In celebration of Wisconsin's MANUFACTURING MONTH, we welcome you to join us at CVIC for an Open House on Tuesday, October 10th from 11AM-2PM. CVIC is a manufacturing incubator and a vital resource to our community's startups and entrepreneurial ecosystem. Stop on by for lunch with Bubbles BBQ and to learn more about CVIC and what it has to offer.
Wisconsin is known for many things—its picturesque landscapes, world-class cheese, and proud sports traditions. But what often goes under the radar is the state's rich manufacturing heritage. That's why every October, Wisconsin takes a moment to shine a spotlight on its manufacturing sector with Manufacturing Month. This month-long celebration not only acknowledges the past but also points towards a promising future for both the state's economy and its aspiring graduates. Manufacturing Month in Wisconsin is a tribute to the generations of skilled workers and innovative companies that have fueled the state's economic engine. Wisconsin's manufacturing history spans from the dairy and agriculture machinery of the early 20th century to today's high-tech precision manufacturing. The legacy of local companies like Mason Companies, TTM, Spectrum Industries, and Advanced Laser (now Cadrex) has made an indelible [...]
The Chippewa Valley Innovation Center (CVIC) was established in 1986 by Eau Claire County, the City of Eau Claire, Chippewa County, Eau Claire Area Economic Development Corporation, Chippewa Economic Development Corporation, and Chippewa Valley Technical College (CVTC) as a regional partnership for the purpose of supporting new and emerging entrepreneurial businesses in the Eau Claire area. During their 36 year history, the CVIC has successfully proven to be a productive tool in growing our region's entrepreneurial ecosystem. Their current facility, located on 3132 Louis Avenue in Eau Claire, specializes in assisting manufacturing startups. Recently, the CVIC Board had their monthly meeting at Chippewa Valley Technical College's Manufacturing Education Center, adjacent to the Eau Claire Gateway Campus, where Board members were able to tour and receive an update on the Advanced Manufacturing Center's activities. This [...]
On a snowy morning last week, Chippewa Economic Development Corporation (CEDC) welcomed Nicola Michels, Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC)’s Trade Representative in Germany. Nicola is from Berlin, Germany, and is a WEDC consultant working to help Chippewa Valley businesses begin their exporting program. Berlin, Germany’s coat of arms is a bear, of course, so it was only fitting that she be the guest of a CEDC BEAR Discussion centering around exporting! Discovering the opportunities that Germany and the Broader European Market offer was the main topic of the CEDC BEAR discussion. BEAR, or Business Expansion and Retention, is the CEDC’s flagship economic development program and makes up about eighty percent of our efforts as an organization. Our BEAR Program is aimed at helping our existing businesses get the information and resources they need [...]
Generations Academy is a non-profit charter school in Eau Claire, WI that specializes in individual development and project-based learning. Recently, the Generations Academy students had a business unit; every child from five to eighteen years old was instructed to come up with a business idea. In addition to the hands-on experience they got from their business projects, two groups of students were also able to see small businesses in action by receiving a tour of the Chippewa Valley Innovation Center (CVIC). CVIC Board President and CEDC Board Chair, Tom Waldusky, guided both groups of students through each bay in the building. The students also got to hear from and speak with two CVIC tenants: Dave Espeseth, owner of Excel Medical Corp., and Anthony Nied, owner of Safe & Simple Organic Lawns. Both had their [...]
