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 steady local economy is partially due to the diversification of the businesses he has seen over the past 16 years in his position. Charlie Walker, president/CEO at Chippewa County Economic Development Corporation, says this area is different from other places he has lived.

“It has a much more diverse economy and it is that diversity that has been the shining star during the recession,” Walker says. “The availability of the renowned Wisconsin workforce is still our biggest advantage; talent is abundant in the area.”

A home for entrepreneurs

One company that was extremely impressed with the Chippewa Valley region and the workforce is RAI Stone Group. The company, originally based in Minnesota, works with business clients to provide a comprehensive financial analysis of cash flows, profitability and growth potential. Sam Zordich, owner and founder of RAI Stone Group, wanted to relocate her business and began reviewing eight locations in eight different states throughout the United States. “We were really looking for a community to be a part of and a community we could contribute to,” Zordich says. Ultimately, Zordich decided to stay in the Midwest and the Eau Claire office opened in December 2009.

Zordich says that Chippewa Valley local officials are supportive toward entrepreneurs who want to locate to the area.

“They’re clearly behind the businesses they bring in,” Zordich says. Currently, the Eau Claire office houses the operation portion of RAI Stone Group, while the sales and administrative offices remain in Minneapolis. Zordich hopes to add approximately 40 more employees during the next three years.

“The experience has been extremely positive thus far,” Zordich says. “We are really looking for those individuals that want to stay in the Chippewa Valley area or return to the area to be closer to family.”

Zordich agrees that the Chippewa Valley area deals with misconceptions. “The area can be easily forgotten,” Zordich says. For example, Zordich says that people in the Twin Cities believe that there is not a lot to do in the Chippewa Valley. According to Walker, many people see the Chippewa Valley as a rural area only; however, this is not the reality. Zordich points to the excellent music variety, theatre opportunities and shopping that is available; she believes these are things that should be emphasized to both potential businesses and visitors.

It is Visit Eau Claire’s job to promote these characteristics to potential meeting planners. “We have everything from an expo center, theater space and banquet halls to major meeting facilities,” Haller says. “We also have a variety of retreat center space for those smaller groups.”

Although there are many options available, Zordich emphasizes that it is not too much. “Sometimes in metropolitan areas, we are overwhelmed with data and choices,” she notes. With the smaller-size Chippewa Valley region, Zordich says that big-city entertainment is available in a small-town atmosphere.

Buy local

The Chippewa Valley may have the feeling of a small-community atmosphere, but that does not stop businesses from moving ahead with innovative practices. Sacred Heart Hospital, located in Eau Claire, has developed innovative ways of reinvesting in the local economy. “We try to purchase as much local food as possible,” says Director of Hospitality Services Rick Beckler. For the food that is not used, the hospital worked with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to implement a system to eliminate waste. Currently, a local farmer picks up strawberry tops, watermelon rinds and other food scraps to utilize on a nearby farm. Prepared food that is left over from the cafeteria area is given to the St. Francis Food Pantry; volunteers box it each day and ensure it reaches those who need it most.

Govt_city_hall_bell.jpg Beckler says that maintaining the environment is a key component of the Sacred Heart Hospital business philosophy. “We look at everything and invest in items that can be used more than once,” Beckler says. The hospital has installed high-efficiency lights and has even invested in toilets that use less water throughout the facility.

“Our staff, employees and patients are on-board with the changes we have made at the hospital,” says Beckler. Although being environmentally aware can cost more at times, Beckler says that the environmental impact is worth it.

“I am so proud of our leadership and our organization,” adds Beckler.

Innovative approaches

Huebsch Services is another Chippewa Valley company that is focused on the future. The supplier of work apparel, matting solutions, restroom supplies and cleaning products understands the importance of keeping up-to-date on new technologies.
“We continuously improve on the things that differentiate us,” says Business Improvement Specialist Tim Benjamin.

Part of this differentiation is an industry-unique production processing system the company calls Customer Focused Production (CFP). The system combines the principles of lean manufacturing and continuous improvement. Instead of relying upon expensive automation and large volume equipment, the Huebsch CFP system relies upon small teams of skilled, dedicated co-workers. Huebsch textile products are processed in small washing machines; personalized wearing apparel is washed in customer batches. Workers are supported with unique barcode and radio-frequency tag systems for tracking and inventory control. The company tracks the entire history of each garment and mat; the system details how many times the product was washed and its current location.

In addition to customer-oriented practices, Huebsch Services strives for sustainability in its business practices. “We embrace and practice sustainability as a company,” says Benjamin.

When cleaning towels, mats and uniforms, the company reuses water whenever possible, achieving some of the best results in the industry. According to Benjamin, these types of efficiencies make good environmental sense, as well as good economic sense. The company is now evaluating its delivery trucks and rerouting deliveries to save gasoline through mapping and tracking systems. The commitment to customer satisfaction is a critical component of business at Huebsch Services.

“Our goal is not to become the biggest supplier in the business, just the best,” says Benjamin. “We challenge ourselves every day to do our very best; to ‘wow’ the customers whenever we can.”

The Chippewa Valley continues to 'wow’ businesses that locate to the area. McCoy says that the Chippewa Valley offers a potential to hire very good, hardworking employees. Zordich, founder of RAI Stone Group, also cites the great work ethic of the employees in the Chippewa Valley as one of the reasons for locating there. The lower cost of living and rental prices allow companies to become more profitable. The steady pace of business in the area has given the area a better-than-average outlook in today’s economy.

“We are continuing to work with state government to promote the area,” notes McCoy.

As the area continues to diversify and accentuate its advantages, it is poised for future growth. By emphasizing the Chippewa Valley’s quality workforce, educational opportunities and future-oriented leadership, the region has seen the growth of both the healthcare industry and technology industry. From the chambers of commerce to local officials and the residents of the Chippewa Valley, each group is trying to let others know about this unique area of Wisconsin. The area is poised for the future growth that will inevitably come to the region.

“We always stay positive and optimistic,” says McCoy.

By Heather Rothbauer-Wanish

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