you might want to consider offering.
Look for an email or call from Leslie Gostomski or Lisa Pavett, or schedule a meeting at your convenience here.
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| Congratulations Craftsman with Character Graduates and Mentor Companies! |
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Help us celebrate the Craftsman with Character program graduation of three incredible students from Elkhorn's CCA and three from DD Tech. These students spent the last semester gaining real-world manufacturing experience, growing their confidence, and sharpening the essential skills that every great employee needs. They were pretty reserved at first, but over time they opened up, sharing their goals, and supporting one another in ways that showed real maturity and heart.
We are so grateful to the six businesses who invested their time, energy, and wisdom into mentoring these kids. Your commitment to youth development is shaping the future of our county in meaningful ways. And to Chris Trottier, Michael Rick, Jon Anzalone and Lisa Pavett who made this program possible—thank you for your vision and dedication.
This is what workforce development really looks like—and the future is bright. |
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Across Wisconsin, Illinois, North Carolina, and Texas, this year’s CWC students are already making an impact. Check out the newly released CWC Impact Report. Click on the report image to enlarge. |
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Successful Custom Course! |
| Successful Custom Course! |
| In-Progress (Module II) Custom Course! |
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Spanish for Business
Managing a team with Spanish-speaking employees can be challenging when communication is limited. Misunderstandings can lead to safety risks, lost productivity, and decreased morale on both sides.
Our Spanish for Business training helps your team develop practical workplace Spanish to give instructions clearly, improve teamwork, and ensure a smooth, efficient work environment.
Classes are tailored to individuals who interact with Spanish-speaking customers, clients and coworkers. This program was created based on a growing Spanish speaking population in our communities and the need of many local businesses struggling with language barriers that impact customer service, workplace efficiency and overall communication. |
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Three Program Options to suit your needs! |
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Option 1: New/Entry-level speakers, phased learning General Spanish knowledge – meant for beginners This option is delivered through three modules for a total of 45 hours of training. While some industry/company content will be implemented into sessions, the phased learning option is not considered fully custom. |
| Option 2: Condensed, custom course for advanced beginners and intermediate level speakers This is a fully custom course consisting of 12, 90-minute sessions (18 hours of training) that is oriented to advanced beginner/intermediate Spanish speakers. |
| Option 3: Comprehensive Spanish Training: Beginner ---> Advanced Over the course of 90 instructional hours, this program equips your workforce with essential communication skills through progressive training in listening, speaking, reading, and writing delivered online and leveraging online learning resources. |
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Entry- to Mid-Level Leadership Training | |
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Don't miss out on WCEDA's Fall Leadership Course! 48 Hours of Training! |
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Fundamentals of Leadership
FKA Fundamentals of Supervision
Our Fundamentals of Leadership course is designed as a comprehensive four-part series (48 total hours) that builds essential leadership skills through progressive learning. Wednesdays • 8-11 am
August 6 - December 3* Gateway Technical College, Elkhorn Campus
This comprehensive program is designed to equip current and aspiring supervisors with the essential skills and knowledge needed to lead effectively in today’s dynamic work environment. |
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Leadership Training for Executive-Level Leaders
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Top Level Leadership
This advanced leadership series isn’t a one-off course. We’re presenting an opportunity to join others and work with an expert in organizational psychology, organizational development and change leadership on building the human side of your business. We know that our local business community is the most technically capable out there. We also know that what prevents us from realizing our greatness has a human face. Contact Leslie Gostomski for information how your management team can join in the next session. |
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About WCEDA's Workforce Housing Program
Over the course of the past three years, housing has become an increasing priority for us (WCEDA) to address. Many counties in the region are facing similar challenges and are in various stages of addressing this issue — an issue that may be the number one barrier for workforce at the moment... Go to WCEDA's Housing Page to learn more.
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What Contributes to the Health of the County and its Communities?
What makes a place truly healthy and desirable to live in? It takes more than just clean air or beautiful scenery. A thriving community depends on economic growth, quality schools, vibrant ecosystems, engaging attractions, accessible parks, serene lakes, lush forests, and welcoming cities. But one of the most critical—and often overlooked—ingredients is housing.
Housing is the foundation that supports all other aspects of a healthy county. It’s about ensuring homes are available and affordable for a wide range of people: the young family just starting out, the recent graduate beginning a new job, the first responder who needs to live close to work, the teacher who wants to reside within their school district, the healthcare and hospitality workers who must be available around the clock to serve the public—and many more.
When housing is out of reach for these essential members of our community, we send an unintended but clear message: We don’t value your contributions enough to ensure you can live near where you work.
One community in Walworth County directly confronted this challenge. As they developed their economic development plan, they grappled with a difficult question: should they prioritize commercial/industrial growth, or focus on residential development? In the end, they realized they couldn’t choose one over the other. Economic vitality and housing must go hand-in-hand. They committed to pursuing both, responding flexibly as opportunities arose.
This community understood that businesses can’t thrive without people—and people need places to live. They also knew that many of their residents wanted local job opportunities and the ability to remain in the community they call home.
Years later, their efforts are paying off. They’ve seen growth on both fronts: residential and commercial. One has fueled the other, creating a positive cycle of development. New housing options—including both rental apartments and homes for purchase—have attracted workers employed by new businesses. These residents now walk to work, send their children to neighborhood schools, and support local shops and services.
This kind of development serves two powerful outcomes: current residents can find work close to home, and new workers are motivated to relocate to the area. Both outcomes strengthen the fabric of the community.
Ultimately, workforce housing is not just a housing issue—it is an economic development strategy. It boosts school enrollments, supports local businesses, and fosters a stronger, more resilient community. Investing in housing for the workforce means investing in the future health of the county and its communities. |
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G10 Fulfillment Among Future 50 Award Winners BizTimes Media has selected the winners of its annual Future 50 Awards, recognizing the fastest-growing privately-held businesses in southeastern Wisconsin. Among the winners is Walworth County's very own G10 Fulfillment! To be part of the program, companies submit data on their employment and revenue since 2022. BizTimes then verifies information with each company’s accountant and banker. Each business is then ranked based on employment and sales growth over the past three years and expected growth this year with a formula that also accounts for company size. |
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| Gateway Open House Events This Week 4-7pm Racine Campus: Wed. July 16
Elkhorn Campus: Thurs. July 17 At the events, you can:
- Explore our 70+ in-demand programs
- Take a look at learning labs and see how you'll train hands-on
- Discover how we make college *really* affordable
- Get started on your application
- Learn about exciting student life opportunities
- Enjoy music, food and FUN
Open House is your one-stop shop to get set for the Fall Semester at Gateway! |
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| Grand Geneva Resort & Spa named one of Travel + Leisure’s Top 5 Favorite Resorts in the Midwest
"This recognition wouldn’t be possible without our incredible guests and the passionate team members who go above and beyond every day. From rejuvenating spa retreats to golf getaways and winter escapes, we’re proud to create experiences that keep guests coming back."
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| UW-Whitewater among Colleges of Distinction, for the Ninth Year
For the ninth consecutive year, UW-Whitewater is among the Colleges of Distinction, a national honor that recognizes campuses for exceptional teaching and dedication to student success. The university is one of five public schools in the state to earn the honor and one of two to be awarded specifically for its support of international students. [Read on]
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| Integra wins gold at Best of NeoCon 2025 for their Odyssey guest seating
Odyssey is truly distinctive guest seating that elevates a space while offering the exceptional strength for which Integra is known. The sleek, curved metal frame and wrap-around design create visual elegance while the integrated handle and arms are capped with solid surface for unmatched function and cleanability. The sculpted back provides optimal lumbar support with a striking silhouette.
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| Plas-Tech Engineering launches Equinox website
Equinox® Syringes are pre-fillable plastic syringes that are offered as silicone-free and glass-replacement solutions designed for various medical applications, ensuring safe and efficient delivery of pharmaceutical compounds. These help to minimize the risk of contamination and ensure the integrity of the medication. [Check it out]
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The story behind Kunes Auto Group’s significant expansion
Delavan-based Kunes Auto & RV Group has nearly doubled its footprint since 2020, adding nearly 20 new auto dealership locations to its repertoire through acquisition. At the beginning of 2020, Kunes operated 23 locations across the Midwest in Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa and Minnesota. Today, the company operates over 40, and more growth is to come, said Scott Kunes, chief operating officer and managing director of automotive for Kunes. [Read On]
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| 2025 Walworth County Community Health Assessment
Do you live, work, learn, play, or worship in Walworth County? Then we need YOU to take our 2025 Community Health Survey! The answers are completely ANONYMOUS, and the survey should only take about 15 minutes to complete. Thank you for your participation!
Please share this link far and wide! [Take the Survey]
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Broadband Assessment
Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation is beginning a regional broadband assessment in an effort to bring broadband to more Wisconsinites. The first step in the process is to conduct speed testing across the region. To take the test, residents and businesses simply need to visit, from their home or work location. It will only take a few moments and personal information is always protected and never shared. [Take the Test]
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Invenergy continues investment in Walworth County
Invenergy, a U.S.-owned and Midwest-based company, is continuing to invest in Walworth County and looking to connect with local organizations and businesses for an upcoming energy generation project that will create up to 150 local jobs during construction and 8 to 12 full-time jobs?once operational. Invenergy has been a proud member of the Walworth County community for years, supporting dozens of local organizations such as the Delavan-Delavan Lake Area Chamber and Darien Cornfest. Email jshelton@invenergy.com or visit www.foundryridge.com to learn more.
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To read more about each indicator, visit the newsletter section of our website here. |
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According to the BLS current population survey (CPS), the unemployment rate for Wisconsin rose 0.1 percentage points in November 2023 to 3.3%. The state unemployment rate was 0.4 percentage points lower than the... |
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10-2 Year Treasury Yield Spread is at 0.53%, compared to 0.53% the previous market day and -0.27% last year. This is lower than the long term average of 0.85%. The 10-2 Treasury Yield Spread is the difference between the 10... |
| New orders for manufactured goods in the US jumped by 16.4% over a month to $343.6 billion in May 2025, the sharpest increase since July 2014, following a revised 6.6% slump in April and overshooting market ... |
| Average Crude Oil Spot Price is at a current level of 69.15, up from 62.75 last month and down from 81.20 one year ago. This is a change of 10.20% from last month and -14.85% from one year ago. The Average Crude Oil Spot Price... |
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| DNR Launches The Environmental Responsibility Navigator New Tool Helps Small Businesses With Environmental Compliance
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR), in honor of National Small Business Week, launched the new Environmental Responsibility Navigator (Enviro-Nav) to help small businesses with environmental compliance.
This tool, which was funded through the 2023-2025 state budget, provides a one-stop shop for businesses to easily understand the environmental requirements that apply to them, including those related to air pollution, water use/discharge and waste generation.
All types of businesses can benefit from the information offered in Enviro-Nav, and... [Learn More] |
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| SBA Lender Match
Get $500 to $5.5 million to help you grow your business! SBA-backed loans range from small to large and can be used for most business purposes, including long-term fixed assets and operating capital. Connect with an SBA-approved lender: https://www.sba.gov/lendermatch
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| WWBIC New Resources & Partners
WWBIC is offering more diverse trainings and events now than ever before! Fill out their updated Client/Business Information form by clicking the link below to make sure that you will be notified once any grants, networking events and more are available! [Form]
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| Property Values and Taxes DataTool
This DataTool explores key trends in statewide property values and tax levies, which are important indicators of the state's economic health, the cost borne by taxpayers, and the finances of its local governments. In this streamlined interactive format, users can view separate analyses of southeast Wisconsin and Dane County data, or explore the statewide data themselves, filtering by municipality or county to easily create custom reports.
Check out the tool |
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Small Business Development Grant (SBDG)
The Small Business Development Grant (SBDG) Program will offer financial incentives for communities and organizations to develop innovative programs that directly support small businesses and small business creation. [Learn More] |
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Wisconsin Green Innovation Fund
When more Wisconsinites can participate in our state’s clean energy transition, we’ll reach our environmental and energy independence goals faster. That’s where the Green Innovation Fund comes in. The Green Innovation Fund leverages public and private funds to invest in strategic energy efficiency and renewable energy projects that benefit traditionally underserved businesses, residents, and communities across Wisconsin. By facilitating the widespread adoption of clean energy technologies, the Fund will ultimately improve overall quality of life in our state. [Learn More]
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| RelyLocal
The national economy depends heavily on the health of local economies, and the local economy depends on the health of the local businesses. Local businesses not only contribute to the local economy, but are the foundation of a healthy community overall. Our goal? To develop strategies to support local businesses (across the country) by Developing new solutions to support local businesses, creating local campaigns to revitalize local communities, and putting America back to work. [Learn More]
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| Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE)
C-PACE is a property tax-assessment financing mechanism for energy & water
efficiency and renewable energy improvements to commercial properties. Benefits include: finance up to 100% of hard + soft costs, fixed rate, long-term: 20 – 30 years, tenants share cost & savings, transfers to new owner upon sale, potential off-balance sheet treatment, reduce waste & improve experience. [Learn More - PDF, Webpage]
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| WCEDA Loan Program
Are you having trouble getting a loan? Are your revenues under $1 million? WCEDA may be able to HELP. We have a loan program through the USDA for small businesses called the Hometown Entrepreneur Loan Program (HELP) that aims to help small business access capital. Many times we can work with banks or other programs like SBA or WHEDA to make a loan work for companies.
[APPLICATION]
[ADDITIONAL FUNDING SOURCES] [CONTACT WCEDA]
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