Business. Life. Balance.
City of Eau Claire Economic Development Division
   

Welcome to Eau Claire, WI

Eau Claire is a regional center of West Central Wisconsin. Advantageously located on Interstate 94 between Minneapolis/St. Paul and Chicago and home to the Chippewa Valley Regional Airport it is an ideal location for regional and global businesses alike. Living in Eau Claire means that you have a great community to work in, raise your family or grow your business.

Financial Assistance is available to relocating or expanding businesses looking for new commercial space. Close relationship between businesses and local institutions of higher learning create many Internship Opportunities.

Eau Claire News

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Façade Loan Program

The City of Eau Claire has created a Façade Loan Program to provide financial assistance to property and business owners to encourage the revitalization of old commercial strip centers in the City of Eau Claire. Find all of the information in the program overview. To apply for this program, please fill out and return the application and return it to the City of Eau Claire Economic Development Division.

City of Eau Claire's Economic Development Policy Priorities

View the City of Eau Claire's Economic Development Policy Priorities for 2010 - 2012.

Download (PDF)

2010 Census Data Released

Eau Claire remains Wisconsin's ninth biggest city with 65,883 residents, according to the recently released 2010 Census. This population count is a 6.8% increase over the last decade, slightly more than the state average of 6%. "One of the things that's been advantageous for Eau Claire is that we've enjoyed real growth, but it hasn't been at either extreme. That allows a community to plan for and absorb that growth," says Mike Huggins, Eau Claire City Manager.

All of Eau Claire's census data can be found at www.census.gov.

Eau Claire Announces New
Infill Incentive Program

The City of Eau Claire has allocated a total Infill Development loan pool of $200,000 to be available for down-payment assistance loans for the purchase of privately owned infill lots within the City for the construction of new homes. The money may also be used to purchase dilapidated properties in older neighborhoods where the intent is to remove the existing structures on the properties and build new homes.

The City has a small inventory of infill lots that may be declared to be excess properties. These lots may be offered for sale for infill development through a bid process. Under this Infill Development Program the purchaser of a city-owned infill lot may defer payment of the purchase price under the terms stated below.

Program Description
Application
Prevailing Wage Information

  

EBay to Purchase GSI

On Monday, March 28, 2011 Ebay, the online marketplace operator, announced that it will purchase GSI Commerce. GSI Commerce operates a call center here in Eau Claire. The $2.4 billion acquisition leaves the operation in Eau Claire, a 48,000 square—foot building and hundreds of workers, unclear. CEO of EBay, John Donahoe says, "Commerce is an inflection point where the lines between online and offline commerce are blurring. We see retailers of all sizes, merchants of all sizes, looking for partners that can help them grow their business." Following the announcement, shares of GSI surged 50.7% to close that business day at $29.20.

6th Lowest Crime Rate in the Nation

In the U.S. Crime Rate Ranking in annual publication from CQ Press, Eau Claire, WI MSA ranks #6 in the list for lowest crime rate ranking among the 332 U.S. metropolitan areas that are ranked. Read the full report

Eau Claire's Healthcare
ranked #1 in Wisconsin

UW Institute for Population Health ranked Eau Claire County #1 in access and quality of Healthcare in Wisconsin. Overall Eau Claire ranked #6 in Health Outcomes out of all 73 Wisconsin counties. Review the detailed report

2 S Barstow – Sold!

After months of negotiations, the Redevelopment Authority (RDA) approved an agreement to sell the building at 2 South Barstow, otherwise known as the Mural Building, to local developer John Mogensen. Plans for the building call for commercial space on the ground floor and loft apartments on the upper two floors.


The building was sold for $5, with an agreement that Mr. Mogensen will add an estimated $800,000 in building valuation through renovations. A PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) provision was included in the agreement based on a property value of $800,000 beginning in 2013.

 

Spring Economic Development Newsletter

While the upcoming forecast may not feel much like it, they assure us it is in fact Spring! Well, this last season has definitely seen a thaw in construction, if not in the air outside. We look forward to seeing what the rest of Spring will bring.

Read our Spring Economic Development Newsletter here!

 

 

Economic Development Division Issues 2010 Annual Report

The 2010 Economic Development Division Annual Report highlights programs, activities, and accomplishments during the past year.

Download the 2010 Annual Report

Eau Claire Ranks the Best in Wisconsin

The Milken Institute published the 2009 Best Performing Cities Index and ranked Eau Claire 58th out of 124 small metro markets. In 2009 Eau Claire's ranking topped all other Wisconsin cities in large or small metros.

New Financing Options Announced

 An informational session will be held on October 29 at noon in the North Conference Room of the Eau Claire City Hall, 203 S. Farwell St. Regarding the new Regional Business Fund programs.

Each programs targets a different need of local businesses. Downtown property owners will be able access to the Downtown Façade Loan Program. This unique program provides financial assistance to encourage property and business owners in core downtowns to revitalize downtown commercial buildings. The loan size can range from $5,000 to $30,000. Repayment terms are up to 15 years at 0% fixed interest rate. The funds can be used for façade renovation; exterior lighting, doors, and graphics; signage, windows, and awnings; other façade or landscape improvements.

The Micro Loan Fund Program provides small loans to start-up, newly establish, or growing small businesses. Loans size can range from $5,000 to $25,000 at a 4% fixed interest rate with repayment terms of up to ten years, with the exception of working capital loans which have a maximum term of three years.

The Revolving Loan Fund Program is a flexible source of loan funds for commercial and industrial projects. Loan size is higher than $25,000 at a 4% fixed interest rate with repayment terms of up to five years for working capital, seven to ten years for machinery and equipment, and ten years for real estate.

The Technology Enterprise Fund (TEF) is a “quasi-equity”, or a patient debt, revolving loan fund that provides creative financing to new and emerging technology companies. Loan size can range from $100,000 to $250,000 and loans are priced at an adjustable rate indexed to Prime, plus or minus an interest rate margin that is dependent on risk.

Applications and further details are available at http://www.rbfinc.org/

UW Eau Claire ranks No.5 in the Midwest

The 2011 edition of "America's Best Colleges" ranks UW-Eau Claire No. 5 among the top regional public universities in the Midwest and 24th among all private and public institutions in the Midwest. The U.S. News and World Report has ranked UW-Eau Claire among the top public institutions in the Midwest every year since 1995. Rank details

Eau Claire Named One of the Best Places to Retire by U.S. News and World Report

Eau Claire's low cost of living, easy access to high-quality healthcare, recreational opportunities and cultural events make Eau Claire one of the Best Places to Retire see the details.