Central Wisconsin Chambers of Commerce Teaming Up to Solve Hiring Crunch

Wednesday, May 4th, 2022 -- 12:01 PM

(Mike Leischner, WSAU) Six Central Wisconsin Chambers of Commerce are teaming up for a one-day expo aimed at solving the hiring crunch in the region.

According to Mike Leischner of WSAU, Dave Eckman of the Greater Wausau Chamber says the region is at a potential turning point when it comes to economic growth. “To solve this issue, to address the issue, we have to work collaboratively. We have to connect all of our resources together.”

Mike Witte of the Portage County Business Council says they want to help businesses think outside the box so they can bring in the best people. “We want to present ideas, solutions, to attract and retain those people to this market. And that’s what’s so significant about this event. It’s a solutions summit. This is where people need to come to listen, to be involved in what’s the process to make your business more attractive.”

Eckman says expect more collaboration between the groups in the future, as part of the solution may be Central Wisconsin thinking of itself as a metropolitan area. “We are in a talent desert. That is our greatest challenge. And if we’re going to address that, it’s all of us working together.”

Eckman says the biggest challenge might be the fact that Central Wisconsin doesn't have the population density of the Twin Cities or Chicago, which makes marketing the region to outsiders that much more important. “What does Central Wisconsin look like to be magnetic? To attract and retain people to stay here. To attract them here.”

Chambers from Marshfield to Merrill and Portage County to Wausau are involved. The event runs June first from 8 to 4:30, registration is 99 dollars.

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