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.

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Eau Claire News

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Best Place in Wisconsin to Raise Your Kids 2009

According to BusinessWeek's "Best Places to Raise Your Kids 2009", Eau Claire ranks #1 in Wisconsin ahead of Appleton and Racine. The magazine selected towns with at least 50,000 residents and a median family income between $40,000 and $100,000. The list was then narrowed down using the following weighted criteria: school performance; number of schools; household expenditures; crime rates; air quality; job growth; family income; museums, parks, theaters, and other amenities; and diversity. School performance and safety were weighted most heavily, amenities and affordability followed close behind.

Recovery Act Loans Available on June 15th

If your small business is stressed meeting expenses during these economic times, the U.S. Small Business Administration has a new loan program designed just for you.

SBA’s America’s Recovery Capital Loan Program can provide up to $35,000 in short-term relief for viable small businesses facing immediate financial hardship to help ride out the current uncertain economic times and return to profitability.  Each small business is limited to one ARC loan.

ARC loans will be offered by some SBA lenders for as long as funding is available or until September 30, 2010, whichever comes first SBA Participant Lender Fact Sheet or visit the 2009 Recovery Act page

Eau Claire Unemployment Rate Declining

The unemployment data announced on May 28th show a sharp decline. The April unemployment rate in Eau Claire was 7.3 percent compared with 8.2 percent in March and 7.6 percent in February. Compared to a year ago the unemployment rate is 3.3 percent higher. Wisconsin unemployment rate was 8.8 percent in April of 2009 and 4.2 percent the previous year. More detailed information

Lowest Cost of Living in Wisconsin, again!

The ACCRA Cost of Living Index released 1st quarter data. Once again Eau Claire was the most affordable city in Wisconsin. Read the details.

Economic Development Division Annual Report Released

The City of Eau Claire Economic Development Division published today its 2008 Annual Report. The Annual Report describes how the Economic Development Division works with businesses to increase the quality of living, add well-paying jobs, and grow tax base.

the report highlights Eau Claire's economic growth. Downtown redevelopment recorded a year of steady growth, industrial construction in Eau Claire was the highest in three years, and the Eau Claire cost of living remained well below the state's average.

MN Wire Building Demolition

One of the first buildings acquired as part of the West Bank Redevelopment district was demolished on April 20, 2009. Read more about the Redevelopment District.

First Quarter 2009 Residential Construction Up

Residential construction started strong in 2009. Residential sector valuations increased 18.7% in the first quarter of 2009 as compared to Q1 2008. Overall building valuations were down 27.5% View the details or read the press release.

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.

$5,000 for Best Business Plan

Downtown Eau Claire, Inc. is again organizing the Jump-Start Downtown Business Plan Competition. The competition is open to any entrepreneur over the age of 18, who wants to locate their business in the downtown area. Prizes include $5,000 in start-up capital and $1,000 scholarship to the Entrepreneurial Training Program. For more details visit the Downtown Eau Claire website.

New Source of Venture Capital Funding

In April, Google announced a launch of a new venture capital fund with $100 million in financing called Google Ventures. According to the Google Ventures web page, the fund will consider a broad range of industries, including consumer Internet, software, hardware, clean-tech, bio-tech and health care. The company also states that they'll invest anywhere from seed to mezzanine stage and embrace the challenge of helping young companies grow from the garage to global relevance.

2 South Barstow Progress

During a special meeting on November 19th, the Eau Claire Redevelopment Authority (RDA) has narrowed down the possible development plans for 2 S Barstow to the proposal of John and Sharyn Moss. The Moss's then presented their re-worked proposal during an RDA meeting on March 25th. The RDA board instructed staff to continue negotiations with the Mosses to have an agreement on or before June 1st.

Click here to view the Request For Proposal (pdf). 2 South Barstow is part of the North Barstow Redevelopment district and as such developers are required to comply with the Design Guidelines(pdf) as defined by the City.

Eau Claire Unemployment Rate - 4th Lowest in Wisconsin

The Department of Workforce Development just released January 2009 unemployment rate data. See the details.

Make Mine a Million $ Business Race (M3 RACE)

is a program of Count me In for Women's Economic Independence and Founding Sponsor American Express OPEN. It is the only national initiative committed to the needs of women-owned businesses to help them grow their business to $1 million in annual revenues. Take the challenge and win $100,000 for your business.

Wisconsin State Economic Recovery

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act designates spending in over 130 different state and federal programs. Please visit www.recovery.wisconsin.gov for further details. You can also easily search for programs your business might be eligible for.

Eau Claire Increased Industrial Construction During 2008

Industrial construction in Eau Claire, WI increased by 327% compared to 2007. The largest industrial projects included United Products warehouse ($3.9 million), new facility for Central Warehouse and Storage ($3.4 million), Cascade Tissue Group expansion ($2.5 million), and Great Lakes Educational remodeling ($2.5 million). Click here to see the full statistics.

Up to 75,000 for Import-Impacted manufacturers

Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) is a U.S. Department of Commerce program designed for manufacturers adversely affected by imports. This program offers 50/50 cost sharing of projects aimed at improving a firm's competitive position, up to a total of $150,000 in projects with a maximum TAA cost share of $75,000. The amount the program can cost share is dependent upon the demand on program, funding level and company size and sales. Funds are applied toward the cost of consultants, engineers, or other outside professional service providers a firm chooses to implement projects.

To qualify, a manufacturing firm must have lost some domestic business to import, and experienced sales and employment declines over the last two years. Details and more information at http://www.taacenters.org/
 

Downtown Retail is Growing Fast

In 2008 downtown Eau Claire recorded a significant growth in retail. 6 new businesses opened, bringing the downtown retail vacancy rate to a historical low of 1.8%. This rate is significantly lower than the City's average of 5.93%. The downtown area represents approximately 8% of the Eau Claire market's retail area. Read the full Press Release

www.EauClaireDevelopment.com on WQOW

WQOW ran a story about the Economic Development website - click here to view

Eau Claire Cost of Living - Lowest in Wisconsin

The most recent results of the Cost of Living Index, as analyzed by the Council for Community and Economic Research, indicate that Eau Claire with 91.3 points is well below the national average of 100 and is the city with the lowest cost of living in Wisconsin. To compare the cost of living in Eau Claire to other cities, please visit our cost of living page.

At the end of October, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources will welcome Phillips Plastics Corporation® Multi-Shot to the Green Tier Program. Already an ISO 14001 certified, Multi-shot will focus its Environmental Management System on waste reductions, energy use reductions, and continued exploration of new recycling options. view details

Eau Claire Ranks the Best in Wisconsin

The Milken Institute published the 2008 Best Performing Cities Index and ranked Eau Claire number 56th out of 124 small metro markets. In 2008 Eau Claire's ranking topped all other Wisconsin cities in large or small metros. Read the details.

Eau Claire is Healthy

The UW Institute for Population Health ranked Eau Claire County 3rd in the state of 72 counties in the most recent county health rankings report. View the report.

Phoenix Park Neighborhood Development

As of June 1st, development for the much anticipated Phoenix Park neighborhood has entered into its first stage. The first new building will feature retail and restaurant space together with 33 apartments. Learn more about living downtown.

Luther Pharmacy - Downtown

As you drive downtown you'll notice that the Luther Pharmacy is quickly growing at the intersection of Madison and N. Barstow. The pharmacy opened its doors for public on September 1st, 2008.

West Bank Redevelopment

A new redevelopment district, as proposed by the Eau Claire Redevelopment Authority, is being formed on the west bank of the Chippewa river north of West Madison Street along Oxford Avenue north to the railroad bridge.

Designing a redevelopment district is a public process in which all parties are encouraged to share their opinions. The revised plan was considered by the Plan Commission on June 2nd, and was approved by City Council after all comments and amendments were considered.