Green County Development Corporation

06/01/2026

Don't miss the opportunity to participate in this amazing leadership program! Sign up now-open spots fill up fast!

Applications for the Green County Leaders 2026-2027 program year are now open! 🎉

To apply, please submit your completed applications by July 10 for consideration. Applications can be submitted to Victoria Solomon at [email protected]; or to Green County Leaders c/o Extension Green County, 2841 6th St, Monroe, WI 53566.

Blank applications are available on the Extension Green County website at: https://green.extension.wisc.edu/community-development/green-county-leaders/

Questions? Please contact Victoria Solomon at [email protected] or 608-328-9440.

05/28/2026

We are thrilled to announce that Green County Development Corporation has been awarded a $260,000 Talent Recruitment Grant from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) — one of only 17 communities selected statewide.
This investment is a major step forward in our mission to grow Green County's workforce, strengthen our housing market, and build lasting community vitality.
Stay tuned. There's more exciting news on the way!

05/20/2026

Last week Olivia spent a morning with Victoria Solomon from UW Extension talking to the Monroe Morning Optimists about Green County Leaders. Thanks for inviting us!

05/19/2026

We're excited to share this big news! This grant will help advance the next phase of construction for the New Glarus Glarner Community Complex. This is a great opportunity for events, cultural programming and community gathering. We're happy to have been a part of this great team effort! Congratulations New Glarus!

Big news for New Glarus and Swiss heritage in Wisconsin! 🇨🇭🎉

The Swiss Center of North America, in partnership with the New Glarus School District and Green County Development Corporation, has been awarded a $108,000 grant through the Wisconsin Department of Administration’s Non-State Grant Program to help bring Phase 2 of the New Glarus Glarner Community Complex to life!

Located across from New Glarus High School, this exciting next phase will add a Swiss-inspired pavilion, public plaza, modern restrooms, and food service facilities, creating Wisconsin’s only Swiss-themed public gathering space.

The space will be a home for cultural celebrations, community gatherings, student events, and Swiss-American traditions for generations to come, while also supporting local tourism and jobs.

We can't wait for you to see it! 🇺🇸🇨🇭

https://theswisscenter.org/news-from-us

05/19/2026

Last week, Olivia spoke at the CEC Conference in Green Lake, WI. Thank you to UW Madison-Division of Extension Community Economic Development for putting on this great conference!

We want to say a big THANK YOU to our speakers who are the backbone of the 2026 CEC Conference. Your collective knowledge, experience, and generosity will uplift our rural communities to build strong foundations where entrepreneurs and small businesses can thrive.

Thank you to:
• Raina Lyman, Senior Director of Economic Development, Envision Fond du Lac
• Craig Tebon, Executive Director, Ripon Main Street, Inc.
• Chad Kopitzke, Director, Small Business Development Center/UW-Oshkosh
• Loni Meiborg, Owner of Scoot’s Cafe
• Matt Trotter, Owner of Horseradish Kitchen & Market
• Kaleb Ranker, Owner of KDR Wood Design
• Todd Barman, Community Economic Development Specialist, University of Wisconsin, Division of Extension
• Angie Close, Executive Director, Langlade County Economic Development Corporation
• Sara Guild, Executive Director, Lincoln County Economic Development Corporation
• Olivia Otte, Executive Director, Green County Development Corporation
• Stephanie Hoskins, Chair, Lakeland University Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
• Cassidy Wilbourne, Vice President, Small Business Relationship Manager, Associated Bank
• Victoria Thayer, President, Novii CPA
• Tabitha Pierce, Agent, American Family Insurance
• Jeff Glazer, Attorney & Clinical Professor, Law & Entrepreneurship Clinic, University of Wisconsin Law School
• Rachael Avery, Director, Thrasher Opera House
• Marci Reynolds, President, Waupaca Community Arts Board
• Kate Salas, Independent Artist, Director, Wisconsin Craft
• Dr. Choton Basu, Professor of Information Technology, UW-Whitewater
• Shauna Wessely, Director, Fort Atkinson Chamber of Commerce
• Rebecca Deschane, Vice President, Talent Development, New North
• Ann Flad-Jesion, Director of Entrepreneurship & Business Development, Progress Lakeshore
• Kristin Lambrecht, Owner, Kristin’s Kitchen Bakery
• Susan D’Arcy, Owner of Johnson and Black
• Beth Bosveld, Owner of GEAR
• Kurt Bauer, CEO, Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce
• Hillary Tweed, Vice President, Minnesota Community Support Program, Community Economic Development Associates
• Richard Gerstein, Founder, brandCHARGE
• Dave Knuth, Founder, Knuth Brewing Company
• Shelly Rothman, Executive Director, Foxhead Regenerative Agriculture Project
• Tracy Vinz, Olden Organics
• Ryan Prellwitz, Vines & Rushes Winery

05/18/2026

Congratulations to all this year's graduates of the Green County Leaders program!

Congratulations to the Green County Leaders Class of 2025-26! Stay tuned for more graduation photos coming soon 🎉

05/18/2026

There's great momentum building in Belleville! Keep up the fantastic work Belleville Area Chamber of Commerce - Wisconsin!

The all-new Belleville Chamber of Commerce is focused on continued redevelopment of the historic community’s downtown, encouraging new business growth and development that creates local jobs while marketing local talents, and preserving the uniqueness of what makes Belleville such a special space for people to want to BE HERE.

We're grateful to the Green County Development Corporation for their support!

“The Green County Development Corporation is thrilled to see the Belleville Chamber of Commerce step into this exciting new chapter," said Olivia Otte, Executive Director of the Green County Development Corporation. "Belleville is a community with tremendous potential, and with new housing growth on the horizon and a renewed commitment to small business success, we are proud to support this effort and look forward to working together to strengthen the entire Green County region."

05/13/2026

A big thank you to everyone who dropped by the Home Construction Cooperative Open House on Monday Night. It was a great turnout and gave the kids a chance to give tours and show off their hard work in this beautiful home. This program can only succeed with the support of the community and mentorship and partnership with local tradespeople. Thank you to all our amazing sponsors and supporters! It was a great afternoon. Shoutout to Liquid Chaos for setting up their drink truck for a fun treat!

05/08/2026

On Wednesday afternoon, GCDC hosted a Developers Day event, drawing approximately 60 developers, investors, and community stakeholders to Monroe for an afternoon of presentations, site tours, and networking. The event followed the Housing Summit and was designed to spotlight the growing array of development opportunities available across Green County’s residential and commercial sectors.