What will Wisconsin look like in 20 years? What will our workforce look like? What sort of businesses will thrive in our economy? How will our tech colleges and universities stack up to those in other states? What sort of jobs will be available? Will we be able to grow our economy if we can’t fin the labor to fill jobs?

The WMC Foundation, together with state partners, has embarked on a process to help identify and answer those questions and more.

Join the WMC Foundation for the 2nd annual Future Wisconsin Economic Summit featuring:

• The release of the first annual Wisconsin Competitive Benchmarks
• Results of a nationwide perception survey of Wisconsin
• Innovative CEOs attracting talent to Wisconsin
• The impact of Wisconsin’s changing demographics
• Branding Wisconsin
• Governor Scott Walker

View the agenda and register online.

Registration is now open for the sixth annual Wisconsin Ag Women’s Summit taking place March 4-5, 2016. The Summit will kick off with the announcement of the 2016 Agvocate of the Year, recognizing a Wisconsin ag woman who has gone above and beyond to tell the story of Wisconsin agriculture.

The event’s opening session will include a multi-generation panel of women in agriculture discussing important topics to women and the agriculture community. Fifteen additional breakout session will address farm-focused business topics including: succession planning and trusts; consumer conversations; agriculture legislation; farm safety, and more.

Learn more and register by February 3 for the early bird rate.

Aligning our Direction: Finding Common Ground

Tax Policy, Transportation Budget, Immigration, Business Incentives and the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation are all essential ingredients to growing the Wisconsin economy, but finding common ground on these topics is not easy.

The Governor’s Conference on Economic Development will bring national experts to Madison to explore these topics. Add former State Senators to the mix to discuss their political views on these topics and the table is set for some invigorating discussion.

The conference is a great opportunity to meet other economic development professionals who work to shape Wisconsin’s economic future within their community. Join us as we seek to find common ground moving Wisconsin Forward!

Learn more and register by January 6 for the early bird rate.

Join BioForward as we launch our ideas to provide growth to our member businesses. Let’s challenge ourselves to think differently, move quickly, better leverage our statewide assets and be an industry leader as the future unfolds. Hear from Dr. James Thomson who inspires us with his innovative research and collaborations within the NIH’s Tissue on a Chip initiative.

Learn more and register.

It’s an interesting and opportune time in Wisconsin right now, with creative development happening like crazy on the local level around the state, and increasing interest from decision-makers about the value, benefits and impact of the arts and creativity for Wisconsin and all of its communities.

Spend the day with people who are doing the same work  you are doing, facing the same challenges, exploring the same ideas.  Get other perspectives and suggestions to strengthen your work, and share your successes and challenges to do the same for their work.

Terry Whipple, Director of the Juneau County Economic Development Corporation, will talk about innovation and entrepreneurship as the luncheon keynote speaker. JCEDC is a non-profit organization that promotes the economic development of Juneau County, Wisconsin, and its respective cities, villages and towns.  Terry and Juneau County started the first Inventors & Entrepreneurs Club in 2003, to foster a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship, bring people together to learn from their peers, and find the excitement in innovating and doing business. The Juneau County I&E Club model is recognized nationally, having inspired over 40 similar clubs in Wisconsin and numerous clubs throughout the Midwest.

Learn more and register online.