NEWSLETTER
VOLUME 26 | ISSUE 8 | SUMMER 2026
BEAR AT THE ORCHARD
CULTIVATING IDEAS
GROWING OPPORTUNITY
A MESSAGE FROM OUR CEO If there was a common CEDC theme throughout the summer, it was growth. Not just business growth, but ecosystem growth. Success of economic development is often viewed through the lens of new buildings being built. It’s also viewed in housing projects, retail development, and educational buildings. While those things matter, strong economies are built through relationships, connections, and the exchange of ideas. Everyone enjoys the harvest. They appreciate the shade, the beauty, and the fruit. But orchards do not thrive because people enjoy apples. They thrive because someone plants the trees, tends the soil, prunes branches, and invests years of effort before the first basket of apples is ever picked. The orchard thrives when the soil, trees, pollinators, and growers work together, a healthy entrepreneurial and business ecosystem is much like an orchard. A thriving ecosystem does not happen automatically. Entrepreneurs need mentors. Manufacturers need access to new markets. Businesses need workforce solutions. Investors need opportunities. Communities need leaders willing to convene conversations and organizations willing to create connections. The entire ecosystem benefits from those efforts, yet too often only a small number of folks carry the responsibility of cultivating the orchard. Strong ecosystems do not emerge because opportunities exist. They emerge because people choose to engage. They volunteer. They mentor. They sponsor. They serve on committees. They attend events. They share expertise. They introduce people to one another. They invest resources. They become stronger-new ideas spread faster- and opportunities multiply. Businesses grow. Communities become more resilient. At CEDC, we view our role as helping cultivate the orchard. Like any orchard, long-term success requires many hands. Thank you to everyone who attended, sponsored, volunteered for, or participated in our events. Your engagement is helping cultivate an ecosystem where ideas can take root, businesses can grow, and opportunities can flourish throughout Chippewa. Together, we are not simply growing businesses. We are growing the ecosystem that supports them.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 101
Wednesday, September 22, 2026 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM HWY 53 Equipment Repair 305 County Hwy AA New Auburn, WI 54729
Strong communities, like thriving orchards, need the right conditions to grow. That starts with informed leaders who understand how economic development works and how they can help cultivate opportunities in their communities. Hosted by CEDC and Momentum West and presented by WEDA, this event provides a foundation in economic development principles, strategies, and challenges while building the knowledge and perspective to collaborate and champion growth in our community.
QUESTIONS? Casey Hedrington, staff@chipppewa-wi.com
R EGIST E R : www.ch ippewa -w i.com /even t s
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GROWING BEYOND THE ORCHARD
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ew stories illustrate entrepreneurial resilience better than the Mullane family, owners of Dixon’s Apple Orchard & Wedding Venue in Cadott and Dixon’s Autumn Harvest Winery in Chippewa Falls.
Today, the family operates approximately 25 acres of apple orchards, host around 75 weddings each year, and produces wines featuring their Champagne Apple and other locally grown fruit.
The family’s apple-growing roots stretch back to 1944, when Becky Mullane’s grandparents, Faye and Fred Dixon, established Dixon’s Apple Orchard in the beautiful canyon of Rancho de la Canada near Peña Blanca, New Mexico. For generations, the orchard was a family business, a home, and a destination known for its unique Champagne Apple—a variety discovered growing wild in a New Mexico canyon and carefully cultivated by the Dixon family.
Yet they have never forgotten where they came from. The Mullane’s continue to sell apples in Duluth, including through their growing Applepalooza event. They also return to New Mexico each year with two to four semitrailer loads of apples. Former customers preorder their apples and eagerly wait for the trucks to arrive.
In 1986, Becky moved from Duluth, Minnesota, to New Mexico to help her grandfather operate the orchard. She spent almost eight years learning the apple business before marrying Jim in 1993 in the Champagne Apple Orchard. Together, they raised their three children while continuing the family tradition. But drought increasingly threatened the orchard. Then, in 2011, the devastating Los Conchas Fire burned approximately 250,000 acres, destroying the family’s home, orchard, and livelihood. Severe flooding followed, taking even more of what remained.
This is Business Expansion and Retention (BEAR) in action: adapting, diversifying, building relationships, and creating new economic opportunities while staying connected to your roots. “We are just so blessed and work hard to spread our business here locally in the Chippewa Area, which you will be seeing more and more. Also, keeping our roots in New Mexico as well as Duluth, MN. God is good, beyond good and we give HIM all the glory!!!” - Becky Mullane The Mullane family didn’t simply accept failure. They chose to fall forward—and grow beyond it.
For many entrepreneurs, that might have been the end of the story. Instead, the Mullane family chose to fall forward. Before leaving New Mexico, the family preserved cuttings from the Champagne Apple, ensuring that an important piece of their heritage could live on. Looking for a region with reliable water, they ultimately chose Chippewa County, Wisconsin. In 2012, the Mullane’s began rebuilding—planting trees, developing their orchard, and creating new opportunities. They expanded into weddings and hospitality before acquiring Autumn Harvest Winery, adding another dimension to their growing agritourism business.
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BEAR IN THE ORCHARD GROWING ENTREPRENEURS IN THE SAME WAY WE GROW APPLES
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fter hearing the remarkable story of the Mullane family and how they chose to fall forward, there was no better place to bring entrepreneurs together than Dixon’s Apple Orchard. That was the spirit behind CEDC’s annual BEAR in the Orchard event, which brought entrepreneurs, business leaders, investors, mentors, and community partners together for an evening focused on connection, opportunity, and growth. The evening began with attendees hopping aboard a tractor-pulled wagon for a journey through the orchard. As the wagon rolled between rows of apple trees, Becky Mullane shared her family’s remarkable story. Her message resonated with aspiring entrepreneurs, business owners, and community leaders alike: success is rarely a straight path, but resilience, persistence, and innovation can turn setbacks into new opportunities.
Midway through the orchard tour, the wagons stopped among the trees for one of the event’s most unique experiences: a reverse pitch session. Instead of entrepreneurs pitching investors, the organizations that help entrepreneurs succeed pitched themselves. Representatives from CEDC, regional startup ambassadors, venture capital firms, angel investors, revolving loan fund programs, WEDC, lenders, educators, and business support organizations each shared a brief overview of how they help “fertilize” Chippewa County’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. The format gave founders a firsthand look at the resources available to help them launch, grow, and expand their businesses. Following the orchard experience, attendees gathered inside the venue’s beautiful modern event center for connecting over hors d’oeuvres and cocktails. Conversations flowed naturally as entrepreneurs connected with investors, busi-
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ness leaders, elected officials, startup mentors, and service providers. The event demonstrated one of the greatest strengths of Chippewa County’s entrepreneurial ecosystem: bringing together the people, resources, and relationships needed to help businesses succeed. The evening concluded with one of the most anticipated portions of the event, as 11 entrepreneurs took the stage to pitch their startup and business expansion ideas to a panel of judges. The pitches showcased the creativity, ambition, and innovation emerging throughout the region. More importantly, they highlighted the growing pipeline of entrepreneurs who are helping shape the future economy of Chippewa County. Just as an orchard requires fertile soil, careful cultivation, and long-term investment to produce a harvest, entrepreneurship requires a supportive ecosystem to thrive. BEAR in the Orchard demonstrated that Chippewa County is committed to cultivating that environment. Through events like BEAR in the Orchard, CEDC continues to connect founders with the capital, expertise, mentorship, and relationships needed to turn ideas into successful businesses and strengthen the local economy for years to come.
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BEYOND THE BOTTOM LINE:
BUILDING THE AMERICAN DREAM
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his new episode of the BEAR Discussions Podcast features Victoria Thayer, CPA and founder of NOVII CPA, for a candid conversation about financial confidence, entrepreneurship, and building the American dream.
CATCH UP
On past episodes! Listen to Episode 619
“Know Your Numbers” with Victoria Thayer
WHERE
CAN I LISTEN?
CHIPPEWA-WI.COM
Host Charlie Walker sits down with Thayer to explore why business owners can be deeply passionate about their products and services while sometimes putting bookkeeping, cash flow, and financial planning on the back burner. Thayer explains why knowing your numbers is more than a compliance exercise or something to address at tax time—it is a practical tool for making informed decisions, understanding profitability, and planning for the future. Originally from Venezuela, Victoria came to the United States at 18 on a scholarship to study engineering before discovering her passion for accounting and working with small businesses. After a decade in public accounting, she launched NOVII CPA to help founders better understand their financial position and use that knowledge to grow with intention. Throughout the episode, Victoria shares practical guidance for business owners, including how to understand the relationship between revenue, profit, and cash; identify the key numbers that matter most; regularly review financials; and recognize when growth may be creating risk rather than opportunity. She also discusses the importance of saying no to work that does not align with a company’s vision, building a strong cash-flow foundation, and seeking professional help before a loan, tax deadline, or payroll challenge becomes an emergency. Like all BEAR Discussions episodes, this conversation combines practical business insight with an authentic entrepreneurial story. Whether you are launching a business, managing a growing company, or looking to strengthen your financial knowledge, Victoria’s message is clear: understanding your numbers gives you the confidence to lead with purpose and build for the future.
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BRANCHING OUT MAKING CONNECTIONS
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trong local economies don’t grow in isolation. They grow when businesses connect, share ideas, and discover new opportunities together.
contracting. Their program helps manufacturers understand procurement processes, identify opportunities, navigate requirements, and prepare for success in the federal marketplace.
That spirit was on full display as CEDC and the New Auburn Area Development Corporation (NAADC) hosted two Collaborative Showcases, bringing more than 20 business owners and community leaders together for learning, connection, and discovery. Participants received an inside look at New Auburn Cheese Company and Auburn Rod and Custom, learning about their operations, the challenges they have overcome, and the opportunities ahead. More than a business tour, the showcases created space for conversations that can lead to new customers, supplier relationships, partnerships, and ideas for growth.
Whether it’s connecting two local businesses or helping a manufacturer reach an entirely new market, CEDC initiatives are all about creating the conditions for growth.
The same spirit of opportunity carried into CEDC’s Coffee with APEX, where over a dozen area manufacturers explored the potential of entering the defense supply chain. The Wisconsin APEX Accelerator provides no-cost assistance to businesses interested in government
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Economic development is not a fee-for-service activity. It is a shared investment in building a stronger, more vibrant Chippewa County economy. When local businesses grow, jobs expand, communities thrive, and opportunities increase for everyone. Achieving that kind of long-term success requires the support of organizations and individuals who believe in our mission and invest in the future of Chippewa. We are grateful for the sponsors and partners who make our work possible. Their commitment helps CEDC support business growth, talent development, entrepreneurship, advancement and economic prosperity across Chippewa. We would like to recognize and thank the following organizations for their continued investment in our community’s success.
official printer of the CEDC
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