The CWERB is a nonprofit organization founded in October of 1983.  Its operating budget is funded entirely from the private sector.  The mission of the CWERB is to bring timely economic analysis and information to the UW-SP service area consisting primarily of Portage, Marathon, and Wood counties and to help foster economic development in our region.  This mission has been accomplished through the publication of Economic Indicator Reports.  These reports are compiled and released for each county in Central Wisconsin.  Furthermore, the reports contain a special section devoted to a topic of economic significance.  These special reports are usually given by UW-SP faculty.  Recent papers published in the Quarterly Economic Indicators series have dealt with volatility in the job markets, tourism in Central Wisconsin, health care in the region, migration into and out of the counties of Portage, Marathon, and Wood, the high tech industry base of Central Wisconsin, and the economic significance of small business to the region.

The dissemination of the information takes place through publications and presentations.  The economic and special reports have been presented orally in the population centers of Central Wisconsin, i.e., Stevens Point, Wausau, Marshfield, and Wisconsin Rapids.  Attendance at each of the presentations is approximately 70 to 80.  Moreover, the audiences are comprised of the business, political, and educational leaders of the counties.  Lastly, substantial newspaper, radio, and television coverage of the publications and presentations has been instrumental in focusing attention on UW-SP and the Division of Business and Economics.