Forbes totally hearts EC, ranks us high on 'Best Small Places' list

Mike Paulus |

SHOWN ABOVE: Our two most-used stock images, together at last.
 
SHOWN ABOVE: Our two most-used stock images, together at last.

We're blushing. Forbes keeps a list of the Best Small Places for Business and Careers in the entire goll-dang country and guess who’s sitting at number 38? Little ol’ Eau Claire. Yep, Forbes likes us. Maybe we’ll start returning its calls.

But here’s what’s really interesting. The little blurb Forbes wrote to encapsulate EC entirely focuses on our “burgeoning arts and music scene.” No kidding.

Now, you might be thinking to yourself, “Hmm. This does’t feel like one of America’s best small places for business and careers. WTH, Forbes?” Well we’re not entirely sure how they measure a community’s fiscal robustitude, but we assume some sort of robot or freakishly smart five-year-old (from the future) is involved – maybe both. They appear to factor in population, unemployment rates, job growth, gross metro product, John Menard, major industries, cost of living, and quality of homemade pies [citation needed].

But here’s what’s really interesting. The little blurb Forbes wrote to encapsulate EC entirely focuses on our “burgeoning arts and music scene.” No kidding. They’ve got a whole column of financial stats and whatnot but the writeup is 100% about culture and quality of life type stuff. Wanna read it? Fine:

Eau Claire is home to burgeoning arts and music scene that can be seen showcased in its many indoor and open air venues such as the State Theatre, Grand Little Theater, House of Rock and Sarge Boyd Bandshell in Owen Park. The city also hosts a number of events that celebrate the community’s enthusiastic music scene such as the Eau Claire Jazz Festival and Country Jam USA. There are several large parks in the city, in addition to Owen Park, including Putnam Park, Carson Park, situated in the middle of an oxbow lake and Phoenix Park on the site of the old Phoenix Steel plant at the confluence of the Eau Claire and Chippewa River.

The smarties over at Forbes

But but but – here’s the best part. At number 38, we’re the number one Wisconsin city on the list. In fact, we’re sitting right on top of a rock block of Sconnie towns – La Crosse is 39 and Appleton is 40. Oshkosh, Racine, and Sheboygan all cracked the top 100, as well. Beyond that, Fond du Lac and Janesville make appearances. And way down at number 135, you’ll find the last Wisconsin burg to make the list – Wausau, aka the The Other Eau Claire.

It’s not a contest, but ... we’re winning. Your move, La Crosse.