The Pierce County Economic Development Corporation released results from the 2025 Municipal Survey, where community leaders were tasked with sharing their “vision for economic growth.”
Full survey results are available by visiting https://pcedc.com/uncategorized/2025-municipal-survey-results/.
The survey results were broken into categories of housing, business attraction and retention, tourism, quality of life and workforce/education. Focuses on creating more affordable and workforce housing as well as ways to incentivize doing business in Pierce County were prominent throughout.
Spring Valley President Theresa Koch shared the following statement:
“The recent infrastructure survey highlights critical areas of need in Spring Valley, particularly in expanding access to affordable housing and upgrading essential water and sewer systems. These findings underscore the importance of proactive planning and investment to support the long-term vitality of our community.
“Affordable housing remains a cornerstone of economic stability and inclusivity. The 2025 Comprehensive Housing Study provides valuable insight into current gaps and future demand, and it's encouraging to see residents engaged in shaping solutions.
“Equally pressing are the upgrades needed in our water and sewer infrastructure. Aging systems and stormwater management challenges require coordinated improvements to ensure public health, environmental sustainability, and resilience against future growth.
“I commend the Village of Spring Valley, the EDA, and all participating residents for their commitment to identifying these priorities. Continued collaboration and pursuit of funding opportunities will be essential to turning these plans into reality.”
River Falls City Administrator Scot Simpson shared the following statement:
“We appreciate that Councilmember Bjork and Administrator Simpson were able to participate in the listening sessions. River Falls has long worked with partners like PCEDC to support business growth, and we will continue building the conditions where small businesses, manufacturers, and innovators can thrive. The success of partnerships like the St. Croix Valley Innovation Center, our corporate parks, and significant new housing developments show what collaboration with public and private sector partners makes possible.”
Ellsworth Village President Becky Beissel gave the following comment:
“The survey results show a strong alignment among Pierce County’s municipalities when it comes to priorities, opportunities, and challenges. In Ellsworth, we’ve been working hard to address many of these issues, and we look forward to continued collaboration with the county to move these shared goals forward.”
Ellsworth Administrator/Clerk-Treasurer Brad Roy also weighed in on the survey results:
“The village has made significant efforts to address many of the issues identified in the recent survey. We have seen meaningful progress, including new housing developments targeting a range of income levels, the attraction of new businesses, and collaboration with existing businesses seeking to expand. We look forward to working with other organizations and stakeholders to continue addressing these challenges and bringing lasting improvements for the residents of Ellsworth.”

Representatives from six county municipalities were contacted for comment on the following article. All responses were included in their entirety.