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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If you really look closely, most overnight successes took a long time. – Steve Jobs |
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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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2nd Annual Workforce Symposium
Tuesday, May 7, 2024 • 8-10:30am
Horticultural Hall, Lake Geneva
Free Event for Members • $15 non-members
It's crucial to strategically reinvest in your business to maintain competitiveness in constantly evolving markets. Technology and equipment upgrades, infrastructure maintenance, and marketing programs tend to take precedence, but in the quest to attract talent, adaptability and creative thinking have emerged as indispensable traits for businesses. We'll discuss why failing to reinvest in your current workforce and offer development opportunities for prospective employees isn't an option.
Join us at this year's Workforce Symposium to gain insight on valuable available resources and hear from employers in and around our county that are leading the way.
Featured Speaker:
Michaelene (Mickie) Healy
Lead Instructor/Director, SCC-University
Superior Crane Corp. | |
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Annual Walworth County State of the County
Tuesday, June 18, 2024 • 7:30-9am
The Ridge
Free Event for Members • $15 non-members
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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3 Driving Engines Series: AI For Business
Thursday, March 7, 2024 • 8-10am
UW-Whitewater Innovation Center
Visit the event web page, where you’ll find the event video, speaker presentations and other valuable information: https://www.walworthbusiness.com/3componentsofai
A special thank you goes out to all of our speakers for sharing their knowledge, insights and resources. - Ben Childers
Digital Director, Adams Publishing Group - Southern Wisconsin Group - Dr. Andy Dahl
Associate Professor of Marketing, UW-Whitewater - J. Chris Perez
Dean of Manufacturing, Engineering, and IT, Gateway Technical College - David Aguirre
Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) Technician, Learning Innovation Division, Gateway Technical College - Larry Gaffey
CEO/General Manager, Walworth County Fair - Mark Becker
President/CEO, Co-Founder, Geneva10 Fulfillment and Prestige Paints
Brought to you by: | |
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If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you're a leader. ~John Quincy Adams |
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NEW!!! WCEDA's Career-Connected Learning Model!
With unemployment rates so low, it may feel like good help is hard to find. Be a part of developing the workforce pipeline for Walworth County by getting in front of high school students early! Introduce your company and industry to future talent through WCEDA's new Career-Connected Learning (CCL) Model.
I will be following up with all my members to talk through the new model and find out what you are interested in offering, so please check out our website and start building your list. Please reach out to me with questions. The informational video of our recent event, "Hiring Head Start" can be found by clicking here. |
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Job Shadows
We're looking for a few job shadows for students in the following areas: Art, Business and Construction. If interested, please shoot me a message. |
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Career Fair
Whitewater High School is hosting a Career Fair April 10th from 10:00-11:15am. The purpose of the their career fair is to provide students with valuable insights into various industries, professions and career trajectories. If interested, please reach out to Baron West at bwest@wwwusd.org by April 5th. Lunch will be provided.
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WCEDA'S Leadership Training
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| Leadership Training for Entry- to Mid-Level Managers |
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Fundamentals of Supervision Modules can be taken individually and in any order. Fundamentals of Supervision Module II, the next stage in honing leadership skills, is scheduled to begin on April 17th.
Registrations are currently open and can be completed online or by contacting Susan directly via email at Susan@walworthbusiness.com or reaching her via cell at 262.215.7254.
Don't miss this opportunity to further develop your teams supervisory abilities to excel in their managerial roles. Module II
Gateway Technical College, Elkhorn Campus Wednesdays, 8-11am April 17, 24 & May 1, 8 |
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Leadership Training for Executive-Level and C-Suite Leaders
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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. |
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Other WCEDA Training Options
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New! Spanish For Business I
CLASS FULL Our upcoming class is currently at full capacity, showcasing the strong interest in enhancing communication within leadership teams with Spanish-speaking counterparts.
This class serves as an excellent foundation for fostering better understanding and collaboration across language barriers.
For those who missed this session, the next one will begin in late July, providing another opportunity to equip your team with essential language skills.
If you have questions or wish to secure a spot for the July session, please reach out to Susan via email at Susan@Walworthbusiness.com or contact her directly at 262.215.7254, to discuss. Registrations for the July class are now open. |
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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)
- Appreciation (Gratitude)
- Accountability (Integrity)
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Average homebuyers need to make $106,500 to comfortably afford a home
A recent Zillow report shared that some people are relying on financial gifts to help cover the cost of a down payment for a home or moving to low-cost cities to find affordable housing.
This report shows that the homebuyer needs to make $47K more today than they did in 2020 to afford a home. That means average homebuyers would need to make $106,500 today to comfortably afford a moderately-priced home. This is above the typical U.S. households earning of $81,000. New Homeowner Affordability - February 2024 |
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© 2024 Mapbox © OpenStreetMap
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With the cost of housing skyrocketing over the past four years, a monthly mortgage payment on a home in the U.S. has risen to an average of $2,188. To add to this, home values are on the rise, having increased 42.4% over the past four years.
The rise in the cost of housing is caused by multiple factors, one being the cost of materials. This rise in material cost directly affects the price of the home. The challenge becomes how to help with the rising cost of building so the home price does not rise, and the homebuyer is able to afford a home.
Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) just rolled out their 2024 financial options for builders, municipalities and homeowners. Among the programs available, there is the Infrastructure Access Loan, The Vacancy to Vitality Loan, and the Restore Main Street Loan. To learn more about these and other programs visit WHEDA at www.wheda.com.
pam@walworthbusiness.com
(847) 431-1546 |
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| It's flower time! The Flower Pot program, sponsored by the Elkhorn Economic Development Alliance (EEDA), is aimed at beautifying the city of Elkhorn by placing flowerpots in the downtown area. These pots will be cared for from June through October. YES, you may sponsor more than one pot to increase your name recognition!
Bronze: $35/pot • Silver: $150 • Gold: $300
Support of this downtown Beautification program is three-fold. - The students of the Horticultural department of Elkhorn High School grow, sell, and plant the pots.
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The Seeds of Hope horticultural and recreational community will water the plants. (The Seeds of Hope brings new growth opportunities to adults with developmental and other disabilities.)
- Lastly, the downtown business district of Elkhorn will be beautiful for residents and visitors to enjoy, and our business owners will see their business names on sponsorship flags placed near the pots for all to see.
Contact Susan Smolarek for more information. |
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Welcome new WCEDA members!! Thank you for your support!
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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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| Head Cook Job Opportunity
Elkhorn Area School District is looking to hire a head cook at the Middle School. They are hoping to find a qualified candidate before school ends so they can cross train. If you’re looking for a fast paced job, awesome schedule, and a fun work environment please apply via WECAN or reach out to Ashley Drake at drakas@elkhorn.k12.wi.us.
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| UW-Whitewater celebrates anniversary
UW-Whitewater's College of Business and Economics celebrates its 110th anniversary and 25th year of offering online courses and degrees in 2023-24. Wisconsin's largest business school is among less than two percent of business schools in the world to hold AACSB dual accreditation for business and accounting. Read more about the college, its history, and the success stories of its alums, faculty, and students. [Read on]
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| FORM Wealth CEO named to Barron's list
CEO and Founding Partner, Tyson Ray, was named to the 2024 Barron's Top 1,200 Financial Advisors list, securing a place among the »Top 10« advisors in Wisconsin. Barron’s advisors ranking in 2024 aims to spotlight the nation's best wealth managers and elevate standards in the industry. [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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Industrial & Production Trades Survey Survey Deadline: April 12
Don’t forget that MRA’s Industrial & Production Trades Survey is open for participation. Fill out the survey that includes industrial, manufacturing, production, transportation, logistics, and construction jobs! As a member participant, you can receive the final report free of charge.
Participate: https://www.periscopeiq.com/piq/gs.asp?12604,8747182,KTPR34 Participated in the past? We can provide you with your previous data –ask!
Haven’t participated in the past? Use MRA JobMatch—to simplify the matching. |
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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 -0.39%, compared to -0.37% the previous market day and -0.88% last year. This is lower than the long term average of 0.88%. The 10-2 Treasury Yield Spread is the difference between the... |
| New orders for manufactured durable goods in the United States rose by 1.4% month-over-month in February 2024, more than market expectations of a 1.1% increase and after a downwardly revised 6.9% fall in January. Orders... |
| Average Crude Oil Spot Price is at a current level of 80.55, up from 77.67 last month and up from 80.25 one year ago. This is a change of 3.70% from last month and 0.37% from one year ago. The Average Crude Oil Spot Price... |
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Applications close 4/20 • Voting 4/22 Whitewater WindUp -
A business pitch competition aimed at promoting entrepreneurship and economic growth within our vibrant community.
Whitewater WindUp offers aspiring business owners and entrepreneurs the chance to win their very own downtown storefront, along with a year's rent and renovations. We encourage all individuals with innovative business ideas to participate and make their mark on downtown Whitewater. Even if you're not looking to start a business, you can still contribute by voting for the winner and helping shape the future of our local business landscape. [Learn More]
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| Wisconsin businesses eligible for federal disaster relief after unseasonably warm winter
Businesses may be eligible for federal aid through the U.S. Small Businesses Administration’s disaster loan program. The loans are meant to help businesses get through emergency situations that have led to economic losses. [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 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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