Wisconsin’s first Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities (CEC) Conference hosted 200 people with 60+ speakers and 10 local vendors. Interested in bringing this event to your own Wisconsin town? Host applications for CEC in 2025 are due September 15.
About the Conference
The Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities conference hosts a statewide conversation about how to promote entrepreneurship in Wisconsin’s small and rural communities. It gathers business owners, municipal leaders, financial lenders, economic development professionals, and community champions for programming about entrepreneurial ecosystem development on the local level.
CEC invites attendees to spend two days in a rural Wisconsin community and see for themselves a vibrant small-business sector. Local businesses host panels and presentations, and attendees have the chance to explore the town and network in-between sessions. An annual event in many other Midwestern states, the CEC Conference was held in Wisconsin for the first time in 2024.
Before You Apply
Successful Applicants
- Population <15k
- Local hotel rooms to accommodate 200 people
- A local team willing to go the extra mile to make the event a success
Local Team Considerations
- Serve as the local point of contact to secure venue sites
- Convene team meetings as needed to ensure local logistics are handled
- Lead local promotions and encourage local/regional attendance
- Secure volunteer assistance as needed
- Provide local information for attendees such as maps and brochures
- Preparation of welcome packets
- Recommend enthusiastic local speakers for keynote and select breakout sessions
- Help plan a select number of session featuring local themes and stories of economic development
- Provide local information to attendees throughout the conference
- Regulation communication with your UW-Extension CEC Conference point-of-contact
Infrastructure Requirements
- Walkable community space with adequate venues and parking to host the CEC Conference.
- Larger venue space within this area that can accommodate up to 200 attendees for lunches and opening and closing keynote.
- Business or organization venues available to host the workshops of this conference.
- Venue or attraction that can host an evening networking event and accommodate 200 attendees.
- Services that local caterers can provide for large group meals
- Wi-Fi connectivity available in conference venues/areas and back-up projectors and presenter technology.
- Lodging (200 beds) available within the community and walkable to the downtown venues.
- Evidence of efforts to develop a stronger entrepreneurial ecosystem within your community.
Submit Application
The Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities (CEC) conference is pleased to accept applications for 2025 host communities.
