Wisconsin Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities Conference
Wisconsin Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities Conference
Strengthening Rural Wisconsin’s Entrepreneurial Ecosystem by Engaging Rural Entrepreneurs, Leaders, and Innovators in Rural Communities
Overview
Gathering economic development practitioners, local decision makers, and community champions, the Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities Conference features presentations and technical programming to help small towns create environments in which entrepreneurs can thrive.
Inaugural Wisconsin CEC Conference
Come to Platteville this spring and explore how local entrepreneurship drives the Driftless Region’s development. Network with fellow community champions from around the state. And gain new technical skills for promoting entrepreneurship in your own small town.
An annual event in other Midwestern states, the CEC Conference is coming to Wisconsin for the first time in 2024. Business leaders, economic development professionals, local leaders, and community champions will gather in Platteville for two days of programming about strategies for supporting entrepreneurship in Wisconsin’s small towns.
Not a typical conference, CEC will tour attendees around Platteville to explore the Driftless Region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Local businesses will host panels and presentations, and conference attendees can check out the local food scene, visit key community sites, and network with fellow leaders in rural development. Participants will walk away with new perspectives and strategies for building entrepreneurial ecosystems in their own small towns.
Conference Schedule
Wednesday, May 29: Pre-Conference
6:00 – 8:00 pm: Meet & Greet
Out-of-town arrivals can gather for appetizers and early networking
Location: Beastro Se7en, 45 N. 2nd St.
Thursday, May 30: Day 1
9:00 am: Check-In, Trade Show, & Light Breakfast
Pick up your conference welcome packet.
Location: City Hall, 75 N. Bonson St.
10:00 – 11:15 am: Welcome and Introductions
- Master of Ceremonies: Kate Koziol, Southwest Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission
- Official Welcome: Barb Daus, Platteville Council President
- Driftless Defined: Cory Ritterbush, Southwest Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission
- Research Review: Matt Kures, UW-Madison, Division of Extension
- Keynote Speaker: Missy Hughes, Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation
- Keynote Speaker: Tripp Hughes, Organic Valley
Location: City Hall Auditorium, 75 N. Bonson St.
11:15 – 11:30 pm: Travel to Session 1
11:30 – 12:30 pm: Sessions 1
Choose a session to attend from the following options:
- Track 1: Key Partners in Dynamic Entrepreneurial Ecosystems
- Location: Avalon Cinema, 95 E. Main St.
- Track 2: Start-up Support and Resources 101
- Location: Rountree Gallery, 120 W. Main St.
- Track 3: Entrepreneurship with the Wisconsin Latino Chamber of Commerce
- Location: City Hall Auditorium, 75 N. Bonson St.
- Track 4: Creating a Sustainable Agriculture Engine through Use-Inspired Innovation
- Location: Public Library, 225 W. Main St.
12:30 – 2:00 pm: Lunch at Platteville restaurants
Find your tear-off ticket in the conference program to redeem for a lunch at the restaurant of your choice.
Locations:
- Driftless Market: 95 W. Main St.
- Los Amigos: 135 E. Main St.
- Downtown BBQ: 52 Means Dr. Suite 122 Kitchen
2:00 – 3:00 pm: Sessions 2
Choose a session to attend from the following options:
- Track 1: Economic Development Case Study: Grant County
- Location: Rountree Gallery, 120 W. Main St.
- Track 2: Wisconsin Incubator Round Table
- Location: Public Library, 225 W. Main St.
- Track 3: Creating Communities of Belonging in Rural Wisconsin
- Location: City Hall Auditorium, 75 N. Bonson St.
- Track 4: Financial Resources for Agri-preneurs
- Location: Avalon Cinema, 95 E. Main St.
3:00 – 3:30 pm: Travel to Session 3
3:30 – 4:30 pm: Session 3
Choose a session to attend from the following options:
- Track 1: Economic Development Strategy, Roles, & Tactics
- Location: Public Library, 225 W. Main St.
- Track 2: Business Start-Up Financing Resources
- Location: City Hall Auditorium, 75 N. Bonson St.
- Track 3: Collective Entrepreneurship through Cooperatives
- Location: Avalon Cinema, 95 E. Main St.
- Track 4: Local Food Systems: What is the Economic Impact?
- Location: Rountree Gallery, 120 W. Main St.
5:00 – 6:00 pm: Cocktail Reception
Location: Mining Museum, 405 E. Main St.
6:00 – 8:00 pm: Dinner and Music
Location: Mining Museum, 405 E. Main St.
There will be shuttles doing a loop between the hotels and the museum during the reception.
Friday, May 31: Day 2
8:00 – 9:00 am: Light Breakfast & Trade Show
Sign up for tours of the Huff Innovation Center and the Platteville Business Incubator
Location: City Hall, 75 N. Bonson St.
9:00 – 9:30 am: Travel to Sessions 4
9:30 – 10:30 am: Session 4
Choose a session to attend from the following options:
- Track 1: Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Building in Practice with the REV Program
- Location: Avalon Cinema, 95 E. Main St.
- Track 2: Preserving Community Assets: Facilitating Business Succession Planning
- Location: Rountree Gallery, 120 W. Main St.
- Track 3: Comienzos: Building Latino Entrepreneurship
- Location: Public Library, 225 W. Main St.
- Track 4: New Crops and New Farms: A Panel of Driftless Agri-preneurs
- Location: City Hall Auditorium, 75 N. Bonson St.
10:30 – 11:00 am: Travel to Closing Session
11:00 – 12:00 pm: Idea Sharing and Adjourn
The Scavenger Hunt winner will be announced, and a brown bag to-go lunch will be passed out as attendees depart.
Location: City Hall, 75 N. Bonson St.
Post-Event Tours (Optional)
- 1:00 pm – Huff Innovation Center at UW-Platteville
- 2:00 pm – Platteville Business Incubator
- Driftless Region Road Trips
Hotels – Reserve Now
*Mention you are part of the “CEC Block” to receive the listed room rate.
Parking
Plan Your Platteville Road Trip
Sponsoring Organizations
Equal Employment Opportunity & Affirmative Action Statements
We value inclusion and access for all participants. We are happy to provide accommodations to help you fully participate in this event.
| An EEO/AA employer, University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension provides equal opportunities in employment and programming, including Title VI, Title IX, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act requirements. | Como empleador que brinda igualdad de oportunidades en el empleo y acción afirmativa (EEO/AA, por sus siglas en inglés), la University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension, proporciona igualdad de oportunidades en el empleo y en sus programas, incluyendo los requisitos del Título VI, Título IX, la ley federal para personas con discapacidades en los Estados Unidos (ADA, por sus siglas en inglés) y los requisitos de la Section 504 del Rehabilitation Act. | Tus Tswv Hauj Lwm Ntawm (EEO/AA), ntawm lub Tsev Kawm Ntawv Qib Siab (University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension) pab rau kev ncaj ncees txog kev hauj lwm thiab kev pab cuam, xws li nyob rau hauv Title VI, Title IX, thiab ntawm tsab cai Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) yuav tsum kom muaj thiab Feem 504 ntawm the Txoj Cai Kev Pab Rov Tsim Kho Uas Tau Teev Tseg. |
| Please make requests for reasonable accommodations to ensure equal access to educational programs as early as possible preceding the scheduled program, service, or activity. | Para asegurar un acceso igualitario a los programas educativos, haga el favor de solicitar adecuaciones razonables lo más pronto posible antes de la fecha del programa, servicio o actividad. | Xav thov kom ua txoj kev thov laj thawj thiaj li tau cov kev pab cuam ntxov li ntxov tau ua ntej rau li lub caij nyoog ntawm cov kev pab cuam, kev pab los yog dej num no. |
| For communicative accommodations in languages other than English, please contact oaic@extension.wisc.edu. | Para pedir adecuaciones para la comunicación en un idioma distinto al inglés, favor de comunicarse con: oaic@extension.wisc.edu. | Rau kev sib tham pab cuam rau qhov lwm yam lus ntawm lus As Kiv (English), thov sau ntawv rau: oaic@extension.wisc.edu. |
| For communicative accommodations based on a disability, please contact Heather Lipinski Stelljes at: heather.stelljes@wisc.edu for the public. | Para personas del público que quiera pedir adecuaciones para la comunicación debido a una discapacidad, favor de comunicarse con: heather.stelljes@wisc.edu | Rau kev sib tham pab cuam rau kev puas cev xws li tes taw, thov sau ntawv rau: heather.stelljes@wisc.edu |
