CELEBRATING 50 YEARS
of the Chippewa valley home builders association 

Timeline of the past 50 years

1972

The Eau Claire Area Home Builders Association is chartered and Hans Solem serves as the first President.

1975

The first year Homes on Parade was held and showcased 6 homes in one neighborhood. In 1977 the name of this event was changed to the ‘Parade of Homes’.

1978

The Tent of Trades was added to the Homes on Parade and members displayed their products and services to the public in a large tent. The event was separated and moved to spring to become the Home & Garden Show.

1991

The name of the Association was changed to the Chippewa Valley Home Builders Association to better reflect the service area of Buffalo, Chippewa, Dunn, Eau Claire and Pepin counties. 

2003

The Chippewa Valley Home Builders Association assisted with the early phase of construction of the Beaver Creek Citizen Science Center, including framing the exterior and interior walls, setting roof trusses, installing plywood and other preliminary construction. This project took approximately 50 Association members four weeks to complete and the donated labor was valued at approximately $25,000.

2010

The magazine you all know and love is born! Spring 2010 is the first issue of the Home Inspirations Magazine.

2011

After the Phoenix Park revitalization, residents began to notice something very important was missing...restrooms! The Chippewa Valley Home Builders Association partnered with the City of Eau Claire to complete the Association’s largest community service project, to construct restrooms adjacent to the pavilion in Phoenix Park. This nine month project involved about 50 member companies and almost 100 volunteers. On August 9, 2011 the ‘toilet paper was cut’ on the completion of this public-private partnership. 

2022

The Chippewa Valley Home Builders Foundation is formed to help provide opportunities for those interested in careers in the skilled trades and to promote and support projects focused on housing and emerging community construction related needs. The Foundation funds the Tools for Schools program (started in 2020) and other workforce development initiatives.