Summary
June 2025– The CEC Conference was held in Wisconsin Rapids, the conference “about small towns, for small towns,” for economic developers, local government leaders, and community champions. Not your typical conference, CEC features programming about entrepreneurship in smaller communities, featuring the local leaders, local businesses, and local cultures of a Wisconsin town.
Conference Schedule
Day 1
Track 1: Entrepreneurial Ecosystems 101
Build Your Bench: Key Players in the Business Support Ballgame
Engaging Local Entrepreneurs and Resources in Real Time
Funding Readiness: How to Secure Capital at Every Stage
Driving Economic Change: The Impact of REV on Rural Development
Track 2: Rethinking Rural: Innovating for Tomorrow’s Economy
Bridging the Digital and Local Economy: Why Online Presence Matters
Data Deep Dive: Extension’s Latest Rural Research
Rural Tech Hubs in the Upper Midwest
Identifying and Empowering the Next Generation of High-Growth Entrepreneurs in Wisconsin
Track 3: Local Roots, Big Impact: Community & Ecosystem Building in Central Wisconsin
Repurposing the Paper Mill: Redirecting Rural Economies after Economic Shock
Passionate People Lead to Quality Places: A Marshfield Example
Entrepreneurial Ecosystems in Action
From Kitchen to Consumer: Empowering Entrepreneurs in Your Rural Community
Track 4: Generations of Growth: Sustaining Rural Entrepreneurship for the Future
From Fields to Forests: Unlocking the Economic Potential of Outdoor Recreation and Agricultural Tourism
Strong Foundations: How Focusing on Community Infrastructure Fuels Entrepreneurial Success
Innovating for Impact: How Tribal Communities are Reimagining Entrepreneurship for Future Generations
Rural Youth Entrepreneurship and Career Pathways
Sponsoring Organizations
Special Features on Black, Latino, Asian, and Native Owned Businesses in Wisconsin
How Ready are Owners for Business Succession and Transition?
2024 Wisconsin Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities Conference
Business Owners of Color in Wisconsin: Trends & Outcomes
