Chamber wins award at 2021 Mid-America Economic Development conference in Chicago

GREEN BAY, WIS. — The Greater Green Bay Chamber earned recognition this afternoon at the Mid-America Economic Development Council’s (EDC) Annual Economic Development Awards meeting at the Marriott Chicago Downtown Magnificent Mile.

The Chamber’s "Welcome Back, Urban Hub!" video was selected as the winner in the Marketing Program (large division) category at the Mid-America EDC Annual Economic Development Awards program, which honors outstanding efforts in the development of marketing materials, marketing events and economic development efforts across a 13-state region, stretching as far west as Wyoming and as far east as Ohio.

"The Greater Green Bay Chamber's efforts to market the Urban Hub are a great example of quality work for Economic Developers throughout the Mid-America EDC region,” said Awards Committee Chairman Brandon Marshall, services director with the Wyoming Business Council.

“Their promotional video was impressive to the judging panel for several reasons, but most notably the very high production quality and its clear messaging, timed perfectly to what everyone was hungry for at that point in time — to be welcomed back to in-person interactions, in a whole new and innovative space."

The Chamber’s Welcome Back video concept took shape in February 2021, with hopes to reinvigorate the 10,000 sq. foot co-working space in Downtown Green Bay. The goal was to encourage the community to re-engage with the space that got them out of their homes, but also reaffirm its purpose: to inspire innovation, collaboration, and reinvention in the Greater Green Bay region. The video was officially released on May 3.

“We are thrilled and honored to be selected for this award,” said Kelly Armstrong, vice president of economic development for the Greater Green Bay Chamber. “The entrepreneurial ecosystem in the Greater Green Bay area is continuing to grow as a result of amenities like the Urban Hub, and we are working to leverage the momentum here in Northeast Wisconsin.”

Using the video as a springboard, the Urban Hub has added members, partners in GreenLeaf Bank and Wipfli, and has grown revenues by 280% over the past 12 months.

On Nov. 9, Madison-based WiSys alongside UW-Green Bay formally recognized the Urban Hub as a “VentureHome” in Green Bay, a partnership that further strengthens its ties with the University of Wisconsin System in helping entrepreneurs bring ideas, innovations, and technologies into the marketplace.

Tundra Angels, the Chamber’s one-year-old Tundra Angels investor network — which makes its permanent home inside the Urban Hub — has expanded from six members to 21 members, with six investments in high-growth, scalable Wisconsin companies totaling more than $900,000 deployed.

Finally, the Urban Hub most recently completed its first 12-week cohort of The Blueprint Green Bay, a first-of-its-kind business accelerator program focusing on people of color, women, and veteran-owned businesses.

The program’s second 12-week cohort— market validation —will begin accepting applications on Jan. 3, 2022, and begin in March 2022.

About Mid-America Economic Development Council

Based in Worthington, Ohio, Mid-America EDC is an organization that provides economic development professionals with resources, site selectors, and networking opportunities to advance regional programs and access thought leadership.