TAKE IT AS A SIGN. Whether you're a property owner, retail storefront, restaurant or nonprofit leader – if you're an entrepreneur in downtown Eau Claire, DECI wants you to fill out its 2026 business survey.

Last month, Downtown Eau Claire, Inc. (DECI) launched its 2026 business survey, aimed at putting hard data into its advocacy and business-boosting tool belt. Now, with a few dozen respondents, the bigger picture is beginning to form – and spotlights the diverse downtown community.

The survey, available online for free, asks questions related to staffing and revenue, demographics, property ownership status and more. All questions on the survey optional; its data will influence DECI’s strategy moving forward.

“We really want to capture basically anybody doing business here whether you own retail or commercial property; whether you own any type of business from restaurant and service industry to grocery, retail, nonprofit,” DECI Civic Communications Coordinator and small business owner, Kate Felton, said. “Early impressions (from survey data so far indicates) downtown businesses are extremely diverse.”

That diversity spans ownership demographics as well as finances. Early responses indicate a wide range of revenue earnings, Felton said, with some businesses falling within the $50,000 and less to million-dollar categories of annual earnings.

DECI plans to summarize and anonymize the data (from the survey_ before sharing it with stakeholders and the public.

The survey will be open for an undetermined length of time, Felton said. The more responses gained over time, the better.

“We’re just trying to get a more full picture of how folks are doing outside of the anecdotal (information DECI has received),” Felton said.

Looking ahead, data from the survey will influence DECI’s strategic planning and messaging. As discussed at DECI's Feb. 11 event, “The Future of Downtown,” the nonprofit is undergoing a year-long application process which could lead to its membership within Wisconsin Economic Development Corp.’s Main Street program.

DECI plans to summarize and anonymize the data before sharing it with stakeholders and the public.

“We’re feeling that downtown is changing,” Felton said, “at the same time as (DECI has) been changing.”

The survey also includes questions related to DECI membership, which has changed its model since this time last year. Previously, DECI membership tiers were based on business size (i.e. number of employees). As of about five months ago, membership became available across three tiers: Advocate ($100), Sustainer ($250) and Catalyst ($500).

The updated membership tiers also feature new benefits – largely focused on marketing efforts – including a member portal which offers business-to-business messaging, Felton said. “It’s basically like an internal social media,” she said.

“As we’ve heard more and more from businesses who are struggling and may consider closing, I’ve been thinking about what a downtown that is less vibrant looks like,” Felton shared. “I don’t want (to see that come to fruition).”

Learn more about DECI – and take the online business survey – at www.downtowneauclaire.org.