2010 WCEDC Membership Letter

We would like you to consider becoming a new member or continuing to participate in the Washburn County Economic Development Corporation (WCEDC). The WCEDC is a non-profit corporation formed in 2002.

The primary goals of the WCEDC are to help grow businesses, increase employment and income in Washburn County. Some of the ways that this happens includes:

  • Working with existing business on expansion and retention opportunities.
  • Marketing and selling Washburn County's many amenities to targeted industries and businesses outside the of Washburn County.
  • Networking with national, State and regional development agencies and resources including realtors and others.
  • Working with the commercial finance industry to provide alternatives for business development and expansion resulting in innovative public/private financing options with lower rates and more flexible terms. The WCEDC administers five (5) Washburn County Industrial Development Agency Revolving Loan Funds, and
  • By working with local communities in the County to assist business expand and locate within the County

We encourage business and industry in Washburn County to become participating members in our broad-based group. Currently, (December, 2009), we are 63 members strong and we continue to grow. The diversity of our membership consists of individuals, entrepreneurs, small, medium and large area businesses, and businesses that serve the area, lenders, utilities, and various political subdivisions of Washburn County. The WCEDC has reasonable annual membership rates along with a tiered category of rates that make it affordable for any business, large or small to join our community.

Since January of 2009 the WCEDC has provided 15 new loans through the Revolving Loan Funds that they manage with a mixture of start-ups, expansions, and business retention loans totaling approximately $908,000.00, providing 37 new jobs while retaining 108. There is another (4) pending loans totaling $190,000.00, that will provide 12 new jobs while retaining 18 jobs.

The WCEDC will be involved in a collaborative effort with the University of Wisconsin-Extension Service Washburn County in conducting a Community Building Webinars Series over the six-month period from January to June of 2010. The Webinars - "Community Development in a Difficult Economy - Readying for the Rebound," will be held for members at the UW-Extension Building in Spooner.

The WCEDC will also be involved in the development of Business Planning Classes scheduled to begin in April of 2010. There will be a "kick off" meeting held at the WCEDC Offices the evening of March 24th. The business Planning Classes will be done in conjunction with the University of Wisconsin-Superior Small Business Development Center.

Membership will help WCEDC represent the business interests at various state functions including working with State Legislators and the various State Agencies that provide assistance and incentives for business development, expansion and retention.

Membership fees enable the staff of the WCEDC to provide business technical assistance to Washburn County businesses.

Your membership can also be deducted as a business expense for tax purposes.