Operating Structure

WCEDC operates as a 501(c) 3 not-for-profit, using a public-private partnership structure between Waukesha County government, Waukesha County Technical College and private business. Unlike many county-funded economic development organizations, WCEDC engages its Waukesha County public-sector partners (the County and Technical College) to help create and deploy innovative business growth strategies.

WCEDC uses economic development research, market surveys, partners such as Workforce Development, and one-on-one project experiences with businesses to shape its activities. It is guided by a strong private-sector Board membership in order to insure that WCEDC outcomes result in growing jobs, businesses and tax base.

The Board of Directors includes a cross-section of business leaders from large and small businesses including American Transmission Company (ATC), Anderson Seal, Aurora Health Care, Cramer Multhauf & Hammes, Environmental Systems Inc. (ESI), GE Healthcare Technologies, Godfrey & Kahn, Karl James & Company, Mahattil International, M&I Bank, Personnel Dynamics, R.A. Smith National, Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren, The Zilber Group, United Press & Graphics, US Bank, Waukesha Electric Systems, and We Energies. 

Funding Structure

The current operating budget of WCEDC's public-private partnership consists of approximately 45% public-sector funding by Waukesha County, Waukesha County Technical College and fee income for administering Waukesha County's Revolving Loan Fund program.  Approximately 55% of revenue is private funding through corporate/foundation partners. 

Growing Waukesha County's Economy

WCEDC responds to business inquiries for locating or expanding in Waukesha County. Growing businesses and entrepreneurs are looking for access to capital, land and building sites, demographic information and, most importantly, connections to resources that help them make an informed decision to locate or expand here. 

Throughout the year, WCEDC may be facilitating 10-15 active expansion projects. Examples are: 

• A Fortune 500 manufacturer (employing over 350 in Waukesha County and SE Wisconsin) plans to expand its R&D, engineering and customer service base by 80 in the next year.
• A physician group is interested in building a specialty medical clinic. 
• A refrigeration company seeks a building to renovate for a growing service division.  

As of March 1, 2011 the projected number of jobs for just these three projects is 133. Regardless of project size, a mix of large and small businesses is important to a County’s success. Waukesha County's 9,600 businesses comprise a critical small-medium sized business economic engine - 87% of our businesses are between 1 and 250 employees.