If you’re working to strengthen a rural community, you need new ideas, practical tools, and peers who understand the challenges and possibilities of building local entrepreneurial ecosystems. The purpose of the Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities (CEC) Conference is to give rural economic developers, leaders, and entrepreneurs the perspective, skills, and relationships that make this work more effective and sustainable. Hosted by UW–Extension in Green Lake on May 13–15, 2026, CEC takes place throughout the community, with sessions held inside local businesses, hands‑on learning in real settings, and meals from hometown restaurants. Not your typical conference, it’s a place to recharge your thinking, expand your network, and return home with solutions that fit the realities of rural Wisconsin.
The University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of Extension provides equal opportunities in employment and programming in compliance with state and federal law.
