Own a Business Downtown

One of Downtown Eau Claire, Inc. (DECI)'s  goals is to strengthen downtown's existing assets and increase its potential by growing the downtown business community. We are very proud of all the businesses that make it a vibrant and thriving part of our city, but are always looking for new entrepreneurs. Every year DECI organizes Jump-Start Downtown Business Competition that awards up to $5,000 in start-up capital for a new business to locate downtown. Applications for Jump-Start are accepted through the end of May, but during the rest of the year there are many other resources to assist businesses in locating downtown.

And why should you locate downtown? There are many reasons why companies like RCU, Luther Midlefort, Harmon Solutions Group, and Leader Telegram choose downtown as their main location. Downtown is easily accessible: the bus transfer center is located here and newly installed bike racks make it easy for outdoor lovers, plenty of parking is available to downtown businesses through monthly parking passes.

Small retail businesses choose downtown for the built-in foot traffic. 20% of Eau Claire's workforce is employed by the 476 downtown businesses. That means there are 7,160 downtown employees who are always looking for a place nearby to eat, shop, or get products and services. Weekends are filled with those that love outdoors and Farmer's Market goers. Festivals and special events bring downtown more then 22,000 attendees annually.

Special Events Traffic:

Major Pedestrian Traffic Generators

The exciting new mixed use development downtown and investments that are pouring in create a lot of press and increase the popularity of downtown as a place to live, work and play.