Building Wisconsin’s Economic Future

MADISON, WI. SEPT. 28, 2026 – The fifth annual Wisconsin Economic Summit in Eau Claire will feature two days of panels, discussions, and presentations that will provide real-life examples of how local government, business, and community leaders have come together to overcome economic disparity and build communities where everyone can thrive — now and in the future.

“At a time when the state’s economy is moving in diverging directions, the Wisconsin Economic Summit offers the opportunity to forge a path toward a brighter future,” said John W. Miller, secretary and CEO of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC), the state’s leading economic development organization. “Through two days of panels, discussions, and speakers, attendees will gain key insights on Wisconsin’s economic future and create a state where everyone can work, live and grow.”

The summit will take place from Sept. 30 – Oct. 1 at the Pablo Center in Eau Claire. Online registration is open.

An estimated 300 experts, economists, business and community leaders, and local and state officials will gather to address the challenges communities face, including how to strengthen their competitive advantages, invest in talent and innovation, and create a more prosperous economy.

This year’s summit will feature six breakout sessions and one panel discussion, allowing attendees to share insights and experiences, learn about trends and strategies others are using, and get feedback on challenges.

The breakout sessions are:

• Closing the Gap: A Mayors’ Conversation on Opportunity and the K-Shaped Economy – The session will explore Wisconsin’s uneven economic growth from the perspective of three Wisconsin mayors and the challenge of strengthening communities so everyone can move forward.
• Starting Out: Can the Next Generation Build a Future in Wisconsin? The session will give young and early-career Wisconsinites the chance to discuss economic mobility, ambition, uncertainty, and whether Wisconsin offers a credible path to the lives they hope to build.
• Building Wisconsin’s Talent Pipeline: Education, Workforce and Economic Opportunity. The session will examine how education and workforce systems can create more accessible pathways into family-supporting careers and what Wisconsin’s educational leaders are doing to expand economic mobility.
• Wisconsin’s Next Big Bets: Innovation, Industry, and the Future of Growth. The session will highlight Wisconsin innovators who have the potential to reshape industries, create new markets, and expand what’s possible for the state’s economy.
• Regional Dreamers: Building the Communities of Tomorrow. The session will explore how bold ideas become regional realities through unlikely partnerships, shared vision, aligned resources, and the determination to sustain momentum over time.
• Reimagining Place: How Visionary Communities Create Their Next Chapter. The session will explore how vision, leadership, partnership, investment and patience can create a community’s next economic chapter.

The panel discussion is:

• One Wisconsin, Different Realities: What a Changing Economy Means for Our Future. From affordability and workforce pressures to economic mobility and community identity, the speakers will discuss how Wisconsin can remain economically strong while creating pathways for greater prosperity.

Other speakers at the two-day event include:

• George Packer, bestselling author and journalist at The Atlantic, who will discuss the forces driving America’s increasing economic disparity and what they mean for workers, businesses, communities, and institutions.
• Kate Markgraf, Three-time Olympic medalist and FIFA Women’s World Cup champion, who will share what it takes to unite a team around a shared purpose, perform under pressure, and achieve outcomes that once seemed out of reach.
• Thomas Kemp, Ph.D., Chair and Professor, Department of Economics, UW-Eau Claire, who will discuss Wisconsin’s economic history and show how the state evolved because people chose innovation despite facing uncertainty.
• Deb Carey, Co-Founder/President of the New Glarus Brewing Company, who will share how she embraced uncertainty, committed to making her vision real, and turned the New Glarus Brewing Company into an iconic Wisconsin business.

Visit the Wisconsin Economic Summit website, wedc.org/summit, to find more information.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.

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