by GCDC | Nov 24, 2025 | Events
CONNECT GREEN COUNTY ANNOUNCES 3RD ANNUAL UGLY SWEATER HOLIDAY PARTY
MONROE, WI — Connect Green County will host its 3rd Annual Ugly Sweater Holiday Party on Thursday, December 18, at the Monroe Golf Club, 2205 21st Street in Monroe, Wisconsin. The event runs from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM and is free for all attendees. Guests will also receive a complimentary raffle entry and one drink ticket.
Connect Green County is a networking group created to bring together local professionals, community members, and newcomers who want to build relationships and get more connected in Green County. The group hosts casual events throughout the year to help people meet one another, share ideas, and engage in the community.
“The Ugly Sweater Party has become one of our favorite traditions,” said Michelle Prien, Connect Green County Board President. “It’s a simple, fun way for folks to unwind, make new connections, and enjoy the holiday season together.”
Attendees are encouraged to wear their most festive or outrageous holiday sweaters and join in for an evening of relaxed conversation, light activities, and seasonal cheer.
For more information, contact Olivia Otte at 608-328-9452 or gcdc@greencountydevelopment.com, or check out theConnect Green County Facebook page for updates.
by GCDC | Jan 22, 2025 | News
Green County Development Corporation (GCDC) is pleased to announce the start of an exciting statewide project and partnership with the Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment, the Wisconsin Community Health Empowerment Fund, and four United Way organizations. This project is one of 66 projects supported by the Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin (AHW) Endowment.
Empowering Community Health is a unique and exciting community health Learning Collaborative that will advance avenues and possibilities for health equity, access to nutrition for families with young children and the building of innovative long standing community health resource infrastructure in four primarily rural communities throughout Wisconsin – Green, Fond du Lac, La Crosse, and Marshfield service areas.
The four rural communities are guided by innovative local United Way led teams with partners from a variety of sectors including business, health system, government, and philanthropy with the goal of improving nutrition access to over 350 families vulnerable to poverty.
The Empowering Community Health Project is part of a portfolio of projects that GCDC participates in to advance community health, economic prosperity, and the greater engagement of business in health. GCDC is honored to be a part of this important work and looks forward to sharing its learning throughout Green County, with the state of Wisconsin and with other national partners. Business engagement = better health!
https://ahwendowment.org/AHW/Public-and-Community-Health-Improvement/00005190.htm
To read more about the all of the awarded projects, click here: https://blog.ahwendowment.org/2025-seed-awards
by GCDC | Jan 8, 2025 | News
2024 Business of the Year Awards
Awards will be given in these categories:
- Outstanding Business of the Year
- Entrepreneurial Spirit Award
- Leadership Legacy Award
Eligible Businesses:
Qualifying companies must be located in Green County and can be manufacturing, distribution, construction, service, retail and any other exceptional business worth noting!
Companies may nominate themselves.
Guidelines:
Nominations must be submitted by March 2, 2025. They may be submitted electronically at GCDC Business Awards Nomination Application
The honorees will be announced and recognized at
GCDC’s Annual Business & Awards event at Turner Hall on March 20, 2025.
Submit a Nomination
*Nominate via link or form below
by GCDC | Oct 1, 2024 | Projects
Green County Home Construction Cooperative Wins Coveted Community and Economic Development Award
Achievements in Economic Development Recognized at 2024 CEDA Awards
Eau Claire, WI – The Wisconsin Economic Development Association (WEDA) is excited to announce Green County Home Construction Cooperative has won a 2024 Community and Economic Development Award (CEDA) in the Community Impact category. The CEDA Awards were established by WEDA to recognize economic development projects, businesses, and organizations that have made significant contributions to the Wisconsin economy. Winners were recognized at the annual CEDA Awards ceremony, which was held September 26, 2024, in Eau Claire, WI.
Three CEDA finalists were selected in each of the four following CEDA categories: Business Retention and Expansion; Community Impact; Real Estate Redevelopment and Reuse; and Talent Attraction, Development, and Retention. The winners in each category were announced and celebrated at the awards ceremony that was attended by over 200 economic development professionals from across the state.
“Economic development drives growth and prosperity throughout Wisconsin, attracting capital investment, creating new jobs, and providing an improved quality of life for residents. However, the hard work of economic development professionals is usually underappreciated and often unrecognized,” said WEDA Interim President and CEO Kathryn Berger. “The CEDA Awards provides a much-needed opportunity to celebrate economic development and the accomplishments of so many hard-working industry professionals. I am thrilled to congratulate each CEDA finalist and winner.”
Green County Home Construction Cooperative won their CEDA Award in the Community Impact category, which recognizes innovation in community development that promotes and advances health and economic prosperity in Wisconsin communities. Finalist projects in this category demonstrated at least one of the following: Development or expansion of the community’s entrepreneurial ecosystem; development of quality placemaking or place keeping initiatives; redevelopment of blighted buildings into a project that has revitalized the community; or development of downtown or main street workforce housing.
The Green County Development Corporation (GCDC) Home Construction Cooperative was created to address two critical issues in the Green County area – the shortage of skilled trades workers and the lack of affordable family housing. The program, kick-started through the donation of a vacant home from SSM Health Monroe, engaged 16 students from Monroe High School in the renovation of the donated home. Working together with local contractors in one-hour blocks three days per week, students gained trades skills experience that will last a lifetime, including exposure to general construction, plumbing, HVAC, electrical, masonry, and landscaping. The Home Construction Cooperative, which is boosting affordable housing stock and developing the next generation of skilled trades professionals one house at a time, is positioned to make an impact well into the future.
“We are honored to be recognized alongside the other worthy projects and thank WEDA for this honor,” said Olivia Otte, Executive Director of Green County Development Corporation. “The Home Construction Cooperative is a very special program for Green County and illustrates how rural communities work to solve problems. This program has truly been a community effort, from the school district and the City of Monroe to local businesses and other partners. We wouldn’t be successful without their support.”
CEDA finalists were screened and selected by an impartial panel of judges comprised of key WEDA members and partners. The independent panel reviewed many projects that were submitted for consideration, but the 12 finalists and ultimately the winners were selected based on the significant economic impact each project has had on its respective community or region. The 2024 CEDA Awards would not have been possible without the support of WEDA’s generous partners and sponsors, including the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation; Alliant Energy; Dairyland Power Cooperative; First Ring Industrial Redevelopment Enterprise; Madison Gas & Electric; US Bank; the Wisconsin Economic Development Institute; and Xcel Energy.
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About WEDA
The Wisconsin Economic Development Association, founded in 1975, is a statewide non-profit organization dedicated to growing Wisconsin’s economy. Driven by the needs of our 400-plus members, we represent the economic development interests of both the private and public sectors through advocacy, education, and leadership on statewide initiatives.
