State of the Association: WEDA President & CEO Melissa Hunt

Happy Spring! I hope everyone made it through the weather and local spring elections. It was certainly the start to what could be an interesting year, and that’s just thinking about the weather.

More importantly, our spring election outcomes emphasized the importance of informed conversations at the local level. There is a real opportunity for us to continue sharing information about economic development, planning, and their roles in our communities. WEDA will be working with partners to carry out ED 101 sessions, and we know we have an important role in helping inform conversations around economic development while providing tools and resources to support you in your communities. We’ll also be updating our TIF documents and developing additional resources to share with you.

We’re looking ahead to the WEDA Basic Economic Development Course (BEDC) this June in Fond du Lac. Scholarships are still available through tomorrow (May 1), and we encourage you to apply for or share this opportunity with colleagues who may benefit.

We’ve also officially begun implementation of WEDA’s Strategic Plan. Board Chair Rebecca Deschane is seeking volunteers to serve on the Strategic Plan Committee, an excellent opportunity to help shape the future direction of the organization. WEDA is only as strong as its members, and we can’t do this work without your input and engagement.

In addition, if you’re interested in getting more involved in WEDA in general, or would like to discuss sponsorship opportunities, I’d love to connect. Please don’t hesitate to reach out.

I also want to mention we made the decision to pause the WEDA Golf Outing this year as we focus on other priorities. We look forward to bringing it back in 2027 as a great opportunity for member engagement and connection.

Looking ahead, our Young Professionals Engagement Network will host its annual event in West Allis in July, with more details coming soon. Planning is also underway for the Fall Best Practices Conference in Kenosha this September. We’ll be kicking off the planning committee soon and welcoming presentation proposals. I’m excited to see Wisconsin’s ideas, successes, and lessons shared.

Grateful for our network and all you do ~melissa