T
he Eau Claire Area Economic Development Corp. has presented its Paragon Award to the UW-Eau Claire Foundation and the Blugold Real Estate Foundation for their significant economic impact on the community through projects like The Sonnentag. This award, sponsored by Royal Credit Union, recognizes entities that create quality jobs, increase the tax base, educate the workforce, and utilize innovative technologies.

    The award was presented at the ECA Economic Development Corp.'s annual recognition event, where Curt Krizan, president of the UW-Eau Claire Foundation and executive director of the Blugold Real Estate Foundation, accepted on behalf of his team. He expressed gratitude to the community for their support in making these projects a reality.

    The nomination highlighted the foundation's long-standing tradition of partnering with community leaders to create jobs, develop unique partnerships, and build venues that benefit the Chippewa Valley. The Sonnentag, a 225,900-square-foot recreational center operated by UW-Eau Claire, has generated an estimated $38 million in construction wages and benefits for dozens of firms and hundreds of workers since its opening one year ago.