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Free On-Demand Webinar: How to Safely Reopen Offices & Manage a Hybrid Workforce

Thursday, February 25, 2021

In the wake of coronavirus shutting down offices around the world, remote work has become the new norm. So how do you make workplaces safer post-pandemic? In the 15th episode of our Leadership Lessons series, Comparably CEO Jason Nazar speaks with an expert on the topic, Envoy founder/CEO Larry Gadea, who has facilitated 1 million safe returns to the office. With a suite of products that redefine how to welcome visitors and employees back to the office, the workplace platform includes tools for check-in registrations, booking rooms/desks, managing deliveries, and capacity limits for social distancing. Envoy is used in more tha...

“Made in America” Executive Order to Affect International Companies and FDI

Thursday, February 25, 2021

On January 25th, President Biden issued one of his first Executive Orders, making changes to the “Made in America” program. The order left many with questions about how it would affect trade and international investment into the U.S. About the Executive Order The Executive Order is designed to strengthen the requirements for federal procurement in the U.S., allowing more of a preference for domestic products and supply chains (e.g., components) of domestic products. The order creates a new “Made in America” office to administer the new processes, which will be housed under the Office of Management & Budget (OMB) and will have its own director. Rea...

State manufacturers say workforce shortage is largest economic inhibitor

Friday, February 12, 2021

A panel of Wisconsin manufacturing executives agree the workforce shortage needs to be addressed in the next decade to increase the state’s economic competitiveness. “It all starts with the people. Having the right workforce, the right training, the right skill set, I believe is going to be one of the biggest assets the state could have long term,” said Mercury Marine President Christopher Drees. “Workforce development and making sure that we have the people with the right skill set is going to be so crucial in helping Wisconsin move forward.” Ahead of yesterday’s panel, hosted by Wisconsin Manufacturing & Commerce, President an...

‘WisBusiness: The Podcast’ features Peter Greenberg, ‘The Travel Detective’

Friday, February 12, 2021

In the latest “WisBusiness: The Podcast,” travel news journalist Peter Greenberg said Wisconsin lent itself well to the “one-tank trip” trend of the pandemic. Greenberg, a respected investigative journalist and UW-Madison alumnus, explained COVID-19 has led Americans to rediscover their own country. Wisconsin tourism in particular has ramped up marketing vacations within driving distance. “I’m a big fan of that because we take so much for granted and there’s so much in our own backyard,” said Greenberg, who currently resides in Manhattan. When travel comes back, he said people are going to be looking for great stories. “Travel is nothing without grea...

Wisconsin cities capable of alluring talent from the coasts

Thursday, February 11, 2021

Wisconsin’s cities, which feature a low cost of living and emerging downtowns, are attractive to talented workers looking to leave the coasts, tech industry leaders say. A trio of stakeholders in the state’s technology sector participated in a Wisconsin Technology Council virtual event yesterday to discuss the state’s ability to attract tech talent. The COVID-19 pandemic has magnified problems facing tech corporations, companies, and start-ups in California’s Silicon Valley region, explained event moderator and Tech Council President Tom Still. In addition, the pandemic has created growing talks surrounding Silicon Valley’s future as the epicenter of America’s tech industry. High costs of living, whic...

Rural-broadband efforts accelerate

Wednesday, February 10, 2021

The Rebuild Rural Coalition in late January asked for President Joe Biden’s support in rebuilding rural America’s infrastructure. In a letter to Biden the coalition cited needed improvements in roads, bridges, locks and dams. But it also cited rural-broadband access as greatly needing improvement. The coalition of 250 groups acknowledged that federal resources alone can’t solve the country’s infrastructure problems. “Creative solutions that pair federal investment with state-local-government investment and private sources of capital hold promise for raising a portion of the funds necessary to do the job for some of these infrastructure priorities,” the coalition wrote. “We urge you t...

Wisconsin Lawmakers Consider Funding Cranberry & Potato Research

Wednesday, February 10, 2021

Wisconsin lawmakers will consider budgeting a million dollars for specialty crop research and market development. State Senator Patrick Testin tells Brownfield the proposed funding would be split two ways. “We, myself and Representative (Nancy) VanderMeer re-introduced these bills that would provide five-hundred thousand dollars to the cranberry growers to increase their marketing as well as do more research over the next two years, and then also five-hundred thousand over the next two years to our potato and vegetable growers to do the same.” Read full article.

New round of WEDC grants to focus on aid to diverse entrepreneurs

Monday, February 08, 2021

The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) plans to award a total of roughly $200,000 in matching grants to groups working to increase entrepreneurship opportunities for communities of color, women, veterans and LGBTQ individuals. The competitive awards are the second phase of WEDC’s 2021 Entrepreneurship Support Grants. They are the first awards of this type designed specifically for groups helping to create and grow diversely owned businesses in Wisconsin. “We know the COVID-19 pandemic has taken a huge toll on communities of color and that women in particular were forced out of the workforce by this crisis,” said Missy Hughes, WEDC secretary an...

Area high school students compete in region DECA competition at Stout

Friday, February 05, 2021

University of Wisconsin-Stout hosted the DECA District 1 Career Development Conference in January for the 49th straight year, and for the first time it was held virtually. The event, organized and run by the UW-Stout Marketing and Business Education Association, is an applied learning experience for high school competitors and leaders from regional marketing and business education programs. More than 300 students from 14 area high schools participated. The schools included Altoona, Chippewa Falls, Glenwood City, Holmen, Hudson, Melrose-Mindoro, Menomonie, Northwestern, Plum City, Sparta, St. Croix Falls, Superior, Tomah and West Salem. They competed in 25 industry-validated events aligned with national curriculum i...

5 Tips for a Thriving Company Culture

Wednesday, February 03, 2021

Given the uncertainty businesses face in 2021 as the COVID-19 pandemic continues, company leaders are looking at every phase of their operation to determine ways they can improve. Workplace culture is one area commanding attention. As the virus caused business limitations and forced many companies to go fully remote in 2020, workplace culture was challenged in new ways. This was a reminder to company leaders to make this a priority, forcing them to find ways to strengthen it in the new year, says Mark McClain, CEO and co-founder of SailPoint and the ForbesBooks author of Joy and Success at Work: Building Organizations that Don’t Suck (th...

Prevea Pediatrics opens at Menomonie Health Center

Wednesday, February 03, 2021

Prevea Pediatrics is now in Menomonie at the Prevea Menomonie Health Center, 2919 Stout Rd. Allison Schneider, MD, FAAP, joins the team of family medicine providers that also provide care to children at the Prevea Menomonie Health Center. Dr. Schneider is a board-certified pediatrician specializing in routine care for children ages newborn to 18, well-child visits, immunizations, sick visits and sports physicals. “As a pediatrician, I am part of a team with not only the patient, but also the parents or caregivers,” says Dr. Schneider. “My goal is to educate the patient and family so they can stay safe and healthy. ...

4 Keys To Startup Success In Crowded Markets

Monday, February 01, 2021

Many would-be entrepreneurs spend a lot of time trying to think of the next big thing. Most end up spinning their wheels and never getting a new venture off the ground. It’s hard to come up with an original business idea. However, if you look at some of the most successful businesses in the world, you'll find that they aren't based on new ideas at all. The truth is that you don't have to be original to start a successful business. Many startups succeed in crowded markets by doing their homework and executing their business plans. Nerd Wallet, for example, succeeded amon...

Successful and Healthy Virtual Leadership

Wednesday, January 06, 2021

Leading teams virtually can be very exciting and rewarding as well as successful. It can also be exhausting and create issues that you would not normally see in a face-to-face environment. This course is designed for all virtual leaders or those who are interested in exploring virtual leadership as an option for your organization. This course will focus on what we define as the four R’s: Right Communication, Right EL, Right Tools and Right Health. This two-session course includes the following: Interactive participation during both sessions. No charge for this course. Seating is limited. Our Course Learning Approach is synchronous, online engagement during the session time...

Dunn County Economic Development Corporation Hires Executive Director

Friday, November 20, 2020

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Veteran Executive Director to Return The Board of Directors of the DCEDC are please to announce and welcome Robert J. Bossany as the new Executive Director following the retirement of Interim Executive Director Stacy H. Wigfield. Wigfield will complete the 3rd 90 day contract on behalf of Leadership Solutions LLC, his consulting company, on December 31, 2020. Bob will begin his duties officially on January 4th, 2021. Mr. Bossany was previously the Executive Director of the DCEDC and was directly involved with many existing projects, including Andersen Windows and the Ford High Velocity Center, restaurants and other manufacturers. He wa...

Infrastructure Investment as an Economic Stimulus Tool

Wednesday, October 28, 2020

In times of economic struggle — such as the recession that abruptly arrived with the COVID-19 pandemic — analysts and advocates promote an array of options as effective tools for stimulating the economy. One of the most frequently suggested options is infrastructure spending. Proponents of infrastructure spending during dire economic times view it as a productive job creator and essential foundation for a long-term recovery and return to sustained prosperity. Brian Raff, director of Communications and Public Affairs for the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC), cites a 2015 study by the Duke Center on Globalization, Governance, and Competitiveness to demonstrate infrastructure investment’...

Data-Driven Operational Strategies in the Pandemic Era

Tuesday, October 27, 2020

As state economies struggle between surging cases of COVID-19 and intense pressure to reopen — albeit with varying degrees of restrictions — companies that reduced or halted operations in response to stay-at-home orders are torn between the urgent needs to both restore revenue streams and to ensure the safety of their employees and customers. Since every location has a different dynamic and risk profile, creating a return-to-work strategy is complicated, whether a company operates in five locations or 500. The solution to developing a sound, portfolio-wide strategy includes having ready access to data, analytics, and insights, including regional and community-specifi...

The Next Recovery: Regional Leaders & Laggards

Tuesday, October 27, 2020

To call the road that most metro areas have traveled this year rocky would be akin to labeling Mount Everest a speed bump. But the most turbulent period of our lifetimes will eventually give way to a sustained recovery. And when it does, certain types of metro areas are in far better shape to take advantage. In the short run, places that suffered the steepest job and income losses will struggle most, which bodes especially ill for the Northeast and tourism-dependent Hawaii and Nevada. But what happens after that? Much depends on the course of the virus, such as whether outbreak...

Have Years of Darwinism in Rural America Paid Off During COVID-19?

Monday, October 26, 2020

As cities reel from a public health crisis and civic unrest, rural and small town community leaders are the unspoken heroes during the COVID-19 pandemic. They have historically learned how to thrive through fostering creative connections between limited resources and community needs. Years of practice navigating threats and finding solutions keeps rural America surviving, even amidst a pandemic. Progressive rural community leaders developed a task force in March. They used frequent and clear communication on the local plan. Rural America applied well-practiced skills listening to citizens, health care professionals, business owners and educators to make decisions right for their own communities...

Menomonie Joins Xcel Energy’s Partners in Energy Initiative

Wednesday, October 21, 2020

Dunn County businesses and residents will now have additional opportunities for reducing their energy bills. Menomonie, the largest city in the county, recently joined Xcel Energy’s Partners in Energy initiative - a platform designed to help reduce energy bills and a business or family’s carbon footprint at the same time. How Partners in Energy Works Xcel Energy will first work with the city to create a strategic action plan. This will be specific to Menomonie and involve conversations with city leaders, stakeholders and Xcel Energy’s team. This process can take up to a year, as it is designed to be very thoroug...

Second round of We’re All In Grants will provide $50 million more for small businesses

Tuesday, October 06, 2020

The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) will provide a second round of We’re All In Small Business Grants to distribute an additional $50 million to small businesses hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Tony Evers announced today. The first phase of the program provided more than $65 million in grants to over 26,000 businesses statewide this summer. Despite the infusion of federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act funds distributed by WEDC, however, many Wisconsin small businesses continue to struggle. The new round aims to provide grants of $5,000 each to 10,000 additional Wisconsin small businesses. “Wisconsin’s small businesses have demonstrate...

Beat Zoom Fatigue With These 6 Tips

Tuesday, September 29, 2020

Do you audibly sigh every time you have to log on to what feels like your thousandth Zoom meeting of the day? You’re not alone. While we’re all more or less used to video calls and meetings being the norm now, the newly coined effect of Zoom fatigue hasn’t gone away. Since working from home is here to stay, video calls are here for the long run too. This makes it incredibly important to find a way to prevent Zoom fatigue from taking over your workday. Here are a few ways you can mitigate its effects. Read full article.

How To Keep Women In The Workforce During The Pandemic

Monday, September 28, 2020

We may be losing some of our best leaders to caregiving duties, and the pandemic is sending us backwards when it comes to gender equality. Women’s careers often take a backseat when caregiving duties rise, and women are more vulnerable to job loss during an economic downturn. The research shows that pandemic is hitting women hard on both fronts. Women are more than twice as likely as men to say they handle more than 50% of the caregiving and education responsibilities and 34% of working families are still without childcare coverage, according to Cleo’s State of Working Parents Study. A recent FlexJobs survey reports that 80% of workin...

Menomonie restaurant celebrates its new look

Wednesday, September 23, 2020

WEDC Secretary and CEO Missy Hughes was on hand last week to help Ted’s Pizza Palace in Menomonie celebrate the improvements made to the restaurant as part of the Main Street Makeover contest. As the 2020 contest winner, the restaurant received a new awning and storefront tiles to enhance the façade. On the inside of the restaurant, new counters, drink coolers, booths, pain, signage, murals, carpets and marketing upgrades were installed as part of the facelift. Read full article.

Broadband A Clear Priority For Rural Communities

Tuesday, September 22, 2020

Six communities will receive technical assistance so they are better prepared to apply for federal, state and private-sector broadband expansion funds under a new joint pilot program announced today by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) and the state Public Service Commission (PSC). The pilot program comes in response to overwhelming requests for broadband expansion as communities throughout the state continue to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic. “One of the clearest lessons of the past year is that broadband is now as essential to daily life as electricity,” said WEDC Secretary and CEO Missy Hughes. “The COVID-19 pandemic has shown that broadban...

Indemnification Provisions in Incentives Agreements: Best Practices and Special Public Entity Issues

Monday, September 21, 2020

Indemnification provisions are an important part of the fine print of many contracts. These clauses generally operate to protect one party against the other party’s actions or failures to act that lead to a loss claimed by a third party (not a party to the contract). A common example is the indemnification provisions (or entire agreements) used in the rental car setting. Before you drive off the lot, the rental car company will require you indemnify (or protect) it against a third party (not you) bringing a claim due to your being in an accident. Read full article.

Optimizing Project Outcomes Through Advanced Project Planning

Monday, September 21, 2020

While APP involves a modest amount of additional upfront time for planning, the investment pays significant dividends throughout the project — and at the most critical times. Detailed planning is executed in advance, enabling the project team and stakeholders to discuss project objectives, prioritize needs, and examine costs from the very outset. This relieves some of the reactive urgency surrounding these decisions, when such issues are addressed amid the thin margins associated with not only time but also the cost of business today. Using APP, facilities that have inevitable downtime related to modifications can plan more efficiently. Read full article.

Site Selection 2020: The Importance of “Regional Depth” with Global Reach

Monday, September 21, 2020

The last several years of corporate site selection have been influenced by many trends. Among these are corporate tax cuts, a red-hot industrial real estate market, the explosion of e-commerce, increasing trade protectionism, record economic growth and, in a stunning reversal, a global health pandemic and recession. It seems the ever-shifting tide of global and domestic affairs can be confusing at best and downright frightening at worst to corporate executives evaluating where to locate their next headquarters, newest manufacturing plant, or distribution center. Risk and uncertainty have never seemed higher, and without looking deeper and thinking differently, it can b...

New Strategies for Learning and Development in an Increasingly Virtual World

Friday, September 18, 2020

Newly dispersed work teams are facing new challenges. During the early months of the global pandemic, more than three-quarters of organizations reported 80 percent or more of their employees were working from home, according to a global survey on workplace re-entry. While workplace mobility isn’t new, the scale of remote work has accelerated digital transformation, with rollout timelines shrinking from years to weeks. Workflows have also been upended as employees try to adopt new tools as part of their daily routines. Read full article.

Front Line: COVID-19 Spurs More Automated Manufacturing

Thursday, September 17, 2020

The global pandemic has upended the labor market and dramatically and suddenly reversed U.S. economic expansion. COVID-19, especially, has caused U.S. manufactures to face unprecedented labor challenges. With COVID-19 and the need for social distancing, these shortages are escalating. Many factories have shuttered to protect workers and prevent COVID-19’s spread. Even before this global crisis, in 2018 Deloitte had already projected that manufacturers would face shortages of some 2.4 million workers through 2028. Read full article.

How are Uncertain Times Altering Company Location Strategies?

Thursday, September 17, 2020

As corporate decision-makers develop their business strategies for the future, the markets they consider are rapidly changing. This dynamic trend was already in place before the onset of the global COVID-19 pandemic as businesses sought to alleviate concentration risk. With the unprecedented impacts on the global economy of the current public health crisis, however, the search for alternative locations has taken on new urgency and quickly became a priority. Read full article.

TRIO programs help students succeed, graduate

Wednesday, September 09, 2020

Colin Carlson counts the many ways the TRIO Student Support Services program helped him as a first-generation student at University of Wisconsin-Stout. “It helped me be successful my first year,” said Carlson, a senior majoring in information and communication technologies. “If I hadn’t been a part of it, I’m not sure I would have made it to my senior year. I’ve made so many friends through the program. It made me less lonely. It opened the doors to how the university works and how to study the right way.” Carlson, of Beloit, didn’t have the benefit of parents who attended college t...

Dunn County is an Ideal Location for Onshoring Companies

Monday, September 07, 2020

Site selectors looking for U.S. sites should consider Dunn County for its strategic midwest location near the Twin Cities, affordable property, broadband access and strong infrastructure. Onshoring is top of mind for business executives who have watched their supply chains be disrupted and product deliveries delayed to COVID-19. For four decades companies have offshored manufacturing operations overseas in order to save costs. COVID-19 has forced companies to ask, “At what cost?” If the cost is an inability to supply customers and fulfil contracts it may not be worth it. With 60% of U.S. manufacturing companies surveyed by Thomas reporting COVID-19 busines...

Dunn County is Telecommuter Forward, Offering Broadband Access that's Critical for Remote Work

Wednesday, September 02, 2020

Telecommuting used to be the way of the future. Thanks to COVID-19 it has become a present day reality for people throughout the state of Wisconsin and the rest of the country. Many companies have chosen to offer remote work options to employees to lesson the spread of COVID-19 and that has created an incredible opportunity for people to live where they want to - rather than where they have to. Dunn County is known for its rural beauty and access to outdoor recreation. For people living in the Twin Cities, the county has often been visited for weekend recreation an...

The GRID awarded nearly $100K in grants to advance Northwoods economic development

Tuesday, September 01, 2020

A Northwoods organization created to spur entrepreneurship and business growth recently received $95,000 in grants to advance economic development in the region. The funds will go to support the Guiding Rural Innovation and Development, or The GRID, initiative, currently based at Nicolet College. Of the total, $50,000 came from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, $35,000 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and $10,000 from Associated Bank. Read full article.

Take Wisconsin’s travel pledge

Monday, July 27, 2020

Today I’m writing to you with another way we can join together to support Wisconsin travelers and the tourism economy. While there are many variables that make the challenges each of you face unique and difficult, there’s one constant we all rely on – people. Behind every vehicle heading out on a road trip, every footstep exploring a new nature trail, every rock skipped across Wisconsin’s fresh coast and every dollar spent on new gear, lodging or great Wisconsin food and beverages, is a person – a person with a choice regarding how, when and where they spend their tim...

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