Businesses and residents benefit from the area’s close proximity to Chicago, Madison, Milwaukee, Minneapolis and Green Bay.
“Portage County, Stevens Point and Plover areas really do have an emphasis on the creative industry. Plus, the proximity along Interstate 39 and access to the going north vacation traffic really make this an ideal location for me to establish my business.”
Brian Cummins
Owner, Great Northern Distilling
Business and Industry
Leading contributors to Central Wisconsin’s economy are agriculture, food processing, manufacturing, insurance, forest products and the dairy industry. Portage County leads the state in production of potatoes, processed snap peas and sweet corn, and its 12,900 cows produce 27 million gallons of milk annually.
National food processors such as the Del Monte Corporation and McCain Foods have plants in Portage County. In recent years the region has attracted a diverse mix of agriculture, food processing, advanced manufacturing, technology and environmental companies, and the state’s medical devices industry has become a large part of the expanding biotechnology and health care sectors.
Some of our major employers include Sentry Insurance, Stevens Point Public School District, Ministry Saint Michael’s Hospital, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, AIG, Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection, Associated Bank, Donaldson Company, H.O. Wolding, Lands’ End, Worzalla Publishing, Monogram Foods, Skyward, City of Stevens Point and Portage County.