River Prairie Wins Statewide Economic Development Award

V1 Staff |

Altoona’s River Prairie – which includes an event center, commercial and residential properties, and park amenities – has won a statewide economic development award. The River Prairie project was honored in the Economic Development Initiative category in the 2019 Community and Economic Development Awards, which were given out Sept. 11 at a banquet held by the Wisconsin Economic Development Association in Madison.

According to WEDA, the Economic Development Initiative award “honors innovative community and economic development efforts that successfully promote growth and prosperity in Wisconsin communities.” Several other nominees came from the Chippewa Valley as well, including Nordson EDI, an extrusion die manufacturer in Chippewa Falls, which was nominated in the Business Retention and Expansion category for its $18 million new headquarters/manufacturing complex, which will open next year; and Think Eau Claire, an interactive employee recruitment website and video platform created by Volume One for the Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce, which was nominated in the Talent Development category.

The awards were given out by WEDA, a statewide nonprofit group focused on expanding the state’s economic which has more than 450 members in the public and private sectors.