In this issue . . .
FEBRUARY 2018
Member News Calendar of Events New Members Economic Outlook
Economic Outlook program will offer new tools, strategies for members
By David Eckmann, President/CEO ike many communities throughout Wisconsin, the greater Wausau region is experiencing strong economic growth while grappling with the talent shortage. Many business firms, small to large, are leveraging technology to fill the gaps in production, service, and generate new business. Here at the Wausau Region Chamber of Commerce, we continually seek partners and collaborators that offer services which help our organization and members to seize new opportunities or overcome challenges.
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At the 2018 Economic Outlook program scheduled for Wednesday, March 14 at City Grill Restaurant & Event Space in Wausau, the Chamber will introduce a new interactive tool that has been developed by Mark Lange and his team at the UW System Division for Business and Entrepreneurship. Business intelligence information developed and offered by the Business Dynamics Research Consortium (BDRC) will be made available to the smallest and largest of business firms, cutting across industry sectors. The array of tools
available, when employed by users, will empower business organizations to plan and position resources effectively. In addition to assisting businesses, the business intelligence tools are designed to also serve economic development professionals in our communities. Perhaps one of the greatest economic threats we face is the demographic shift – baby boomer retirements, reduced replacement populations, and an exodus of our younger generation to other parts of the state and nation. The Economic Outlook program will also offer new insight on one of the greatest challenges posed by this shift: retaining youth in the northern and rural areas of Wisconsin. A recent study completed at UW Madison sheds new light on why our youth are leaving the region and what we must do, together, to retain our younger generations in the greater Wausau area. This is an important topic that all of us need to pay attention to. To address this multi-generational challenge, strong partnerships between business, industry, government and notfor-profit organizations to develop and implement a talent development, retention, and attraction plan will be required. Without some form of comprehensive strategic thought and initiative, we rely on hope. Hope is not a strategy. For more on the Economic Outlook program, see page 2.
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