(Leader-Telegram (Eau Claire, WI) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Oct. 18--COUNTERTOP FIRM HOSTS OPEN HOUSE: Surface Designs, 1807 Oxford Ave., is planning an open housing from noon to 7 p.m. Friday and from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

The custom countertop business, which was founded in 1992, recently completed a new showroom. Factory representatives will be available during the open house, which also will offer door prizes. Visit www.surfacedesigns-eauclaire.com for more information.

CODE CAMP NEARS AT UW-STOUT: MENOMONIE -- The second Chippewa Valley Code Camp is slated for 8:15 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, in UW-Stout's Millennium Hall.

Dan Krueger and Doug Rhoten founded the Chippewa Valley .NET User Group, which meets monthly in Eau Claire. The duo also started the code camp, which drew more than 60 software professionals in its first year. Topics included Microsoft Silverlight, C++, Rails, XNA and Agile software development.

"Cutting costs has been critical for companies in the past year," Rhoten said in a press release. "If you are working for a company with a small development team, you may not even have a training budget.

"Free local conferences like this provide a fantastic opportunity for everyone to participate." Visit www.chippewavalleycodecamp.com for more information or to register for the event. Those interested in speaking during the conference may e-mail presenters@chippewavalleycodecamp.com. Potential sponsors should e-mail sponsors@chippewavalleycodecamp.com.

Visit http://cvnug.wi-ineta.org for more information about the Chippewa Valley .NET User Group.

DECI EARNS ECONOMIC AWARD: Downtown Eau Claire Inc. recently received an Award of Distinction from the International Downtown Association.

DECI was recognized in the Economic and Business Development category for its Jump-Start Downtown Business Plan Competition.

"Downtown Eau Claire Inc. started the competition in 2005 to encourage entrepreneurs wanting to locate downtown and to raise awareness of downtown as a suitable business location," Mike Schatz, executive director of DECI, said in a statement. "With 11 past winners, 14 new businesses and 40 new jobs, DECI has succeeded." The project was one of 77 submissions IDA received this year as part of its Downtown Achievement Awards.

MARKETING FIRM OPENS ITS DOORS: Matchey Marketing, a marketing consulting firm, recently began serving clients throughout the Chippewa Valley.

The company's services include marketing plan development, Web site assistance, brochure creation, logo design, direct-marketing campaigns and advertising. Contact Emily Matchey at 715-695-3592 or visit www.matcheymarketing.com for more information.

'RAINMAKERS' PROGRAM NEARS: The program "Rainmakers: Meeting the Need" is slated for 1 to 3 p.m. Thursday at Western Dairyland Community Action Agency, 418 Wisconsin St.

Tom Pearson, formerly of Ayres Associates, will address topics such as earning trust from potential clients, determining client needs and closing the sale.

The cost is $10; scholarships are available. Register online at www.SuccessfulBusiness.org or by calling 836-7511, ext. 171.

VISIT EAU CLAIRE SITE RECOGNIZED: The Web site for Visit Eau Claire -- www.visiteauclaire.com -- earned a 2009 WebAward for Outstanding Achievement in Web Development from the Web Marketing Association in the travel category.

Risdall Marketing Group, which designed the site, nominated the entry. Eau Claire-based Sitepro.com provides the site's content management system and programming.

-- Visit Eau Claire also recently announced its Web site can be accessed from any hand-held device at www.visiteauclaire.mobi.

EVENT ADDRESSES AVAILABLE LOANS: The city of Eau Claire Economic Development Division will host an informational session about financing options available through the Regional Business Fund at noon Thursday, Oct. 29, in the North Conference Room of City Hall, 203 S. Farwell St.

Four categories exist within the fund: the Downtown Facade Loan Program, Micro Loan Fund Program, Revolving Loan Fund Program and Technology Enterprise Fund. Loan amounts range from $5,000 to $250,000 with low interest rates.

Visit www.EauClaire Development.com for more information.

RIVER FALLS FIRM SLATED TO EXPAND: Interfacial Solutions recently broke ground on a 22,000-square-foot addition to its facility in Whitetail Ridge Corporate Park, where it currently occupies 15,000 square feet.

The company, which provides technological services to the plastics industry, is adding a new office, laboratory and warehouse space. The addition is scheduled to be completed in early 2010.

New Richmond-based Derrick Commercial Contracting is the general contractor for the project; Security Financial Bank of River Falls is the primary lender.

SHORT TAKES: --Mike Holder of Arkansas-based Noland Co. won a drawing for a system from Menomonie-based StrandVision Digital Signage. StrandVision is now holding a drawing for a one-year subscription valued at $1,800. Visit www.strandvision.com/testdrive.html for more information.

--Appleton-based WOW Logistics, which maintains a warehouse facility in Chippewa Falls, has earned a Best Places to Work award from New North B2B magazine.

--Young Professionals of the Chippewa Valley recently celebrated its six-year anniversary. The group was formed in 2003 to engage and empower young professionals ages 21 to 39 through community, professional and social opportunities. The group has 334 members.

Call the Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce at 834-1204 for more information.

--A pest management program is slated for 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, at the Eagles Club, 2588 Hallie Road, Chippewa Falls. The cost is $30. Contact UW-Extension of Chippewa County's Jerry Clark at 726-7950 for more information.

SUBMISSIONS WELCOME: The Leader-Telegram's Business Bytes and Briefcase columns, published every Sunday, include news about business-related events, promotions, awards and business openings, closings, sales and expansions.

The information must arrive by 5 p.m. Wednesday to be considered for Sunday's newspaper. Photos of individuals who have been promoted or honored are welcome.

Mail information to Liam Marlaire, Business Editor, Leader-Telegram, P.O. Box 570, Eau Claire WI 54702; fax 858-7308; or e-mail liam.marlaire@ecpc.com.

To see more of the Leader-Telegram or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.leadertelegram.com/.

Copyright (c) 2009, Leader-Telegram, Eau Claire, Wis.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]

Discussions: