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Thursday, September 17th for New Jobs on the Block Job Fair
Wausau's outdoor job fair is Sept 17, 11:00AM - 3:00PM at the 400 Block.
Following the massive success of last year’s event—which drew over 375 motivated job seekers to the 400 Block—demand for 2026 is higher than ever. To enhance the experience, we are featuring two local food truck vendors along with the DWD Mobile Job Lab on the closed 4th Street, creating a vibrant destination that draws in job seekers and keeps them engaged.
Can't attend but want to advertise your manufacturing job openings? Email a PDF to contact@cwimamfg.com and we will display them at our booth.
Lead Organizer: Advance Wisconsin Employment
Date: Thursday, September 17, 2026.
Time: 11:00AM – 3:00PM.
Location: The 400 Block, Downtown Wausau.
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Monday, September 21st for Member Economic Briefing
Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce invites you to participate in a 90-minute briefing and executive roundtable focused on economic and workforce trends affecting your business, as well as public policy and legislative developments in Wisconsin.
For more information, please contact Emma Boicken at events@wmc.org.
Use code "CWIMA" for free registration!
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Save These Dates for Future Member Meetings
In Person - Olympic Steel Panel Review
September date TBD (21st-24th), 2026
5:30PM - 8:00PM
Virtual Lunch & Learn - State Regulations & Election Implications
Thursday, October 8, 2026
12:00PM - 1:00PM
In Person - Cyber & AI
Thursday, November 12, 2026
5:30PM - 8:00PM
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(RECAP) August Virtual Member Meeting
Tariffs, Supplier Increases & Leadership: How to Negotiate Without Giving Away Margin, led by Jim Boldrey of Maverick Sourcing & Procurement, explored how manufacturers could navigate tariff-related cost increases and supplier pricing pressures. Attendees learned practical strategies for evaluating supplier increases, negotiating more effectively, protecting profit margins, and communicating cost changes with customers and internal teams. The session emphasized treating tariffs as a leadership challenge rather than simply a purchasing issue and provided tools for making more informed pricing and sourcing decisions.
Watch the Virtual Member Meeting Here
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Public Affairs Update
Rep. Brent Jacobson Joins Us Next Month!
Our State Regulations and Election Implications virtual member meeting next month will feature Rep. Brent Jacobson discussing legislative and regulatory issues that could affect Wisconsin manufacturers and employers. Rep. Jacobson represents Wisconsin's 87th Assembly District and serves as Chair of the Assembly Speaker's Task Force on Rulemaking (Regulations). In that role, he has led hearings and discussions across Wisconsin examining how state agencies create and enforce regulations, with a focus on regulatory oversight, accountability, and the impact of administrative rules on businesses, local governments, and residents.
The session will provide an overview of recent state and federal regulatory changes, practical compliance considerations, and strategies for staying informed as policies evolve. Attendees can expect discussion on how election outcomes may influence future business, workforce, and regulatory policies, as well as guidance on what policy updates employers should be communicating to employees. Rep. Jacobson will also highlight resources and best practices that can help businesses stay compliant, informed, and prepared for changes in the regulatory and political landscape.
Interested? Register Here!
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Associate Members — Call for Member Discounts & Special Offers
Help us add even more value to CWIMA membership!
We're creating a new CWIMA Member Discounts & Offers page on our website and are inviting our Associate Members to participate.
If your company offers products or services that could benefit fellow members, consider providing an exclusive discount, special promotion, complimentary service, or other member-only offer. This is a great opportunity to showcase your business while supporting the CWIMA manufacturing community.
If you'd like to be included, simply send us:
- A brief description of your offer
- Any terms or restrictions
- An expiration date (if applicable)
We'll feature your offer on our website and help promote it to our membership. Thank you for helping make CWIMA membership even more valuable!
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Help Shape the Future of CWIMA — Take Our Member Survey
CWIMA is committed to delivering meaningful value to our members, and your voice plays a critical role in that mission. We invite you to take just a few minutes to complete a short survey that will help us better understand how we can support your organization even more effectively.
Your feedback will help us:
• Identify the programs and services that matter most to you
• Strengthen how we support your workforce and business goals
• Ensure CWIMA continues to provide practical, high-impact value
The survey is brief, and your responses will directly guide CWIMA’s future programming, events, advocacy, and member resources.
Thank you for being an engaged and valued part of our manufacturing community. We truly appreciate your time and insight.
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Breaking Down the Governor Race | Ep. 4
Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce released the fourth episode of its Wisconsin Competitiveness Report video series, featuring WMC President Kurt Bauer and Executive Vice President Scott Manley discussing the August primary election results and what they could mean for Wisconsin's economic and policy landscape. The episode examines Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley's primary victory, key issues expected to shape the November election, and potential policy impacts on employers, manufacturers, and communities across the state, including discussions around labor policies, taxes, and the future direction of the Wisconsin Legislature.
An online version of this release is available here.
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July Local Employment and Unemployment Data Released

Wisconsin's July 2026 employment data showed a generally stable labor market, with unemployment rates declining or holding steady in many metropolitan areas, cities, and counties compared to June. Most metro areas experienced stable or improving conditions during the month, while unemployment rates fell in 19 of Wisconsin's largest cities and 25 counties. However, compared to July 2025, unemployment rates were higher in 12 of the state's 13 metro areas, 26 major cities, and 51 counties, indicating that despite short-term improvements, labor market challenges remain in many parts of Wisconsin.
An online version of this release is available here.
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Wisconsin Economic Summit Registration Opens for Eau Claire Event
Registration is open for the 2026 Wisconsin Economic Summit, scheduled for September 30 to October 1 at the Pablo Center in Eau Claire. Hosted by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC), the summit will bring together leaders from business, education, government, and community organizations to discuss workforce challenges, economic opportunity, innovation, and long-term growth strategies. The event will feature keynote presentations, breakout sessions, and networking opportunities focused on strengthening Wisconsin’s competitive advantages, supporting talent development, and identifying emerging opportunities for economic growth across the state.
More information for this event is available here.
| | Open: 2027 International Market Access Grant | | | Open: Wisconsin Business Development Tax Credits | | | |
The Business Development Tax Credit Program encourages job creation, capital investment, training, and the establishment or retention of corporate headquarters by awarding companies refundable tax credits. In addition, tax credit packages can offer extra incentives for investments in workforce housing and company-sponsored childcare facilities. As of 2024, a minimum capital investment of $250,000 is required to qualify for the program.
For more information and to apply, go here.
| | Open: Industry Sector Worker Training Grants | | | |
The Wisconsin Fast Forward grant program provides funding to employers across all industries to support customized workforce training for unemployed, underemployed, and current workers. Grants range from $5,000 to $400,000, with larger awards available for consortium applicants, and require a 50% cash or in-kind match. The program helps businesses develop skilled workers for full-time, higher-level, and higher-paying positions, with applications due October 5, 2026.
For more information and to apply, go here.
| | Open: Small Business Technical Assistance Grant | | | |
Organizations that support Wisconsin small businesses will be able to apply for the Small Business Technical Assistance (SBTA) grant from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) beginning August 3. The deadline for applications is October 2.
The maximum grant award is $200,000. Grants are awarded to programs based on factors such as the number of small businesses served, the cost effectiveness, and the impact on improving the traditional small business ecosystem in Wisconsin.
The SBTA program provides grants to eligible nonprofits, units of government, educational institutions, community organizations, foundations, or Tribal entities so those organizations can, in turn, provide technical assistance to small businesses.
The grant funds can be used to provide a wide range of support, including, experienced hands-on mentorship, educational programming, community building, leadership training, entrepreneurship and networking events, idea validation, and business development strategies.
To begin the application process, contact Nichole Crust, Director, Entrepreneurship at nichole.crust@wedc.org
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www.cwimamfg.com
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