A rendering of a proposed development on the site of the current Wausau Center Mall. Image: City of Wausau

(PRESS RELEASE) WAUSAU — The Greater Wausau Chamber of Commerce will host a free virtual program next week which will outline how the Wausau region can accelerate positive change and build a brighter economic future. What’s Next for Greater Wausau? will be held from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, August 25 and will include presentations from featured speakers Caleb Frostman, Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD), along with Jon Roberts and John Karras, both with TIP Strategies Inc, the agency which produced the Greater Wausau Economic Development Strategic Plan in early 2019.

Secretary Frostman will discuss relief, reopening and recovery in the wake of COVID-19 and will share information on services available through the DWD and the Job Center of Wisconsin that may be valuable to businesses as they continue to adapt to the current economic climate.

Roberts and Karras will revisit the Strategic Plan, highlighting achievements related to the plan and offer ways the region can continue to achieve its goals in the face of economic uncertainty.

Questions from attendees are welcomed via the chat feature available in this webcast.  For more information or to register for this event, visit WausauChamber.com.

The event is part of the Chamber’s rescheduled annual Business Week. Business Week from Monday, August 24 to Friday, August 28 will feature a variety of free virtual events, open to both members and non-members, along with the announcement of the 2020 Small Business of the Year Award recipients.

“Our Business Week offers an opportunity for everyone in our community to celebrate our businesses.” said Dr. Dave Eckmann, President/CEO of the Greater Wausau Chamber of Commerce. “We are excited to offer a series of virtual events which offer opportunities for networking, recognition, education and entertainment.”

The week of events will begin with a Virtual Town Hall Meeting for Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District. Congressman Tom Tiffany will offer an update from Washington, DC and cover topics relevant to businesses and constituents in the District. The live webcast begins at noon on Monday, August 24.

Also scheduled for Monday, August 24, a Virtual Nothing But Networking program offers individuals an opportunity to grow their network during this Zoom meeting to be held from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.

The Small Business of the Year Award recognizes business growth, community involvement, and innovative efforts in the Wausau Region. The recipients of this year’s award will be named during the 2020 Small Business of the Year Awards event which will be broadcast on Central Wisconsin The CW WAOW 9.2 and streamed on the News 9 WAOW Facebook page at noon on Wednesday, August 26. The 2020 recipients will be presented with their awards at 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. the same afternoon in a series of Facebook live videos on the Chamber’s Facebook page.

A Small Business of the Year Recognition Ceremony will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, August 27. Each of the 2020 Small Business of the Year recipients will describe their paths to success during this live webcast.

The week will wrap-up with a Name That Jingle Virtual Game Show which will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, August 28. Watch as contestants attempt to identify the member business by listening to just a few notes of their jingle. A pool of contestants will compete for prizes.

The 2020 Business Week is presented by Marshfield Clinic Health System and sponsored by Sam’s Club at the platinum level, Aspirus and Aspirus Arise at the gold level, CliftonLarsonAllen LLP, Ruder Ware LLSC and Wipfli LLP at the silver level, The Dirks Group?, Fully Promoted, Ho-Chunk Gaming – Wittenberg, Wisconsin Public Service Corp and Yach’s Body & Custom at the bronze level. Media sponsors for the week include Midwest Communications?, The Business News and WAOW Newsline 9?. The live production sponsor is JEM Productions.