Wisconsin Procurement Institute

Wisconsin Center for Manufacturing & Productivity: Wisconsin Manufacturing Report (WMR) for 2025
2025-09-29 16:00 - 18:00 (America/Chicago) | Brookfield Conference Center, 325 S Moorland Rd, Brookfield, WI, 53005, United States
The Wisconsin Center for Manufacturing & Productivity again commissioned the Wisconsin Manufacturing Report (WMR) for 2025. The WMR is a comprehensive manufacturing report based on over 400 interviews and five focus groups conducted across the state. The report is made possible in part by WMR sponsors First Business Bank, Top Floor, and Chortek.

2025 Manufacturer Focus Groups
Wisconsin manufacturers participated in one of five focus groups across the state in September. These small group discussions offered manufacturers the opportunity to share their experiences and provide important context to the 2025 WMR poll results.

2025 WMR Readout Events
We are excited to kick off Manufacturing Month in Wisconsin with the release of the fifth annual Wisconsin Manufacturing Report, and we will continue the celebration through the rest of the month! We hope you can join us to hear the study findings and celebrate Wisconsin manufacturing.
September 29, 2025 – Brookfield
Brookfield Conference Center – 325 South Moorland Rd, Brookfield
September 30, 2025 – Green Bay
TitletownTech – 1025 Lombardi Ave, Green Bay
October 7, 2025 – Menomonie
UW-Stout – Memorial Student Center, Menomonie
To read more and register, click here.

Satellite Office: Green Bay – hosted by the Northeast Wisconsin Technical College Startup Hub
2025-09-29 09:00 - 16:00, 2025-09-18 09:00 - 12:00 | Northeast Wisconsin Technical College – Startup Hub, 2701 Larsen Road, Green Bay, WI, 54303, United States
WPI will be holding office hours at our satellite location in the Northeast Wisconsin Technical College Startup Hub in Green Bay, WI. Contact the counselor directly to schedule your meeting.
To view the upcoming schedule for Green Bay at NWTC’s Startup Hub, please click here.
To view the full list of satellite locations and schedules, please click here.

Satellite Office: Superior – hosted by the Small Business Development Center at UW – Superior
2025-09-26 09:00 - 16:00, 2025-09-25 09:00 - 16:00 | Small Business Development Center at UW – Superior, 1401 Tower Avenue, Superior, WI, 54880, United States
WPI will be holding office hours at our satellite location in the Small Business Development Center at UW – Superior in Superior, WI. Contact the counselor directly to schedule your meeting.
To view the upcoming schedule for Superior, please click here.
To view the full list of satellite locations and schedules, please click here.

Wisconsin Latino 10th Economic Unsummit
2025-09-25 16:00 - 2025-09-26 13:30 | Crowne Plaza Milwaukee South, 6401 S 13th Street, Milwaukee, WI, 53221, United States
Join us on September 25th and 26th for an exciting event! This will be our first ever 2 day Unsummit with special reception and our first-ever Economic Inclusion Awards Ceremony, honoring leaders advancing equity in both the public and private sectors. Doors will open on the 25th at 4:00 PM and again on the 26th at 8:00 AM. You can register for both days or choose a single day to attend. No refunds for cancellations after registration. Substitutions allowed.
Click here for more information.

Cyber Thursday: CMMC 2.0 What is 48 CFR and why it matters?
2025-09-25 11:00 - 12:00
This session will explore the 48 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) in depth, focusing on its role in establishing the legal and contractual foundation for cybersecurity requirements in federal acquisitions. The 48 CFR’s Timeline and particular clauses will be discussed at length so we can understand the future of the CMMC Program.
Speaker: Matt Frost, Government Contract Specialist, Wisconsin Procurement Institute – WI APEX Accelerator

This webinar is eligible for 1 CPE credit.
For the full schedule of the Cyber Thursday webinars, please click here.

Office Hours: Madison - Local Certifications Workshop
2025-09-25 09:00 - 12:00 | Madison Area Technical College (MATC) Goodman South Campus, 2429 Perry Street, Madison, WI, 53713, United States
WPI will be holding an in-person session on Local Certifications Workshop at the Madison Area Technical College (MATC) Goodman South Campus in Madison, WI.
Schedule:
9-10 AM –Presentation on Local Certifications
Tru Mwololo will give an hour-long presentation on Local Certifications.

Types of State of certifications-MBE/WBE/DVB
Why get certified?
How to get certified.
Benefits & challenges.

Please RSVP/register for the presentation hour at this LINK.

10:15AM-12 PM – One-on-One Meetings

Please select an individual meeting time with Tru at this LINK.

Presenter:

Truphosa Mwololo, Manager Small Business Programs, Wisconsin Procurement Institute – WI APEX Accelerator

To view the upcoming schedule for Madison – MATC Goodman South, please click here.
To view the full list of satellite locations and schedules, please click here.

Local Government Contracting for Small Businesses (virtual)
2025-09-24 15:00 - 17:00
Explore best practices in procurement and how to discover local government contracting opportunities. Click on the flyer below to download and to complete registration.
This virtual workshop will provide small businesses with information on procurement practices and how to identify contracting opportunities with local government entities. The event will include networking and buyer meeting opportunities
Presented by:

City of Madison
Dane County
Milwaukee County
Wisconsin Supplier Diversity Program
Domina Consulting
Wisconsin Procurement Institute (WPI) – WI APEX Accelerator

For questions, contact:
Michael Steger, Small Business Advisor, Wisconsin Procurement Institute (WPI)
(414) 270-3600
michaels@wispro.org
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Acquisition Hour: The 8(a) Business Development Program
2025-09-24 12:00 - 13:00
The U.S. Small Business Administration’s 8(a) Business Development Program is a powerful resource designed to help socially and economically disadvantaged small businesses gain access to the federal contracting marketplace. This nine-year program offers specialized business training, counseling, and set-aside contracting opportunities to help firms build capacity and compete more effectively for federal contracts.
In this session, participants will learn:

Eligibility requirements and the application process for the 8(a) Program
Program benefits, including sole-source and set-aside contracting opportunities
Business development support services available through the program
Strategies to maximize participation and position for long-term success

This training will provide business owners with a clear understanding of how the 8(a) Program works and how it can be leveraged to expand opportunities in the federal marketplace.
Speakers:

Shane Mahaffy, Lead Business Opportunity Specialist – U.S Small Business Administration (SBA)
Ben Blanc, Government Contract Specialist – Wisconsin Procurement Institute (WPI) – WI APEX Accelerator

This webinar is eligible for 1 CPE credit.
View a schedule of all upcoming Acquisition Hour webinars.

Satellite Office: Eau Claire - hosted by the Western Dairyland Economic Opportunity Council
2025-09-24 09:00 - 16:00, 2025-09-23 09:00 - 16:00 | Western Dairyland EOC, 418 Wisconsin St, Eau Claire, WI, 54703, United States
WPI will be holding office hours at our satellite location in the Western Dairyland EOC’s offices located in Eau Claire, WI. Contact the counselor directly to schedule your meeting with them.
To view the upcoming schedule for Eau Claire, please click here.
To view the full list of satellite locations and schedules, please click here.

2025 WEDA Fall Best Practices Conference
2025-09-24 - 2025-09-26 | Oshkosh Convention Center, 2 North Main Street, Oshkosh, WI, 54901, United States
The 2025 WEDA Best Practices Conference will be held Sept. 24-26, in beautiful Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The Oshkosh Waterfront Hotel, in the heart of downtown, is our host. Amazing restaurants and pubs, all within walking distance, will make this a great city to explore!
The upcoming conference will provide attendees with an opportunity to dive into the fundamentals of economic development and the leading issues of the day, including technology advancements, entrepreneurship, talent attraction; business expansion and retention; and redevelopment and revitalization opportunities.
In addition to a wealth of networking opportunities, dynamic speakers, and continuing education credit certifications (EDFP, CEcD and AICP), the Best Practices Conference will include the Community and Economic Development Awards (CEDA). The CEDA Awards program recognizes and celebrates exceptional projects, programs, and businesses that drive economic growth in Wisconsin.
We look forward to seeing you at the 2025 Fall Best Practices Conference. Come for the conference and take in the beauty of East-Central Wisconsin!
Click here for more information.

Federal Market Insights [FMI]: How to Learn What You Need to Know. Applying the Feynman Technique May Help.
2025-09-23 12:30 - 13:00
FEDERAL MARKET INSIGHTS is an informal podcast designed to provide valuable information about the government marketplace for businesses interested in government contracting. Each episode is a concise 30-minute session, scheduled during the noon hour on Tuesdays. We review noteworthy items published during the week, delve into key topics, and offer background information and perspectives relevant to the government contracting landscape. Stop by, settle in and take in the conversation.
Presented by Marc Violante, Director, Federal Market Strategies, Wisconsin Procurement Institute and Mark Dennis, Government Contract Specialist, Wisconsin Procurement Institute
For the list of Federal Market Insights webinar, please click here.

Capital Development Board: Looking for Your Next Illinois Opportunity?
2025-09-22 09:00 - 12:00 | Moraine Business & Conference Center Building M, 9000 W College Pkwy, Palos Hills, 60465, United States
Join us at the upcoming outreach event to learn about large-scale and general contracting opportunities across the state! Whether you’re a contractor, subcontractor, engineer, architect, or supplier, this is your chance to connect and get Involved!
Click here to view the flier.
Click here to view the LinkedIn post.

CONNECT! 2025 Green Bay Packers Mentor-Protege Program Networking Event (in-person)
2025-09-18 15:00 - 17:00 | Lambeau Field, 1265 Lombardi Avenue, Green Bay, WI, 54304, United States
Join us for an exciting networking event as part of the Green Bay Packers Mentor-Protégé Program, taking place in-person at Lambeau Field. To register, please CLICK HERE.
This in-person event at Lambeau Field is your chance to connect with corporate buyers, resource providers, government agencies, lenders, and more. The event is divided into two parts:
Part 1: Panel Discussion
Part 2: Networking & Buyer Meetings
Event Schedule:

2:30 PM: Registration Opens
3:00 PM: Program Begins
4:00 PM: Networking & Buyer Meetings
5:00 PM: Close of Program

Full Program Details below:

Federal Market Insights [FMI]: Are You Part of the Old DIB or the New DIB? The Battlefield is Starting to Change and So Might DoD's Needs.
2025-09-16 12:30 - 13:00

Satellite Office: Oshkosh – hosted by the Greater Oshkosh Economic Development Corporation
2025-09-16 09:00 - 16:00 | Greater Oshkosh Economic Development Corporation, 111 N. Main Street, Ste 204, Oshkosh, WI, 54901, United States
WPI will be holding office hours at our satellite location at the Greater Oshkosh Economic Development Corporation in Oshkosh, WI. Contact the counselor directly to schedule your meeting.
To view the upcoming schedule for Oshkosh, please click here.
To view the full list of satellite locations and schedules, please click here.

2025 Manufacturing x Digital Annual Summit
2025-09-16 - 2025-09-17 | MxD Headquarters, 1415 N Cherry Ave, Chicago, IL, 60642, United States
Join us on September 16th and 17th at MxD for a two-day immersive event focused on the forefront of continuous improvement in manufacturing. This event will gather industry leaders, technical experts, government partners, including the Dept. of Defense, and practitioners to explore critical themes in digital manufacturing, including practical applications, cybersecurity, workforce development, and emerging technologies.
Both days of the summit are open to members and non-members. Through a blend of interactive sessions, hands-on workshops, factory floor tours, and keynote presentations, attendees will gain actionable insights to drive digital advancements in their organizations and across the manufacturing sector.
For more information, click here.

128th Air Refueling Wing Open House
2025-09-14 10:00 - 15:00, 2025-09-13 10:00 - 16:00 | General Mitchell Air National Guard Base, 1919 E. Grange Ave, Milwaukee, 53207, United States
The 128th Air Refueling Wing will host a two-day open house September 13 and 14, 2025, at General Mitchell Air National Guard Base, located on the east side of international airport at Pennsylvania and Grange. The last open house was in 2012, so be sure to take advantage of this special opportunity. This event is open to the public and guests will get the opportunity to tour static display aircraft, view a variety of military equipment, interact with Airmen and their families, enjoy several exhibitions from select military and civilian agencies, and purchase food and military swag.
This is a static display event that offers a chance to get an up close look at the greatest military air power in the world.
For more information, click here.

Satellite Office: Fond Du Lac – hosted by Envision Greater Fond du Lac
2025-09-11 09:00 - 16:00 | Envision Greater Fond du Lac, 23 S Main St Ste 101, Fond du Lac, WI, 54935, United States
WPI will be holding office hours at our satellite location in Envision in Fond du Lac, WI. Contact the counselor directly to schedule your meeting.
To view the upcoming schedule for Fond du Lac, please click here.
To view the full list of satellite locations and schedules, please click here.

Office Hours: Madison - Selling to the Government
2025-09-11 09:00 - 12:00 | Madison Area Technical College (MATC) Goodman South Campus, 2429 Perry Street, Madison, WI, 53713, United States
WPI will be holding an in-person session on Selling to the Government at the Madison Area Technical College (MATC) Goodman South Campus in Madison, WI.
Schedule:
9-10 AM –Presentation on Doing Business with the Government
Tru Mwololo will give an hour-long presentation on Doing Business with the Government.

What does the government buy?
How to enter the government market-State & Federal.
Benefits & challenges.

Please RSVP/register for the presentation hour at this LINK.

10:15AM-12 PM – One-on-One Meetings

Please select an individual meeting time with Tru at this LINK.

Presenter:

Truphosa Mwololo, Manager Small Business Programs, Wisconsin Procurement Institute – WI APEX Accelerator

To view the upcoming schedule for Madison – MATC Goodman South, please click here.
To view the full list of satellite locations and schedules, please click here.

CTC's SBIR Advance Showcase!
2025-09-11 08:30 - 12:00 | WEDC @ The HUB, 2352 S. Park Street, Madison, WI, 53713
RSVP to join this special event celebrating 10 years of SBIR Advance — a milestone made possible by partners like you!
Join us for a dynamic day of networking, knowledge sharing, and strategic connections with SBIR Advance awardees and fellow VCs and industry leaders.
For the past decade, SBIR Advance has been a cornerstone of Wisconsin’s innovation ecosystem—providing critical funding, mentorship, and commercialization support to over 100 high-potential startups. These companies, backed by federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) awards and enhanced by SBIR Advance, are now solving real-world problems across biotech, manufacturing, software, and more!
This event is designed to elevate awardee visibility, spark new partnerships, and open doors to future funding and collaboration.
📍 Location: WEDC @ The Hub, 2352 S. Park St., Suite 303, Madison, WI 53713
📅 Date: September 11, 2025
🕘 Time: 8:30 AM – 12:00 PM
What to Expect:

Awardee Spotlights & Pitches – Share their journey and showcase their tech
VC & Industry Networking – Speed-dating style sessions with curated contacts
Strategic Exposure – Connect with potential investors, partners, and customers
Celebration – Reflect on a decade of impact and innovation with the SBIR Advance community

This is more than a celebration — it’s a launchpad for your next big opportunity.
For more information, click here.

Acquisition Hour: Contracting in Disasters Doing Business with Emergency Agencies
2025-09-10 12:00 - 13:00
When disasters strike, federal, state, and local agencies must act quickly to provide relief, restore services, and support affected communities. This creates unique contracting opportunities for businesses that can supply goods and services in times of crisis. Understanding how emergency procurement works is essential for small businesses that want to be ready when opportunities arise.
In this session, participants will learn:

How federal, state, and local agencies buy during emergencies and disasters
The role of FEMA, GSA, and other key emergency management agencies
Contracting methods used in disaster response and recovery
Registration, certification, and preparedness steps businesses should take now
Best practices for positioning your business to respond quickly and effectively

This training will help small businesses understand the disaster contracting process, prepare in advance, and explore opportunities to support emergency response and recovery efforts.
Speakers:

Jeremy Bonikowske, WCEM, Emergency Management Director – Juneau County
Mark Dennis, Government Contract Specialist – Wisconsin Procurement Institute (WPI) – WI APEX Accelerator

This webinar is eligible for 1 CPE credit.
View a schedule of all upcoming Acquisition Hour webinars.

Federal Market Insights [FMI]: Cybersecurity Requirements for Non-DoD Vendors. The Big 15; What You Need to Know. Actions to Take.
2025-09-09 12:30 - 13:00

Casting, Forging, and Machining: Insights from DoD Industry Experts
2025-09-09 12:00 - 15:00
Join the APEX Accelerators for an informative afternoon featuring industry experts from the Department of Defense’s Casting, Forging, and Machining programs and initiatives. This session offers a unique opportunity to gain in-depth knowledge directly from those shaping these critical areas of defense manufacturing.
Attendees will hear from a panel of experts:

Sheila Rayburn, Integrated Casting Order Network (ICON) program/Non-Ferrous Founders Society (NFFS)
Michael Chiero from the Valor Group
Eric Evans – DLA Land & Maritime
David Poweleit – Steel Founders’ Society of America (SFSA)
Charles Edens – Forging Defense Manufacturing Consortium (FDMC)
American Metal Casting (AMC)
Advanced Technology International (ATI)

Summary of the ICON program:
Unlocking the Power of the Integrated Casting Order Network (ICON): Modernizing Defense Manufacturing
In today’s rapidly evolving defense landscape, the demand for agile, secure, and efficient manufacturing solutions is greater than ever. The Integrated Casting Order Network (ICON) stands at the forefront of this transformation, offering a state-of-the-art digital platform that connects the Department of Defense (DoD) and prime contractors with a wide range of qualified foundries, forging facilities, and machine shops. Designed to modernize the acquisition and production of metal components critical to national security, ICON enables smarter sourcing, increased visibility, and accelerated procurement timelines.
For more information, click here.

DLA Training, Knowledge, and Opportunities (TKO) Seminar
2025-09-09 - 2025-09-10
The TKO seminar is a course that teaches vendors how to start doing business with DLA Land and Maritime. Vendors learn how to find open solicitations, how to submit a quote through the DLA Internet Bid Board System (DIBBS), the procedures for viewing/downloading drawings, and how to use Invoicing, Receipt, Acceptance and Property Transfer (iRAPT) to get paid. There are also many other relevant topics of discussion. This session is free.
For more information, click here.

Satellite Office: Madison – hosted by FEED Kitchens
2025-09-08 09:00 - 16:00 | FEED Kitchens, 1219 N. Sherman Avenue, Madison, WI, 53704, United States
WPI will be holding office hours at our satellite location in the FEED Kitchens in Madison, WI. Contact the counselor directly to schedule your meeting.
To view the upcoming schedule for Madison FEED Kitchens, please click here.
To view the full list of satellite locations and schedules, please click here.

35th Annual Milwaukee Night in Washington D.C
2025-09-03 16:30 - 18:30 | Union Station – East Hall, Union Station Dr NE, Washington D.C., 20002
This event highlights the contributions of the Milwaukee Region to the economic strength and vitality of the nation. Milwaukee Night also provides an opportunity to thank the legislators, staff members and administrators who help us achieve our goal of making the Milwaukee Region a world-class location.
Please note: The time of the event is 5:30 PM – 7:30PM EASTERN STANDARD TIME
For more information, click here.
