WEDA Wire – April 16, 2025

Message from the WEDA Board Chair, Jenny Kuderer-Radcliffe

I am thrilled to announce that a familiar face to many of us, Melissa Hunt, will be joining WEDA as our new President and CEO in late April! After completing a nationwide search, Melissa emerged as the clear choice to lead WEDA. Her diverse background in economic development and her long-time engagement in WEDA will not only position her to understand the diverse opportunities and challenges faced by economic developers across the state, but also to hit the ground running. The WEDA Board could not be more excited to support and work alongside Melissa as WEDA strives to grow our support for you, our members.

2025 and WEDA’s 50^th Anniversary celebration is off to a fabulous start. Over 300 attendees enjoyed the tremendous content and networking packed into three days of the Governor’s Conference on Economic Development. Next up, shine your clubs, assemble your team and join us for the 50^th Anniversary Golf Outing, Bags Tournament and Celebration Dinner on June 16^th. This event promises a day of networking, camaraderie, and friendly competition, set against the backdrop of The Hilltop in Cross Plains, WI. Mark your calendars and plan to participate in what is sure to be a memorable celebration. Please visit the website for event details, registration and sponsorship opportunities.

“Thank You” doesn’t seem like quite enough to show our appreciation to Interim President & CEO Kathryn Berger. Kathryn took the helm and has not only kept WEDA moving forward for the past many months but has helped us thrive during a time of tremendous change and growth. Kathryn has led the execution of two major conferences, the integration of Badger Bay as our association management firm and so much more. For this we couldn’t be more grateful. We look forward to her continued engagement in WEDA during the transition and for many years to come.

As we embrace WEDA’s next chapter we look forward to your continued support and active participation in WEDA’s events and initiatives. Mark your calendars for all that 2025 has to offer. Together, we will continue to champion economic development and create a thriving future for Wisconsin.

State of the Association: WEDA Interim President & CEO Kathryn Berger

Farewell… For Now…

As I wrap up my time as Interim President & CEO of WEDA, I want to take a moment to reflect, express my gratitude, and share some exciting news about what’s next—for both WEDA and for me personally.

First and foremost, I’m thrilled to welcome Melissa Hunt, a long-time WEDA member, active board member, respected colleague, and dear friend, to the role of WEDA President & CEO beginning on April 28. Melissa is a thoughtful and energetic leader with deep roots in Wisconsin’s economic development community, and I can’t think of anyone more prepared or more passionate to lead WEDA into its next chapter. I want to sincerely thank Melissa for her steady support and encouragement throughout my time in this interim role—and I’m proud to be handing the reins over to someone so capable and committed.

When I stepped into this role nine months ago, it was never my intention to be a long-term fixture – I came in to help during a time of transition, with the goal of strengthening WEDA and setting the stage for future success. I leave with a deep sense of pride in what we’ve accomplished together.

In the past nine months, we:

Planned and delivered two major conferences, including a highly successful and profitable Governor’s Conferencethat brought together over 300 economic development professionals from across the state.
Launched our 50th Anniversary year, along with a year of programming related to the 50th anniversary of Tax Increment Financing (TIF)in Wisconsin.
Invigorated the WEDA Academywith consistent monthly webinars and gatherings (free to members!).
Planned an ambitious calendar of CRA Network events, focusing on timely issues like affordable housing and partnerships that advance community development.
Successfully transitioned WEDA’s back-office operations to Badger Bay Management Company, ensuring long-term operational stability.
And importantly, we closed out 2024 in the black, despite the costs and complexity of major leadership and operational transitions.

While I’ve been involved with WEDA for many years, I was pleased to step into the interim role during this important transition and work hard to help ensure that our next President & CEO could begin their tenure with a solid foundation and strong momentum. Leadership transitions can sometimes come with disruption or growing pains, but thanks to the efforts of our board, staff, partners, and members, we’ve kept things moving forward with purpose and stability. It’s been my goal to make sure the next CEO could step into a well-positioned organization—ready to thrive, not just recover—and I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished together to make that possible.

Although I’m stepping away from the day-to-day, I’m not going far. I’ll continue to stay involved with WEDA at the board level and look forward to supporting Melissa, the team, and all of you however I can.

I’m also excited to share that I’ve accepted a new role as Interim CEO of the Wisconsin Trust for Historic Preservation. Like WEDA, the Trust plays an important role in supporting strong, vibrant communities—by helping preserve the historic places that shape local identity and contribute to economic development, housing, tourism, and downtown revitalization. I’d love to hear from you about opportunities where the Trust can bring value to the historic building challenges or opportunities in your community. You can reach me anytime at kathryn@wipreservation.org—I look forward to continuing to collaborate in new ways.

To Melissa—wishing you much success! You have my full support and confidence. To the WEDA team, board, and members—thank you for the honor of serving you. It’s been a joy, a challenge, and a deeply rewarding experience I’ll always value.

Hope to see all of you at the 50^th Anniversary Celebration on June 16!

WEDA Hires Melissa Hunt as Next President and CEO

WEDA has hired our next President and CEO. If you do not already know her, we are certain that her name is very familiar to you, as she currently serves as WEDA’s Immediate Pat Board Chair. That’s right… WEDA has hired Melissa Hunt as the association’s next President and CEO. Melissa will begin her new post at the end of this month. An official announcement for those outside the WEDA community is forthcoming, but in the meantime, please read the following MESSAGE FROM MELISSA:

Dear WEDA Members,

I’m beyond excited to be stepping into the role of President & CEO of the Wisconsin Economic Development Association. As a proud WEDA member for the past 20 years, this is both a professional milestone and a personal celebration. It feels very full circle. WEDA has been where I’ve built lifelong friendships, found trusted colleagues, and shared in the collective passion we all have for strengthening Wisconsin’s economic development ecosystem.

Over the last two decades, I’ve had the privilege of serving as an economic developer in both the public and private sectors, and at the local, county, and state levels. I’ve seen firsthand how the work we do changes lives and transforms places. I’ve always known how essential WEDA is in that journey. WEDA connects us, amplifies our voices, and advocates powerfully on our behalf at the Capitol. Our role as the voice for economic development in Wisconsin is something I take seriously and am honored to help lead into the future.

As we celebrate WEDA’s 50th anniversary this year, it’s an especially exciting moment to reflect on our rich history and look ahead to what’s next. I’m deeply humbled and grateful for the opportunity to help carry forward WEDA’s strong traditions while helping shape the next chapter.

I also want to extend my heartfelt thanks to Kathryn Berger for her exceptional service as Interim President & CEO. She stepped in with grace, professionalism, and unwavering dedication during a time of transition. Thanks to her leadership, WEDA is on strong footing and ready for what’s ahead.

Looking forward, I’m energized by the opportunity to listen to our members and to work alongside you to develop a bold, future-forward strategic plan—one that reflects our shared values, tackles the challenges we’re facing, and positions WEDA to forge a lasting impact in the years to come. This plan will focus on key pillars that matter most to our members: Membership Growth and Engagement, Networking and Education, Financial Sustainability, and Advocacy and Influence.

Our strength will continue to come from collaboration, creativity, and staying grounded in what matters most: the people doing the work every day to grow and sustain our communities and businesses. Thank you for all you do, and thank you for your continued support of WEDA. I can’t wait to get started and I look forward to connecting with many of you in the weeks and months ahead.

With gratitude and enthusiasm~melissa

Two Northern Wisconsin Communities Show How Vision and Collaboration Can Make Downtowns Thrive

By WEDC Secretary and CEO Missy Hughes

At the heart of every great community is a vibrant downtown.

It’s the place where people go to dine, shop, and socialize. And in some communities, it provides a strong tie to the community’s history.

I recently visited two communities in Northern Wisconsin that understand the value a downtown brings to a community and why it’s so critical to pay attention to these spaces.

Eagle River was just named the 2024 Wisconsin Main Street of the Year, and it’s easy to see why. City leaders worked with community organizations to create a new square where people can gather, expanded the farmers market to include local artists and an educational component, earned a National Historic Registry Listing designation, and created the Young Entrepreneurs Market to empower the next generation of business leaders.

While visiting their downtown, I noticed the number of people walking around—on an unseasonably warm Friday afternoon in March—and nearly every storefront had a tenant.

Karen Margelofsky, the executive director of the Eagle River Revitalization Program, told me she and other partners work as hard as they do to revive and improve the downtown not because they want to win awards, but because it’s what’s best for the community.

“Each piece strengthens both the downtown and the entire city, shaping Eagle River into a destination that inspires innovation, fosters deep community connections, and leaves a lasting impact on everyone who experiences it,” Margelofsky told me.

It definitely impressed me.

Community leaders in Ladysmith have the same mindset. They recently completed a three-pronged project that involved rebuilding Miner Avenue to future-proof its infrastructure, restored and brought business back to a long-vacant building, and created a pavilion and pedestrian-friendly space that now serves as a gateway to the downtown and a permanent home for the Rusk County Farmers Market.

So far, the project is having the desired effect. Nearly 2,000 people have visited Connections Thrift Store inside the restored building since it opened last fall, sales at the Rusk County Farmers Market are up 33 percent, and two new businesses are set to open on Miner Avenue.

It’s what leaders in Ladysmith envisioned when they decided to bundle the projects together.

Each would have had a positive effect, but by completing them at once, the results have been even greater.

“To have the opportunity to tackle all three as part of a larger project by leveraging funding through a variety of sources and the collaboration of a number of community partners was huge,” Ladysmith City Administrator Alan Christianson told me.

In both communities, collaboration was key. Eagle River and Ladysmith found partners who saw the vision community leaders had and believed in it enough to provide a piece of the funding.

I’m honored to say that the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation was one of those partners, providing assistance from our Vibrant Spaces and Community Development Investment grant programs and technical assistance to help make these improvements a reality.

Eagle River and Ladysmith demonstrate the momentum that can build as communities begin working together to create places where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

Leaders recognized a need and community groups came together to accomplish a goal. In both cases, the result was a downtown that attracts people—and businesses— and gives residents a sense of belonging and pride.

Over the next few months, I’ll be joining members of the WEDC team to learn how other communities across our state are working together to accomplish big goals – whether it’s in housing, child care, downtown development, workforce and business attraction, and so many other areas. Eagle River and Ladysmith are an inspiration for all of us – and I can’t wait to see what’s next.

Missy Hughes is Secretary and CEO of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, the state’s lead economic development organization.

2025 WEDA Legislative Day a Huge Success

WEDA Members Successfully Advocate for Economic Development in the State Capitol

On March 26, WEDA members from every corner of the state traveled to Madison for WEDA’s annual Legislative Day event to advocate for critical economic development polices at the State Capitol.

With over 50 attendees, WEDA members were able to network with other economic development professionals, hear from guest speakers, and receive in-depth policy briefings on WEDA’s top legislative priorities. Most importantly, they were able to meet with state lawmakers in the Capitol to request their support for the following legislative initiatives:

TIF Modernization – WEDA SUPPORTS comprehensive Tax Incremental Financing (TIF) reform legislation to modernize Wisconsin’s outdated TIF law that no longer aligns with current economic realities. Legislation is needed to provide communities with long overdue TIF flexibility to encourage new workforce housing development, fund critical infrastructure improvements, and cultivate additional business investment to ensure Wisconsin remains competitive in the 21st century economy.
Enhance Workforce Housing Revolving Loan Funds – WEDA SUPPORTS ”trailer” legislation to improve the following workforce housing revolving loan fund (RLF) programs created last session, and funded with $525 million, to increase access to affordable housing for working families and strengthen the state’s workforce: Infrastructure Access Program; Restore Main Street Program; and the Vacancy-to-Vitality Program. The bill, which would make these loan programs more effective and easier to use for communities and developers, proposes to make several important changes to the RLF programs, including: 1.) Repeal the provision that prohibits communities from using Historic Tax Credits or TIF in conjunction with the RLF programs (as you know, incentive “stacking” is critical to making housing projects financially viable); and 2.) Increase the amount of loan funding an individual project can access under each RLF program.
Wisconsin Housing Tax Credit Expansion – WEDA SUPPORTS legislation to expand Wisconsin’s successful Housing Tax Credit to better address the state’s housing shortage. The proposal would encourage the development of additional low-to-moderate income housing across the state, provide Wisconsin working families with much-needed housing opportunities, and help employers recruit and retain employees. Under current law, the WHEDA-administered Housing Tax Credit program can allocate up to $42 million in income tax credits – spread over six years – to construct affordable housing developments. This bill would make the following important changes to the program to increase available housing in communities across Wisconsin: 1.) Expand the total annual tax credit allotment from $42 million to $100 million; 2.) Eliminate the program requirement that projects be financed with tax-exempt bonds; and 3.) Boost housing development in rural areas of the state by requiring WHEDA to direct at least 35% of the tax credits each year toward housing projects in rural communities.
Business Development Tax Credit Improvement – Last session, 2023 WI Act 143 was signed into law to better align the state’s Business Development Tax Credit (BTC) with current economic realities and challenges. In addition to modifying BTC eligibility to emphasis and encourage capital investment in Wisconsin, the act created a tax credit “sweetener” for BTC eligible businesses that invest in workforce housing and childcare programs for their employees. WEDA SUPPORTS “trailer” legislation that would enhance the BTC housing and childcare tax incentives to encourage greater workforce housing and childcare investment by BTC eligible businesses and ultimately help remove obstacles to workforce participation. The bill would make the following changes to current law: 1.) Specify that eligible investments in workforce housing and childcare programs may include contributions made to a third party for those purposes, including contributions made to a local revolving loan fund; and 2.) Repeal the requirement that workforce housing development and childcare programs driven by the tax credit must be exclusively for the benefit of the employees of a BTC eligible business.

Legislative Day is a critical grassroots advocacy tool that allows WEDA to raise the profile of economic developers in the State Capitol, strengthen our relationship with lawmakers, and influence important economic development policy. It also helps WEDA’s lobbying team to build advocacy momentum and ultimately advance our legislative priorities. Thank you to all WEDA members who participated in 2025 Legislative Day!

WHEDA Accepting Applications for Competitive Workforce Housing Loan Programs

2025 competitive loan applications for Infrastructure Access, Restore Main Street, and Vacancy-to-Vitality are Now Open.

During the 2023-24 legislative session, a bipartisan workforce housing revolving loan fund legislative package was passed and signed into law to help expand access to affordable housing for working families in Wisconsin. Funded with over a half billion dollars, the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) administer the following three loan programs:

Infrastructure Access Loan – This competitive loan program allows a residential housing developer to apply for a loan to cover the costs of installing, replacing, upgrading, or improving public infrastructure related to workforce housing or senior housing. These costs are typically covered by the developer.
Restore Main Street Loan – This competitive loan program allows an owner of rental housing to apply for a loan to cover the costs to improve housing located on the second or third floors of an existing building with commercial space on the ground level.
Vacancy-to-Vitality Loan Program – This competitive loan program allows a developer to apply for a loan to help cover the cost of converting a vacant commercial building to workforce housing or senior housing.

As mentioned above, the spring competitive application cycle for these RLF programs open this month. Applications are due in May, with funding announced in June. CLICK HERE for more information on the programs and how to apply.

ICYMI: Meet Your New WEDA Board Members

During the WEDA Annual Meeting, held in early February at the 2025 WEDA Governor’s Conference on Economic Development, WEDA members elected three new Board of Directors members. In case you missed the previous announcement, WEDA is pleased to introduce you to our three newest Board members:

Willie Smith , Executive Director of the Northwest Side Community Development Corporation
Haley Makela , Entrepreneur Resource Coordinator for the Ashland Area Development Corporation
Mark Lee , Executive Director of Driftless Development, Inc.

WEDA is excited to work with our newest Board members to advance the organization and promote economic prosperity across Wisconsin.

CLICK HERE to review the full WEDA Board roster and officers.

Certified in Wisconsin Program Now Open for New Applications

Applications are now being accepted for the Certified In Wisconsin Program – which designates industrial development sites as being shovel-ready, making them attractive to developers and valuable to communities. Applications will be accepted through May 2, 2025.

Offered in partnership with the Site Selection Group (SSG), the Certified in Wisconsin Program partially subsidizes the cost to communities of obtaining site certification. The program’s goals including gauging the potential for corporate investment at the site, making recommendations for the community to consider, and gathering detailed site information to effectively market the property.

“The Certified in Wisconsin Program sends a message to site selectors and businesses that these properties and their communities are ready for new development,” said Missy Hughes, secretary and CEO of WEDC, the state’s lead economic development agency. “Going through the process and completing key reviews, documents, and assessments offers certainty to developers, site selectors, expanding companies, and other attraction prospects.”

READ MORE

We’ve Moved: WEDA Change of Address

As you know, WEDA recently brought Badger Bay Management Company onboard as our association management firm to run our back-office operations and provide greater value to WEDA members. The Badger Bay office, which is located in Kimberly, WI, will also serve as WEDA‘s new physical address. With that in mind, please take note of WEDA‘s change of address to the following:

WEDA

563 Carter Court, Suite B
Kimberly, WI 54136

Please update your “address book”, relevant business documents, and remember to send all future mail to our new address.

WEDA members are invited to join CARW on Wednesday, April 30th, for the Wisconsin Retail Real Estate Conference. Conference attendees will gain national and local insights, top-level networking, and great speakers. Join real estate professionals in the retail space including brokers, developers, investors, attorneys, bankers, and more. CLICK HERE for more information and to register.

REMINDER: WEDI Economic Development Toolbox Handbook

The Wisconsin Economic Development Institute – WEDA’s non-profit foundation established to conduct research to increase the effectiveness of economic development across the state – is excited to unveil its latest project for WEDA members.

Don’t forget to utilize the WEDI Economic Development Toolbox Handbook – a catalog and overview of state economic and community development programs in Wisconsin. It is a one-stop, user friendly resource for economic development professionals on programs and incentives offered by state agencies to drive economic growth. The online platform provides information on how loans, grants, and tax credits can support economic opportunities in your communities. Please take advantage of this valuable new resource as you work to provide new opportunities and prosperity for businesses and residents in your communities.

WEDA Job Board

Check out the latest job opportunities in the economic development field on the WEDA Job Board :

Deputy Administrator/Community Development Director – Village of Waunakee, WI
Community Development – Redevelopment Specialist – City of Kenosha, WI
Community Events and Development Manager – City of Sun Prairie, WI
Wisconsin SBDC State Director – Universities of Wisconsin
Executive Director – Dominican Center

Please CLICK HERE to view job descriptions.

Upcoming WEDA Events

The 2025 WEDA Governor’s Conference on Economic Development is in the books (CLICK HERE to review the conference recap report), but rest assured, WEDA has several other outstanding events scheduled for the rest of the year. CLICK HERE to learn more about WEDA‘s upcoming events, programming, and networking opportunities.