The La Crosse-Epinal (France) Sister City partnership began in 1986 with the partnership agreement being signed by La Crosse’s Mayor Zielke at the time. Currently there is an active committee that meets monthly to plan and organize an annual fundraiser, a highschool student exchange as well as adult delegation visits. 

In 1986, the Mayor of Epinal, Philippe Séguin, approached Daniel Hilger, the then head of Trane's manufacturing operation in Epinal, concerning an association between La Crosse and Epinal. Séguin had a very global view, and a partnership with a US city in addition to Epinal’s several European sister cities was exciting to him. The fact that La Crosse and Epinal were similar in size and had Trane facilities in each made an agreement with La Crosse the natural choice.