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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Farewell and Best Wishes, Lisa Pavett! After nearly seven years of dedicated service, we bid a fond farewell to Lisa Pavett, who is retiring from her role as Kareers4Kids (formerly Inspire) Program Manager and Made in Walworth County (MIWC) event organizer.
During her time with WCEDA, she brought incredible energy, creativity, and heart to everything she did—connecting students with career pathways, supporting local employers, and making every event a little more fun. Her positive spirit and easy nature have left a lasting impression on our team and community.
We know our K4K and MIWC members will miss seeing and talking with her, and we wish her all the best as she enjoys this next exciting chapter of life.
**Join us for a farewell celebration on Wednesday, November 5, from 5-7pm at Chuck's Lakeshore Inn, Fontana.** [RSVP] |
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| Welcome, Christi Hunter!
Please help us welcome our new Assistant Economic Development Director, Christi Hunter!
Lake Geneva resident, Christi Hunter, is a dynamic, community-focused leader with a proven track record of strengthening economic vitality in Walworth County. As Assistant Economic Development Director, she brings years of experience in building meaningful partnerships with businesses, policymakers, and community leaders to foster sustainable growth and opportunity.
Prior to joining WCEDA, Christi served as Partnership Manager at Visit Lake Geneva, where she supported more than 500 businesses and organizations across the region. Her leadership expanded active partnerships by over 200 members, and she designed innovative programs—including a volunteer Ambassador initiative—that deepened business engagement and collaboration.
Beyond her professional roles, Christi has been a passionate advocate and volunteer across Walworth County. She is a founding board member of the Build Hope Foundation, which addresses housing challenges for the local workforce, and she has mentored youth for years through the internationally recognized Destination Imagination program, coaching multiple teams to global-level competition. In her role at WCEDA, she is dedicated to advancing economic growth strategies that honor the county’s heritage while preparing for a vibrant future. |
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November 19, 2025 11:15am - 2pm Grand Geneva
Resort & Spa |
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Announcing WCEDA's 20th Anniversary Annual Meeting!
This year marks our 20th anniversary—a milestone that reflects two decades of impact across Walworth County!
Over the years, we’ve brought businesses and communities together through insightful business intelligence events, promoted industry awareness to strengthen connections between employers and the community, and supported companies through both startup and expansion assistance. We’ve advanced workforce development through training, upskilling, and leadership opportunities, while also preparing the next generation by building youth career experiences that connect students with real-world industries. In addition, we’ve been actively addressing the need for workforce housing to ensure that local employers and employees can thrive.
As we celebrate this anniversary, we are proud of the progress we’ve made and excited about the opportunities ahead to continue shaping the economic future of our region. We invite you to join us as we celebrate 20 years of WCEDA’s economic impact in Walworth County.
We look forward to seeing you at Grand Geneva for this unforgettable anniversary event! |
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Gold Sponsors:
Adams • Associated Bank • Advocate Aurora Health Care • G10, Inc.• First National Bank and Trust • Gage Marine • Gateway Technical College • Grand Geneva Resort & Spa • Integra • Lakes Area REALTORS Association • UW- Whitewater • Visit Lake Geneva Silver Sponsors: Allan ICS • Baker Tilly • Community State Bank • Corporate Contractors, Inc. • FairWyn • Invenergy • Lake Lawn Resort • Plas-Tech Engineering • PremierBank • Royal Basket Trucks • Town Bank |
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Multi-Chamber Business After Hours
Taste of Delavan; Spirits & Slices Wednesday, October 29
5:30 - 7:30 PM
Rosewood, 2484 County Rd 0, Delavan Experience the magic of fall with Walworth County Chamber members at Rosewood with: - Illuminated Halloween décor at sunset
- Fire pits glowing on the patio
- A walk through the Haunted Halls of Rosewood
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Slices of pizza, desserts & tasty treats from local Delavan food establishments
- Halloween-themed cocktails at the cash bar
Feeling spooky? Dress up for a chance to win a prize! |
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WCEDA's 2nd Annual Walworth County Pro/Am Culinary Showdown
Sunday, January 25, 2026 Noon-2pm Lake Lawn Resort Tickets are on sale now for WCEDA's 2nd Annual Culinary Showdown! This event features teams of Walworth County high school culinary students and professional chefs! The teams are almost set and the cuisine will be announced soon. Last year tickets sold out, so get yours now. You don't miss this exciting and fun event! Check out last year's event here! |
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Local Resources & Strategies for Business Success Tuesday, September 16, 2025 • 8-9:30am Whitewater Community Engagement Center Check out the event webpage!
- Full event video
- Key resources & links
- Insights you can revisit or share with your team |
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| Youth Mentor Training Program Info Session
Wednesday, September 16, 2025 An informational session was held on September 16 for interested companies to learn about a potential new workforce development program designed for company employees who mentor students through youth apprenticeships, Craftsman with Character, and other long-term career experiences.
The proposed program would provide approximately 12 hours of structured training to help mentors strengthen their skills, better support student growth, and create more meaningful outcomes for both students and employers.
If you couldn’t make the session, no worries. Click the link below for key details about the proposed Youth Mentorship Training. |
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| Attention businesses!
Get out your schedules because it's time to get some Career-Based Learning Experiences on the calendar! We are looking to meet with member businesses to come up with some dates for the 2025-2026 school year. Here are some ideas for experiences you might want to consider offering.
Look for an email or call from Leslie Gostomski, or schedule a meeting at your convenience here. |
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YouthBuild Tours
Thank you to our employers who have graciously opened their doors and donated their time to showing the Career & College Academy YouthBuild students exciting career opportunities in our area! |
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| Badger receives donated vehicles
The Badger High School Auto Shop received three vehicles donated from Peck & Weis Heating, Cooling, Plumbing, and Electrical in Lake Geneva. The vehicles will allow Badger students to gain hands-on experience performing scheduled maintenance and repairs. Thank you, Peck & Weis, for your generous donation! |
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Successful Custom Course! |
| Successful Custom Course! |
| In-Progress (Module III) 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.
[Learn More] |
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Entry- to Mid-Level Leadership 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
Dates TBD 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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Housing Costs on the Rise — Wisconsin Responds with New Proposals
As of September 2025, the median monthly cost of home ownership rose from $1,960 in 2023 to $2,035 in 2024, according to the U.S. Census Bureau — a 3.8% increase, compared to 3.0% the year before. While that jump may not sound dramatic, when you factor in insurance, taxes, utilities, and fees on top of a mortgage, the financial pressure quickly adds up. In fact, in 2024, homeowners with a mortgage spent a median 21.4% of their income on housing-related costs — a growing burden.
In response, Wisconsin legislators are turning their attention to housing affordability. A housing package announced in September includes several key proposals: - Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs): Local zoning ordinances would be updated to allow at least one ADU as a permitted use on every residential or mixed-use parcel.
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Workforce Homeownership Program: A new initiative would offer 0% interest second mortgage loans — up to $60,000 or 25% of a home’s purchase price — to help working families cover down payments and closing costs. Flexible repayment terms, including deferred payment options, would make ownership more attainable.
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Workforce Housing TIF Districts: A “Pay As You Go” tax increment district (TID) would allow a portion of tax revenue from new homes to offset subdivision infrastructure costs. This lowers development costs and encourages the construction of smaller, modestly priced homes that strengthen the “missing middle” of the housing market.
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Streamlined Building Process: Proposals would also update building codes, zoning rules, and approval processes to reduce delays and improve collaboration between local governments and developers.
Industry leaders have voiced support for these measures, noting the urgency of Wisconsin’s housing crisis.
Key Market Challenges: -
The average first-time homebuyer is now 38 years old, as home prices rise faster than wages. This delays wealth-building, homeownership stability, and community roots — with ripple effects on the labor force and local economies.
- The average home price in Wisconsin exceeds $340,000, well beyond the reach of many working families.
- Over the past 15 years, Wisconsin has built fewer housing units per capita than the national average, leaving the state less affordable than neighbors like Minnesota, Illinois, Michigan, and Iowa.
This legislative package, expected to include 7–10 bills, aims to tackle housing affordability from multiple angles. Supporting these efforts means supporting not just families searching for homes, but also the builders, developers, realtors, employers, and schools that depend on a stable housing supply to keep communities strong. |
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| WCEDA News Notes Monthly Housing Newsletter
Would you like to stay up to date on the progress of WCEDA's Housing Initiative to address workforce housing in our county? Let us know and we'll add you to the News Notes email list! Email pam@walworthbusiness.com. |
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| | Why support WCEDA?
We are a 501(c)(6) non-profit dedicated to improving the quality of life for Walworth County residents by working with public and private sector partners to advance efforts that create jobs and build private sector investment in our communities. We host events for local businesses that connect them with resources and education to facilitate their growth. [Learn more]
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Cheer on our local manufacturer, Kikkoman, as they've advanced to the second round of The Coolest Thing Made In Wisconsin competition! Round 2 ends October 15, so vote now! [Vote Now] |
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| Elkhorn Area School District teacher wins award
Elkhorn's Eryca Card, EAMS Makerspace Teacher, was named a 2025-26 Outstanding @PLTWorg Teacher. This award is given to PLTW teachers for their commitment to providing transformational learning experiences through PLTW programs. Congratulations, Eryca! |
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Kunes wins Best Dealerships To Work For award AND Top 50 RV Dealers in North America
Kunes Auto Group won recognition on the Automotive News 2025 Best Dealerships To Work For list with nine of its dealerships making the list. This recognition isn’t just about dealerships — it’s about the people who make them thrive.
Kunes was also recognized as one of the Top 50 RV Dealers in North America by RVBusiness!
This honor celebrates RV dealerships who go above and beyond in professionalism, community involvement, customer care, and best practices. Congratulations, Kunes! |
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Hein Electric Walworth location Grand Opening Thursday, October 16
W5724 Willow Bend Rd. Walworth, WI JOIN US FOR AN ALL DAY EVENT!
We will celebrating the new opening of Hein Electric Supply in Walworth County!
Hein Electric Supply Company is excited to better serve the southern lakes area electricians and electrical contractors with its newest branch in Walworth, WI. [More info] |
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| Club Sober Curious October Free Events What is Club Sober Curious?
A fresh, fun, and free space where adults and families can connect, laugh, learn, and grow! We're a nonprofit community hub offering a variety of exciting and educational activities, all designed to spark joy, build friendships, and tackle real-life challenges together. From game nights to workshops, family events to networking meetups—our calendar is always packed with something awesome. Whether you're curious about a sober lifestyle or just looking for healthy fun, there's a place for you here.
[More info] |
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Was your business affected by the flooding in August? If so, the SBA may be able to give you an EIDL loan!
Notice is hereby given that as a result of the President's major disaster declaration on September 11, 2025, applications for disaster loans may be submitted online using the MySBA Loan Portal https://lending.sba.gov or other locally announced locations. Please contact the SBA disaster assistance customer service center by email at disastercustomerservice@sba.gov or by phone at 1-800-659-2955 for further assistance.
[Learn More] |
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Data Center coming to Mount Pleasant
On September 18, Microsoft announced plans to build the world’s most powerful artificial intelligence data center in Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin, placing Southeast Wisconsin at the forefront of a global technology shift. The facility will be ten times faster than today’s most powerful supercomputers and represents a $3.3 billion investment. With an additional $4 billion committed for a second facility, Microsoft’s total investment in Wisconsin will exceed $7 billion.
The project will create more than 3,000 construction jobs at peak and is expected to support hundreds of permanent positions once complete. Beyond the economic impact, the announcement positions the M7 region as a national hub for artificial intelligence. In collaboration with more than 40 partners statewide, Microsoft expects to help train over 114,000 Wisconsinites in AI and digital skills. [Read on]
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| WisDOT Public Involvement Meeting
Wednesday October 22, 2025 • 5-7pm Council Chambers at the City Administration Offices
311 Seymour Ct., Elkhorn Join WisDOT for a public involvement meeting to learn more about a proposed project, get your questions answered, and provide input to the project team. The meeting will be an open house format, so that attendees may stop in at their convenience and view exhibits, meet with project staff, ask questions, and provide feedback. [Learn more] |
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What’s New in Wisconsin for 2026?
Journalists are buzzing with excitement and curiosity, asking, “What’s New in Wisconsin for 2026?” This is your chance to showcase your latest news! The survey below has nine quick questions to make sharing your updates easy.
Remember: We’re looking for information that will spark significant media interest — important anniversaries (and ways they are being celebrated), noteworthy developments or anything that aligns with current national trends or would have national appeal. Smaller improvements and updates are better suited for your local media efforts. Examples include: Opening of a new major attraction, Noc-tourism, America 250 Connect to the survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WhatsNew26 Even if you don’t have complete details, getting new information on our radar as early as possible is very beneficial for planning. Please add any details you know now, and the survey will remain open throughout the year so you can add information as it becomes available. [Learn More] |
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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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Attention Construction Businesses and Construction Employees The CDC has reported that construction has the highest suicide rate among all industries and is about 4X the national average. Notably, the number of construction worker suicides exceeds other fatalities in the industry. NAHB recognizes September as National Suicide Prevention Month. |
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The purpose of this survey is to better understand the current state of suicide prevention efforts within the construction industry. The insights gathered will help inform future prevention strategies and provide valuable resources and recommendations.
If you choose to participate, you will be asked to complete a brief, 5-minute survey consisting of 11 questions related to your experiences and knowledge of suicide prevention and mental health in the construction field.
Participation is completely voluntary. No personally identifying information will be collected, and there are no negative consequences for choosing not to participate. Your responses are confidential—your employer will not have access to your answers or know whether you took the survey.
A collaborative effort between a researcher from the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater and the Walworth County Department of Health and Human Services. Workers Focus:
https://uwwhitewater.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_a3K49EHOdTaUq3k Business/Owner Focus: https://uwwhitewater.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_57pO9LbnMMzfMDc
Participants can see the English-Spanish option button on the upper right when they first access the survey. |
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Foundry Ridge Energy Center
The Foundry Ridge Energy Center is a proposed 300+ megawatt natural gas peaker project located in Walworth County, Wisconsin that will generate American-made energy to meet the nation's growing demand for cleaner, more affordable, reliable electricity, while creating jobs and investing in local communities.
Invenergy, a U.S.-owned and Midwest-based company, 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, Darien Cornfest, and WCEDA's Kareers4Kids Golf Outing. [Learn more] |
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Broadband Assessment
Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation is running 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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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 0.54% the previous market day and 0.11% 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... |
| Durable goods orders in the US rose by 2.9% month-over-month to $312.1 billion in August 2025, reversing a revised 2.7% slump in July and better than market estimates of a 0.5% fall. Yet, part of the increase likely reflects higher prices... |
| Average Crude Oil Spot Price is at a current level of 66.46, down from 66.72 last month and down from 72.42 one year ago. This is a change of -0.39% from last month and -8.24% 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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