Kansas Man Will Lead EC Economic Development

Tom Giffey |

The City of Eau Claire has hired an economic development professional from Kansas as its new economic development manager. Aaron J. White will start with the city on Monday, Dec. 10, replacing Mike Schatz, who retired at the end of September. Most recently, White was executive director of the Ellis County Coalition for Economic Development in Hays, Kansas, where he worked “on issues related to new development areas, in-fill development, infrastructure improvements, and workforce training,” a city press release stated. From 2008 to 2011, he was director of business retention and expansion with the Salina (Kansas) Area Chamber of Commerce. White, who was hired after a nationwide search, will coordinate the city’s economic development programs, represent the city in negotiations with prospective businesses and industries, present the city’s economic development efforts to the public, and serve at executive director of the Eau Claire Redevelopment Authority.