Down in the Valley
REGIONAL CHIPPEWA REPORT VALLEY
Down in the Valle
Diversification, a strong work force and a pro-business environment make the Chippewa Valley a region to note in Wisconsin By Heather Rothbauer-Wanish
Because the Chippewa Valley area is a mere 90-miles
east of the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, many Minnesotans are more familiar with this region than residents of southern and eastern Wisconsin. However, there are many diverse groups and individuals in this area that are telling others about this unique and business-friendly area of the state. Pam Haller is the director for sales and marketing at Visit Eau Claire, an organization that concentrates its efforts on bringing conventions and meetings to the area; the organization also promotes the Chippewa Valley region as a tourist destination. Haller says that the Chippewa Valley offers great opportunities for visitors, customers and potential businesses who wish to locate in the area. "One of the ways we have been successful with attracting both conferences and sporting tournaments is the Chippewa Valley's good value; we offer high-quality service and excellent accommodations at a reasonable price," Haller says. The staff at Visit Eau Claire hopes to inform the rest of the state that the Chippewa Valley area is a great place to visit and conduct business. Those sentiments are echoed by Bob McCoy, president of the Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce. "We are really concentrating on letting the rest of the state know that we are here," says McCoy. "We are trying to build our own identity." Part of this identity includes the concentration of particular industries in the Eau Claire and Chippewa Falls area. "Right now, healthcare is an extremely prominent industry in the area," McCoy says. "However, technology is also big in the region." The technological emphasis is highlighted by firms such as TTM Technologies and Hutchinson Technology; both companies produce components used in computers and other high-tech industries. Although employment at such facilities has fluctuated, the volatility has not been as prominent as in other parts of the country. In fact, the unemployment rate in the region is approximately 6.4 percent, which falls three points short of the national average. According to McCoy, the Chippewa Valley area has not experienced the extreme highs and lows that the rest of the nation's economy has encountered during the past few years. "We are really holding our own economically," McCoy says. To illustrate this, a recent Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce survey found that 25 percent of businesses indicated they will be adding employees during 2010. McCoy believes the
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CORPORATE REPORT WISCONSIN | MAY 2010
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