Photo by Richard Hurd
Initiatives
The economic momentum in Wisconsin’s Capital Region is real, and the Chamber’s economic initiatives are helping accelerate that momentum.
The Next Normal (N²) Workgroup:
The Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce is committed to supporting economic growth and resilience with strategies informed by data and direct input.
Since 2024, the Chamber, in partnership with many regional public- and private-sector organizations, has conducted an annual survey of regional employers to assess current and projected economic conditions in our region. The results of this survey help us understand the Next Normal (N²) for work, place and workplaces.
The survey covers a variety of business topics including your general business outlook, workforce needs, remote work adoption, artificial intelligence use, and talent attraction and retention efforts.
The 2026 N² survey is open now through Wednesday, Sept. 22. Take the survey here.
MORE INFORMATION
- The survey will take approximately 15-20 minutes to complete.
- Please limit responses to one per organization.
- All individual responses will remain strictly confidential and will only be seen by limited Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce staff. Only aggregate data will be publicly shared to ensure that no specific employer is identifiable.
- All survey respondents who provide an email address will be sent a copy of the topline aggregated findings.
PREVIOUS SURVEY FINDINGS
The N² workgroup includes the Capital Area Regional Planning Commission, City of Madison, Destination Madison, Downtown Madison Inc., Forward Janesville Inc., Greater Beloit Chamber of Commerce, Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce, Madison Area Builders Association, Madison Black Chamber of Commerce, Madison’s Central Business Improvement District, Madison Gas and Electric Company, StartingBlock, University Research Park, Urban Land Interests, and Workforce Development Board of South Central Wisconsin.
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Ground Floor Award for Small Business Leadership:
Since 2016, the Chamber’s Ground Floor Award for Small Business Leadership has recognized true champions for small business who are leaders in their business and in the community.
The winners of the 2025 Ground Floor Award for Small Business Leadership are Rose and Gary Molz of EZ Office Products.
— Read the press release announcing this year’s winner.
— Watch the video by RAD PRODUCTIONS USA which recognizes stories of Rose and Gary’s impact on Greater Madison’s small business community.
Past recipients:
— Henry Sanders, CEO, 365Nation (2024)
— Carol “Orange” Schroeder of Orange Tree Imports (2023)
— Eugenia Podestá of Synergy Coworking (2022)
— Mark Schmitz of ZEBRADOG (2019)
— Jeff “JP” Patterson of JP Hair Design (2018)
— Susan Bulgrin of Culver’s – Todd Drive (2017)
— Jim Garner of Sergenian’s Floor Coverings (2016)
Criteria:
— Must be the owner or operator of a small business in Greater Madison.
— Demonstrated commitment to innovation within their business.
— Demonstrated leadership beyond their business and a commitment to community service and support for other small businesses.