The Buzz from WCEDA - upcoming networking events you won't want to miss and much more... |
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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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“Artificial intelligence is not a substitute for human intelligence; it is a tool to amplify human creativity and ingenuity.”
~ Fei-Fei Li, Co-Director of the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence and IT Professor at the Graduate School of Business
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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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Hiring Head Start - Virtual Workshop Looking for summer help?
Join us on Tuesday, February 20, 2024 from 8-9am to get a head start on your summer hiring! Discover effective strategies for engaging with our local youth, and explore available avenues for connection. Tuesday, February 20, 2024 • 8-9am Zoom • Free Event | |
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Top Level Leadership Info Session / Q & A Join us on February 21, 2024 at 10:30am for a free and quick-but-informative webinar about Top Level Leadership, WCEDA's executive-level leadership program! Instructor Elizabeth Oplatka, from Gateway Technical College, will lead the discussion and answer questions.
Wednesday, February 21, 2024 • 10:30-11:00am Zoom • Free Event
About TLL
We are 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. [TLL Webpage]
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County-Wide Chamber Business After Hours Wednesday, March 6, 2024 • 5-7:30pm Lake Geneva Tennis and Pickleball Free Event for Members
Learn about the hottest new sport around – pickleball! In between tours of the new pickleball facility being built on premises, and some beginner pickleball instruction (please wear athletic shoes if you'd like to try your hand at this fun sport), mingle with business leaders from all nine Walworth County membership organizations. While networking, enjoy craft brews from the cash bar provided by neighboring Mashtun Brewing in the social balcony overlooking the courts. You won't want to miss this first opportunity of the year to learn something new while meeting someone new.
Please register by Wednesday, February 28th. See you there! Brought to you by: | |
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3 Driving Engines Series: AI For Business
Thursday, March 7, 2024 • 8-10am
UW-Whitewater Innovation Center
Free Event for Members • $15 non-members
Join our series of panelists as they discuss how artificial intelligence is being used in the workplace with some practical applications. The group will also address concerns and privacy issues related to AI. Brought to you by: | |
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| WCEDA'S Annual Member Holiday Party
Once again, the WCEDA & Elkhorn Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Center Holiday party was a huge success! Thank you all our members who joined us for a special evening. Go to the event web page to see all the photos.
A special thanks goes out to the following companies that donated food and drinks for the event:
- Lake Lawn Resort
- The Abbey Resort
- Jonathan's on Brick Street
- Friends on the Square |
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Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that. ~ Martin Luther King Jr. |
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ATTN MIWC Members! Our next meeting will be in late April. Stay tuned as more details will be coming soon! |
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Wisconsin Manufacturer of the Year Finalists Announced Congratulations to four of our MIWC members! |
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Small Category 1-99 employees |
| Medium Category 100-249 employees |
| Medium Category 100-249 employees |
| Large Category 250-499 employees
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NEW!!! WCEDA's Career-Connected Learning Model!
Support and promote career exploration by offering learning opportunities for local students!
This model of monthly student opportunities (which will be listed on WCEDA's Calendar of Events), offered and driven by you, our businesses, is aimed at growing and streamlining career-based learning experiences (CBLEs) in Walworth County.
I will be reaching out to all my members to talk through the new model and find out what you are interested in offering, but in the meantime, please feel free to take a look at the form below and start building your list.
Interest/Intake Form: https://forms.gle/jnQTL5oXSuyb7RiMA |
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CTE & DD Tech Open House Wednesday, February 7, 2024 • 6pm
Delavan-Darien High School
Whether you're a student, parent, or community member, everyone is welcome. Explore the world of possibilities and discover the diverse pathways to success. Learn how students can earn their technical diploma and work towards achieving their associates degree within in their chosen career pathway. DD Tech students earn ($$) while they learn through our career and work-based learning programs. [Learn More]
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| Youth Apprenticeship Appreciation Lunch
Gateway hosted a Youth Apprenticeship appreciation lunch and mentor training in January. Thank you to all the business partners that attended! The YA program is really taking off; last year 146 students from the Gateway Consortium connected with 125 employers. Thank you Katie Graf for putting this great event together!! |
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| A big thank you to Kunes Auto Group for donating a car to the Elkhorn Automotive Club and training the students on how electrical systems work in cars! |
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| | Local businesses are increasingly recognizing the importance of connecting and are actively seeking ways to hire students with disabilities. Lake Lawn and Holiday Inn Express are two examples of business engaged with the students. If you are interested in connecting with students, please reach out to me!
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Training enhances morale by showing a commitment to individual development, helping employees excel in their roles, building a unified team, and strengthening your organization.
In the competitive market, training is a strategic advantage that keeps companies ahead and relevant in their industry. Training is not just about competitiveness, but about creating a stronger, unified, and future-ready workforce. WCEDA offers a variety of training programs customized for new hires, intermediate managers, and advance C-Suite professionals, guaranteeing success for individual and teams within your company. -Additionally, we offer a new Spanish for business course to enhance your Spanish communication skills.
Reach out to me for more details!
Susan@WalworthBusiness.com 262.215.7254 |
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Fundamentals of Supervision Modules can be taken individually and in any order.
NEXT MODULE: Module I
Gateway Technical College, Elkhorn Campus
Wednesdays, 8-10am March 6, 13, 20
April 3, 10, 17 |
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Top Level Leadership
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. Contact Susan Smolarek for information how your management team can join in the next session. [More Info] |
| Upcoming Event! Top Level Leadership Q&A/Info Session
Wednesday, February 21, 2024 10:30-11:00am ZOOM Free event |
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New! Spanish For Business I
This training focuses on communicating in Spanish in a stress-free learning environment. The following topics are an example of the subjects that will be covered in this 15-hour, hybrid course.
Short phrases in Spanish, Greet people in Spanish, Ask questions in Spanish, Describe the location of people and things, Conjugate present tense verbs, Attendance policy, Emergency Responses, Professional development, Promotions, Leadership communicating with Spanish-speaking employees, Safety Incident |
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Coming Soon! Bring Your 'A' Game
Empower your workforce with essential workplace skills, increase employment and promote lifelong success! Bring Your ‘A’ Game is an engaging curriculum for building the seven foundational workplace skills of Work Ethic. |
| - Attendance (Reliability)
- Attitude (Positivity)
- Appearance (Professionalism)
- Ambition (Initiative)
- Acceptance (Respect)
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Appreciation (Gratitude)
- Accountability (Integrity)
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Is there progress?
Workforce Housing needs in Walworth County continue to be a high priority. Five municipalities are looking at this issue and starting to take steps toward development. One municipality has identified and negotiated available land and is moving on to the zoning and planning stage. Two more are exploring the need to decide what type(s) of housing will be needed: rental or ownership. Then two more are identifying land to be developed into workforce housing.
There are many steps in this process making the development of Workforce Housing a lengthy process. The good news is, we are on our way. Stay tuned. pam@walworthbusiness.com (847) 431-1546 |
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Please help us welcome WCEDA's recent new members! |
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| Women in Manufacturing
Friday, March 22, 2024 SC Johnson iMET Center, Sturtevant, Wisconsin
In support of women who are interested, or curious, about careers in manufacturing and the trades, Gateway is once again hosting a Women in Manufacturing event. Each year more than 100 women and teens in Southeast Wisconsin attend Gateway’s Women in Manufacturing event to learn about and gain hands-on experiences to spark their interest in manufacturing and trades. Sponsorship Opportunities |
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| Kikkoman Foods, Inc. marks 50th anniversary of brewing soy sauce in the U.S. with $3M gift to CALS
On Friday, June 9, Kikkoman Foods, Inc. held a celebration to mark the 50th anniversary of the opening of its soy sauce production facility in Walworth, Wis. At the event, the Kikkoman Foods, Inc. Foundation presented a $3 million gift to the UW–Madison College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. The donation will support two CALS research programs that aim to protect the resources that initially drew the world’s leading soy sauce producer to Wisconsin.
[Read on] |
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Elkhorn Mini Maker Faire Saturday, February 17, 2024 • 9am - 4pm Elkhorn Area High School
Maker Faire is a gathering of fascinating, curious people who enjoy learning and who love sharing what they can do. From engineers to artists to scientists to crafters, Maker Faire is a venue for these "makers" to show hobbies, experiments, projects. Glimpse the future and get inspired! [More Info]
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| | CCI awarded two prestigious awards from the Associated Builders and Contractors of Wisconsin's Projects of Distinction Excellence in Construction awards program
These awards highlighted their dedication to excellence in craftsmanship, execution, safety, and overall distinctiveness. [More Info]
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UW-Whitewater to host the Special Olympics of Wisconsin State Summer Games for the second straight year
Mark your calendars on June 6-8, 2024, for this annual event, which brings in athletes from all over the state for a weekend of competition, education and fun. [Read on]
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| Gateway Technical College hosts their first-ever State of the College address
Advanced technology in the classroom, strong partnerships and serving the need of all students were three key areas of focus. [Read on]
Photos of the event can be found at https://ow.ly/fK1Q50QuPBQ. A recorded version of the event can be viewed at https://ow.ly/aVcC50QuPC3.
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| Marcia Blimbergs of Associated Bank wins Friends of the Elkhorn Area school district annual award
Thank you for investing in our schools and community, Marcia! [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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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 rose 0.1 percentage points in November 2023 to 3.3%. The state unemployment rate was 0.4 percentage points lower than the... |
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10-2 Year Treasury Yield Spread is at -0.33%, compared to -0.28% the previous market day and -0.70% last year. This is lower than the long term average of 0.88%. The 10-2 Treasury Yield Spread is the difference... |
| New orders for manufactured durable goods in the United States were virtually unchanged in December 2023, after a 5.5 percent rise seen in November and missing market expectations of a 1.1 percent increase... |
| Average Crude Oil Spot Price is at a current level of 75.72, down from 81.35 last month and down from 78.07 one year ago. This is a change of -6.93% from last month and -3.01% from one year ago.The Average Crude Oil Spot Price ... |
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Non State Grant Application
The Grants for Local Projects program is a transformative initiative dedicated to supporting non-state organizations in their pursuit of construction projects with a statewide public purpose. The program was established by 2023 Wisconsin Act 19. To be eligible for a grant, non-state organizations must secure funding from non-state revenue sources covering at least half of the total project cost. [More Info]
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| Go Frank Go Foundation Presents
John O'Leary | "The Power of One" Thursday, February 22nd, 2024
Union Grove Union High School - Gymnasium 6:00-7:30pm
Community State Bank (CSB), in partnership with the Go Frank Go Foundation, are proud to present nationally acclaimed speaker, John O'Leary. John will be speaking at three different events on Thursday, February 22nd, 2024 as part of Go Frank Go Day. The first two speaking engagements are geared towards local elementary and high school students, but the third is an evening event that is open-to-the-public and free to attend.
[More Info] |
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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 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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