Livability: Madison Still Best Place to Live in 2022

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (July 19, 2022)

Contact: Erik Greenfield, Communications Manager, 608-443-1952 (office), 608-669-7884 (cell)

Livability: Madison Still Best Place to Live in 2022
Ranking reaffirms Greater Madison’s status as the place to make a career, life and difference

MADISON – Today, for the second year in a row, Livability named Madison the Best Place to Live in the U.S.

In giving Madison the top spot, Livability cited the city’s resilient economy, affordability, industry diversity, remote work-readiness, and opportunities for recent graduates, families and retirees, among other factors. They also mentioned our abundance of parks and cultural attractions, as well as more than 200 miles of hiking, biking and snowshoeing trails.

“When asked what they were looking for in an ideal community, whether they realized it or not, respondents throughout the country were choosing Madison,” said Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce President Zach Brandon. “These rankings continue to validate the compelling story this region has to tell and the unique opportunity that exists for people seeking the place to make a career, make a life and make a difference.”

Livability examined more than 2,300 cities based on more than 50 data points that are grouped into eight categories, measuring a city’s economic stability, housing, amenities, infrastructure, demographics, social and civic capital, and health care. See the full 2022 list here.

About the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce:
The Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce is the voice of business with more than 1,200 organizations – ranging from one-person shops to corporations with more than 10,000 employees – working to bring the Greater Madison area to its full potential. The Greater Madison region is a leader in innovation. From cutting-edge technologies to distinctive retail shops to inventive services and products, our members vary greatly but are united by the region’s entrepreneurial spirit. More information can be found at madisonbiz.com.

###

Statement from Chamber President on Chancellor Blank’s Medical Announcement

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (July 11, 2022)
Contact: Helen Stewart, helen@madisonbiz.com, and Lydia Scofield, Lydia@madisonbiz.com

Statement from Chamber President on Chancellor Blank’s Medical Announcement

MADISON – Today, former UW–Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank announced that she will step down as President-elect of Northwestern University to begin medical treatment for cancer. In response, Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce President Zach Brandon released the following statement:

“Becky Blank has wrapped her arms around this community and our state’s flagship university for nearly a decade, and today we wrap our arms around her. 

“It is an understatement to say this cancer has picked a fight with the wrong person. Her grit and determination, combined with the world-class care she will receive at UW Health, give us the utmost hope.

“Becky is a Madisonian. She belongs here, and we welcome her home with love and support.” 

About the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce:
The Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce is the voice of business with more than 1,200 organizations – ranging from one-person shops to corporations with more than 10,000 employees – working to bring the Greater Madison area to its full potential. The Greater Madison region is a leader in innovation. From cutting-edge technologies to distinctive retail shops to inventive services and products, our members vary greatly but are united by the region’s entrepreneurial spirit. More information can be found at madisonbiz.com. 

###

Chamber Accepting Applications for Ninth Annual Pressure Chamber Competition

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (June 14, 2022)

Contact: Erik Greenfield, Communications Manager, 608-443-1952 (office), 608-669-7884 (cell)

Chamber Accepting Applications for Ninth Annual Pressure Chamber Competition
Region’s apex live pitch contest returns on Aug. 16 during Forward Fest

MADISON – The Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce announced today it is accepting applications for this year’s Pressure Chamber startup initiative, which returns on Aug. 16 during Forward Festival, Wisconsin’s largest technology and entrepreneurship festival. The popular program includes participation and support from active regional investment firms, as well as the State of Wisconsin Investment Board, Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation and UW–Madison Office of Business Engagement, and Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation.

Applicants for Pressure Chamber go through a screening process that may include presentations with prominent Wisconsin investors. From there, a select number of companies will be chosen to pitch to a panel of out-of-state investors, business executives and a live audience during Forward Fest. In addition to receiving the coveted “golden suitcase,” the winning company will also get a reserved spot in the Chamber’s exclusive Greater Madison startup meetings with top Silicon Valley investment firms this fall.

“Pressure Chamber began with two primary objectives, and it has been successful on both counts: providing a platform for growing early-stage companies to connect with investment opportunities and potential customers, and amplifying the innovation occurring in Greater Madison by creating stronger connectivity with key coastal investment hubs,” said Chamber President Zach Brandon. “We are excited to kick off our ninth year of this initiative and continue to build engagement between investors, customers and entrepreneurs.”

Past Pressure Chamber winners have credited the initiative for helping their company close successful funding rounds. Additionally, Pressure Chamber has been recognized by both the International Economic Development Council and Steve Case’s Rise of the Rest Summit as an entrepreneurship and economic development best practice. Collectively, participating Pressure Chamber companies have gone on to raise more than half a billion dollars from investors.

Pressure Chamber is open to any industry, as long as the company meets the following requirements:

• Must be a member of the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce (startup memberships available) or support local entrepreneurial partner organizations
• Must be located in Greater Madison or plan to locate to Greater Madison by Aug. 16, 2022
• Must have raised at least $25,000, excluding personal investment by company founders
• Application must be received by 8 a.m. on Monday, July 11, 2022

The full application can be accessed at: bit.ly/Pressure22

Pressure Chamber is presented by the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce and Michael Best & Friedrich, with support from the State of Wisconsin Investment Board, Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation and UW–Madison Office of Business Engagement, Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, American Family Ventures, Baird Capital, 4490 Ventures, HealthX Ventures and Rock River Capital Partners.

For more information about Forward Fest, visit forwardfest.org.

About the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce:
The Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce is the voice of business with more than 1,200 organizations – ranging from one-person shops to corporations with more than 10,000 employees – working to bring the Greater Madison area to its full potential. The Greater Madison region is a leader in innovation. From cutting-edge technologies to distinctive retail shops to inventive services and products, our members vary greatly but are united by the region’s entrepreneurial spirit. More information can be found at madisonbiz.com.

###

Eugenia Podestá of Synergy Coworking to Receive Chamber’s 2022 Ground Floor Award for Small Business Leadership

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (April 6, 2022)

Contact: Erik Greenfield, Communications Manager, 608-443-1952 (office), 608-669-7884 (cell)

Eugenia Podestá of Synergy Coworking to Receive Chamber’s 2022 Ground Floor Award for Small Business Leadership
Award to be presented at IceBreaker on April 13

MADISON – The Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce announced today that Eugenia Podestá, co-founder of Synergy Coworking, will receive the Chamber’s 2022 Ground Floor Award for Small Business Leadership.

The award, which recognizes true champions for small business both within their business and in the community, will be presented during the Chamber’s sold-out IceBreaker event April 13 at the Kohl Center. Previous recipients include Jim Garner of Sergenian’s Floor Coverings, Susan Bulgrin of Culver’s on Todd Drive and Echo Tap & Grill, Jeff “JP” Patterson of JP Hair Design and Mark Schmitz of ZEBRADOG.

“Eugenia is an innovator and collaborator who has supported so many small business leaders in Greater Madison,” said Chamber President Zach Brandon. “Her commitment to empowering women business leaders and making our region the best place for entrepreneurs of color exemplifies why she is the perfect choice for this prestigious honor.”

At Synergy Coworking, Podestá spearheads and supports inclusive economic empowerment and leadership initiatives and collaborations. Born in Peru and raised in Madison, she is a social entrepreneur and global connector dedicated to equity through access, creating space and opportunities for women and Black and brown leaders at the intersection of business, leadership and community.

Podestá is also Senior Director of Leadership and Social Impact at Vital Voices Global Partnership, an international women’s leadership nonprofit in Washington, D.C. that invests in women leaders who are taking on the world’s greatest challenges. There, she oversees programs including the Google Impact Challenge and the VV GROW Fellowship, a reputable global one-year accelerator for women-owned small- and medium-sized enterprises. She also serves on various boards to advance economic development and support underserved communities in Madison including Dane Arts Mural Arts, Wisconsin Latino Chamber of Commerce, Madison Community Foundation and UW–Madison Center for Community and Nonprofit Studies.

“I am honored to be chosen as this year’s recipient of the Ground Floor Award,” said Podestá. “I share this award with my partner, Spencer Hudson, our family and all our members and supporters over the years for helping us realize this vision. We are committed to supporting Greater Madison’s entrepreneurial ecosystem by addressing systemic barriers and providing needed opportunities and a supportive, inclusive space.”

In addition to the presentation of the Ground Floor Award, IceBreaker will also bring together more 750 business and community leaders to collectively recalibrate our thinking on the future Greater Madison needs. Featured speakers are Maggie Anderson, CEO of The Empowerment Experiment and author of Our Black Year: One Family’s Quest to Buy Black in America’s Racially Divided Economy; and Alondra Fernandez, a UW–Madison researcher, UW-Green Bay graduate and Dreamer, having participated in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

For media access to IceBreaker and any questions about media accommodations or interview requests, please contact Erik Greenfield at 608-669-7884 or erik@madisonbiz.com. 

About the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce:
The Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce is the voice of business with more than 1,200 organizations – ranging from one-person shops to corporations with more than 10,000 employees – working to bring the Greater Madison area to its full potential. The Greater Madison region is a leader in innovation. From cutting-edge technologies to distinctive retail shops to inventive services and products, our members vary greatly but are united by the region’s entrepreneurial spirit. More information can be found at madisonbiz.com.

###

Talent Shortages, Higher Operating Costs Top Concerns in Fall Business Survey

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (Dec. 2, 2021)

Contact: Erik Greenfield, Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce, 608-669-7884
Rob Gard, Destination Madison, 608-441-3958
Camille Carter, Madison Black Chamber of Commerce, 608-729-1238
Jessica Cavazos, Latino Chamber of Commerce, 608-712-3522
Jason Ilstrup, Downtown Madison, Inc., 608-512-1330

Talent Shortages, Higher Operating Costs Top Concerns in Fall Business Survey
Fourth community partners survey, of 305 Greater Madison businesses, shows signs of optimism as confidence grows and vaccines become more widely available

MADISON – Today the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce; Destination Madison; Downtown Madison, Inc.; Madison Black Chamber of Commerce and Latino Chamber of Commerce released the results of a Fall 2021 Business Survey, which yielded responses from 305 Greater Madison businesses representing a diverse, mostly small or locally owned, cross-section of industries, as well as a significant percentage of women- and minority-owned businesses. The survey was conducted in partnership with the DeForest Windsor Area Chamber of Commerce, Fitchburg Chamber Visitor + Business Bureau, Middleton Chamber of Commerce and Verona Area Chamber of Commerce.

Among the survey’s key findings are:

• The two largest barriers to local businesses are related to global challenges: 65 percent (up from 32 percent in Spring 2021) rated access to talent as a top barrier to their business, closely followed by increased operating costs at 59 percent (up from 43 percent);
• The next two largest barriers to local businesses were related to local factors: government regulations (34 percent) and lack of clarity in local government reopening plans (30 percent);
• 24 percent expanded their workforce in 2021, while an additional 30 percent wanted to expand but weren’t able to due to talent shortages;
• 65 percent experienced revenue growth in 2021, though the 24 percent that reported revenue losses were disproportionately small businesses;
• 78 percent have a workforce that is at least three-quarters fully vaccinated, which exceeds Dane County’s overall rate;
• Among for-profit businesses, opinions on the Dane County indoor mask requirement are split, with 44 percent in favor and 44 percent opposed;
• Among those that said the mask requirement has impacted their business positively or negatively, 71 percent said it has hurt their business;
• The most common local spending reductions were on meetings and events (57 percent), entertainment (49 percent), restaurants (40 percent), catering (34 percent) and hotels (25 percent);
• 66 percent said none of their employees are working fully remotely, up from 45 percent in Spring 2021 and nearing pre-pandemic levels, demonstrating that while remote work may increase, businesses continue to see value in returning to in-person work;
• 35 percent rate Dane County’s business climate as above average or excellent, up from 18 percent in Spring 2021, but down significantly from the 81 percent of Fall 2020 survey respondents who rated Dane County’s pre-pandemic business climate as above average or excellent; and
• 28 percent rate local elected officials’ performance during the pandemic as above average or excellent (unchanged from Spring 2021).

“From talent shortages to a need for greater clarity on the path forward, there are factors both global and local that present challenges on the way to recovery,” said Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce President Zach Brandon. “However, with a wider availability of vaccines, consumer confidence on the rise, and many businesses experiencing revenue growth or looking to expand their workforce, there are reasons for optimism heading into 2022.”

“The hospitality industry was hit hardest by the pandemic and continues to be impacted the most as our local business economy works its way through recovery. We encourage Dane County businesses and organizations to hold meetings and events locally in 2022 to help our caterers, hotels and restaurants rebound from their devastating losses of the past two years,” said Ellie Westman Chin, President & CEO of Destination Madison.

“Support for small businesses remains a significant challenge, particularly as many business assistance programs are no longer a viable option,” said Madison Black Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Camille Carter. “While there are bright spots emerging in our economy and some businesses are on the road to recovery, there is still work ahead.”

“While there are encouraging data points, there are also many challenges as we continue to recover from this pandemic,” said Latino Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Jessica Cavazos. “Inclusive public- and private-sector partnerships that incorporate diverse voices are essential as we learn more about these barriers and look onward for solutions.”

“The latest survey provides some glimmers of hope for downtown Madison, including higher consumer confidence, increased local spending and more people returning to their offices,” said Jason Ilstrup, President of Downtown Madison, Inc. “Yet, downtown still has challenges with remaining COVID concerns and heightened barriers to business like access to talent and increased operating costs.”

Among the 305 unique businesses that responded, 80 percent have 50 or fewer employees, 90 percent are headquartered in Dane County, 74 percent have locations only in Dane County, 22 percent are owned or led by an individual who is non-white, and 49 percent are owned or led by someone who identified as a gender other than male.

This is the fourth survey conducted since the beginning of the pandemic to collect information regarding current business operations, challenges and potential opportunities. The results of the Fall 2021 survey will be used to inform policymakers through advocacy efforts aimed at balancing the needs of health, the economy and public confidence.

Topline survey results are available upon request by emailing Erik Greenfield at erik@madisonbiz.com.

About the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce: 
The Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce is the voice of business with more than 1,200 organizations – ranging from one-person shops to corporations with more than 10,000 employees – working to bring the Greater Madison area to its full potential. The Greater Madison region is a leader in innovation. From cutting-edge technologies to distinctive retail shops to inventive services and products, our members vary greatly but are united by the region’s entrepreneurial spirit. More information can be found at madisonbiz.com.

About Destination Madison:
Destination Madison is honored to play a key role in supporting the thousands of Dane County jobs supported by tourism. Promoting tourism in Madison since 1972, Destination Madison continues to work strategically to expand upon the more than $1.4 billion generated by visitor spending in Dane Country in 2019. For the most up-to-date information, visit our website at visitmadison.com.

About the Madison Black Chamber of Commerce:
The Madison Black Chamber of Commerce is a group of community members working to empower African American/Black people to cultivate and expand entrepreneurship. We believe that Black-owned businesses contribute significantly to the economic well-being of Madison. Learn more at madisonblackchamber.com.

About the Latino Chamber of Commerce:
Founded in 2003, the Latino Chamber of Commerce represents the Latino and non-Latino business community in the Greater Madison area and surrounding cities. We assist and promote the interests of our members and community through advocacy and programs that make an overall impact to Dane County’s economic growth. The diverse relationship of our active members and partners is an ideal mixture of small business owners, corporate representatives and government leaders. Learn more at lccwi.org.

About Downtown Madison, Inc.:
Downtown Madison, Inc. (DMI) is committed to sustaining, planning for, and growing downtown Madison as a vibrant regional economic engine that offers a best-in-class quality of life for businesses, downtown workers, residents and visitors. Learn more at downtownmadison.org.

###