The Buzz from WCEDA - upcoming networking events you won't want to miss and much more... |
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Stay away from those people who try to disparage your ambitions. Small minds will always do that, but great minds will give you a feeling that you can become great too. ~ Mark Twain
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In this email... Upcoming Events l Membership News Workforce News l County Developments Economic Indicators l Other News Valuable Resources |
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A few words from WCEDA's Executive Director, Derek D'Auria ... |
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Who should attend?
Anyone who deals with workers • Anyone who likes networking Anyone who wants to see this beautiful new venue! |
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Register today for WCEDA's Workforce Symposium! Agenda:
7:00 am - Registration/Continental breakfast
7:30 - Welcome
Derek D’Auria, Walworth County Economic Development Alliance
Ryan Schroeder, City of Delavan
7:40 am - How to successfully and easily onboard new talent through the Youth Apprenticeship program - Overview of the Youth Apprenticeship program
Katie Graff, Gateway Technical College
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What are the liabilities? How can I get more information? What does the future look like for this program? Will the pathways be expanded?
Speaker from the Department of Workforce Development
- Student success stories
8:45 am - Building & Engaging your Labor Pool -
Utilizing creative methods to uncover talent
What worked before in the talent acquisition space is not what will work in the future! Fluidity and flexibility are critical to hiring great talent in 2023.
Michelle Greiner, JW Speaker
- The art of employee referral, Work/life balance through flexible work schedules, Competitive compensation
Kathy Pierce, Andes Candies
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Successful methods for attracting and choosing the right candidates
Speaker TBA
- Q & A
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Cost: $10 WCEDA member/$15 Non-member |
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WCEDA's Annual State of the County
Tuesday, June 27 • 7:30-9:00 am From an economic standpoint, Walworth County is still very strong. This is good for local businesses and good for businesses looking to locate here.
Join us to 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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| Mark Luberda
Walworth County Administrator
Mark Luberda assumed the role of County Administrator in January 2020. He has nearly 30 years’ experience as a local government manager, having most recently served as the Director of Administration for the City of Franklin, WI, where he worked for 13 years. He has previously worked for the Town of Caledonia, Kenosha County, and the Geneva National Resort homeowners associations. He has a Masters of Public Administration from Indiana University. |
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| Tom Walsh Economist, Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development Tom Walsh is a Labor Market Economist for the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD). Tom started covering the seven county southeastern Wisconsin region in March of 2019. Prior to this position, he was a Data Analyst for Milwaukee Area Technical College and worked in multiple roles for DWD. |
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Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.
~Benjamin Franklin
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What is Inspire? Click here to learn more! Newsletter archives can be found here. It was a great month celebrating the Youth Apprenticeship program with our Walworth County schools! If you are interested in having a Youth Apprentice please reach out and I can get you started. |
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On April 27, I hosted a youth apprenticeship (YA) event at the East Troy High School with Cindy Holmes from Wisconsin Oven and Sara Larkins from Mercyhealth. The students learned about YA opportunities and what's available to them after graduation. |
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2022-2023 School Year Youth Apprenticeship Statistics |
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| Also on April 27, I had the honor of introducing students and businesses to the 2023 Youth Apprenticeship Celebration. It was an awesome event celebrating over 130 Youth Apprenticeships with over 100 employers this school year — our largest group so far! |
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Top 5 Career Paths this School Year
1. Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources 2. Manufacturing
3. Architecture & Construction 4. (tied) Health Science and Hospitality & Tourism |
| Number of Students in the YA Program by School Year 2022-2023: 139 2021-2022: 135 2020-2021: 114 2019-2020: 100
2018-2019: 76 |
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| Leadership training is key!
Leadership training is essential for all levels of management within a company.
WCEDA’s leadership training is a valuable investment for any company, regardless of the level of management. Effective leadership training can help managers and leaders at all levels to develop the necessary skills and knowledge to lead successful teams, navigate complex challenges, and achieve strategic goals.
For junior leaders and new managers, The Fundamentals of Supervision
training provides the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively lead a team, communicate with colleagues, and make informed decisions. This training can cover areas such as communication, conflict resolution, time management, and goal setting, among others. |
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For senior leaders and those who need to brush up on their leadership skills, Top-Level Leadership training is crucial. This type of training may cover advanced leadership strategies, such as managing teams across different cultures and geographies, leading organizational change, and developing strategic vision and direction. It also includes training on emerging technologies, and other relevant topics that will help leaders stay up to date on the latest trends and best practices in management.
Email or call me for more information on how to keep your leadership team updated and confident in today’s world, or register for one of our upcoming courses below. |
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Improved Communication Skills, Priority Identification, Conflict Resolution, Bad Behavior Management, Worker Engagement, Avoidance of Harassment and Discrimination, Development of Leadership Tools Modules can be taken individually and in any order. Module II starts May 3, 2023. Module III starts June 21, 2023. [More Info/Upcoming Sessions] |
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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. Next session starts June 7.
Contact Susan Smolarek for information how your management team can join in the next session.
[More Info] |
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| Summer 2023 Online LEAN SIX SIGMA Classes
May 15 - August 7, 2023 Register at training.gtc.edu - 12-Week Lean Manufacturing Principles
- 12-Week LSS Green Belt - Part A
- 12-Week LSS Green Belt - Part B
- 12-Week LSS Green to Black Belt (623-817E)
Cost: $1449 Please contact Rick Lofy (lofyr@gtc.edu) or 262-215-6725 with any questions. |
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| Small Business Academy 2023
This four-day FREE virtual conference takes place in the mornings from May 2 to 5.
In addition, on May 5, you will also have the opportunity to join in-person events across the state hosted by partner organizations in the following cities: Appleton, Beloit, Eau Claire, La Crosse, Madison, Milwaukee, and Rhinelander.
[Learn More] |
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Half Day Virtual Labor Law Clinics These interactive, educational web conferences are open to the public and are held 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Noon.
Most topics are expanded versions of those presented at DWD’s In-Person Labor Law Clinics and Friday Fundamentals Webinars.
[View upcoming sessions] |
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Table Talks Conversation on alternative/innovative funding opportunities for small businesses Thursday, May 18, 2023 • 9-11:30 am Whitewater Innovation Center 1221 Innovation Dr., Whitewater, WI 53190 For this next conversation, we will be discussing small business funding strategies! Let's talk about all of the innovative and alternative options for funding your small business. Today's budgets are tight and expenses are increasing across the board, how can we help each other find ways to keep our cash flows healthy? Free to attend. Registration required. [Register] |
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| Wisconsin Level Up Convention How to Build & Attract Talent for Wisconsin's Future
Wednesday, June 21, 2023 • 8:00 am - 3:30 pm
The Ridge, Lake Geneva
Attend the Wisconsin Level Up Convention and learn from statewide business partners and educational leaders about how to transform your educational programs to prepare students for the workforce. Tracks are designed help you build and support creative academic and career programs in your district as well as to connect you to Wisconsin businesses to enhance opportunities for your students.
In this innovative conference, you’ll have the opportunity to hear from industry professionals and to network with School District Administrators, CTE Coordinators, Business Leaders, Chambers, Educators and School Board Members from all across the state. [More Info] |
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For past & present county developments, visit the newsletter section of our website here. |
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ALDI has submitted plans to the City of Whitewater for a 20,000 square foot grocery store on the west side. The City of Whitewater’s Plan & Architectural Review Commission (PARC) will conduct site plan review at their next meeting on May 8, 2023, and render its verdict (review plan for compliance in comparison to the code).
Learn more: https://www.whitewater-wi.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=508 |
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Two big developments are in the works in Elkhorn! Construction has already begun on a Starbucks, located next to Kwik Trip on the north side of town. A Taco Bell has also been proposed for the property located at 830 N Wisconsin Street, the former site of Two Seasons Bowl. |
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To read more about each indicator, visit the newsletter section of our website here. |
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According to the BLS current population survey (CPS), the unemployment rate for Wisconsin fell 0.2 percentage points in February 2023 to 2.7%. The state unemployment rate was 0.9 percentage points lower than the national... |
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The 10-2 Treasury Yield Spread is the difference between the 10 year treasury rate and the 2 year treasury rate. A 10-2 treasury spread that approaches 0 signifies a "flattening" yield curve. A negative 10-2 yield... |
| New orders for US manufactured durable goods rose by 3.2 percent from a month earlier in March 2023, recovering from a revised 1.2 percent decline in February and easily beating market expectations of a 0.7 percent growth... |
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The Average Crude Oil Spot Price calculates an equally weighted price of the WTI Crude Oil Price, Brent Crude Oil Price, and Dubai Crude Oil Price. This metric gives a nice overview of the broad crude oil market, rather than looking at one type... |
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| Fairwyn commits to donating final $300K needed for the Never Say Never Playland, hope to begin building by October
Discussions and fundraising efforts have been ongoing for now over six years in an effort to put together the Never Say Never Playland at Veterans Park in Lake Geneva, in what would be the community’s first inclusive playland. While the process is far from over, a recent big step has been taken in the right direction. Brian Pollard, the president of Fairwyn, the lakes area premier builder, developer and real estate Company, has committed to providing the final $300,000 needed for the Playland. [Read On]
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| Kohl Education Foundation Teacher Fellowship 2023 award winner, Maggy Green
EASD congratulates Maggy Green as one of the Kohl Education Foundation Teacher Fellowship 2023 award winners! Maggy Green is the teacher and coordinator for the Senior Skills program at the Career and College Academy on Gateway Technical College's campus. [Read On]
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Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation is beginning 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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Work resumes along US 12 in Walworth County
Early April the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) resumed roadway and structure improvements along US 12, from Elkhorn to Lake Geneva, in Walworth County. As the project progresses into its second year of construction, WisDOT is notifying motorists of what they can expect this year. What to Expect
US 12 remains open, but work will be done utilizing single lane closures. Beginning the week of April 17th, various ramp and off-highway interchange access roads will have alternating long-term closures within the I-43 and County NN interchanges. Official detours will be signed. To help minimize traffic impacts during the Memorial Day weekend, ramps will reopen. After Memorial Day weekend, ramp closures will resume. The contractor, Zignego Company, Inc., is planning on completing the $21.5 million contract by this fall. The schedule of work is weather dependent and subject to change.
Visit the project website at: https://projects.511wi.gov/12walworth/ |
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Visit our website for additional resources. |
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| Walworth County Child Care Study
Snapshot Study of Child Care from a Walworth County, Wisconsin Perspective, August, 2022. Prepared by Walworth County Economic Development Alliance (WCEDA) [Read the Report]
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WWBIC’s Invest in Business Grant
Launching the first week of April, WWBIC’s Invest in Business Grant is available to support diverse Wisconsin businesses including those in underserved communities or other areas disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. $3,000,000 in total will be distributed with individual grants available based on need up to $10,000. [More Info]
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Baker Tilly CommuniTIES Connection - The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022
- Treasury issues environmental justice bonus credit allocation guidance
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Electric vehicle tax credit update
- Exploring IRA benefits for public school districts
[Go to the newsletter] |
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| Incumbent Workers Training (IWT)
In today’s ever-changing marketplace, the importance of job training has never been greater. Forward Careers's Incumbent Worker Training (IWT) grant is a way to keep your organization competitive.
Start your application now. The next round will be in the fall. [Learn More] |
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| Wisconsin Tax Bulletin
The Wisconsin Tax Bulletin (WTB) is a quarterly newsletter published by the Department of Revenue. It includes information about taxes administered by the department?, including income, corporation franchise, sales and use, excise tax, and withholding taxes.
[More Info] |
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| Ally Grant
WEDC’s Diverse Business Development Program is designed to promote inclusivity in Wisconsin’s economy by supporting existing, new and expanding businesses owned by minorities, women, LGBTQ individuals, veterans and people with disabilities. As part of this program, the new Ally Grant pilot initiative aims to foster the development of new and/or emerging diverse-based nonprofit organizations that support diverse business communities, with a specific focus on organizations WEDC has not previously funded. [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] |
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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 HometownEntrepreneur 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 ME] |
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