FOCUS FORWARD
The go-to resource to keep Wisconsin citizens, communities and businesses moving forward.
WORKING TOGETHER TO PREPARE WISCONSIN TO PROSPER
By working together, we can overcome the unprecedented challenges COVID-19 has put on us all. Focus Forward provides tools, information and inspiration related to business, community and personal resilience. It’s a place to communicate and connect regularly, where you’ll find information on financial and operational assistance programs from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) and other state and federal partners that will prepare you for economic recovery. Most of all, it’s a destination to unite, roll up our sleeves and get to work helping each other and the entire state of Wisconsin move forward.
KEEP ME INFORMED
Subscribe to Focus Forward updates to stay in-the-know about important Wisconsin economic and business news, as well as new programs and resources available for your business and community.
FOCUS FORWARD VIDEOS & LIVESTREAM EVENTS
Join WEDC Secretary and CEO Missy Hughes for videos and livestream events covering business-critical topics and peer-to-peer conversations featuring recovery tips. You’ll find the information and insights your business and community need to successfully move beyond the current crisis.
Stay tuned for Focus Forward livestreams, featuring information on reopening and recovery efforts. We’ll also take your questions live as we work together to get Wisconsin’s economy and your business back on track.
FOCUS FORWARD PODCAST
THE VOICE OF WISCONSIN BUSINESS
The Focus Forward podcast connects business and community leaders and other Wisconsin “doers” in conversations about how we can all help each other succeed. In each episode, WEDC Secretary and CEO Missy Hughes guides the discussion toward real and actionable advice you can incorporate in your business or community to help overcome the challenges you’re facing today and prepare for the new opportunities of tomorrow.
PROGRAMS & RESOURCES
Focus Forward is here to connect you to the programs and resources WEDC, other state partners and national organizations have created to help your business. It’s our commitment to make it easier for you to find the information you need for relief and recovery, including WEDC financial assistance for Wisconsin companies, SBA disaster assistance, COVID-19 federal relief programs and more. Subscribe to our Focus Forward updates to ensure you have access to the newest programs and resources as they become available.
WE’RE HERE TO HELP
Navigating the complexity of COVID-19 relief and recovery can be daunting. Let us connect you to the information, insights, partners and resources needed to keep your business and community moving forward.
Focus Forward Podcast Ep 4: The New Networking: Attract and Engage with Angela Damiani
Serial entrepreneur Angela Damiani, Newaukee CEO, builds connections and growth for talent and small businesses. WEDC Secretary and CEO Missy Hughes speaks with Damiani about the state’s business and talent opportunities pre- and post-COVID. Read More
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FOCUS FORWARD UPDATES
Stay in-the-know about important Wisconsin business and economic news, community announcements and new programs and resources available for your business.
Event planning during a pandemic
With most communities canceling events and unsure when they will be able to resume programming in light of the pandemic, WEDC’s downtown development team is offering some ideas for how communities can adapt. These include a focus on smaller events and virtual events, as well as events that can be planned in a short amount of time—so communities can adopt creative strategies instead of simply going the whole summer without any events. Read More
Reminder: Join us for the Focus Forward livestream Monday, June 29
Join us for the next Focus Forward livestream on June 29 at 11 a.m. CDT where WEDC Secretary and CEO Missy Hughes will highlight tools are resources available to small businesses in Wisconsin to respond, recover and thrive during these challenging times. Read More
Browse events or list your own with WEDC’s new COVID-19 Business Recovery Events Calendar
As organizations throughout Wisconsin plan and host events to help businesses recover, this calendar collects them in one central place. Read More