Vernon County Development

09/29/2026

Nominate your favorite business, person, or organization for a Vernon County Award! Nominations close September 30 https://forms.cloud.microsoft/g/8jBmxk7BPU

09/24/2026

Some great Vernon County spots mentioned by WTMJ for fall leaf viewing. What is your favorite place for fall colors?

Surround yourself in color on a fall road trip in Wisconsin. Quiet country roads, nationalscenic byways and stops along the way add up to an

09/24/2026

Nominate your favorite businesses, organizations, and the people who make this place so special for the Vernon County Awards! Nominations close September 30. https://forms.cloud.microsoft/g/8jBmxk7BPU

09/23/2026

September updates from Vernon County Community Development - Awards nominations, grant writing workshops, economic development news, and more!

FAQ: How are winners selected? Each nomination is reviewed by panelists from across the state, who select recipients based the quality of the nomination and nominee impact. Nominations are not selected by quantity or public vote. So, for these awards Quality > Quantity of nominations!

09/22/2026

Last day to register for this great free opportunity nearby - learn from a founder AND meet with local investors and grant experts! Register at https://www.ladcolax.com/eventslisting #!event/2026/9/29/ignite-innovation-from-ideas-to-funding

09/22/2026

Vernon County Young Leaders Award Nominations are OPEN!

One of the really special things about Vernon County is the young people in our communities who are already making a difference: volunteering, starting businesses, coming up with new ideas, helping their neighbors, speaking up for what matters, and bringing people together.

They’re helping make Vernon County a better place right now, and we’d love to celebrate them!

The Young Leaders Award (20 and under) recognizes a young person or youth-led effort that is making a positive impact on our community or helping move Vernon County forward.

Help us celebrate the next generation of Vernon County leaders. Nominate someone today!

09/21/2026

At this year's Vernon County Awards, we are thrilled to debut THREE new award categories to celebrate those making Vernon County a great place to grow:

🚑Healthcare & Emergency Response Award: Celebrates individuals, teams, or organizations providing exceptional healthcare, emergency, or frontline response services in Vernon County.

🏞 Environmental Stewardship Award: Recognizes an individual, business, organization, or initiative demonstrating exceptional commitment to environmental stewardship in Vernon County.

🏪Mid-Sized Business Award (11-25 FTE): Recognizes a mid-sized business that demonstrates exceptional service, strong leadership, and a meaningful commitment to Vernon County.

Get the full category descriptions and submit your nominations at: https://www.vernoncountywi.gov/departments/community_development/2026_awards.php

09/19/2026

Question: Who can nominate?

Answer: Pretty much anyone! 🙌

If there’s a business, organization, event or individual in Vernon County you think deserves recognition, you can nominate them:

- A business (or a few!) that you love
- An organization making a difference
- An event that brings your community together
- A person who goes above and beyond
- Or yourself!

Yes, self-nominations are absolutely allowed, and encouraged. We know that classic Midwest modesty can make it hard to talk about our own accomplishments, but you know your story, your work and your impact better than most.

And no need to worry about who submitted the nomination - we’re interested in the story and the impact, not whether you nominated yourself or someone else did.

So don’t be shy! If you think someone deserves recognition, tell us why.

https://www.vernoncountywi.gov/departments/community_development/2026_awards.php

09/18/2026

🏆 Always a favorite category - Small Business of the Year nominations are OPEN!

Do you have a local business that goes above and beyond? One that provides exceptional service, brings new ideas to the table, supports the community, or simply makes Vernon County a better place to live, work and do business?

We want to hear about them!

Small Business of the Year (up to 10 FTE) recognizes a business that demonstrates exceptional service, innovation and commitment to Vernon County, and makes a meaningful impact in our community.

And a friendly reminder: winners are selected based on the QUALITY of nominations, not the quantity.

So slow down, take a minute, and tell us what makes your favorite small business special and why they deserve to be recognized.

https://www.vernoncountywi.gov/departments/community_development/2026_awards.php

09/17/2026

One thing we hear ALL the time about Vernon County?

“It feels so alive here.”

There always seems to be something happening, something to look forward to, and a reason to get out and connect with our neighbors.

And a BIG part of that is the incredible events happening across Vernon County all year long!

📆Think about the events you put on your calendar every single year:

- The ones you look forward to.
- The ones you bring your friends and family to.
- The ones you tell people, “You HAVE to come check this out!”

Behind every great event are countless hours of planning, hard work, volunteers, creativity and commitment. They bring people together, showcase what makes our communities special.

Now it’s time to give those events some love!

Nominate today for a Vernon County Award and help recognize the events that help make Vernon County feel like home.

https://www.vernoncountywi.gov/departments/community_development/2026_awards.php