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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| WCEDA 20th Anniversary Sponsor
We proudly acknowledge our 20th Anniversary Sponsor, whose support allows WCEDA to deliver valuable programs, insights, and connections to the businesses and communities we serve. Their commitment helps ensure a thriving future for Walworth County. |
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| WELCOME ARTISTIC CLEANERS!
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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WCEDA's 2nd Annual Walworth County Pro/Am Culinary Showdown |
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Check out the event webpage for more information and images |
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Team #6 - Elkhorn Area High School & Pastries by Chad - Kikkoman Chef's Excellence Award Winner - People's Choice 1 Winner
- Judges' Choice (France) Winner |
| Team #9 - Badger High School & Oakfire - People's Choice 2 Winner |
| Team #2 - Big Foot High School & Pier 290 - Judges' Choice (Thailand) Winner |
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Team #10 - Big Foot High School & The Abbey Resort - Judges' Choice (Morocco) Winner |
| Team #5 - East Troy High School & Grand Geneva - Judges' Choice (Italy) Winner |
| Team #7 - Whitewater High School & Lake Lawn Resort - Judges' Choice (Germany) Winner |
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Click on the images above to expand. |
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Two Great Opportunities at Area School Districts Connecting Community and Empowering Students
Delavan- Darien High School Wednesday l February 25 | 5:30 PM
Whitewater High School Wednesday | March 4 | 5:30-7:30PM - Get facility tours and student demonstrations
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Learn more about Youth Apprenticeship program
- Explore business and community partnership opportunities
- Learn about CTE programming within the district and its impact on students
- And more!
Drop in to learn more at one or both locations. |
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The Elkhorn Area School District welcomed the new Director of Strategic Partnerships, Dustin Lehman. Dustin Lehman brings a wealth of experience to build upon the innovative practices and rich partnerships that exist between the school district, community, industry, and post-secondary partners to provide an exceptional experience for students in the Elkhorn district and across Wisconsin. Welcome, Dustin!
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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 current 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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Spanish for Business
Organizations in Wisconsin increasingly operate with bilingual, culturally diverse workforces. When language and cultural gaps exist between supervisors and front-line employees, important information can be misunderstood—affecting safety, quality, and productivity. This 45-hour program strengthens communication across English- and Spanish-speaking team members using job-specific Spanish, cultural competency, and real manufacturing scenarios.
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Click on the image to get the PDF |
| Fundamentals of Leadership
Leadership isn’t built in a day—it’s cultivated through coaching, practice, and reflection. WCEDA’s Fundamentals of Leadership program helps emerging and existing leaders develop the soft skills that drive measurable results: better communication, higher engagement, and stronger teams. Over sixteen weeks, each module focuses on core outcomes:
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Improved Communication Skills that build clarity and trust
- Priority Identification that aligns teams around what truly matters
- Conflict Resolution that strengthens workplace culture
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Bad Behavior Management that prevents toxicity from spreading
- Worker Engagement that drives retention and productivity
- Avoidance of Harassment and Discrimination that safeguards every employee
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Development of Leadership Tools that create consistency across the organization
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| Top Level Leadership
Bringing together senior and executive-level managers who are dedicated to creating not only the most technically proficient organizations but the healthiest, most nimble teams and dynamic organizational cultures.
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. |
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About WCEDA's Workforce
Housing Program Housing has quickly become an increasing priority for WCEDA to address. It is 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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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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The Average U.S. Household’s Expenses Are About $78,535 A Year Yet the Average Annual Salary is Just $67,080 The numbers don’t lie. They just don’t add up.
In 2024, the average American household spent $78,535.* But inflation didn’t stop when the calendar flipped. While spending data hasn’t caught up yet, costs clearly have. Food prices rose 3% in 2025, outpacing overall inflation. Even with inflation cooling to an annual 2.7%, daily expenses have continued inching upward. So how are Americans managing to spend nearly $6,545 per month, when the average income doesn’t even clear that bar? [Read On] |
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| Gage Marine receives Dealer of the Year Award
Join us in congratulating Gage Marine for receiving Boating Industry's 2025 Dealer of the Year! To learn more, click [Here]
Photo credit: Alanna Congdon |
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| | WCEDA member announced as finalists
Plastics News is proud to announce the three finalists for our 2025 Processor of the Year award — one of the most prestigious honors in the industry; and WCEDA member, Radius Packaging, is among the finalists! The winner will be revealed at the 2026 Plastics News Executive Forum, March 24–25 in Clearwater Beach, Fla. To learn more, click [Here]
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| Delavan-Darien School District's Ashley Duchemin recognized
Ashley Duchemin of the Delavan-Darien School District was recognized nationally in Washington DC for her work in school Public Relations. Included in her awards were the Golden Achievement Award for her 2024 Homecoming Campaign, Award of Excellence for her DD Tech and Youth Apprentice Video Series, and the Award of Excellence for the hashtag#CometNation 2024-25 Wall Calendar.
Congratulations to Ashley and CometNation! |
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| Form Wealth celebrates 25 years FORM Wealth is celebrating 25 years in 2026! Congratulations to the FORM team and for your continued support as WCEDA's Anniversary Sponsor! Together we are building "a better life" in and for Walworth County! |
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| Elkhorn Area School District Director named Workforce Development Hero
Dustin Lehman, Director of Strategic Partnerships for Elkhorn Area School District was honored to be recognized as a 2025 Workforce Development Hero by the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals (NAWDP). According to Lehman, getting students engaged in the workforce early has so many benefits in preparing students for hashtag#PostSecondaryReadiness. On top of the benefits for students, the economic impact on the local community is tremendous!" We couldn't agree more! Congratulations, Dustin!
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WCEDA Manufacturing Members among Finalists for Wisconsin Manufacturer of the Year |
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What you helped make possible this year
With your support, we Habitat for Humanity served families across Walworth County through new construction, accessibility upgrades, and essential repairs, including: - Building a home for a family of eight
- Installing a wheelchair ramp for a couple with mobility challenges
- Repairing a bathtub and kitchen sink for a single mom and her son
- Building an accessible bathroom for a couple who rely on wheelchairs...
[Read On] |
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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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NEWS ALERT! Zoning Scam
We continue to receive reports of fraudulent emails and invoices that appear to be official correspondence from our zoning and planning staff. These fraudulent solicitations direct residents to promptly pay an invoice via wire transfer so the department can finalize a zoning permit. These scams are extremely sophisticated, appear professional, use our official logo on what appears to be official letterhead, and may even use the names of Walworth County zoning and planning employees to appear legitimate. These emails were not sent by Walworth County zoning staff, and the department would never send emails requesting wire transfers in exchange for permits. Please do not respond to these notices, and exercise caution with any unsolicited email you receive. Red flags that indicate the email is fraudulent include:
- Suspicious contact information not affiliated with Walworth County. All emails from Walworth County’s Land Use division end with @co.walworth.wi.us.
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Pressure to pay promptly via wire transfer. The Land Use and Resource Management Department accepts cash, checks, or credit card payments and will never send unsolicited emails pressuring residents to pay zoning application fees.
Anyone who receives a suspicious email or invoice should avoid making payments and call the Walworth County Land Use and Resource Management office at (262) 741-4972. |
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To read more about each indicator, visit the newsletter section of our website here. |
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According toThe Department of Workforce Development the unemployment rate for Wisconsin as of December 2025 was 3.1%, seasonally adjusted. Walworth County unemployment was recorded as 2.7% according to Wisconomy.com [More]
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10-2 Year Treasury Yield Spread is at 0.74%, compared to 0.72% the previous market day and 0.26% last year. This is lower than the long term average of 0.85%....
[More] |
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New orders for manufactured goods in November, up three of the last four months, increased $16.2 billion or 2.7 percent to $621.6 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau reported...[More] |
| Average Crude Oil Spot Price is at a current level of 63.65, up from 60.88 last month and down from 78.16 one year ago. This is a change of 4.55% from last month and -18.56% from one year ago.
[More] |
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BizTimes 2026 Economic Trends |
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WCEDA Executive Director, Derek D'Auria, attended Biz Times 2026 Economic Trends Event in Milwaukee in January. The summit provided critical data regarding economic outlook and market conditions, labor market and workforce trends, transportation and logistics pressures, manufacturing, trade and innovation and much more. For more information, click [Here]. An event summary can also be accessed [Here].
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Companies that want to grow know they need to export—but navigating the global marketplace requires specialized knowledge and a sound strategy based upon proven best practices. WEDC stands ready to help you gain the insights you need to tap new international markets. Wisconsin companies can be reimbursed for specific expenses associated with a short-term export development project that will help to grow their presence in an international market. To learn more, click [Here].
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Whether you are a food entrepreneur trying to expand your operations, a farmer needing to purchase new equipment, a community trying to attract developers to address a food desert, or a community organization supporting the food system, the CDFA Food Finance Portal is a great resource for connecting you with potential capital providers and options. The CDFA Food Finance Portal is made possible by the support of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. For more details, click [Here].
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New Wisconsin Fast Forward grant now available A new grant opportunity is available from the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development's Office of Skills Development. Under the Wisconsin Fast Forward (WFF) program the grant opportunity funds innovative and collaborative customized worker training programs in all industry sectors.
Key features of the program: - Grants are available to companies of any size in all industry sectors.
- Award amounts range from $5,000 to $400,000. A consortium of employers may apply for more than $400,000.
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Cash or in-kind match equal to 50% of the grant award amount is required.
- Grantees must complete training of at least 85% of the contracted number of trainees.
- At least 65% of trainees must be placed in positions with placement partners in the grant application that require skills taught in the training.
- At least 75% of incumbent trainees must receive increased wages.
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Applications are due by 3 p.m. CST on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026.
Find additional information or apply on the [WFF website]. |
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| Business Physical Disaster Loans – Loans to businesses to repair or replace disaster-damaged property owned by the business,
including real estate, inventories, supplies, machinery and equipment. Businesses of any size are eligible. Private, non-profit organizations such as charities, churches, private universities, etc., are also eligible.
Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) – Working capital loans to help small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture, and most private, non-profit organizations of all sizes meet their ordinary and necessary financial obligations that cannot be met as a direct result of the disaster. Home Disaster Loans – Loans to homeowners or renters to repair or replace disaster-damaged real estate and personal property, including automobiles.
For more information about SBA, please visit [Website] |
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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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| Workplace Financial Solutions
Associated Bank offers a FREE program for employers and employees: Workplace Financial Solutions. The WFS program is dedicated to providing individuals with the education and resources needed to build long-term financial stability. Providing comprehensive financial literacy services designed to equip clients with the knowledge and confidence needed to make informed financial decisions and achieve peace of mind. [Learn More]
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| Live2Lead
February 26, 2026, 9-4
Walworth County Fairgrounds
Backed by the legacy of John Maxwell, this one-day event offers fresh insights and transformative networking opportunities for those who value growth.
World-Class Training • Leadership Development • Community Connection • Personal Growth • Innovative Ideas • Lunch Provided • John Maxwell Book Included... |
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