Why Eau Claire Region
A strong location for businesses that want room to grow, a skilled workforce, and a community that’s genuinely invested in their success.
Overview
The Eau Claire region sits at the intersection of opportunity and quality of life. With direct interstate access, a growing talent pipeline, reliable infrastructure, and a business climate built for long-term growth, it’s a region that works hard for the companies that choose it.
- Regional Access & Logistics
- Workforce & Talent Pipeline
- Infrastructure & Utilities
- Business-Friendly Environment
Regional Access & Logistics
Eau Claire sits at the intersection of I-94, US Highway 53, and US Highway 93, putting it 90 minutes from Minneapolis-St. Paul and within a day’s drive of Milwaukee, Chicago, and Madison. For businesses that rely on freight, distribution, or travel, the location works.
- 93 miles to Minneapolis-St. Paul, direct I-94 access to major Midwest markets
- Daily flights to Chicago O’Hare via United Airlines at Chippewa Valley Regional Airport
- Union Pacific rail service plus an intermodal facility 14 miles from the city
- Regional hub for express freight carriers serving national and international shipping
Workforce & Talent Pipeline
The Eau Claire region graduates over 4,600 students annually from three post-secondary institutions, with strong pipelines in business, healthcare, and skilled trades. A median age of 35.5 in Eau Claire County reflects a workforce that’s growing, not aging out.
- UW-Eau Claire, Chippewa Valley Technical College, and UW-Stout collectively enroll 22,455 students
- 61.4% of local high school graduates pursue higher education
- Top employment sectors: healthcare/education (14,967 workers), retail (8,497), manufacturing (7,581)
- Average local ACT score of 22, above the state average of 19.4
Infrastructure & Utilities
Eau Claire businesses pay 25-28% less for industrial energy than comparable cities. Competitive rates from Xcel Energy and Eau Claire Energy Cooperative, combined with Wisconsin’s sales tax exemptions on business fuel and utilities, keep operating costs meaningfully lower here.
- Xcel Energy industrial rate: 7.56 cents/kWh vs. US average of 7.95 cents/kWh
- Eau Claire Energy Cooperative commercial rates from 8.96 cents/kWh
- Wisconsin exempts business fuel and utilities from sales tax
- Focus on Energy program offers incentives for efficiency and renewable energy upgrades
Business-Friendly Environment
Wisconsin’s tax structure is built to reduce the cost of doing business, particularly for manufacturers. With a lower corporate rate than neighboring states, broad exemptions on equipment and materials, and TIF districts available across the region, there’s real financial upside to locating here.
- Wisconsin corporate tax rate of 7.9%, further reduced to 7.5% with the Manufacturing and Agriculture Tax Credit
- Property and sales tax exemptions on manufacturing machinery, inventory, and equipment
- No sales tax on manufacturing raw materials, business fuel, or utilities
- Tax Incremental Financing available for cities, villages, and towns across the region
Community Profiles →
Explore all the communities Eau Claire, Wisconson has to offer. See the differences, the individuality, and personalities of each region.
Altoona
Altoona is one of the state’s fastest-growing communities, recognized for its strong healthcare facilities, excellent education system, rapid business development, and natural outdoor recreation.
Augusta
Augusta is a small community with a low unemployment rate that features a council/mayoral government, local healthcare facilities, and a diverse group of small businesses across manufacturing and other economic sectors.
Fairchild
The Village of Fairchild is a family-friendly community governed by a 7-member board that offers a variety of local businesses and a school district whose students significantly outperform national ACT averages.
Fall Creek
Fall Creek is a small village governed by a resident president and six trustees that boasts a low 2.8% unemployment rate, exceptional nearby healthcare options, a local business park, and a school district whose students outperform the national average ACT score.
Eau Claire
The Eau Claire region in Wisconsin has a stable cost of living, rising purchasing power, low unemployment, and highly ranked healthcare and educational institutions.