Eau Claire Economic Development - City of Eau Claire

06/23/2026

An exciting new vision has been announced for the former Sacred Heart Hospital campus.

Now known as the 900 District, the 600,000-square-foot facility and surrounding property are planned to become home to an innovative hub for health, education, innovation, entrepreneurship, and wellness through a partnership of several regional organizations.

• HeartWorks
• Chippewa Valley Technical College
• University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
• True Wellness
• YMCA of the Chippewa Valley

📢 Read the announcement: https://www.wqow.com/news/business-and-economy-news/former-sacred-heart-hospital-to-become-health-and-wellness-campus-called-900-district/article_c76a050b-dcae-4a40-9bd7-9187299e8fc2.html

🏥 Follow future progress: https://www.900district.org/

06/17/2026

After measuring the economic impact of Eau Claire's trail system in 2024, our division is partnering with Visit Eau Claire, Explore Menomonie, and GO Chippewa County this summer on another study to better understand how people use the Chippewa Valley's state trail system.

Whether you've been out biking, walking, running, or just enjoying the trails recently, your feedback will help provide valuable data to guide future improvements.

✍️ Take the survey: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf3SZRqOi5gh2Mi3LcB15yRhb94byQaubhU1lDFZl6RT_jEJg/viewform

06/10/2026

Later this month, Hoeft Builders is offering businesses the chance to see available commercial space in The Sevens, one of Eau Claire's newest gateway developments along I-94. Find event details below. 👇

We have a full floor of open space in our building at 5410 Sevens Pkwy, Eau Claire, and we're hosting a happy hour to show it off.

Come see the space, grab some food and drinks, and take a look at what it could become.

We'll have floor plan ideas on display and people around who can answer questions.

If you're looking for space, know someone who is, or are just curious — stop by!

Wednesday, June 24th, from 4-6pm

06/02/2026

🎵 This year's music festival season is expected to attract more than 100K attendees. Based on past studies, that means these events could generate between $75M-$110M in economic activity throughout the Chippewa Valley.

How? When festivalgoers visit, they don't just buy concert tickets. They stay in local hotels and campgrounds, eat at area restaurants, shop at local stores, fill up at nearby gas stations, and explore everything our communities have to offer beyond the live music. Some even come back later as repeat visitors.

That makes festivals one of the region's biggest annual economic drivers, supporting local businesses and bringing new dollars into our economy all summer long.

Check out the 2026 lineups:

This year's Chippewa Valley music festival lineup has it all: Rock and metal, country and feel-good tunes, bluegrass and Americana, Christian music and more ...

05/28/2026

One of the most common roadblocks businesses face is signing a lease before checking zoning. Even if a commercial space looks like a perfect fit, that doesn’t automatically mean any business can move in.

Because each type can have different impacts on traffic, noise, parking, and surrounding properties, every zoning district has a list of "Principal Uses," or the main types of businesses and activities allowed there. Some areas are intended for retail and restaurants, while others are for offices, housing, manufacturing, warehousing, or mixed-use development.

Depending on the business and property, you might also need:
✔️ A different zoning district
✔️ A conditional use permit
✔️ Additional parking or site requirements
✔️ Building or occupancy upgrades

That’s why checking with the City’s Planning Division about zoning early is an important step. A quick conversation with them before signing a lease can help business owners understand what’s allowed at that property and avoid surprises later on.

📞 Get in touch: https://www.eauclairewi.gov/government/our-divisions/planning

05/11/2026

After nearly a decade, the large vacant commercial space in Haymarket Landing has a new owner.

Local restaurateur JP Nunez officially purchased the 7,700-sq. ft. commercial space next to Haymarket Plaza on April 30th and is targeting a September opening for Condesa, his new upscale, Latin-inspired steakhouse. The redevelopment is projected to bring in over $2M annually, while creating 30–40 new full-time jobs that will offer benefits and training opportunities designed to strengthen the region's hospitality workforce pipeline.

Projects like this reflect the vision and investment local entrepreneurs continue to bring to downtown Eau Claire—taking on challenging spaces and helping shape the next chapter of riverfront activation.

📄 Read more from Volume One: https://volumeone.org/articles/2026/04/30/387912-haymarket-landing-will-soon-be-home-to-an-upscale-latin-inspired-steakhouse

04/29/2026

It's official! ABF Ingredients has selected Eau Claire for their North American expansion.

Their new state-of-the-art biomanufacturing facility will be located on 70 acres in Gateway Northwest Business Park and will initially be home to Ohly, one of ABFI’s core businesses and a leading supplier of yeast derivatives, culinary powders, and lipid-based products for global food, biotechnology, and health markets. The project is planned to be developed over three phases, resulting in $274M in capital investment and 90-100 new jobs and with room for further expansion.

This is an exciting development for the community, bringing well-paying jobs and the kind of long-term investment that will further support both the region's growing manufacturing sector and the high quality of life that makes the Chippewa Valley a great place to live and work.

📄 Read the full announcement: https://eauclairedevelopment.com/abf-ingredients-selects-eau-claire-for-north-american-expansion/

04/23/2026

Another award for Eau Claire! The city was recently named the No. 1 Best Place to Live in Wisconsin, based our growing population, lower cost of living, shorter commute times, and vibrant quality of life. 🏆

04/15/2026

If you have an idea for a new business, pitch competitions can be a great test run.

These events give early-stage entrepreneurs a chance to share their ideas and win potential seed funding. Plus, they can help you build connections with established pros in the business community, whose valuable feedback can help get yours off the ground.

Local Competitions:
1️⃣ The Idea Challenge
2️⃣ HATCH Business Idea Pitch Competition
3️⃣ BEAR Business Expansion & Retention Pitch Showcase
4️⃣ Jump-Start Downtown Pitch Competition
5️⃣ WiSys Quick Pitch

Dive deeper: https://eauclairedevelopment.com/these-6-funding-sources-are-available-to-business-startups-in-eau-claire/

04/09/2026

For businesses looking to locate in the Cannery District, a new commercial space was just listed! Cannery Square, located at 1920 Oxford Avenue, is now leasing over 10,000 square feet designed to accommodate a range of uses, from retail and coffee shops to fitness and service providers.