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's Annual State of the County June 23, 2026 • 7:30-9:00am
Gateway Technical College, Elkhorn Campus From an economic standpoint, Walworth County is very strong. This is good for locals businesses and good for businesses looking to locate here.
Come find out more about the state of the county, including state and region perspectives. This is a great opportunity 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. |
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WCEDA's 4th Annual Workforce Symposium
Build a Place People Don’t Want to Leave Rethinking Culture, Connection & Community for the Next Generation
A special thank you to our host, The Cove, and our speakers for sharing their knowledge, insights and resources. Keynote Speaker: Angela Damiani, NEWaukee
Moderator: Elizabeth Oplatka, Like Minds Business Psychology Business Panelists: Skip Harless, Grand Geneva Resort & Spa Amanda Griffoul & Barry Butters, Reader Precision Solutions Thomas Hartz, Simple Food Group Allie Simmerman, Corporate Contractors Inc (CCI) NextGen Professional Alliance (NGPA) Panelists: Kelsey Isham, Hope Kowalski, Aaron Gottschalk, and David Redford of NGPA Brooke Kreuser, Future Leaders In Kenosha (FLIK) Izzy Whiteman, Elkhorn Area High School Pipeline to Leadership: Chris Stebnitz, Sam Stebnitz, Kyle Schoeneberg of Stebnitz Builders
WCEDA Members, visit www.walworthbusiness.com/workforce-symposium-2026, for the event video and additional resources. Contact admin@walworthbusiness.com if you don't remember your password. |
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| Launch Event
Wednesday, May 20 Magpies Den & Pen 6-7pm, open social to follow
You don't have to build your career alone. We're bringing together professionals of Walworth County to grow, lead and build something worth staying for. |
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Welcome new members!
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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| | Welcome Back! New ownership group! |
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Earth Day Experience at White River County Park
Badger HS, East Troy MS and Faith Christian School
On Earth Day, April 22, WCEDA member, Geneva Lake Conservancy, welcomed nearly 50 students from Badger High School, East Troy Middle School, and Faith Christian School to the White River County Park for a hands-on Earth Day experience—coordinated through WCEDA’s Kareers4Kids program.
Students contributed to real conservation efforts by planting and improving park spaces, then engaged directly with industry professionals through a rotating career exploration format—learning about pathways in environmental stewardship and conservation-related careers.
Experiences like this highlight the power of career-based learning: connecting students to meaningful work while exposing them to future opportunities. |
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CCA YouthBuild Tours
WCEDA’s Kareers4Kids program recently wrapped up another successful season of YouthBuild employer tours with visits to two WCEDA members — Alliant Energy and Reader Precision Solutions. At Alliant Energy, students learned from KG and the linemen about careers in the energy industry while watching live demonstrations of equipment and field skills. Students also toured Reader Precision Solutions to explore careers in precision manufacturing and modern industry. These experiences continue to expose students to rewarding local career pathways while building their confidence, curiosity, and engagement.
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| Mock Interviews
Through WCEDA’s Kareers4Kids initiative, WCEDA's Leslie Gostomski had the honor of participating in two mock interview sessions with the Elkhorn Area School District over the past month. It was incredibly encouraging to see how prepared, professional, and engaged the students were throughout the interviews. These experiences provide students with valuable real-world practice, helping them build confidence, strengthen communication skills, and better understand what employers are looking for as they prepare for future careers.
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Reality Check Day
On April 29, Whitewater High School hosted Reality Check Day, an interactive, hands-on financial literacy event. WCEDA business partners, among others, worked directly with students at various life stations, guiding them through real-world scenarios and helping them understand how to make smart financial decisions. Thank you to our financial partners for volunteering your time! |
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Manufacturing Tours On April 23, WCEDA's Kareers4Kids program took over 20 students from Williams Bay on a day of hands-on career exploration in advanced manufacturing.
Students toured Allan ICS in East Troy and Palmer Hamilton in Elkhorn, where they saw how products are designed, built, and brought to life. At each stop, they learned about the wide range of careers available in manufacturing.
The day wrapped up at Gateway Technical College where students had lunch and toured the RPM Manufacturing facility, connecting what they saw in the field to the education and training pathways available during and after high school. |
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Wisconsin's apprenticeship surge
As Wisconsin’s long-standing apprenticeship system – which encapsulates registered apprenticeship, certified pre-apprenticeship and youth apprenticeship – expands across new industries, overall participation has hit record highs the past few consecutive years.
A total of 18,524 people participated in Wisconsin’s registered apprenticeship program in 2025, an 8% jump over the prior year. That’s 76% higher than a decade ago. The state’s youth apprenticeship program for high school students has grown even more rapidly, from 3,035 in 2016 to a record 12,141 during the 2025-‘26 school year, according to the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development. [Read on]
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| MIWC Upcoming Event June 15, 2026 Palmer Hamilton
WCEDA’s Made in Walworth County (MIWC) Manufacturing Group will gather in June for an upcoming company tour at Palmer Hamilton in Elkhorn.
These events are designed to bring manufacturers together to connect, share ideas, and get a closer look at the innovative work happening inside Walworth County facilities. Attendees will have the opportunity to network with fellow industry leaders, learn more about Palmer Hamilton’s operations, and participate in a guided tour of the company.
This event will also introduce a new element aimed at creating even more value for MIWC members — a Leadership Roundtable discussion prior to the tour.
Inspired by conversations that emerged during WCEDA’s 2025 Workforce Symposium, the Roundtable will provide a casual, peer-to-peer space for manufacturing leaders to discuss workforce challenges, leadership strategies, employee engagement, retention, and organizational culture.
The discussion will operate under “Vegas Rules,” creating an environment where participants can openly share experiences, ideas, and challenges with fellow leaders. RSVP to your calendar invite by Monday, June 8. |
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Spanish Communication & Cultural Competency 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 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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Custom Leadership & Organizational Development
Today’s workplace challenges rarely fit into a one-size-fits-all training program. That’s why WCEDA is expanding its approach to offer customized, company-specific development experiences designed around each organization’s goals, culture, and team dynamics.
Programs are delivered on-site and tailored to the unique needs of each business — whether the focus is strengthening communication, developing supervisors, improving team effectiveness, building workplace culture, supporting emerging leaders, or enhancing collaboration across departments. Participants learn together using real workplace situations, shared challenges, and common goals, allowing skills to be applied immediately and consistently across teams. Rather than relying on prepackaged curriculum, WCEDA works directly with employers to design practical, relevant training that reflects real workplace situations and delivers meaningful results for teams at every level of an 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! |
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What about the traditional Fundamentals of Leadership program?
WCEDA’s traditional Fundamentals of Leadership program remains available and continues to be a valuable option for businesses and emerging leaders. The multi-company cohort format still offers participants the opportunity to learn alongside peers from a variety of industries, share experiences, and gain insight from different workplace perspectives. [Learn More]
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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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Stonehaven development and the City of Whitewater build a partnership to build homes
The City of Whitewater is getting creative on housing affordability. In April, the Whitewater Common Council approved Stonehaven Development, a 14-lot, owner-occupied single-family development on Bluff Road.
They accomplished this by approving a structure that combines Tax Increment Financing with a small, short-term revolving loan fund to make new construction work at a price point the market has struggled to deliver.
This project uses existing infill lots for the project. The design addresses a critically identified need for the city: single-family owner-occupied housing. Currently, only about 30% of the current Whitewater housing stock is owner-occupied.
The target price for a home is $330,000, with a maximum sale price not to exceed $350,000. It is a structured effort to create attainable, owner-occupied housing with defined limits, financing tools, and safeguards. The developer’s goal is to provide quality new construction at a price point difficult to find in today’s market, while delivering a functional layout, modern finishes, and the features buyers want in a long-term home.
[Read on] |
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| Gateway announces new President & CEO
Gateway Technical College, which has campuses and centers in Racine, Kenosha and Walworth counties, announced that Veronique Vien Tran has been named its next president and chief executive officer.
Tran currently serves as the founding vice provost of the School of Manufacturing & Industrial Technology at Dallas College.
“Dr. Tran brings an exceptional record of leadership in workforce education, industry partnership development and student success,” said Gateway Technical College board chairman Jason Tadlock. “Her vision aligns strongly with Gateway’s mission to transform lives and strengthen our communities through innovative, high-quality technical education. We look forward to her leading us forward in the coming years.” [Read on]
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| UW-W Enactus team named 2026 Enactus USA National Champions The University of Wisconsin–Whitewater Enactus team was named 2026 Enactus USA National Champions in Denver, Colorado…
Back-to-back.
This is not just a win—it’s a reflection of something deeper.
Our students were in the trenches, doing the real work—building, testing, iterating, and delivering impact where it matters most.
Over the past year, alongside the launch of RenewTowns Inc. (a social benefit corporation), our team has continued to refine and scale our model:
E3 – Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Engine
A system designed to unlock the *adjacent possible* in communities—turning ideas into businesses, and businesses into sustainable local impact. [Read On] |
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| Control your cash like a pro
Now through June 30, eligible community businesses can tap into Associated Bank Merchant Services and get a 90-day free trial and/or a $450 rebate. From streamlining invoices to tracking payments in real time, you can spend less time managing payments and more time running your business with tools designed to simplify your day-to-day.
👉 Take advantage of this opportunity by June 30. Stop into your local branch or visit http://spr.ly/6043BBwHox today. |
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It's National Public Works Week!
Today, and every day, we’re grateful for the dedicated Public Works professionals who help keep our Walworth County communities operating safely and efficiently. Whether maintaining roads, caring for public spaces, supporting infrastructure, or responding in all kinds of weather, your work plays a vital role in the quality of life we enjoy across Walworth County.
Thank you for the commitment, professionalism, and pride you bring to your work each day. Much of what you do happens behind the scenes, but the impact is seen and felt throughout our communities. We truly appreciate all that you do to help keep Walworth County moving forward. |
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| Wealth Insights “Before your next purchase, pause and ask: what’s the most meaningful thing you’ve ever spent money on?
Chances are, it wasn’t the most expensive item. It was the one that touched the heart the most,” writes CIO Dominic Ceci, CFA in this week’s Wealth Insights article.
Read his take into why we spend and how we can be more intentional with our spending: https://ow.ly/IYmM50YZPc3 |
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| Architect a smarter integration E-commerce demands speed while ERPs protect financial accuracy. Blending these distinct priorities without a buffer guarantees errors.
G10's guide shows IT directors how to separate decision timing from the system of record. Learn to sequence events defensibly and model inventory as a complete lifecycle. Stop reconciling broken data and start trusting your signal. [Learn More] |
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| CCI receives two Daily Reporter Top Project Awards
We are honored to share that CCI recently received two Daily Reporter Top Project Awards for the Geronimo Hospitality Group Henry Dorrbaker’s Pub & Play and ABC Supply Co. Inc. Learning Center projects, both located in Beloit, Wis.
Behind every “Top Project” is a top-tier team. These awards reflect the precision, trust, and collaboration of every project partner, stakeholder, and team member who helped turn plans on paper into places that serve our communities.
Thank you to our remarkable teams for their dedication, and to The Daily Reporter for this recognition. Here’s to continuing to build environments where people can learn, connect, and thrive. |
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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 0.54%, compared to 0.50% the previous market day and 0.45% last year. This is lower than the long term average of 0.85%. The 10-2 Treasury Yield Spread is the difference... [More] |
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New orders for US-manufactured durable goods fell by 1.4% from the previous month to $315.5 billion in February of 2026, extending the revised 0.5% drop in the previous month. It was the third straight decline...[More] |
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Average Crude Oil Spot Price is at a current level of 103.91, up from 95.58 last month and up from 65.90 one year ago. This is a change of 8.72% from last month and 57.67% from one year ago. The Average Crude... [More] |
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| Coming soon, Live the Lake Life Walworth County! Work that matters. Life that's better.
Something exciting is on the horizon for Walworth County.
WCEDA is preparing to launch Live the Lake Life — a new talent attraction initiative designed to showcase what makes our communities such a great place to live, work, grow, and play. From meaningful careers and thriving businesses to lake life, outdoor recreation, strong schools, and connected communities, this effort is all about telling the story of the lifestyle and opportunities that exist right here in Walworth County. The platform will feature local employers, career opportunities, quality of life highlights, community resources, and tools to help attract and retain talent across the region. Stay tuned for more details, sneak peeks, and opportunities to get involved as we get ready to officially launch Live the Lake Life! |
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| Scholarship Opportunity
WCHRA is awarding two scholarships to support students pursuing careers in Human Resources or Supervisory Management. -
$1000 Scholarship - awarded to a student attending or enrolling in a 4-year university or college in a human resource related program.
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- $500 Scholarship - awarded to a student attending or enrolling in a 2-year associate degree program in Human Resources or Supervisory Management.
Applicants must be pursuing a degree in human resources, supervisory management or related field AND be a graduate of a Walworth County High School.
For full details and to apply click [Here] |
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| CSB Offering Loan Relief to Government Employees
Due to ongoing government shutdown, Community State Bank is offering a CSB Relief Loan to government employees facing financial hardship. The loan is for government employees impacted by current shutdown and works like a paycheck, offering access to up to 90% of gross monthly pay to cover essentials. There is a maximum loan amount of $35,000. To learn more, click [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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