Leadership & Organization Development

Leadership & Organization Development Resources:

Programs
Success Stories
Toolkits
Support Organizations

Leadership & Organization Development Resources

Rural leadership and organizational development play a crucial role in empowering local communities to address their unique challenges and harness their strengths. These resources encompass a range of tools, programs, and organizations designed to cultivate leadership skills for rural communities. By investing in these resources, rural communities can build resilient leadership that drives positive change and fosters long-term growth.

Stakeholders meeting in Phelps, Wisconsin

Webinar

In rural communities, “anchor institutions” such as hospitals, schools, universities, libraries, or major employers play an essential role in maintaining the vitality of the community. Often punching above their weight, these organizations help drive employment, attract capital, and create social bonds within the community.

Please review this webinar to see how communities can best collaborate with anchor institutions to drive employment, attract capital, and create social bonds within the community.

Moderating this conversation will be Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative Director of Community Economic and Workforce Development Marie Barry. Guest speakers include:

  • Walter Leipart, Superintendent, School District of Gilman
  • Julie Strenn, President/CEO, Opportunity Development Center Inc.
  • David Gallianetti, Director of External Relations, Lakeland University.

Building Long Lasting Community Utilizing Anchor Institutions in Rural Communities

Recorded: May 1, 2026

Watch the recording .

Download toolkit

Programs

Organizational & Leadership Development

Your source for research, educational programs, information, and tools that support meaningful engagement and the capacity of individuals and organizations to take action for the good of Wisconsin communities.

Capacity Building Grants

Wisconsin’s Capacity Building Grant Program is designed to further the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation’s (WEDC’s) efforts to foster a network of economic development focused organizations within the state of Wisconsin.

Rural Lead Learning Initiative

Leadership may be the difference some communities thrive while others struggle.  The Rural Lead Learning Initiative works to strengthen leadership to transform rural communities into vibrant places.

Local Government 101

Members will be able to watch a series of short videos that explain dense concepts in easy-to-understand language with knowledge checks included.

Wisconsin Economic Development Institute, Inc.

The Wisconsin Economic Development Institute, Inc. (WEDI) is a non-profit, non-partisan foundation established under the Wisconsin Economic Development Association (WEDA) to conduct research and education designed to increase the effectiveness of economic development efforts.

Youth Leadership Conference

The annual WECA Youth Leadership Conference (YLC) is a dynamic three-day event sponsored by Wisconsin’s electric cooperatives and facilitated by WECA.

Rural Student College Peer Networking

Offering educational programming and one-to-one mentoring for rural and small-town high school students.

Distressed Cities Technical Assistance

The DCTA program is designed to improve fiscal health and build capacity of relatively small units of general local government (UGLGs) and their nonprofit partners in places experiencing persistent poverty and economic distress.

Thompson Center Speaker Grants

The Thompson Center funds speaker(s) events that will advance public leadership and help leaders to address pressing policy challenges in venues on UW campuses and in communities outside UW–Madison (which has its own activities and grants).

Success Stories

Lancaster Welcoming Communities

To bring Latino families to Lancaster, the community knew it would need to make this cultural group feel welcome and provide amenities to meet their unique needs.

Mayville

After 30 years of sluggish efforts to redevelop Mayville’s central commercial district, in 2018 they harnessed the power of partnership to inject new life into their downtown and restore its vibrancy.

Looking to talk to someone?

Whether you’re looking to grow your business, improve local infrastructure, or strengthen your community’s leadership, our team is here to provide the guidance and resources needed to succeed. By working together, we can ensure that rural Wisconsin continues to thrive and remains a vibrant, dynamic place to live and work. Let’s collaborate to build a prosperous future for all.

Support Organizations

UW Extension

Your source for research, educational programs, information, and tools that support meaningful engagement and the capacity of individuals and organizations to take action for the good of Wisconsin communities.

Wisconsin Rural Partners

Wisconsin Rural Partners, Inc. (WRP) serves as a network hub for organizations, government agencies and people working to make rural Wisconsin a better place.

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

The Rural Capacity Building Program enhances the capacity and ability of local governments, Indian tribes, housing development organizations, rural Community Development Corporations, and rural Community Housing Development Organizations, to carry out community development and affordable housing activities that benefit low- and moderate-income families and persons in rural areas.

U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development

USDA Rural Development can help rural communities obtain the technical assistance and financing necessary to develop drinking water and waste disposal systems.

Aspen Institute

Since 1985, the Aspen Institute Community Strategies Group (Aspen CSG) has been committed to equitable rural prosperity. We work towards a future where rural communities and Native nations are healthy places where each and every person belongs, lives with dignity, and thrives.

Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council

Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council is a consortium of federally recognized Indian tribes in Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

News

WEDC grants support innovation, entrepreneurs

A special round of Entrepreneurship Partner Grants (EPG) will be available to groups supporting Wisconsin entrepreneurs working in biotechnology, personalized medicine and biohealth.

Looking to hire? Treat employees like customers

The scarcity of labor in today’s markets demands new approaches to workforce development that account for changing worker expectations and build healthier workplace cultures.

Employment after prison can benefit businesses

Harrigan Solutions, a Grafton firm that assembles teams of workers—including formerly incarcerated people and refugees—in trustworthy teams to provide sanitation in food plants, preventative maintenance on production equipment, and work at construction sites.