1. UPDATE TODAY<br />Children’s Museum staying afloat during recessionMuseum plans new developments while boosting downtown popularity and tourism<br />For more information about the Downtown Eau Claire, Inc. initiative, visit http:/www.downtown –eauclaire.com/.To learn more about Eau Claire tourism and attractions, visit Eau Claire tourist hotspot Visit Eau Claire. http://www.visiteauclaire.com/To learn more about the Children’s Museum of Eau Claire, donate a monetary gift, or volunteer your time, visit www.cmec.cc, or call (715) 832-KIDS.<br />Photo by Jacki DuPont <br />Barstow Street in Downtown Eau Claire is home to many attractions, including the Children’s Museum of Eau Claire.<br />By Jacki DuPont<br />April 27, 2010<br />EAU CLAIRE, Wis. – Murmurs of doom and gloom about the economy are still rumbling throughout America, but it appears that some cities are faring the current recession with ease. The city of Eau Claire, Wis., may have seen a few hardships from jobs and housing, but the city is doing quite well overall. <br /> According to reports from 2009, Eau Claire is one of the fastest growing cities in Wisconsin and the number one place to raise your children. Like many of the new families coming into the area, the Children’s Museum of Eau Claire (CMEC) is young and growing. Although the economy has affected membership sales and admissions, the CMEC is charging through the recession with big ideas for little people.<br /> In 2002, the HyettPalma consulting firm came to Eau Claire to determine how the downtown area could be invigorated. According to the HyettPalma website, HyettPalma is the only national consulting firm specializing in the economic enhancement of downtowns and older business districts. At the time of the HyettPalma study, CMEC founder Patrick Rebman was looking for a location to open a children’s museum in Eau Claire. <br />Banners on light posts in downtown Eau Claire promote Schatz’s idea of 24-hour activity in the downtown area including living, shopping, working and playing. Previous HyettPalma studies have shown that children’s museums can play significant roles in revamping downtown districts, and according to Eau Claire Economic Development Director, Mike Schatz, it was HyettPalma who suggested that the proposed children’s museum be put in Eau Claire’s downtown area.<br />Photo by Jacki DuPont Since the move to the museum’s location at the intersection of Barstow and Grand streets in downtown, not only has the museum been a success, but Schatz said that the museum has benefitted the revitalization of the downtown area.<br /> “Well, the children’s museum is a destination, and if you’re catering to children, that means there’s parents,” Schatz said. “And anytime kids are involved, it seems like you get a lot of attention that’s from parents. So, we get parents, grandparents, bringing their children downtown. Which we love people generators…it’s been very good for bringing people downtown.”<br />“…we have a lot of amenities that are low cost or no cost; enjoying the numerous parks we have, the children’s museum is really low cost, the Chippewa Valley Museum, the bike trails, all those things are family fun that’s inexpensive and very close to home…”- Kristin HartzelOnline Visitor Information SpecialistVisit Eau Claire <br /> Schatz says that the redevelopment and revitalization of downtown simply means bringing people and life back into the area. Using the confluence of the Chippewa and Eau Claire rivers as a scenic backdrop, Schatz said that facing downtown buildings to the rivers is on the agenda, but he also wants to “reutilize the structure we already have…24 hours a day.” In order to re-focus people’s interests to the downtown area, Schatz said that the area must focus on entertainment, living space and recreation.<br /> According to Kristin Hartzel, Online Visitor Information Specialist with Visit Eau Claire, says that the museum is also bringing in tourists into the city to enjoy the downtown area.<br /> “We actually market ourselves as an affordable place to get away,” Hartzell said. “Our primary focus is for the Twin Cities. We like people to know we’re a short distance, a short drive, you don’t have to spend a lot of money, you don’t have to get on the airplane and fly somewhere. Then, of course, we have a lot of amenities that are low cost or no cost; enjoying the numerous parks that we have, the children’s museum is really low cost, the Chippewa Valley Museum, the bike trails all those things are family fun that’s inexpensive and very close to home for people who are either coming for a full weekend or just a day trip.”<br />The confluence of the Eau Claire and Chippewa Rivers is the heart of Eau Claire’s downtown area, according to Schatz. The natural beauty of the area it what influences the inclusion of “green space” in downtown Eau Claire.Photo by Jacki DuPont According to a 2008 economic impact study of tourism in Wisconsin and the Chippewa Valley, the tri-county area brought in $329 million in visitor’s spending, with $177 million being spent in Eau Claire County, ranking it the nineteenth highest grossing county in Wisconsin. Of the $329 million spent in the Chippewa Valley in 2008, 22 percent of visitor dollars were spent on recreation, which includes museums, theaters, parks and trails. <br /> Darcy Way, CMEC Executive Director, is working with the museum’s popularity to market events and boost funding for the second floor remodel project. <br /> “…we narrowed it down to three areas: programming, the second floor, and financial stability,” Way said. “So we’re looking at the next three years and we’re going to focus on those three areas. And so we’re going to talk about the second floor and the exhibits we want to see there and that dovetails into how we’re going to raise the money to get those exhibits built and get them installed, so we’ve got to have a very comprehensive fundraising plan…and how we’re going to design that. We’re already getting into that stuff in 2010 and we have an idea of what we’re going to attack with fundraising in 2010.”<br /> Fundraising, planning and running the museum are in working order in the museum with Way’s momentum and his small staff. <br /> The CMEC uses volunteers from the community and the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire to help it run efficiently. Read again next time to learn about the CMEC volunteers and how they benefit the museum.<br />