(Middleton, WI) The Wisconsin Economic Development Association (WEDA) is excited to announce Rock County’s Internship & Externship programs as the 2026 Community and Economic Development Award (CEDA) winner in the Talent Attraction, Development, and Retention category.
The CEDA Awards were established by WEDA to recognize economic development projects, businesses, and organizations that have made significant contributions to the Wisconsin economy. Winners were recognized at the annual CEDA Awards ceremony, held September 17, 2026, in Kenosha, WI.
Three CEDA finalists were selected in each of the four CEDA categories: Business Retention and Expansion; Economic Development Initiative; Real Estate Redevelopment and Reuse; and Talent Attraction, Development, and Retention. The winners in each category were announced and celebrated at the awards ceremony, which was attended by economic development professionals from across the state.
The Rock Internship & Externship programs won the CEDA Award in the Talent Attraction, Development, and Retention category, which recognizes economic development initiatives or programs that document successful talent development outcomes.
“The Rock Internship & Externship programs are a powerful example of what can happen when educators, employers, and economic development partners come together around a shared goal of building the workforce of tomorrow,” said WEDA President and CEO Melissa Hunt. “WEDA is proud to recognize Rock County and its many partners with the 2026 CEDA Award for Talent Attraction, Development, and Retention, and we congratulate everyone who has helped make these programs such a success.”
The Rock Internship & Externship programs are building Rock County’s future workforce by connecting education, employers, and career exploration through paid, hands-on experiences. The Rock Internship provides incoming high school seniors with a six-week paid opportunity to explore careers and develop technical and employability skills, while the Externship gives high school instructors a one-week paid rotational experience with local employers.
Led by the Rock County Economic Development Agency in partnership with Blackhawk Technical College, the Southwest Wisconsin Workforce Development Board, Rock County 5.0, the County of Rock, and participating employers, the programs strengthen the connection between classrooms and careers.
Since launching, 184 students and 84 instructors have participated, creating valuable relationships among educators, businesses, and future workers. By giving young people meaningful exposure to local career opportunities while helping educators better understand regional workforce needs, the programs serve as both a talent development and recruitment strategy – strengthening Rock County’s talent pipeline and supporting long-term economic growth.
“The Rock Internship and Externship programs represent a pair of workforce offerings that are having a positive impact on talent development strategies throughout the Janesville-Beloit MSA,” said James Otterstein, Rock County Economic Development manager. “Our entire team is extremely grateful for the strong, consistent collaboration that exists between Rock County’s employer community and its workforce development ecosystem.”
Nominated projects were screened and selected by an impartial panel of judges comprised of WEDA members and partners. The independent panel reviewed many projects that were submitted for consideration, but the 12 finalists and the eventual winners in each category were selected based on the significant economic impact each project has on its respective community or region.
The 2026 CEDA Awards would not be possible without the support of WEDA’s generous partners and sponsors, including the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC); Alliant Energy; First Ring Industrial Redevelopment Enterprise (FIRE); Madison Gas and Electric; Xcel Energy; Associated Bank; and Meta.
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About WEDA
The Wisconsin Economic Development Association, founded in 1975, is a statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to growing Wisconsin’s economy. Driven by the needs of our members, we represent the economic development interests of both the private and public sectors through professional development, best practices, and advocacy.