President’s Message: Heather Wessling, CEcD

September has certainly been an eventful month for WEDA. From an increasingly influential awards gala to a wildly acclaimed training program and our annual Fall Conference, there are great things happening at WEDA that our members and partners should be excited about.

On September 12, WEDA hosted the Community and Economic Development Awards (CEDA) along with our key partners – WEDC, the League of Wisconsin Municipalities and the Wisconsin Counties Association. The 4th annual awards ceremony was a smashing success, with key Wisconsin business, projects and organizations “walking the red carpet” and being recognized for their extraordinary contributions to advancing Wisconsin’s economy. Check out the winners and all the nominees on the WEDA website.

WEDA also co-hosted – along with IEDC – the Basic Economic Development Course this month. The intensive four-day course held on the UW Madison campus provided a comprehensive introduction to the basics of economic development to a whole new class of industry professionals. I wish them the best on their professional journey. Rest assured, they have a great foundation to build on after attending the BEDC.

And as we gear up for the WEDA fall conference, which begins today in Green Bay at Lambeau Field, we can’t help but look forward to experiencing an insider’s look at the Titletown District and the tremendous educational and networking opportunities the annual conference provides. This year’s conference focuses on the Wisconsin economic development toolbox and how it can best be utilized in communities across the state. It’s always a pleasure to interact with colleagues and other professionals to learn, network and discuss the latest developments in our industry.

Aside from the many WEDA events occurring this fall, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention other encouraging developments happening within our association. For example, WEDA continues to improve its financial position by diversifying its income through its offerings across the state. It’s also important to note the growing strength of our legislative advocacy program, our training and educational offerings, and our new programs and services, such as the CRA Network. In short, the state of WEDA is strong.

However, none of our progress and success would be possible without you. Thank you for supporting WEDA. Talk soon…