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 SAUK VALLEY BANK!
(Look for their newest branch in Walworth, WI soon.)
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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| | Join us for a Multi-Chamber Spotlight Event
Wednesday | March 18, 2026 | 5pm-7pm
Pier 290: Gage Boat Showroom 1 Liechty Drive, Williams Bay
Be among the very first to experience a bigger, buggier Balloon Adventure before we open to the public!
Step inside our immersive balloon build, explore the creativity up close, and see what all the buzz is about. 🐝 We’ll gather under the canopies for light refreshments, networking, and a first look at this year’s whimsical, larger-than-life creations. It’s the perfect opportunity to connect with fellow chamber members while experiencing one of the area’s most unique family attractions.
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| Save the date!
WCEDA's Annual Workforce Symposium Wednesday, May 13, 2026
The Cove, Lake Geneva More info coming soon... |
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Whippet Pathways Day Whitewater High School
Friday | April 17 | 8:45am to NOON
Join Whitewater High School for a new event designed for career alignment. Students will select businesses connected with their interests and participate in interactive classroom sessions. Traditional Career Fair to follow. |
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EAHS Job Fair & Career Expo Elkhorn Area High School Thursday | April 9 | 11am to 12:15pm
Whether you're looking to hire high school students now, planning for future openings, or hoping to inspire the next generation, this is your chance to connect directly with motivated students.
Every business gets a table to highlight what makes your company great! Meet 9th–10th graders in the first session and 11th–12th graders in the second.
Don't miss out—join us and help students discover exciting career paths! |
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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 custom program strengthens communication across English- and Spanish-speaking team members using job-specific Spanish, cultural competency, and real manufacturing scenarios. |
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In-Progress Custom Course |
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Same package, new contents! Fundamentals of Leadership 2.0
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.
So what's new?
You asked, we listened. This course has gone CUSTOM! Now you can host your own private, custom course at your location!
When Fundamentals of Leadership is delivered onsite, the program becomes fully integrated into your organization. Participants learn together using real workplace situations, shared challenges, and common goals, allowing leadership skills to be applied immediately and consistently across teams.
Because the training takes place within your own environment, discussions naturally align with your company’s culture, expectations, and day-to-day operations. Leaders leave each session with practical strategies they can implement right away, creating momentum that extends beyond the classroom.
Training together also strengthens internal relationships among supervisors and managers. Participants develop a shared language around leadership and a clearer understanding of expectations, helping create consistency in how teams are led across the organization.
The result? A unified leadership approach that strengthens communication, builds confidence, and supports a positive workplace culture—helping your organization grow stronger from within. Contact us to learn more!
[Learn More] |
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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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Zoning policy for density and varying housing types influences local tax base and housing development
Local land use decisions influence housing affordability, infrastructure spending and the overall, long-term fiscal stability of our communities. Land use is the ultimate decision that shapes far more than the look and feel of our neighborhoods. These decisions literally make our communities a home for our families, a base for our schools, and the fiscal growth that offers a viable place to call home.
Too often, zoning and development policies are driven by perception, preference or political pressure — rather than by measurable outcomes for the growth and development of the entire community and its residents. For this reason, helping local leaders and housing professionals better understand how different development patterns perform over time is an important step in developing the needed workforce housing throughout the county.
What should be done
It is important to examine a range of residential development types — from single-family homes to townhomes, “missing middle” housing and mixed-use projects — and evaluates how each contributes to the local tax base relative to the public services and infrastructure required to support it.This work will emphasize the reality that development patterns matter. [Read On]
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WCEDA Manufacturing Member Wisconsin Manufacturer of the Year |
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| | Reader Precision recipient of MFG of the Year
Hosted by Baker Tilly, Michael Best & Friedrich LLP, and Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC), Reader Precision Solutions was named a recipient at the 37th Annual Wisconsin Manufacturer of the Year Awards, marking the third consecutive year being recognized through the annual program.
Eight companies were named as Wisconsin Manufacturers of the Year at the 37th Annual MOTY Awards program, the state’s premier recognition of manufacturing excellence. [Read more] |
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NEWS ALERT! Email Scams
We continue to receive reports of fraudulent emails and invoices that appear to be official correspondence from WCEDA, our members, and other regional partners. These fraudulent solicitations are extremely sophisticated, appear professional, use official logos on what appears to be official letterhead, and may even use the names of employees and contact information that to appear legitimate.
Red flags that indicate the email is fraudulent include: - Suspicious contact information including emails, phone numbers, etc.
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Little to no email content. Emails sent with only an attachment or link that urges you to click on it are suspicious. Do not open open links until confirmed by sender it is legitimate.
- Links or attachments that require a password to access.
- Pressure to pay promptly.
If you receive a questionable email, please call the sender directly. Do not reply to the email or forward the email. If in doubt, delete and report. |
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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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AI Job Crossover Impact
Microsoft has released its list of 40 jobs that have high crossover with AI—and professionals warned it highlights the careers “most at risk,” with historians, translators, and sales reps high on the list.
While Microsoft said high applicability doesn’t automatically mean those roles will be killed by AI, employers have been putting a pause on hiring and cutting roles to make way for enhanced productivity. [Read on]
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To read more about each indicator, visit the newsletter section of our website here. |
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10-2 Year Treasury Yield Spread is at 0.58%, compared to 0.59% the previous market day and 0.25% last year. This is lower than the long term average of 0.85%.
[More] |
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New orders for manufactured durable goods in December, down two of the last three months, decreased $4.6 billion or 1.4 percent to $319.6 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced.[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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| Wisconsin may be falling behind
In advance of Governor Tony Evers’ State of the State address, Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC), warned that Wisconsin is falling behind on key competitiveness metrics, citing WMC Foundation’s new Wisconsin Competitiveness Report. WMC President/CEO Kurt R. Bauer urged the Governor to address the state’s workforce shortage, high tax burden, regulatory barriers, failing educational outcomes, and soaring health care costs. [Read on]
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BizTimes 2026 Economic Trends
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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International Market Access Grant 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. The application window is open now!
To learn more, click [Here]. |
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| CDFA Food Finance Portal
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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| SBA Resources
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 disaster relief, please visit their [website].
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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| 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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| 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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