Key Strategic Partners

WEDC provides funding for nine Wisconsin regional economic development organizations (EDOs): 7 Rivers Alliance, Centergy, Grow North, Madison Region Economic Partnership, Milwaukee 7, Momentum West, New North, Prosperity Southwest, and Visions Northwest. While each regional EDO is organized differently to meet the needs of its respective communities, they all demonstrate regional collaboration with county economic development organizations, municipal economic development organizations, regional planning commissions, workforce development representatives, educators, and private sector stakeholders. WEDC works closely with the regional EDOs around the state to facilitate communication and coordinate support for local businesses and communities.

Examples of such cooperation in FY25 include:

Holding regular meetings with local and county EDOs and chambers of commerce

• Holding regular meetings with local and county EDOs and chambers of commerce
• Engaging, educating, and leveraging the local economic development partners within each region
• Establishing regional roundtables with key industry leaders to discuss key drivers, needs, and issues facing the region
• Employing a regular communication vehicle such as a newsletter or scheduled emails
• Issuing an annual state of the region report
• Educating elected officials and boards of directors on economic development
• Conducting, causing to be conducted, or coordinating the regular business retention and expansion initiatives throughout the region and coordinating the input of results shared with WEDC
• Conducting a marketing effort on behalf of the region and its partners; coordinating with WEDC on business and marketing initiatives incorporating the Wisconsin brand
• Reaching out to rural portions of the region and helping them develop economic growth strategies; addressing any housing, broadband, and/or child care needs
• Hosting and coordinating discussions on entrepreneurship resources and assisting in promoting WEDC’s digital entrepreneurship platform
• Leading and working with local partners to develop and enhance diverse business development strategies for the region
• Working with local partners to identify what each region is doing to encourage investment in renewable energy systems or energy efficiency

In addition, the Regional Leadership Council, made up of the directors from the regional EDOs, identified key initiatives that could be deployed throughout the state in coordination with, and in advancement of, shared goals and strategies with WEDC.

The Wisconsin Procurement Institute (WPI) helps companies sell products and services to federal, state, and local agencies as well as prime contractors. WPI navigates the government procurement process for small firms and helps them develop competitive processes and technical capabilities to earn federal, state, and local government contracts. In FY25, WPI engaged with 1,333 companies, helping them obtain more than $1,6 trillion in contracts, resulting in 925 jobs created and retained.

WEDC financially supports three statewide diverse chambers of commerce and their affiliated entities. This support is through funding the revolving loan funds and funding their provision of technical assistance to respective business communities.

• African American Chamber of Commerce
• Madison Black Chamber of Commerce
• Wisconsin Black Chamber of Commerce
• First American Capital Corporation/American Indian Chamber of Commerce
• Wisconsin Indigenous Housing Economic Development Corporation
• Latino Chamber of Commerce of Dane County
• Latino Entrepreneurial Network
• Latino Chamber of Commerce of Southeastern Wisconsin
• Hmong Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce
• Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of Commerce

In FY25, 95 loans were processed by the chambers, providing $5,261,972 in community development financial institution (CDFI) funding and leveraging $36,741,177. This helped create and retain 490 jobs. In total, 2,510 businesses were supported by technical assistance.

The Wisconsin Center for Manufacturing & Productivity (WCMP), working through the Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership and the UW-Stout Manufacturing Outreach Center, provides advisory and implementation services to small and midsize manufacturers throughout Wisconsin to implement next-generation manufacturing strategies, increase business performance, and improve competitiveness and profitability through programs such as ExporTech™ and the Transformational Productivity Initiative, the outcomes of which are included within the respective listings in this report. In FY25, WCMP reached 373 companies with services resulting in $35.4 million in cost savings, $115.5 million in new sales, and $1,152.1 million in retained sales.

The Center for Technology Commercialization (CTC) provides services delivered by staff and a statewide network of partners that include review and analysis of business models and commercialization plans; advice concerning patent, trademark, and copyright issues; and assistance to businesses in obtaining federal SBIR/ STTR grants. In FY25, CTC provided counseling to 367 business clients—activity expected to assist in the creation of 79 new jobs and the retention of 359 jobs.

Note: In addition to this one-on-one assistance, CTC provides significant, in-depth consultation to numerous other businesses in its administration of WEDC’s Entrepreneurial Micro-grant Program, SBIR/STTR Matching Grant Program, and the Idea Advance Seed Fund, which is supported through WEDC’s Capital Catalyst Program. Outcomes of those activities are included within the respective program listings in this report.

The Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation (WWBIC) provides small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs with an array of educational programming, individual consulting, and microloan assistance. In FY25, WWBIC provided 1,400 clients with counseling services averaging more than seven hours per client. WWBIC’s microloan program provided more than $7.8 million in loan financing to small businesses, including 35 startups. Of the total loan amount, more than $1,280,000 served businesses in rural Wisconsin. WWBIC’s assistance is expected to facilitate the creation of 230 jobs and retention of 191.5 positions.

The Wisconsin Technology Council (WTC) contributes to the state’s high-tech and entrepreneurial economy through its policy work, hands-on work with investors and companies, educational forums, and networking events. In FY25, key WTC events—with combined attendance of 2,090 entrepreneurs, investors, service providers, and others—provided select entrepreneurs with unique opportunities and training to advance their ventures. The 2024 Early Stage Symposium featured 41 young firms showcasing their companies to an audience of 28 investors and other advisors, while the 2025 Wisconsin Governor’s Business Plan contest provided 52 of the 153 entrants with intensive “pitch” training and culminated in finalists presenting at the Wisconsin Entrepreneurs’ Conference.

The Tech Council Investor Networks (TCIN), formerly known as the Wisconsin Angel Network and housed within WTC, organized 30-minute one-on-one sessions with the final 13 contestants of the 2025 Wisconsin Governor’s Business Plan Contest and investment mentors, providing assistance and feedback on their pitches. The TCIN also held an investors-only event, with 20 investors representing 17 angel networks, to foster more connections among investors and increase awareness of investment trends and preferences.

BrightStar is a 501(c)(3)-designated nonprofit foundation that manages an equity investment fund capitalized by private donations. BrightStar invests primarily in technology-based, high-growth, early-stage businesses to facilitate job creation and increase economic activity statewide. In FY25, BrightStar made six investments in early-stage companies. Brightstar continues to manage a portfolio of 80 companies.