UW-Eau Claire Small Business Development Center moves onto campus

The SBDC moved June 5 from its former site at 221 W. Madison St. to Rooms 105 and 106C of Schneider Hall, home of the College of Business. The SBDC and College of Business, along with co-hosts Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce and Chippewa Falls Area Chamber of Commerce, will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new office space at 11 a.m. Thursday, July 31, in front of Schneider Hall.

“We’re often described as one of UW-Eau Claire’s best-kept secrets when it comes to supporting small businesses,” says Harlie Juedes, SBDC director. “After being located off campus for so long, many faculty and staff may not be fully aware of the work we do — or the depth of UWEC’s involvement with local and statewide businesses.

“With our move back to campus, we’re excited for the opportunity to strengthen those connections. We hope to become more integrated into the university community while also creating pathways to bring the broader business community onto campus.”

The SBDC plays an essential role in the economic health and vitality of west-central Wisconsin’s business community, Juedes says. The SBDC offers no-cost, confidential counseling and business education in Eau Claire, Chippewa, Barron, Clark, Dunn, Pepin, Rusk and Taylor counties. The center helps businesses secure funding, make data-driven financial decisions, navigate regulations, improve operations and grow sustainability.

The SBDC, which has worked with 2,350 businesses in the past five years, is “uniquely positioned to bridge the gap between higher education and real-world business success,” Juedes says. UW-Eau Claire students and faculty consult with businesses to develop financial projections to address the financing gap for entrepreneurs, Juedes says.

“Our region’s business community depends on our expertise and our commitment to walk alongside them — not just during a crisis, but over the long term,” Juedes says. “Given the niche of the work we do, we are often one of the only accessible, no-cost and trusted sources of in-depth, hands-on financial support for small business owners in our area.”

The SBDC received about $800,000 under UW-Eau Claire’s $9.4M Workforce Innovation Grant from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. (WEDC) and the Department of Workforce Development to assist startups and small businesses throughout the state. To date, the SBDC has assisted more than 1,500 businesses in 58 counties.

“Through aggressive outreach and a visible presence in the community, the SBDC provides valuable, direct assistance to small businesses when and where they need it most,” said Missy Hughes, WEDC secretary and CEO. “WEDC is proud to partner with the SBDC to help our businesses and communities thrive.”

The SBDC helped Shelli Schuppel get her new business, Mr. Kitty’s Cat Café & Boutique, started in Eau Claire in 2024. Schuppel contacted the SBDC because she needed help with a business plan.

“The help that they gave me to set up projections of what my business could accomplish in its first year and subsequent years was instrumental in allowing me to secure an SBA loan with a local lender,” Schuppel says of the SBDC. “My lender was very impressed with the professional documents I was able to give them to support my dream on paper.”

Schuppel also attended SBDC classes to learn valuable techniques for marketing, advertising and business practices.