Ben Smidt

Gov. Scott McCallum visited Eau Claire Wednesday to hand out $732,100 worth of grants to 13 Chippewa Valley communities and businesses.

McCallum and representatives from the agencies met Wednesday afternoon at Chippewa Valley Technical College’s Gateway Campus to receive the grants.

The goals of these grants are to increase the per capita income of Wisconsin and support community technological, environmental and economic developments, McCallum said.

CVTC President William Ihlenfeldt said the Gateway Campus building is an example of the Chippewa Valley moving ahead with the help of the state.

Community Based Economic Development accounted for 10 of the grants handed out Wednesday, Brownfields grants accounted for two and one Community Development Zone grant was distributed to Saputo Cheese USA.

The two Brownfields grants allow for the clean up and economic development of abandoned, idle or underused industrial or commercial facilities.

McCallum presented oversized checks to the communities and businesses and commended them for their efforts.

“Gov. McCallum has shown that he is a real friend of the Chippewa Valley,” Ihlenfeldt said.

The Eau Claire Economic Development Committee was one of the 10 community development grant recipients, winning a $38,000 grant.

The grant will be used to help capitalize a revolving loan fund for start-up and early stage businesses.

Recipients included Ashland Area Development Corp., Coulee Region Business Center, Marshfield Area Chamber Foundation and others.

The city of Amery received a Brownfield grant of $386,600 and Iron County received a grant of $25,000 to redevelop currently unused land.

McCallum congratulated these agencies for their commitment to creating new jobs and new advancement for the state of Wisconsin.