The Chippewa Valley Innovation Center (CVIC) has recently undergone a major renovation and will be hosting a ribbon cutting and open house on Thursday, September 24th at 10am. The renovations were overseen by HOEFT Builders and will improve efficiencies for current business located in the CVIC and increase the overall capacity of the facility to provide additional space for startup businesses.
Major projects of the renovations include repairing the loading dock of the facility so that tenants are able to receive large shipments, and the construction of 4 new offices to meet the increasing demand of small businesses for professional office space. In addition to increasing the structural capacities of the building, other renovations have been completed to increase security, update the facility and achieve ADA compliance. Bathrooms, the break room, and offices were all were renovated to make a more professional and comfortable facility.
The renovations of the CVIC were made possible with an $80,000 grant for capital improvements from the Otto Bremer Foundation. These grants support work that help build healthy, vibrant communities where opportunities for economic, civic, and social participation are within everyone’s reach.
These renovations would not have been possible without generous donations from companies such as Hoeft Builders, American Express, Senn Blacktop, Cherry Drywall, Eau Claire Roofing, Swanson’s Flooring, Kjelstad Plumbing, Larson’s Cabinets, Michel’s Electric, Cloverbelt Construction, Certified Plumbing and Heating, From the Ground Up Landscaping and Master Drywall were instrumental in the project.
CVIC is currently in its 29th year of supporting new and emerging entrepreneurial businesses in growing the economy of the Chippewa Valley region. A 2015 study contacted 11 graduates of the CVIC and identified the following key economic impacts (all information below is for the calendar year 2014 only):
- Contributed over $27 million in investment
- Created 330 jobs
- Generated a payroll of over $12.7 million
- Paid $116,000 in property taxes for 2015
The recently completed renovations have increased the capacity of CVIC to assist entrepreneurial businesses in the Chippewa Valley and ensure CVIC will be able to continue serving the region’s entrepreneurs for years to come.
We hope you will be able to attend this ribbon cutting and open house.
