Finalists for the 2024 Community and Economic Development Awards were announced and it includes three efforts that benefit Northeast Wisconsin.
The Wisconsin Economic Development Association presents the awards to recognize businesses, projects, organizations, and communities that are making significant contributions to Wisconsin’s economy.
“The WEDA Community and Economic Development Awards is the state’s leading awards program for the economic development community and was established to recognize outstanding and innovative projects that are driving economic growth and prosperity across Wisconsin,” said interim WEDA President and CEO Kathryn Berger.
Three economic development projects or programs were selected in each of the four following CEDA categories: Business Retention and Expansion; Community Impact; Real Estate Redevelopment and Reuse; and Talent Attraction, Development, and Retention.
The winners in each category will be announced at the CEDA Awards ceremony luncheon, Sept. 26, as part of WEDA’s Fall Best Practices Conference in Eau Claire.
The Business Retention and Expansion award recognizes a single economic development project in which a community successfully mobilized to retain and/or expand an existing business of great importance to the community. Finalists are:
- Encompass Early Education and Care (city of Oconto Falls)
- STI Holdings Inc. – Stoughton Trailers (city of Stoughton)
- BOH Electronics (city of River Falls)
The Community Impact award recognizes innovation in community development that promotes and advances health and economic prosperity in Wisconsin communities. Finalists are:
- City of Monona
- Gays Mills Uptown Development (village of Gays Mills)
- Green County Home Construction Cooperative
The Real Estate Redevelopment and Reuse award recognizes innovative real estate redevelopment or reuse projects that demonstrate measurable and quantitative impact on employment and tax base, as well as sustainability measures, such as conservation of energy and water. Finalists are:
- Brooke Street Lofts (city of Fond du Lac)
- The District – West Bend
- Market on River (city of Chippewa Falls)
The Talent Attraction, Development, and Retention award recognizes initiatives or programs that can document successful talent attraction, development, and retention outcomes. Finalists are:
- The New North Talent Campaigns (Northeast Wisconsin)
- Growing Lancaster (city of Lancaster)
- Great Pinery Heritage Waterway Trail (Central Wisconsin)
Nominated projects were screened and selected by an impartial panel of judges comprised of key WEDA members and partners. The independent panel reviewed many projects that were submitted for consideration, but the 12 finalists were ultimately selected based on the significant economic impact each project has on its respective community or region.
