2026 Greater Wausau Economic Outlook Survey

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* 1. What industry is your business in?

Manufacturing

Business and professional services (legal, accounting, etc.)

Retail, hospitality, transportation

Finance, insurance, real estate

Nonprofit, government, education

Construction

Healthcare

Other (please specify):

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* 2. How many people does your business employ?

Sole proprietor

1-10

11-25

26-99

100-250

251-499

500 or more

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* 3. Thinking of the year your business had in 2025, would you rate each of the following as being higher, the same as, or lower than 2024?

	Higher	Same	Lower
Gross Sales (Revenue)	Gross Sales (Revenue) Higher	Gross Sales (Revenue) Same	Gross Sales (Revenue) Lower
Profits	Profits Higher	Profits Same	Profits Lower
Employment	Employment Higher	Employment Same	Employment Lower
Capital Investment	Capital Investment Higher	Capital Investment Same	Capital Investment Lower

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* 4. Looking ahead to 2026, do you expect each of the following to be higher, the same as, or lower than 2025?

	Higher	Same	Lower
Gross Sales (Revenue)	Gross Sales (Revenue) Higher	Gross Sales (Revenue) Same	Gross Sales (Revenue) Lower
Profits	Profits Higher	Profits Same	Profits Lower
Employment	Employment Higher	Employment Same	Employment Lower
Capital Investment	Capital Investment Higher	Capital Investment Same	Capital Investment Lower

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* 5. With the current economic outlook in mind, what is your company's PRIMARY growth strategy over the next 12 months?

Grow existing markets

Enter new markets

Increase productivity

Expand margins

Data management / optimization

Digital transformation

Mergers and acquisitions

Strengthen management

Diversify products

Other (please specify)

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* 6. Compared to other US cities of similar size, how would you rate the Greater Wausau region as a place to do business?

Excellent

Good

Average

Below Average

Poor

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* 7. What is most advantageous about doing business in the Greater Wausau region?

Worker productivity / work ethic

Cost of doing business

Proximity to larger markets

Housing availability

The ability to retain talent

The ability to attract talent

Local infrastructure (interstate, rail, air service)

Other (please specify)

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* 8. What is your greatest challenge doing business in the Greater Wausau region?

Worker productivity / work ethic

Cost of doing business

Proximity to larger markets

Housing availability

Ability to retain talent

Ability to attract talent

Local infrastructure (interstate, rail, air service)

Other (please specify)

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* 9. Which of the following do you feel should be prioritized over the next 2-3 years to improve the Greater Wausau region's economy?

Workforce development and job creation

Building a talent recruitment program

Aligning educational and workforce programs with the needs of local employers

Increased business attraction efforts

Expanding STEAM (science/technology/education/arts/math) programs in schools

More support for small- and medium-sized businesses

Affordable housing

Childcare

Increased advocacy for businesses at the state and national levels

AI adoption / digital transformation

Other (please specify)

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* 10. How would you rate the economic vitality of the Greater Wausau region?

Excellent

Good

Average

Below average

Poor

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* 11. How would you rate the economic vitality of the State of Wisconsin?

Excellent

Good

Average

Below average

Poor

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* 12. Where is your company at in its Generative AI journey?

Incorporating it into our strategy

Experimenting with it

Reading and talking about it

Too soon to tell

Other (please specify)

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* 13. How likely is it that you would recommend doing business in the Greater Wausau region to a friend or a colleague?

0 is not at all likely, 10 is extremely likely

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* 14. Why did you give this score?

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* 15. Your name:

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* 16. Your email address:

Mission: To ignite business success for our Members through strategic engagement, partnership, and innovation.

Vision: To be the region’s indispensable provider of exclusive business advantages for our Members.

2026 Greater Wausau Economic Outlook Survey

Question Title

* 1. What industry is your business in?

Question Title

* 2. How many people does your business employ?

Question Title

* 3. Thinking of the year your business had in 2025, would you rate each of the following as being higher, the same as, or lower than 2024?

Question Title

* 4. Looking ahead to 2026, do you expect each of the following to be higher, the same as, or lower than 2025?

Question Title

* 5. With the current economic outlook in mind, what is your company's PRIMARY growth strategy over the next 12 months?

Question Title

* 6. Compared to other US cities of similar size, how would you rate the Greater Wausau region as a place to do business?

Question Title

* 7. What is most advantageous about doing business in the Greater Wausau region?

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* 8. What is your greatest challenge doing business in the Greater Wausau region?

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* 9. Which of the following do you feel should be prioritized over the next 2-3 years to improve the Greater Wausau region's economy?

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* 10. How would you rate the economic vitality of the Greater Wausau region?

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* 11. How would you rate the economic vitality of the State of Wisconsin?

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* 12. Where is your company at in its Generative AI journey?

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* 13. How likely is it that you would recommend doing business in the Greater Wausau region to a friend or a colleague?0 is not at all likely, 10 is extremely likely

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* 14. Why did you give this score?

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* 15. Your name:

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* 16. Your email address:

* 13. How likely is it that you would recommend doing business in the Greater Wausau region to a friend or a colleague?

0 is not at all likely, 10 is extremely likely