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Economic Development in Rural Wisconsin

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October 26–27, 2011

 

On Wednesday, October 26, and Thursday, October 27, 2011, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, CAP Services, Inc., Community Bankers of Wisconsin, U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development, U.S. Small Business Administration and the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority will co-sponsor a conference entitled "Economic Development in Rural Wisconsin: Developing a 21st Century Response to Compete in Today’s Global Marketplace." The purpose of the conference is to explore and discuss policies that speed, strengthen and enhance economic development in Wisconsin's rural areas to increase their competitiveness and support new market development in today's global economy.

10/26/11
7:15 AM
Registration and Continental Breakfast
8:15 AM
Welcoming Remarks

Alicia Williams,  Vice President,  Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago

8:30 AM
Opening Remarks

Eric Ness,  Wisconsin District Director,  U.S. Small Business Adminstraton

9:00 AM
Morning Keynote Address

Paul F. Jadin,  Chief Executive Officer,  Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation

9:30 AM
Rural Midwest Economy Perspectives

William Testa,  Vice President and Director of Regional Programs,  Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago

10:30 AM
Break & Networking
10:45 AM
Panel Discussion: Small Business and Farm Access to Credit

Supporting the flow of loans to creditworthy small businesses and farms is a crucial step in bolstering economic recovery and job creation. The economic recovery began in June 2009, but has borrowing to small businesses and farms rebounded as well? Are bank lending standards and terms easing or constricting? What about the demand for credit? Panelists will discuss the latest data, developments and their impact on the availability of credit to, and demand from, small businesses and farms.

Moderator and Presenter

James Simelton,  Lead Business Development Specialist,  U.S. Small Business Administration

Charles Luse,  Assistant Vice President, Community Bank Group ,  Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago

Richard McGuigan,  Executive Vice President,  Community Bankers of Wisconsin

Mary Patoka,  President and Chief Executive Officer,  CAP Services, Inc.

Dan Schneider,  Executive Vice President of Lending,  Wisconsin Business Development Finance Corporation

12:00 PM
Lunch and Luncheon Address

Luncheon Address

Herb Kohl,  Senator,  U.S. Senate (Invited)

1:15 PM
Panel Discussion: Entrepreneurial Access to Venture Capital

Entrepreneurs are engines of creativity and innovation vital to our economic growth. Consequently, entrepreneurs are disproportionately responsible for job growth in industrialized economies and for rising standards of living. However, for the past several decades, Wisconsin has ranked well below the national average for new firms launched. Panelists will discuss Wisconsin’s entrepreneurial environment and how leaders who create economic policies can strive to encourage the pioneering innovation and risk taking of entrepreneurs.

Moderator

Karl Pnazek,  Director,  Community Assets for People

Kurt Waldhuetter,  Northeast Regional Director,  Wisconsin Entrepreneurs' Network (WEN)

Bill Wheeler,  Executive Director,  Tri-County Regional Ecnomic Development Corporation

Kim L. Kindschi,  Executive Director,  Division of Entrepreneurship and Economic Development University of Wisconsin-Extension

Paul Graham,  Owner,  Central Waters Brewery

Peter W. Brey,  Managing Partner,  Buena Vista Investment Management, LLC

2:45 PM
Break & Networking
3:00 PM
Panel Discussion: Developing, Attracting and Retaining a Skilled Workforce

Misunderstanding – misinformation - it all factors into displaced workers and unemployed college grads looking past rural America as a career pathway. It takes many skilled people to smoothly run a healthy rural economy. Our panel will discuss Wisconsin’s current labor market, the mismatch of skills possessed to skills needed, educational efforts to reach out to displaced workers and the pathway to providing employers with the skilled employees they need.

Moderator and Presenter

Jack Ourada,  Executive Director,  Wisconsin Agricultural Education and Workforce Development Council

Terry Ludeman ,  Retired Chief Labor Economist,  Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (Invited)

Paul Larson,  High School Agricultural Educator,  Freedom Area School District

Lori A. Weyers,  President,  Northcentral Technical College

Mark MacPhail,  Agriculture Director,  McCain Foods

4:15 PM
Panel Discussion: Rural Labor: Many Voices, One Community

Rural communities throughout Wisconsin face serious challenges to their continued vitality. Among the most critical is the challenge of rural labor, primarily in agriculture and tourism. Immigrant labor is a growing segment of the local population and an essential factor in community economic health; however, immigration is among the most politically divisive and controversial issues. Panelists will discuss the importance of immigrants to healthy rural economies and their impact on increasing long-run economic growth and U.S. competitiveness, as well as how to bring differing cultures to mutual trust and understanding.

Moderator

Gary Sipiorski,  Dairy Development Manager, Vita Plus Corporation,  Past President and CEO and current board member, Citizens State Bank of Loyal

Erich C. Straub,  Immigration Attorney,  Erich C. Straub Immigration Attorney, LLC

Daylene Stroebe,  General Manager,  Kalahari Resorts

John T. Pagel,  Owner,  Pagel's Ponderosa Dairy

Wilda G. Nilsestuen,  Coordinator, Wisconsin Rural Physician Residency Assistance Program,  UW-Madison Department of Family Medicine

5:30 PM

A Reception Sponsored by the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) and CAP Services, Inc. will be in the Jefferson Room. The Reception includes Hors d’Oeuvres and a Cash Bar. Please Join Us for Networking and Cheer!

10/27/11
7:30 AM
Registration and Continental Breakfast
8:45 AM
Welcoming Remarks

Jeremiah Boyle,  Managing Director of Economic Development,  Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago

9:00 AM
Opening Remarks

Stan Gruszynski,  Wisconsin State Director,  U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development

9:30 AM
Local Governments on the Brink

Local governments of all sizes are facing many challenges in 2011, partly because of their overwhelming dependence on property tax revenues to fund their operating budgets. Rick Mattoon examines the likelihood of local governments defaulting on their debt or filing for bankruptcy. Despite the challenging fiscal environment today, the vast majority of local governments are not likely to do either, if history serves as a guide for the future.

Moderator

Richard Mattoon,  Senior Economist and Economic Advisor,  Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago

10:30 AM
Break & Networking
10:45 AM
Panel Discussion: Growing Rural Wisconsin’s High-Technology Opportunities

Employment opportunities are critical to a sustainable rural economy. Presently, high-technology fields requiring math, science, or engineering backgrounds are in need of a skilled workforce. What is the high-technology industry? How can rural communities build an infrastructure and create opportunities that will attract and keep a skilled workforce? Panelist will discuss resources and technology available to communities looking to move their economies forward.

Moderator and Presenter

Justin Kirking,  Business and Cooperative Program Specialist,  U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development

Gary Radloff,  Interim Director,  Wisconsin Bioenergy Initiatives

Tom Eggert,  Director,  Wisconsin Sustainable Business Council

Charlie Walker,  President and CEO, Chippewa County Economic Development Corporation

12:00 PM
Lunch and Luncheon Address (Jefferson Room)

Luncheon Address

Dallas Tonsager ,  Under Secretary, Rural Development,  United States Secretary of Agriculture

1:30 PM
The Perspective from WHEDA

Wyman Winston ,  Executive Director,  Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority

2:00 PM
Panel Discussion: Taking a Collaborative and Regional Approach to Economic Development

With dwindling resources at all levels of government, is the era of taking a collaborative and regional approach finally at hand? If so, does such a coordinated effort truly reduce duplication; provide focus on regional priorities and solutions; and improve local capacity to undertake projects that individual communities could not otherwise accomplish on their own? How do communities within a region develop a collective attitude of collaboration and cooperation? How does a region establish a recognized and respected voice on economic issues and establish priorities and policies? How does this regional concept directly provide a positive impact for the community, employers and employees to be gainfully employed and flourish?

Moderator and Presenter

Diane Schobert,  Business Development Officer,  Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority

Farshad Maltes,  Director of Economic Development,  Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority

Brenda Hicks-Sorensen,  Vice President of Economic and Community Development,  Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation

Stan Gruszynski,  Wisconsin State Director,  U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development

David J. Ward,  President and Founder,  NorthStar Economics, Inc.

Kelly Lucas,  President,  Community Foundation of South Wood County

3:15 PM
Break & Networking
3:30 PM
Panel Discussion: How Does Rural Wisconsin Go Global?

The rural economy has collided full force with globalization. Many rural communities are struggling as low-cost global competitors challenge rural America’s commodity industries. Many are searching for new competitive advantages for a new rural economy. In order to embrace globalization, Rural America’s new economic frontier may require a new business model, a remodeled financing model and fresh policy ideas built upon technology and developed by entrepreneurs. This panel discusses the impacts of globalization on the rural economy, its future and how it plays out here in Wisconsin.

Moderator and Presenter

John A. Nevell,  Liaison Director Regional Manager, International Trade Programs,  U.S. Small Business Administration

Steven C. Deller,  Professor, Department of Agricultural & Applied Economics,  University of Wisconsin-Madison

William MacFarlane,  Owner/President,  MacFarlane Pheasants Inc.

Lora Klenke,  Vice President of International Development,  Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation

Sheila Nyberg,  Executive Director ,  Clark County Economic Development Corporation and Tourism Bureau

4:45 PM
Closing Remarks and Adjourn

Jeremiah Boyle,  Managing Director of Economic Development,  Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago

 

 

 

Last Updated: 11/04/2011

 
Event Information
Date
10/26/11 - 10/27/11
Registration Deadline
Monday, October 24, 2011
Location

Jefferson Street Inn
201 Jefferson St
Wausau, WI 54403

Fee:
$99