The Innovation Center and Work River Falls Exemplify the Region’s Strong Public-Private Partnerships

The Innovation Center and Work River Falls Exemplify the Region’s Strong Public-Private Partnerships Main Photo

20 Aug 2019


The St. Croix Valley Business Innovation Center is a multi-use facility which supports entrepreneurs and small businesses. The Innovation Center and Work River Falls- a talent initiative focused on bringing awareness to employment opportunities, won a Momentum West award for their contributions to the region. While the Innovation Center supports entrepreneurs and small businesses by providing space, tools and resources, Work River Falls is tackling the other side of that coin – what happens when businesses grow and need to hire talent. By taking a holistic view of regional business growth, they are leading the conversation on issues like business expansion and workforce recruitment. 

Both the Innovation Center and Work River Falls is a public-private partnership that is the result of collaboration between educational institutions, businesses and community organizations. In 2018, over 1,000 individuals used the Innovation Center’s training and conference rooms, demonstrating how far-reaching the organization is. Simultaneously, companies located at the Innovation Center have created more than 7 jobs, retained 8 jobs and had just over $5 million in private investment since they located at the Center.  

Danielle Campeau, Director of the Center for Innovation and Business Development at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls discussed with Momentum West the exciting developments that are happening at the Innovation Center and what Work River Falls means for the business community and local residents. 

Q: What is the Center for Innovation and Business Development?

A: The Center for Innovation and Business Development was established by UW-River Falls in 2014 with the goal of supporting economic development by connecting businesses and the community with the resources available at the University. The Center has four areas of focus; managing the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) for Polk, St. Croix and Pierce Counties which provides no-cost consulting for small businesses, developing the innovation ecosystem on campus to support student entrepreneurs and inventors, managing the St. Croix Valley Business Innovation Center and engaging in external relations activities on behalf of the University.

Q: What inspired the creation of the Innovation Center?

A: The St. Croix Valley Business Innovation Center is the culmination of 8+ years of collaboration between partners who wanted to provide additional support and resources for regional entrepreneurs. A primary goal of the Innovation Center is its incubation program which seeks to help businesses grow over a 3-year period while they are located at the facility. 

Q: How does the incubation program prepare businesses for success?

A: We support entrepreneurs by providing physical space, networking, consulting/mentoring and programming. Our goal is to be flexible with the type of support we provide entrepreneurs, meeting their needs as they arise.

Q: Why was Work River Falls launched?

A: The Work River Falls program was inspired by Shannon Zimmerman, former CEO of Sajan, to address the talent shortage affecting this region. Due in part to its close proximity to Minneapolis/St. Paul, roughly 50% of the workforce in River Falls commutes out for employment.  The program seeks to bring awareness of the career opportunities available in River Falls, especially to residents who are currently commuting out for work. The initiative was recently assumed by the River Falls Chamber of Commerce and brings together a roundtable of educational institution representatives and businesses.

Q: What has contributed to the success of these programs ?

A: Too many to name! Strong partnerships have been key to the success of these programs. The University, Chippewa Valley Technical College, local government and non-profit entities along with business partners have come together to create these really impactful programs.

Collaboration is Strong Across the Momentum West Region

The Momentum West Region is known for strong public-private partnerships, a supportive community and an environment that fosters business growth. The Innovation Center and Work River Falls are the product of our strong ecosystem. According to Campeau other communities can learn from the success of these programs by remembering that collaboration is key. “Impactful programs that drive economic development cannot be done in a vacuum, strong public-private partnerships are the keys to enhancing economic vitality. We are extremely fortunate in Western Wisconsin to have numerous organizations contributing to driving the economy forward. It has been my pleasure working with these extraordinarily talented and passionate individuals on this shared goal,” she said. 

Locate Your Business in the Momentum West Region

Businesses looking to locate in a collaborative and supportive environment that also offers affordable real estate costs, a skilled workforce and close proximity to the Twin Cities metro should consider the Momentum West region. For more information on the many advantages of growing a business here, contact Steve Jahn, Executive Director of Momentum West at 715-874-4673.