Portage County Connects

CWED Fund, Inc. Provides Funds to Support Business Growth

Central Wisconsin Economic Development (CWED) Fund, Inc. has $2.7 million available in funds to support business growth in the region. The CWED Fund is a regional loan fund covering Central Wisconsin including Portage County. Money is available for new and… Read More »

New Economic Development Game Plan – Competitiveness Study Summary

The Wisconsin Economic Development Association (WEDA), Competitive Wisconsin, Inc., Wisconsin Counties Association and the research organization Wisconsin Economic Development Institute (WEDI) recently released the results from a comprehensive economic development study they sponsored.  The goal of the collaborative study was… Read More »

Boost your Business’ Energy Saving Efforts

Wisconsin Public Service (WPS) and Focus on Energy are working together to provide new energy-efficiency and renewable energy programs throughout Wisconsin. Financial incentive programs are making energy upgrades more affordable to small and medium sized… Read More »

Preparing a Solid Business Plan

A popular program that assists potential and existing entrepreneurs in preparing a solid business plan will be offered at several area locations this fall through the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.

The Entrepreneurial Training… Read More »

Sustainable Business Impacts in Wisconsin — Present Accomplishments, Future Goals

The recession has caused a lot of businesses to take a good, long look at how they do business. As they do so, sustainability initiatives will play a critical role. Tim Eggert, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Sustainable Business Council,… Read More »

Foreign Subsidies Hurt U.S. Paper Industry

So says a new report, “No Paper Tiger,” issued by the Economic Policy Institute. Further, notes author Usha Haley, “Since 2000, China has increased paper production three-fold to assume a leading role in the global paper industry” which adversely affects… Read More »

Think Wisconsin Needs Bold Action to Spur Venture Capitalism?

So does the non-profit, non-partisan Wisconsin Technology Council. In their newly released white paper, “Looking to the future: A case for bold action” the Council provides a long list of bold measures they’d like to see to spur economic development… Read More »

Entrepreneurship in Spite of the Recession

Entrepreneurship saw gains last year, despite the recession, credit crunch and high unemployment. According to a study done by the Kaufmann Foundation, “New-business creation during the 2007-2009 recession years increased steadily year to year (e.g. 60,000 more starts per month… Read More »

Fox Valley Developer to Build Townhouses, Apartment Complex on Lullabye Property in Stevens Point

According to the Stevens Point Journal, the City Council approved the next step in developing the former Lullabye Furniture Co. site, which would guarantee a $5.5 million return on taxpayer investment.

The council voted Monday to allow the Community Development… Read More »

Stevens Point Community Member Honored for 2011 Arts in the Community Award

Arts Wisconsin, Wisconsin’s statewide arts service, advocacy, and development organization, announced the recipients of the third annual Arts in the Community Awards. Bill Schierl, President of the Arts Alliance of Portage County, Stevens Point, was one of two recipients of… Read More »

UW-Stevens Point & IPS Testing Forge Joint Venture

IPS Testing, the Appleton-based independent testing laboratory, has announced a formal joint venture with the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point’s Wisconsin Institute for Sustainable Technology, a multi-disciplinary unit at the university. The recently signed agreement expands the long-standing relationship between the… Read More »

July Employment Numbers Released

The Department of Workforce Development has released their “July Local Job, Employment Numbers” for metro areas and counties across the state. Secretary Baumback is quoted stating, “the local preliminary data for July show the impact of the national economic slowdown… Read More »

Gender Gap to Innovation

My daughter loves asparagus. No, she isn’t the healthiest eater in the world—she is a scientist. A few weeks back my son and daughter were playing with a chemistry set ‘Santa’ brought them for Christmas and they were conducting ‘experiments’.… Read More »

Worzalla names new vice president, expands board

Worzalla Publishing Co. has added a new vice president and expanded its board of directors.

Kris Koch joined the company as vice president of operations in July. He will oversee the manufacturing and operations for the employee-owned printing and binding… Read More »

Economic Development Incentive Programs for Business

During the last six months of the 2011-2013 legislative session, the Governor and Legislature have worked together to create three significant economic development-related incentives, besides the new Wisconsin Economic Development Authority.

This information was provided by Deb Clements, Regional… Read More »

Senator Lassa’s Economic Development Bills

Recently, Senator Julie Lassa announced the following Economic Development Bills that will help to develop the economy in the state of Wisconsin. Please CLICK HERE for the document.

New Business Counselor Joins SBDC Network

A new small business counselor will serve Wisconsin’s northern region through the Wisconsin Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network, a group of twelve service centers and four specialty centers located at four-year University of Wisconsin campuses.

John Winkler will split… Read More »

Mayor Andrew Halverson retains seat

Mayor Andrew Halverson thanks supporters after he defeated challenger District 4 council member Mike Wiza for a second term in office.

CLICK HERE for more information.