Momentum West
2322 Alpine Road Ste. 7
Eau Claire, WI 54703
Phone: 715-874-4673
momentumwest.org
Counties: Barron, Clark, Chippewa, Dunn, Eau Claire, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Rusk, St. Croix
Momentum West is a regional economic development organization covering Northwestern Wisconsin, including the Chippewa Valley and St. Croix County. The area is one of the fastest-growing regions in Wisconsin as more people move to the area and businesses follow suit. The latest example is United Foods International, which is building a $37.8 million logistics facility in Prescott that has the potential to create up to 314 jobs over the next three years, said executive director Steve Jahn.
Phillips-Medisize Corp. of Hudson also recently announced plans to invest $30 million in five locations and hire 484 workers as part of a major expansion. The medical technology company is building a 50,000-square-foot manufacturing expansion in Menomonie and a 33,000-square-foot expansion at its New Richmond site. Plants in Hudson, Phillips, Medford and Eau Claire are getting smaller expansions, Jahn said.
“Our great economic diversity in the region as well as our proximity to the Twin Cities metro market are great growth drivers,” he said. “We also are home to several high quality educational institutions, including three four-year University of Wisconsin campuses.”
Population: 453,380
Top industries:
Medical devices, plastics, packaging, health care, education, bio-agriculture, bio-energy, sensors, computers, nanotechnology, chemicals
Major employers:
Menards Inc., Philips Plastic Corp., 3M Company, Mayo-Clinic Health System, Precision Pipeline LLC, Doro Inc.
Colleges & universities:
UW-Barron County, UW-Eau Claire, UW-River Falls, UW-Stout, Chippewa Valley Technical College, Indianhead Technical College, Immanuel Lutheran College
Major airport:
Chippewa Valley Airport
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Centergy
500 First St., Ste. 15
Wausau, WI 54403
Phone: 715-843-9563
centergy.net
Counties: Adams, Lincoln, Marathon, Portage, Wood
Centergy, the regional marketing and economic development organization for Central Wisconsin, is reaping the benefits of collaboration.
The Medical College of Wisconsin searched the entire state before picking two sites – Central Wisconsin and Green Bay – to be home to two new campuses. The decision is a big win for the area, according to Peggy Sullivan, Centergy’s executive director.
“This decision was the result of the region coming together to recognize the benefit the college would bring to several communities and counties – not just one,” she said. “A team of business, education and community leaders convinced the Medical College the region had all the components to result in a successful program.”
The new campus will open in 2016 with a focus on training primary care physicians, surgeons and psychiatrists. The Medical College is partnering with local colleges and health care systems to educate students in the program.
The region’s biggest city is Wausau; other major cities include Stevens Point, home to a four-year University of Wisconsin campus, and Marshfield, home to the Marshfield Clinic. In addition to a thriving health care sector, the region also is home to major manufacturers, agricultural businesses, and leaders in the financial services sector, including Sentry Insurance in Stevens Point.
Population: 328,399
Top industries:
Manufacturing, paper, health care, insurance
Major employers:
Marshfield Clinic, Sentry Insurance, Aspirus, Mosinee Telephone Co., Greenheck Fan Corp., Regal Beloit America, Wausau Paper Corp.
Colleges & universities:
UW-Stevens Point, UW-Marathon County, UW-Marshfield/Wood County, Mid-State Technical College, Northcentral Technical College
Major airport:
Central Wisconsin Airport in Mosinee
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Visions Northwest
1400 S. River St.
Spooner, WI 54801
Phone: 715-635-2197
nwrpc.com
Counties: Ashland, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Iron, Price, Rusk, Sawyer, Taylor, Washburn
Visions Northwest traces its roots back to Wisconsin’s oldest planning commission, the Northwest Regional Planning Commission. Covering 10 counties in northwest Wisconsin, Visions Northwest provides community and regional services that focus on economic, community and business development, land use and environmental resources, said executive director Myron Schuster.
The region is also home to the tribal nations of the Bad River, Red Cliff, Lac du Flambeau, Lac Courte Oreilles and St. Croix.
Schuster said one of the area’s biggest challenges – a lack of available capital for businesses – was addressed in 2014 when the Small Business Association approved the Northwest Regional Planning Commission as a micro-loan lender.
Visions Northwest seeks to attract new businesses and entrepreneurs to the region by offering technical assistance — such as broadband connections throughout the region – as well as incubation space so startups have a place to set up shop and grow their business, Schuster said.
Population: 163,924
Top industries:
Manufacturing, health care, retail, tourism.
Largest employers:
Weather Shield Manufacturing Inc., The Peachtree Companies, Graymont LLC, St. Croix Tribal Council, Avanti Health System, MarquipWardUnited Inc.
Colleges & universities:
UW-Superior, Northland College, Northcentral Technical College; Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College
Transportation:
Port of Duluth-Superior, Duluth International Airport
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Grow North
P.O. Box 518
Rhinelander, WI 54501
Phone: 715-365-4468
grownorth.org
Counties: Forest, Langlade, Lincoln, Oneida, Vilas
Grow North is a public/private economic development organization covering the area in northern Wisconsin known by many as simply “Up North.” While tourism is a thriving industry in the region – especially around Eagle River – that’s not the only thing that sets the region apart, said executive director Angi Schreiber.
“The North Woods is Wisconsin’s best kept secret for business. We want to attract new business and create jobs, so our local governments are very willing to do whatever they can to help facilitate that,” she said.
Schreiber said Vilas County is home to four thriving business incubators, and businesses in both Oneida and Langlade counties have completed recent expansions.
The Three Lakes School District stands out for having the first K-12 fabrication lab in Wisconsin, Schreiber said.
“The lab has completely changed the culture of the school. From teachers to students, the results are amazing,” she said. “The student scores have gone up and the discipline issues have dramatically dropped.”
In addition to its five core counties, Grow North also collaborates economically with the neighboring counties of Oconto, Florence and Marinette, who are also members of the New North region.
Population: 119,000
Top industries:
Tourism, health care, wood products, manufacturing
Major employers:
Amtec Corp., Church Mutual Insurance Co., Forest County Potawatomi Community, Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Packaging Corporation of America, Langlade Hospital, Wausau Paper Mills LLC
Colleges & universities:
Nicolet College and Northcentral Technical College
Major airport:
Rhinelander/Oneida County Airport
