2025 Economic Summit
2025-04-08 09:00 - 16:30 (America/Chicago) | Inshalla Country Club, N11060 Clear Lake Rd, Tomahawk, 54487, United States
The Lincoln County EDC is excited to announce that the 2025 Economic Summit is returning! Mark your calendar for April 8, 2025, and join us at Inshalla Country Club in Tomahawk, WI, from 9:00 am – 4:30 pm for a great day of insights, connections, and actionable strategies to empower rural businesses and communities. Can’t get away for a whole day? Sign up for the half day that works best for you!
THEME: Economic Empowerment for Rural Communities
Designed to empower and strengthen rural businesses and communities, the summit offers attendees the opportunity to engage in a day of economic insights and educational sessions. Participants will gain valuable knowledge on key economic issues that drive business and community success alongside other business and industry professionals.
Tickets and complete event information is now available, click here.

12th Annual FAR Evening Webinar and Study Group Session 8: Introduction and FAR Parts 42-53
2025-04-08 18:00 - 19:30
The Wisconsin Procurement Institute (WPI) and the National Contract Management Association (NCMA) – Wisconsin Chapter will be presenting the webinar, “12th Annual FAR Evening Webinar and Study Group Session 8: Introduction and FAR Parts 42-53.” This session is part of the 12th annual FAR Evening Sessions.
The FAR Evening Sessions are designed specifically for current Federal contractors. In addition, these sessions will help you prepare for the NCMA CFCM certification exam.
Speakers:

Daryl Zahn, Senior Manager, Contracts and Compliance, Leonardo DRS
Jason Rathsack, Senior Contract Specialist, Defense Contract Management Agency
Ben Blanc, Government Contract Specialist, Wisconsin Procurement Institute (WPI)

This webinar is eligible for 1.5 CPE credit.
To view the full schedule of FAR Evening sessions, please click here.

WMEP Manufacturing Matters! 2025 - Brookfield, WI
2025-04-09 | Brookfield Conference Center, 325 S Moorland Rd, Brookfield, WI, 53005, United States
This year’s theme: Limitless Performance
The manufacturing industry is evolving faster than ever, and investing in transformative tools and technologies can be vital for manufacturers’ success. WMEP Manufacturing Solutions invites you to the 27th Annual Manufacturing Matters! Conference on April 9, 2025, at the Brookfield Conference Center.
The morning keynote speaker, Dan Thurmon, Founder and President of Motivation Works, Inc. and author of Positive Chaos, will share insights on how to embrace change and perform in today’s landscape. With 12 breakout sessions designed around three tracks—Growth, Operations, and People—this conference is tailored to address manufacturers’ needs.
For more information, click here.

NAMC-WI 2025 Utilities Infrastructure Supplier Diversity Symposium (Milwaukee, WI)
2025-04-10 08:00 - 17:00 | Potawatomi Hotel & Event Center, 1721 W Canal St, Milwaukee, WI, 53233, United States
The Symposium will feature the region’s leading Utilities, Utility Contractors and industry organizations providing Utility Industry Updates, Major Project Presentation, Business Opportunities, and conducting Strategic Business Matchmaking sessions.
For more information, click here.

Satellite Office: Fond du Lac – hosted by Envision Greater Fond du Lac
2025-04-10 09:00 - 16:00, 2025-05-01 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.

COLLIDER – Opportunity Validation: Know Your Defense Market & Make a Sale
2025-04-10 11:30 - 15:00 | The Hub Dayton, 31 South Main Street, Dayton, OH, 45402, United States
Understanding a potential customer’s problem and how your product or service will solve it is vitally important in any market, even more so with the Department of Defense (DoD). Other than running out of money, the biggest reason for small business failure is not having done the homework to fully comprehend and address the user’s needs. At this Collider, we will look at the key factors needed to successfully research and determine the viability of a new opportunity. This will include a focus on where to find military requirements and how to create a DoD-specific business model that will maximize the chance of winning contracts. Learn about the real meaning of “selling” and the best proven approaches to making an effective sales pitch.
Type of Event: Hybrid (just let us know at registration)
For more information click here.

Federal Market Insights [FMI]: How to Develop Your Outreach Playbook
2025-04-11 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 at the end of the week. 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.
Market research and preparation for upcoming outreach events is critical. Conferences, federal contractor’s updates and training sessions are all types of outreach events. Each provides both information and marketing of sales opportunities. Join in and hear how to prepare for these underutilized opportunities.
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.

Satellite Office: Oshkosh – hosted by the Greater Oshkosh Economic Development Corporation
2025-04-15 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.

Acquisition Hour: Government Property Management for Federal Contractors and Subcontractors
2025-04-15 11:00 - 12:00
The Federal government supplies billions of dollars worth of Government-Furnished Property (GFP) to contractors for use in performing contracts. As a contractor for the Federal Government or a subcontractor to a prime contractor, you may receive government property. Managing this property is a contractual obligation.
There are costs associated with government property management that must be considered by a prime or a subcontractor. An unfavorable assessment of a contractor’s Property Management System may result in financial penalties.
This webinar will cover:

Government Property clauses including the new DFAR Clause 252.245-7005 that replaced 4 previous clauses related to GP management and reporting
How to apply the clauses
What tools/ processes must be in place before you are able to receive government property

Speaker: Benjamin 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.

Government Certification Workshop - State and Local Certifications - Madison, WI
2025-04-17 09:00 - 12:00 | Madison Area Technical College (MATC) Goodman South Campus, 2429 Perry Street, Room 103, Madison, WI, 53713, United States
[This event has been postponed – thank you for your interest in attending – if you registered to participate, you will be notified when the event is re-scheduled]
Are you a Minority, Disadvantaged, Small, Women, or Veteran owned or HUBZone located business? Join the Wisconsin Procurement Institute’s Tru Mwololo, the Wisconsin Procurement Institute’s Manager of Small Business Programs, for a once a month Government Certifications Workshop where you will learn about what local, state, or federal certifications your business may qualify for and how these certifications could help you gain a competitive edge in the government marketplace.
The topic of this workshop is State of Wisconsin certifications. State certifications include:

Minority Business Enterprise (MBE)
Woman Owned Business Enterprise (WBE)
Disabled Veteran Owned Business (DVB)

Agenda:

9:00 AM – 10:00 AM – Overview of Certification Types and Benefits
15 minute break
10:15 AM – 11:15 AM Certification Application Overview
15 minute break
11:30 AM – 12:00 PM – Q&A

Schedule of Topics: click here to view the full schedule and topics for the Government Certification Workshops

DLA Training, Knowledge, and Opportunities (TKO) Seminar
2025-04-22
Accessing DLA Technical Data Repository (cFolders) & Export Control Technical Data – Training, Knowledge, and Opportunities (TKO) Webinar
This TKO webinar is a course that teaches vendors about cFolders which is DLA’s access to Technical Data and its association with the DLA Internet Bid Board System within the Defense Logistics Agency. This session is free.
For more information, click here.

CWIMA Advanced Manufacturing Summit and EXPO
2025-04-22 - 2025-04-23 | Central Wisconsin Convention + Expo Center, 10101 Market St Ste A20, Rothschild, WI, 54474, United States
The CWIMA Advanced Manufacturing Summit and EXPO is designed to create a dynamic and engaging event for Central Wisconsin manufacturing business professionals to learn about and discuss innovative solutions that can elevate their manufacturing and business processes. The event is focused on preparing manufacturers for the next 50 years by emphasizing automation, AI, and valuable networking opportunities.
For more information, click here.

2025 City of Milwaukee Vendor Fair
2025-04-24 08:00 - 14:00 | BMO Tower, 790 North Water Street, Milwaukee, 53202, United States
Welcome to the 2025 City of Milwaukee Vendor Fair!
Come join us at BMO Tower on 790 N Water for a day full of connections. This in person event is a great opportunity to grow your local businesses, discovering upcoming contracts. Where else can you connect with contracting deparments and access to valuable workshops? Don’t miss out on this fantastic event, hosted by the Department of City Development and the Department of Administration.
For more information, click here.

Townhall: New Grant Funding for Manufacturing in America
2025-04-24 13:00 - 14:30, 2025-04-30 13:00 - 14:30
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), announced a funding opportunity to empower small businesses, bring manufacturing jobs back to the U.S., address workforce shortages, operational inefficiencies, and limited access to contract opportunities through its Empower to Grow (E2G) Program Manufacturing in America Grant Initiative. The E2G Program will provide up to $1.1 million in grants to eligible participants that submit proposals that are unique and innovative in manufacturing related training and technical assistance to be provided to small businesses, especially those that are HUBZone firms. The deadline for eligible participants to submit proposals electronically via https://www.grants.gov is May 12, no later than 11:59 p.m. (EDT).
Click here to learn more and register.

Cyber Friday: CMMC: Maintaining Your CMMC Certification
2025-04-25 11:00 - 12:00
This webinar will help businesses determine their readiness for a CMMC Third-Party Assessment Organization (C3PAO) evaluation. It will cover key preparation steps, including conducting gap analyses, organizing documentation, and performing mock assessments. Attendees will learn how to identify vulnerabilities, address compliance gaps, and confidently prepare for the formal certification process. Practical checklists and strategies will be discussed to streamline preparation and ensure success during the assessment.
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.

Federal Market Insights [FMI]: The Federal Marketplace for Those Who Have the Next Great Idea
2025-04-25 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 at the end of the week. 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.
The innovators of today. There are many programs and opportunities for these individuals and companies. Listen in to learn more about programs that all innovators should know about and explore, and the Critical Technologies that are of interest to the Department of Defense.
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.

Clark County EDC 5th Annual Business to Business Expo & Career Fair (Greenwood, WI)
2025-04-30 | Clark Electric Cooperative Headquarters, 1209 W. Dall-Berg Rd, Greenwood, WI, 54437, United States
Clark County Economic Development Corporation & Tourism Bureau (CCEDC&TB) and Clark County Workforce Council are partnering to host the 2025 Clark County Business to Business Expo and Career Fair. This event will be a day long opportunity to introduce businesses to each other, inform them about your business assistance resources (business planning, Youth Apprenticeship, specialty financing, international connections, Lean Manufacturing, etc.) and expose high school, tech college and university students to the great careers in Clark County and careers in your field.
To register for your Business Assistance Cluster space, please contact: info@clarkcountyedc.org. A registration form is required to be completed by March 1, 2025.
Click here for more information.

2025 WI Rural Partners Summit - Fort Atkinson, WI
2025-04-30 - 2025-05-01 | The Riverstone Event Center, 1905 Central Coast Ln, Fort Atkinson, WI, 53538
This year’s Summit will seek to provide ideas that help communities attract businesses, highlight programs, and introduce funding and staffing options in the face of budget challenges.
You can find the agenda here.
For more information, click here.

Satellite Office: Manitowoc – hosted by Progress Lakeshore
2025-04-30 09:00 - 16:00 | Progress Lakeshore, 202 N 8th St Ste 101, Manitowoc, WI, 54220, United States
WPI will be holding office hours at our satellite location in the Progress Lakeshore offices in Manitowoc, WI. Contact the counselor directly to schedule your meeting.
To view the upcoming schedule for Manitowoc, please click here.
To view the full list of satellite locations and schedules, please click here.

Satellite Office: Madison (MATC Goodman South Campus)
2025-05-01 09:00 - 16:00 | Madison Area Technical College (MATC) Goodman South Campus, 2429 Perry Street, Room 103, Madison, WI, 53713, United States
WPI will be holding office hours at our satellite location in the Madison Area Technical College (MATC) Goodman South Campus in Madison, WI. Contact the counselor directly to schedule your meeting.
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.

Chicago District Corps of Engineers Open House - Chicago, IL
2025-05-01 09:00 - 16:30 | Chicago District Office, 231 S LaSalle St, Chicago, IL, 60604, United States
This event offers an opportunity to explore U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) – Chicago district’s latest and upcoming projects, advancements in engineering, and to meet the team driving their mission forward. This Open House is an occasion to connect, collaborate, and celebrate the contributions of the engineering community.
As part of the event, there will be a limited number of 20-minute elevator pitch slots for companies to present their capabilities. These slots will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. If you are interested in briefing the district leadership, please respond to the post-registration email.
Please click here to view the agenda.

Federal Market Insights [FMI]: Foreign Ownership Control and Influence (FOCI)
2025-05-02 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 at the end of the week. 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.
FOCI can be an unseen and significant threat to National Security. The Podcast will discuss the elements companies should be aware of and why they are important to all companies and not just Federal contractors.
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.

U.S. Army Registration Open for 2025 Army Contracting Virtual Outreach for Industry
2025-05-05 - 2025-05-08
Small businesses and other interested industry partners are now able to register for the fifth-annual Mission and Installation Contracting Command Advance Planning Briefing for Industry virtual contracting forecast event scheduled for May 5-8, 2025. The virtual APBI event is the MICC’s single, command-wide effort that is available nationwide to everyone from small businesses to large industry representatives. Attendees will hear directly from mission commanders, senior contracting officials and a variety of contracting planners detailing their forecasted contract requirements planned for the remainder of 2025 through early 2028.
Registration closes April 21.
For more information, click here.

Satellite Office: Madison (FEED Kitchens)
2025-05-05 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.

National Small Business Week Virtual Summit 2025
2025-05-06 - 2025-05-07
Transform your business with cutting-edge strategies and valuable connections at the National Small Business Week Virtual Summit—your gateway to growth, innovation, and success.
Free Registration
Reserve your spot today for unlimited access to expert knowledge and essential business resources at no cost
Why Register Now?

Expert-led Webinars covering vital business topics to help you stay competitive
Direct Access to Business Experts for personalized guidance and advice
Networking Opportunities with fellow entrepreneurs and industry leaders
Free Business Tools you can implement immediately
Innovative Solutions from leading sponsors to streamline your operations
Government Resource Guide to funding, contracts and support programs
Inspiring Success Stories from business owners who have overcome similar challenges

Interactive Experience
Connect with like-minded business owners, receive real-time guidance from industry mentors, and gather resources specifically designed for small business success.
Immediate Business Impact
Every session delivers practical strategies you can implement right away to boost your business performance, increase efficiency and drive growth.
Click here to learn more and register.

WI Lieutenant Governor’s 2025 Small Business Academy (virtual)
2025-05-06 08:00 - 12:00
Additional information on the 2025 Small Business Academy, as well as highlights from past Small Business Academies, is available at the main page for the event.
SCHEDULE

Tuesday, May 6, 2025 – Virtual – 8:00 AM- 12 NOON
Wednesday, May 7, 2025 – Virtual – 8:00 AM- 12 NOON
Thursday, May 8, 2025 – Virtual – 8:00 AM- 12 NOON
Friday, May 9, 2025 – In Person – Multiple Locations – 8:00 AM- 12 NOON

Great Lakes Fusion Energy Summit
2025-05-06 09:00 - 16:00 | University of Wisconsin System – Engineering Centers Building, 1550 Engineering Drive, Madison, 53706, United States
Join us for an informative, highly interactive day sponsored by the UW-Madison College of Engineering during which you’ll enjoy:

One-on-one discussions with faculty/graduate students about their fusion research
Key information about recent developments in fusion energy
Sessions about business opportunities in and adjacent to this emerging industry
Interesting and interactive presentations
Excellent networking

Click here for more information.

Great Lakes Fusion Energy Mixer
2025-05-06 16:30 - 19:00 | Findorff, 300 South Bedford Street, Madison, 53703, United States
Join us for excellent networking, a fun game with interesting info about the fusion energy supply chain and an informative Q&A with a fusion industry supply chain expert.
Keynote Q&A: Supply Chain opportunities
Engineering, manufacturing and other operating companies can lean in to significant opportunities in defense and fusion energy markets by making small pivots now without incurring big capital outlays.
Speaker: Greg Van Dyk, CEO of Altrusion, a Seattle-area company that delivers expertise and advanced technologies in national security and fusion energy. Greg is also a retired U.S. Air Force Colonel and a native of Wisconsin.
Moderator: Kathleen Gallagher, Executive Director, 5 Lakes Institute, Pulitzer Prize-winning writer.
Click here for more information.
