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This Weeks Articles for 8/28/2025 ...

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MRRPC Launches Small Business Development Grant Program: Turning Ideas into Action

The Mississippi River Regional Planning Commission (MRRPC) is proud to announce the Small Business Development Grant - Business Plan and Pitch Contest, a program designed to help entrepreneurs transform their ideas into thriving businesses.

In partnership with the UW-La Crosse Small Business Development Center and the Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation (WWBIC) - La Crosse Office, and with $18,000 in funding from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC), MRRPC is offering training, resources, and support to strengthen the regional economy through entrepreneurship.

Program Highlights:

Business Plan Contest: Open to new or existing businesses in the MRRPC nine-county region. Participants will develop a detailed business plan (up to 24 pages, not including cover page) covering areas such as executive summary, company description, market analysis, organizational structure, products and services, marketing strategy, financial projections, and supporting materials.

Prizes Totaling $12,000!

1st Place: $5,000
2nd Place: $3,000
3rd Place: $2,000
4th Place: $1,000
5th Place: $500
6th Place: $250
7th Place: $250

Pitch Contest: The top seven business plan winners will advance to pitch their idea in a 5-7 minute presentation to a panel of judges for a share of an additional $6,000 in funding.

Eligibility:

Entrepreneurs in the idea stage or startup stage
Existing businesses seeking expansion, operational improvements, or new market opportunities
Located within MRRPC’s nine-county region

All applications must be submitted by:
February 13th at 12:00 PM to jon@mrrpc.com.

Contact:

Mississippi River Regional Planning Commission
811 Monitor Street, Suite 201
La Crosse, WI 54603
Phone: 608.785.9396
Email: jon@mrrpc.com Website: www.mrrpc.com

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Groundwater Coordinating Council Releases 2025 Report To The Legislature

MADISON, Wis. –The Groundwater Coordinating Council (GCC) recently shared its recommendations for protecting and preserving the state’s vital groundwater resources in its 2025 annual report to the Wisconsin State Legislature.

The recommendations address the most prevalent and pressing groundwater issues in Wisconsin, such as:

The continuous presence of PFAS in both public and private wells that pose a threat to public health and the environment.
Nitrate contamination in both private and public wells – a long-standing concern that has impacted the state for five decades.
The presence of pesticides in over 40% of private potable wells.
An uneven distribution of water supplies.

Read Executive Summary

Read Full Report

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Ken Notes: If you have groundwater concerns please read or share this report.

Vernon County Awards Nominations

Vernon County Awards Nominations are open through September 19th.

Award Categories this year include:

Small Business of the Year Award (under 7 years)

Legacy Small Business of the Year Award (7+ years)

Large Business of the Year Award

Community Impact Award

Excellence Award

Event of the Year Award

Young Leaders Award

Partnership for Progress

Heritage Preservation and Cultural Development Award

The nominations can all be filled out online at: https://c5te9h9wx74.typeform.com/to/GfX2FNDG and there are plenty of sharable posts on Vernon County Development`s Facebook page

Larkin Breckel
Economic Development and Marketing Coordinator
608-637-5334

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Sam Scinta to lead La Crosse Area Chamber of Commerce

The La Crosse Area Chamber of Commerce has chosen Sam Scinta as its new CEO.

Scinta, of Onalaska, begins the role Sept. 15.

His diverse experience includes legal work, running a small business, managing nonprofits, and teaching political science and servant leadership at UW-La Crosse and Viterbo University.

He also has served on several regional and statewide boards.

Scinta has worked with LeaderEthics and the DB Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership at Viterbo. He created and leads a popular community civics education program, Rebuilding American Civics...

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Jackson County Business Survey

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Ken Notes: If you have an interest in Business or Economic Development in Jackson County please take just a few minutes to fill out this survey.

Regional Economic Development Entities

Mississippi River Regional Planning Commision	SouthWest NorthWest State	Coulee Regional Business Center	THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI MANUFACTURING ALLIANCE
	Vernon Co. Economic Development	La Crosse Area Development Corporation	SBDC La Crosse
Economic Development	Community Development	Economic Development	Economic Development

Trempealeau County Economic Development	The Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation (WWBIC)	Vernon Economic Development Association	Workforce Connections, Inc.
The Pierce County EDC	Western Dairyland Economic Opportunity Council	Job and Business Development (JBD) Program
Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority	USDA Rural Development Wisconsin	Xcel Energy Economic Development	Economic Development

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The Great River Road

MAP		Discover Wisconsin Great River Road Video

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Tourism Resources and Events in Our Region

Monroe County Events Calendar	Crawford County Events Calendar Visitor Guide	Vernon County Events Calendar Visitor Guide
La Crosse County Events Calendar Visitor Guide	Trempealeau County Events Calendar Visitor Guide	Buffalo County Events Calendar
Pepin County Events Calendar Visitor Guide	Pierce County Events Calendar	Jackson County Events Calendar Visitor Guide

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Mississippi River Regional Planning Commission (MRRPC)

Working together to make the Mississippi River Region a great place to live and work.

The Mississippi River Regional Planning Commission provides planning and economic development services to improve the region`s environment, economy and quality of life. We serve a nine county region, providing studies and planning services, resources and data to help with your grant applications or reporting needs, and business loans.