THE FACE OF BUSINESS 2020 Annual Report
EAU CLAIRE AREA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
MEET US
2020 GLOBAL PANDEMIC It feels repetitive and a little tired to mention this at the start of the ECAEDC’s Annual Report. However, take this as a snapshot into our history. What did our community look like
Luke Hanson Executive Director Assists local businesses with expansion and retention, and promotes the Eau Claire Area to
during a pandemic? How was the workforce and businesses affected by shelter-in-place orders, mask mandates, social distancing, virtual work settings and (of course) rolling quarantines and the sickness? Someday, we’ll tell people about this year and how it changed policies, flow of work, hiring and services/goods offered for sale. Perhaps we’ll tell a new generation about how business leaders took over and showed courage all while every part of
external industry &
our normal life was upside down. Stories of how some
business leaders looking
businesses closed down during the 11+ months of shuttering or
for opportunities.
a decline in sales.
Becca Coleman Project & Marketing Manager Supports the local entrepreneurial and startup businesses, manages marketing & community projects.
2020 BY THE NUMBERS 3
Gateway Industrial Park projects activated, two are expanding local businesses, one prospect is new to the
300
There are narratives about local businesses that boomed during the pandemic, and those leaders had to navigate expansion all while keeping employees physically distant. The business challenges of 2020 run the full spectrum and there
area.
likely won’t be a finite end in 2021. The long term effects will
Entrepreneurs assisted through EDC
perhaps be felt for years to come, from a shift to aggressive
hosted/partner initiatives and events, The
contingency planning to a future of virtual workforce, the global pandemic of 2020 has left it’s mark.
Idea Challenge, Startup Eau Claire Week
104
& VentureHome- Eau Claire.
COVID-19 is part of all of our business journeys. If we were
activated within Eau Claire, Altoona, Fall
lucky enough not to have lost a loved one to the virus, we can
Creek, Augusta & Fairchild.
62
I write this not to launch into a tale of doom and gloom.
Business Retention & Expansion calls
Businesses or employees assisted with navigating State & Federal COVID relief programs and resources.
remain grateful for the lessons learned and for the supportive employees and community who pulled together during the 2020 global pandemic. Looking towards a brighter 2021!- Luke Hanson
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Eau Claire Area Economic Development Corporation Board
Monica Obryckit
of Directors set strategies in 2020 to
Monica Obrycki
promote community collaboration, showcase value and increase investment.
Eau Claire Energy Cooperative- President
While the pandemic brought a
Gerald Bauer
tremendous amount of challenges, the
JB Systems - Past President
opportunities for collaboration and to help area businesses only increased.
Julie Thoney Xcel Energy- Incoming President
The EDC Board pivoted to virtual meetings and met more frequently to
Scott Hodek
address the ever-changing environment.
WI DWD - Treasurer
Broadband which has always been topof-mind for the EDC was launched to the
Mike Golat
forefront and opportunities arose for the
City of Altoona- Secretary
EDC to be closely involved in new broadband initiatives. Along with the
Kathryn Schauf
pandemic response, broadband
Eau Claire County
presentations and other routine EDC business, the Board also took action to streamline financial and operational
Dave Solberg
Terry Weld
City of Eau Claire
Eau Claire City Council
Joe Mirr
Sham Anderson
Ruder Ware
Towns Association Board
Board, I’m reminded of how this Board
Bruce Barker
Brad Krings
creates a unique forum to regularly
CVTC
Bush Bros.
Dr. James Schmidt
Ben Trachsel
UWEC
B&B Electric
commitment and participation by all
Andrew Daniels
Dale Peters (retired)
Board members is a testament to
Miron Construction
City of Eau Claire
NIck Smiar
ADVISORS
Karman Briggs
Aaron White
Benny Anderson
City of Eau Claire
Visit Eau Claire
David Minor
Jeff Halloin
Eau Claire Area
Gateway Corporation
procedures, approve the office lease and relocation and provide feedback on the rebranding plan.
As I conclude my year as President of the
connect public and private sector community leaders and I am grateful for the opportunity to serve on it. The
the important work this organization does. As we wrap up 2020 and gear up for 2021, the future is bright for the Eau Claire Area EDC. I encourage you and
Eau Claire County Board
Western Dairyland
your organization to increase your support and stay connected!
Chamber of Commerce
COMMUNITY IMPACT:
COVID-19 BUSINESS SECTOR RECOVERY TASK FORCE CO-CHAIR When our community was faced with so much
MISSION STATEMENT Advancing local prosperity
uncertainty while COVID-19 swept through our country, community and business leaders heard the
through business and job
call for action. In April, 2020, the City of Eau Claire
growth.
and the City-County Health Department called for leadership and guidance to navigate the countless
BUSINESS EXPANSION
questions and action plans that needed addressing. The Eau Claire Area EDC got involved as Co-Chair of
BUSINESS RECRUITMENT
the COVID-19 Business Sector Recovery Task Force.
The strategic goal of this Task Force was to assist business sectors with economic recovery that is consistent with health recommendations and best practices.
ENTREPRENURSHIP CRITICAL TALENT
2020 FINANCIALS REVENUE
ACTUAL
PRIVATE SECTOR FUNDING
$51,370
PUBLIC SECTOR FUNDING
$76,900
OTHER
$37,008
customers.
TOTAL REVENUE
$165,278
"Business leaders were looking for a place to connect
EXPENSES
ACTUAL
ADMINISTRATIVE
$137,579
OPERATIONS
$43,338
PROGRAMS
$23,580
TOTAL EXPENSES
$204,497
This sector of the Task Force was assigned to support local business owners in understanding and implementing guidance and best health practices to allow for a safe reopening for employees and
and talk through local and state ordinances and really dig into how to keep their workforce safe and still producing" says Luke Hanson, Executive Director at the ECAEDC. "The Task Force provided a unified resource where leaders could get answers and work collaboratively and generate creative solutions." The Business Sector Recovery Task Force continues to meet to keep communication lines open as the pandemic wears on.
2021 GOALS
BUSINESS RECRUITMENT & EXPANSION (BRE)
Business Growth & Expansion
Economic development organizations have three traditional
Broadband Initiatives - Collaborate on expanding
investment in any market area, and the Eau Claire market is
broadband services to more rural parts of the
no different.
ways of facilitating the creation of jobs and capital
County. Partner with CINC to link the business
Growth and expansion of existing firms (business retention
community into their network of existing dark fiber.
and expansion) Creation of new firms (entrepreneurial development)
Digital Property Showcase- Publish a comprehensive
Attraction of external firms to the market area (business
map of all available industrial commercial, and large
recruitment)
undeveloped residential properties in the County.
Utilizing Business Retention & Expansion (BRE) outreach calls is one of the oldest and most impactful programs that the
Business Recruitment Resource- Continue to evolve
EDC engages in.
business recruitment assets including the Preferred
Over the course of 2020, the Eau Claire Area EDC has visited
Service Provider Guide. With goals to evolve and
with local businesses to identify current and upcoming
streamline the customer journey when looking to relocate into the Eau Claire market.
success and challenges. During the pandemic year, this outreach took on a new tone, but the mission remained constant; to assist with growth and business retention in this market.
Business Retention Economic Excellence Recognition- Present the Paragon Economic Impact Award, an annual award used to recognize and celebrate a local business who generates local prosperity.
In 2020, the Eau Claire Area EDC performed 104 BRE outreach calls within the County. Top challenges, as reported by those local business leaders are the following: Postponement of projects -uncertain consumer confidence
Business Retention & Expansion Calls- Increase business growth calls to foster and assist with
Supply chain disruptions and pricing
expanding existing businesses. Use digital survey outreach tool, in partnership with the Minneapolis Federal Reserve.
Regional Economic Collaboration- Host community-
Transitioning into a remote workforce
Uncertain short-term future planning
connecting events to develop collaboration between public and private entities, all with a focus
Workforce disruptions; illness, quarantine
to elevate the County.
and school closures
Entrepreneurship Connector in the Startup Community- Organize,
Critical Talent
host or support entrepreneur focused local events including; The Idea Challenge, Startup 48 (business kick-start weekend), 1 Million Cups, VentureHome Eau Claire and Startup Eau Claire Week.
Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Focus- Assist with the organization and implementation of Toward One Wisconsin - a State-wide Conference on Building Communities of Equity and Opportunity , host in Eau Claire in October 2021.
Emerging Industry Clusters- Partner with UWEC Career Services to develop entrepreneural
Identify Needs- Work with community partners to continue to identify
opportunities with UWEC Sience & Health Sciences
and work towards finding solutions to current workforce needs
Department.
PARAGON ECONOMIC IMPACT AWARD WINNER WIN TECHNOLOGY WIN Technology has been awarded the 2020 Paragon Award to
In 2017, the Globe University building in Eau Claire, was
recognize their positive impact on the economy in Eau Claire
purchased and serves as WIN Technology’s headquarters for
County.
their 130 employees. WIN has diversified beyond fiber networking to Managed IT Services, Network Management
WIN Technology’s recent launch of the national live-stream,
Services, and operates two Data Centers. WIN acquired KRM’s
Perigon System, has proven a solution to so many businesses and
Engage webcasting platform in 2015 which has evolved into
non-profits, who have been required to pivot to virtual
today’s Perigon cloud engagement platform.
programming to stay connected with staff and customers. Given the overwhelming demand for virtual event platforms The Eau Claire Area EDC is proud to present the Paragon
during the 2020 pandemic, Perigon was in position to fill this
Economic Impact Award, sponsored by Royal Credit Union, to a
local and national need.
their peers within the community and each nomination is
In February of 2020, Perigon had three customers and by December they had 160 customers using the interactive and dynamic platform, including some big national names. Locally, WIN has increased its
evaluated based on economic impact.
focus on supporting the Chippewa Valley community with use
local business that has made an economic impact to our community. Businesses are nominated for the Paragon Award by
and support of virtual event services by use of Perigon. “I would like to congratulate WIN Technology for receiving the 2020 Paragon Award” said Brandon Riechers, Royal Credit Union
“The Paragon Award is an opportunity to celebrate and
President & CEO. “WIN Technology, through their hard work to
recognize the economic impact that a company makes within
upgrade and expand their vast fiber-optic network, has kept up
our community,” as explained by Luke Hanson, Executive
with and supported the increased demand for internet and mobile
Director of the Eau Claire Area EDC, “ WIN Technology is a
bandwidth. WIN Technology not only invested in improvements,
great example of how the Chippewa Valley is a great place to
but also offered its powerful webcasting platform, Perigon, to
grow a business, even during a global pandemic. We are proud
ensure students, communities and business owners don’t lose
of WIN’s business successes and humbled that they continue to
pace. Royal Credit Union is proud to sponsor this award and
call this area home.”
celebrate businesses, like WIN Technology, who are committed to strengthening the economy and quality of life in the Eau Claire area.”
WIN Technology (WIN) started operations in 1999 with one employee with the goal to build a fiber network that would enable communications diversity for their customer base, and expand with an opportunity to make bandwidth commercially available to
WIN primarily operates as a bandwidth provider, supplying high speed bandwidth services to large telecommunication providers and enterprise businesses, plus a unique focus on delivering bandwidth to rural areas. carriers and businesses. Today,
WIN TECHNOLOGY HEADQUARTERS - 2019
WISYS VENTUREHOME - EAU CLAIRE Eau Claire is striving to level-up and compete with
At the end of the five months, the founders
startup-rich communities like Madison, Green Bay
participated in a virtual Pitch Day. Over 70 interested
and Milwaukee. You can already find a thriving
parties, a dozen being investment prospects, attended
entrepreneurial ecosystem, with 1 Million Cups, Red
to hear the six-minute pitches. The feedback from the
Letter Grant, Startup Eau Claire Week, Jump-Start
founders is that the accountability and pitch training
Downtown and The Idea Challenge, but what more
involved with VentureHome - Eau Claire was the most
can be done? This is exactly the question that WiSys,
valuable takeaway, as well as statewide resource
UWEC College of Business and CoLab asked of this
connections.
community. From these conversations, is where VentureHome - Eau Claire was developed and
A second cohort of startups have already been
financially supported by WiSys.
selected to join in the spring 2021 seed accelerator program. An important part of the VentureHome
Launched in February 2020, WiSys VentureHome's
model is to provide each founder workspace and time
form a network of startup hubs that combine
to collaborate with other local entrepreneurs. Given
statewide resources with community initiatives to
the COVID climate, the 2020 cohort missed this
provide local entrepreneurs access to a full menu of
benefit. Moving ahead, the hope is to add that
startup resources in their community. Eau Claire is
connection piece back into the program.
the pilot city for this initiative is to facilitate scalable startups by providing local access to a state-wide
To learn more about becoming a business mentor or
network of resources in the UW System communities.
interested in joining a seed accelerator cohort or for
The first cohort of entrepreneurs went through the
more information;
five month program and finalized with a Pitch Day in
Visit www.venturehome.org/eauclaire
October 2020.
Our own Becca Coleman, Community Project
VentureHome – Eau Claire aims to provide local
Manager at the EDC, serves as Steering Committee
entrepreneurs access to statewide resources,
Member of VentureHome - Eau Claire and got to
including in the areas of legal, IP strategy,
work first hand with the local startup founders and
governance, and mentorship.
will help shape the program.
Founders who went through the VentureHome pilot
Additionally, VentureHome – Eau Claire runs a seed
program received referral connections to help with
accelerator program which requires participants to
topics such as legal/IP, mentorship and investment prospects.
Additionally, the founders engaged in
accountability and peer mentor groups, all focused on advancing the business forward each week.
apply and be selected, to receive help to level up their startup. This is a program of WiSys, in collaboration with UWEC and CoLab focused on assisting scalable entrepreneurs suceed.
VENTUREHOME - EAU CLAIRE LAUNCH PARTY - FEBRUARY 2020
THE IDEA CHALLENGE The Idea Challenge is a business idea competition open to any individual or company with an idea for a new product, process or service. For over a decade The Idea Challenge has been assisting entrepreneurs in getting connected to community resources, practicing their pitch, assisting in getting their idea into the market, and –of course- the chance to win $5000 in reimbursable business expenses to advance their idea! All finalists received $500 and several marketing and business services incentives to help launch their business idea.
The Tennis Ball Scoop is a patented rubber attachment that affixes to the end of a tennis racquet that allows the user to grab the ball without bending to pick it up. Neff has been working on iterations of this design for about two years, taking customer feedback very seriously. Consumers of the Tennis Ball Scoop are in two market
2020 Grand Prize Winner - Tennis Ball Scoop
segments; casual racquet sport players (fits on all kids of racquets)
Have you ever found yourself exhausted by
and dog owners who play tennis ball fetch.
endlessly bending to pick up a tennis ball while
Neff says he will use the prize money to pay for production equipment
playing a casual game or playing fetch with
so he can start manufacturing and then focus on sales. You can find
your dog?
the Tennis Ball Scoop on his website,
This is the problem that Kevin Neff, with new-
www.bowtines.com/tebasc.htmlowtines .
product the Tennis Ball Scoop, is trying to solve. On December 15, 2020, The Idea Challenge, a
Launched by the Eau Claire Area Economic Development Corporation
local business idea competition held a virtual
in 2007, The Idea Challenge has been supporting local entrepreneurs
pitch session for five finalists. Heard by a panel
and innovative thinkers within our community for over a decade. In
of industry experts, the Tennis Ball Scoop was named the winner and will receive $5000 to launch his business into the marketplace, thanks to a sponsorship by Northwestern Bank.
2011, Northwestern Bank became the financial sponsor, giving The Idea Challenge the opportunity to offer cash awards and reimbursements to the contest’s finalists. In addition, Co-Lab, a downtown co-working space and part of the Pablo Group, has added to the prize package for the finalists. Special thanks to The Idea Challenge Partners; Ann Rupnow, Jacob Haupt, Per Forsberg, Pam Owen and Larry Blackledge.
THE IDEA CHALLENGE THE FINALISTS
KYLE LEHMAN - IVY MEDIA Ivy Media owner, Kyle Lehman was an Idea Challenge finalist with his new service idea; Portable Multi-Cam and Live
BETH CROWELL - THE HIPPIE BANKER Beth Crowell is The Hippie Banker: a business loan consultant and life coach, using a holistic approach to help women get their businesses founded, funded, and grounded. Women business owners face uphill battles in starting a business, including defying social expectations, attaining funding, confronting gender inequality, and in finding balance in our home and working lives.
Streaming Service. With the rise of virtual
The Hipper Banker aims to be a coach to help entrepreneurs achieve
events and video
their dreams of business ownership. But even more importantly, to
programing. Ivy Media is
support their desires to lead their companies consciously – with equal
offering a multi-camera and Live streaming package
attention to and concern for profit, people and the planet.
to bring your event to life. The high quality and 4k
Beth Crowell, the Hippie Banker has launched her business and is now
deliverable offers crystal clear video with lighting
accepting new clients who are looking for business loan consultant
fast delivery. You will no longer have to wait weeks
services or life coaching services.
to get your video back from the editor. Ivy Media is a creative co-working space and production company located in downtown Eau Claire.
JIM MCDOUGALL - UPSTREAM AV
BILL LOBNER - GREEN FLEET
Upstream AV is a local startup with a big idea! This
Bill Lobner was an Idea Challenge finalist with
business aims to bring a
is new business idea, that has recently
wireless solution to
launched, yes during the pandemic.
traditional AV systems for
Green Fleet is a sustainable, luxury ride
(but not limited to)
service that operates within a 100 mile radius
conference centers, schools
of Eau Claire. Exclusively operating with
and retail settings.
Tesla electric vehicles to help reduce carbon
Have you ever been to a conference and the
emissions in the transportation industry.
presentation won't show or seen a blank TV at a restaurant? Why can't these things just work?
The business idea starting with goals to be a
UpStream's mission is to enable businesses to freely
luxury, carbon-friendly solution for airport transport to the MSP
engage their customers with digital content.
airport. The unexpected pandemic had the business pivot to
Upstream AV has developed content systems that
accomidate the growning demand for personal car service because
just work. Jim and his team have created the easiest
public transit wasn't as safe as it once was. Green Fleet hopes to
and most adaptable system on the market and the
increase the fleet as airport travel resumes to normal levels.
only technology that is 100% wireless.
2020 INVESTORS
Thank you!
DIAMOND INVESTORS
PLATINUM INVESTORS
GOLD INVESTORS
SILVER INVESTORS Bush Brothers & Co
Miron Construction
Group Health Cooperative of Eau Claire
Prevea Health
Market & Johnson
Sterling Culligan Water
BRONZE INVESTORS
COPPER INVESTORS AFT Real Estate, Inc
Hovland's Inc
Bauman Construction of Chippewa Falls
Automation Displays
Huebsch Services
Cenergy, Mega Fuels
B&B Electric Inc
Kurth Heating & Cooling
Durand Builders
Baker, Tilly, Virchow, Krause, LLC
L&M Mail Service
Hoeft Builders
Banbury Place, Inc
Landmark Company
JB Systems
Bauman Associates
NEI Electric
Merchants Bank
Bourget Law
Overhead Door Company of the CV
Manpower
Chippewa Valley Technical College
RBC Wealth Management
Marawood Construction
Commonweal Development Corp.
Ruder Ware LLSC
Nohre
Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce
TSI Voice & Data
Plank Enterprises
Florian Gardens
Trane
Prevail Bank
Fabick Cat
UWEC
Rhom Construction
Haselwander Companies, Inc
UW-Stout
Security Financial Bank
Herrick & Hart
Weld, Riley, S.C.