Community Economic Development Programs

Welcome to the Community Economic Development Program Weekly Update; your guide to the latest events, resources, and funding. The CED Weekly update is meant to keep you connected and informed about what’s happening in community economic development and provide information to help better serve Wisconsin communities.

BUSINESS & ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Unlock Success: AI Tools for Small Business Marketing | July 10, 11 am-12 pm (Virtual) –Join our webinar to discover game-changing AI solutions that elevate your brand, engage customers, and boost growth. Wisconsin SBDC Student Consultants will provide insights and real-world examples using AI tools for video and photo editing. SEO, copywriting and social media efficiencies will also be covered. Don’t miss out on the future of marketing!

Seed Fund Road Tour | July 18, 8 am-3 pm (Madison, WI) – America’s Seed Fund Road Tour is a national outreach effort to connect innovators and entrepreneurs to non-dilutive, technology funding opportunities provided through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, known as “America’s Seed Fund”. With the Road Tour’s July 18 stop in Madison, Wisconsin tech businesses and innovators-to-be will hear from 11 different federal agencies about their SBIR/STTR funding and meet with them one-on-one.

Forward Fest 2024 | August 19-23 (Madison, WI) – While Forward Fest was originally by and for entrepreneurs, we actively embrace a wide, inclusive definition of the word. Everyone in the community is welcome: do you work at a startup or nonprofit? Want to know more about running a business? Are you maybe interested in switching to a career in tech? Do you just think entrepreneurship is neat? Join us!

21st Annual Women’s Business Conference | October 30, 7:30 am-4 pm (Eau Claire, WI) – Attend this phenomenal event featuring respected speakers, entrepreneurs, and visionaries! Designed to inspire and connect you with other empowering women, this event will provide you with the resources you are looking for to start, improve, or expand your business. At this full-day conference, you’ll learn from established members of the business community in Western Wisconsin, talk to business assistance providers, and network with other women in business.

COMMUNITY & PLACEMAKING

The League of Wisconsin Municipalities 126th Annual Fall Conference | October 23-25 (Madison, WI) – The League’s 126th Annual Fall Conference is a place for municipal staff and elected officials to find encouragement in a community of local government enthusiasts, share experiences, and together create the future. Our 2024 conference will uplift stories of excellent community service, inspirational ideas, and practical solutions. We will provide the building blocks to create better organizations. You will walk away inspiring ideas.

ECONOMY

2024 UEDA Place Network Webinar Featuring University of Kentucky | June 26, 10-11 am (Virtual) – Join the UEDA Place Affinity Network to hear two presenters from UK (University of Kentucky) Innovate lead a discussion on how current federal funding priorities are influencing place based regional economic development: Ian McClure, Associate Vice President for Research (AVPR) at Innovation and Economic Impact; and Landon Borders, Executive Director of Innovation Connect and Senior Associate Director of Innovation Economic Development and Industry Partnerships.

2024 Best Practices Conference | September 25-27 (Eau Claire, WI) – WEDA’s annual Best Practices Conference is our educational forum that seeks to give attendees tactical/practical tools and ideas they can take home and put into practice immediately.

2024 Rural Renewal Symposium | October 8-10 (Ardmore, OK) – This interdisciplinary symposium is organized by the Rural Renewal Initiative at Oklahoma State University. The Symposium provides a unique opportunity to share research and connect with faculty, students, and rural community members from across the U.S. and around the world. The symposium is a place to share the latest discoveries, trends, and approaches to rural renewal.

GENERAL INFORMATION

2024 Community Development Society Annual Conference | July 14-17 (Omaha, NE) – Theme: Creating Capacity for Resilient Communities. The conference offers participants an exciting opportunity to explore the broader impact of our work on communities and the steps they are taking to secure their futures.

News & Events

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