June 1968: Parents of children and adults with mental retardation disabilities recognized a need for services. A craft-oriented program was developed in the basement of St. Rose of Lima church in Cadott. The program was named the Chippewa County Day Care Center.
Fall of 1968: The Chippewa County Day Care Center moved from Cadott to Trinity United Methodist church in Chippewa Falls.
1974: The Chippewa County Day Care Center moved to a building on the grounds of the Northern Wisconsin Center. The children’s program was discontinued, as public schools in Wisconsin were mandated to provide appropriate programming to all school-aged persons with disabilities. Also during this time the name was changed to the Chippewa County Development Center.
February, 1978: With the onset of expanded service hours, the Unified Board agreed to move the Development Center to the 5,400 square foot, north wing of Wissota Lakeside, the newest building on the Health Care Center grounds at the time.
January 1984: Services were moved to a newly constructed 8,000 square foot building at 2050 County Road I. Ground breaking was held on September 27th, 1983.
Spring 1988: Construction began on a 7,000 square foot building addition at the Development Center.
May 2001: DHS hired a new Director for the Development Center.
December 2002: Internal wall demolition took place at the Development Center in an effort to maximize production space.
January 2003: The Chippewa County Development Center was renamed Chippewa River Industries.
August, 2003: Through a major redesign, several individuals from CRI moved to a more appropriate day service, significantly changed the staffing pattern, and started a Supported Employment program.
March, 2004: The Human Services Board approved a plan to build a new building for CRI.
April, 2004: The Chippewa County Board of Supervisors approved a resolution allowing CRI and the Department of Human Services to apply for a Community Development Block Grant for a new building.
August, 2004: Chippewa County was awarded $350,000 in grant funding for a new building for CRI.
May 25, 2005: Construction began on CRI’s new building.
June 10, 2005: CRI’s groundbreaking ceremony took place.
December 19, 2005: Employees began working in the new CRI building at 1000 Lake Wissota Drive.
March 9, 2006: CRI’s Open House
January 1, 2009: After nearly 41 years of County oversight, Chippewa River Industries became incorporated as an independent non-profit, 501c3 organization. The onset of Family Care throughout Wisconsin and the need to expand services and production capabilities were the two main reasons for this dramatic change. The previous CRI Advisory Board became the governing Board of Directors of Chippewa River Industries, Inc.
June, 2009: CRI, Inc. expanded services into LaCrosse, Monroe, and Juneau Counties.
May, 2010: CRI, Inc. opened a service office in Menomonie, WI.
September, 2011: CRI, Inc. open a service office in LaCrosse, WI
July, 2012: CRI, Inc. purchased a 15,000 square foot building with plans in place to build out the property to meet various space related needs of the organization.
