Altoona passes 2026 budget
The Altoona City Council on November 20 passed its 2026 operating budget. It estimates total expenditures of $15.9 million with a property tax levy of $7.7 million. Click here to read more...
More information:
Overview of Altoona's budget (Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce)
Altoona city council passes 2026 budget (WQOW News 18)

Meeting this week...
Full public meetings schedule
City of Eau Claire Plan Commission
• Monday, Dec 1, 6 p.m. Meeting information
Eau Claire Board of Education
• Monday, Dec 1, 7 p.m. Meeting information
Eau Claire County Board of Supervisors
• Tuesday, Dec 2, 7 p.m. Meeting information
Altoona City Council
• Thursday, Dec 4, 6 p.m. Meeting information

Energy leaders discuss future of power demand,
generation, reliability
In a discussion about some of the significant issues that are affecting the future of power generation, demand, and reliability, Monica Obrycki, CEO of Eau Claire Energy Cooperative, Karl Hoesly, President of Xcel Energy in Wisconsin, and Brent Ridge, CEO of Dairyland Power Cooperative joined the Eau Claire Chamber’s November 21 Eggs & Issues to provide insights about their companies and the work they do to ensure a successful energy future. Click here to continue reading...
More information:
Eggs & Issues: Our Energy Future (Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce)
Community leaders discuss energy at Eau Claire Chamber’s ‘Eggs and Issues’ event (WEAU 13 News)

Dec 1 first day to circulate nominating petitions for local offices
EC City Council President Emily Berge not seeking reelection
The Spring election of 2026 will be held April 7, with a primary February 17 if necessary. This election is crucial for the Eau Claire area with a number of important offices on the ballot including non-partisan offices of county board, city councils, village and town boards, and school boards.
For those interested in running for office, now is the time to be preparing. That's because, to appear on the ballot, candidates may start collecting signatures on ballot petitions beginning December 1, with a filing deadline of January 6.
Eau Claire Council President Emily Berge, whose term is up in April, has announced that she is not seeking reelection to that position. She is currently campaigning for the Democratic Primary for 3rd District Congress, with the primary election scheduled for August 11.
The Eau Claire Chamber provides information on a variety of offices that will appear on the ballot at the state and local level, including position and current seat-holder. For those with an interest in running for a local position, tips to organize a successful campaign, encouraging others to run, and important December deadlines are available.
More information:
Spring 2026 Election Information (Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce)
How to Run for Local Office (Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce)
2026 brings full slate of elections for Eau Claire voters (WQOW News 18)
First day to circulate nomination papers for local election December 1 (WEAU 13 News)
Eau Claire City Council President Emily Berge not seeking another term (WQOW News 18)

More local stories...
Saying Yes To Opportunity: Recent UW-Eau Claire Grad Hope Turvaville Lands Role At E.C. Chamber (Volume One)
Downtown Eau Claire businesses ready for holiday shopping season (WQOW News 18)
Eau Claire Chamber launches digital eBucks to boost local spending (WQOW News 18)

League of Women Voters to host State Supreme
Court candidates at Menomonie events
Dec 6: Chris Taylor; Feb 4: Maria Lazar
In April, Wisconsin will elect a new Supreme Court Justice. The League of Women Voters (LWV) of Greater Chippewa Valley is holding two in-person events, each also live streamed, for voters to meet the two currently declared candidates.
Candidate Chris Taylor is currently Judge of the WI Court of Appeals for District IV, based in Madison. Maria Lazar is Judge of the WI Court of Appeals for District II, based in Waukesha. If other candidates emerge for the open position on the State Supreme Court, LWV says it will invite them to interview as well. If more than two candidates file by January 6, a primary on Feb 17 will be held.
Interview with candidate Chris Taylor
• Saturday, December 6, 1:00 to 2:30 p.m.
Interview with candidate Maria Lazar
• Tuesday, February 4, 5:00 to 6:30 p.m.
Click here to register for either or both events
Both in-person events will be in the Harvey Hall Theater on the UW Stout campus, 721 Third Street East, Menomonie.
Live stream links on YouTube will be: Chris Taylor; Maria Lazar
Event co-sponsors are the Menard Center for the Study of Institutions and Innovation at UW-Stout, Community Conversations of Northwest Wisconsin, and League of Women Voters-St. Croix Valley Chapter.

EC Chamber to host Wisconsin Civics Bee, essay portal open
The Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce its role as Wisconsin’s official State Partner for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s National Civics Bee®, a nationwide initiative that encourages middle school students to build civic knowledge, engage with local issues, and become active participants in their communities. The Chamber will host the Wisconsin State Competition in Eau Claire at South Middle School on May 9th, 2026.
The National Civics Bee® begins with an essay competition open to all students residing in Wisconsin in grades 6-8, whether they attend public, private, charter, virtual, or homeschool environments. Students are invited to identify a local issue they care about, explain its importance, and propose a solution. The top 20 essay finalists from across the state will advance to the live competition in Eau Claire, WI. Finally, the state champion will advance to the National Competition in Washington D.C., in the fall of 2026.
The essay submission portal is now open, and entries will be accepted through February 3rd, 2026.
More information:
Wisconsin National Civics Bee® (Contest information, link to entry portal)
Eau Claire Chamber Invites Families and Community Members to Support Wisconsin’s State Competition for the 2026 National Civics Bee® (Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce)

More state and regional stories...
Lawsuits calling for new Wisconsin congressional map are in the hands of 6 county judges. Now what? (WPR)
Wisconsin Supreme Court names judges to hear lawsuits on congressional maps (Journal-Sentinel +)
Wisconsin water quality rule finalized amid feud between Evers, GOP leaders (WPR)
Water quality rule finalized as Republicans, business groups complain about process (Wisconsin Examiner)
Wisconsin bill promotes soybean-based firefighting foam to replace PFAS (WPR)
Wisconsin lawmakers push nuclear plant tax credits (The Center Square)
Battle over Wisconsin's cottage food laws continues with new bill (The Cap Times)
New bills in Wisconsin include showing gas tax at the pump (Journal-Sentinel +)
Republican lawmakers propose new fees for hiking, biking, cross-country skiing on state-owned land (WPR)
Groups ask judge to overturn plan fast-tracking connection of new power to Midwest grid (WPR)
Madison planners want to place an Amtrak station downtown. Here's why. (The Cap Times)
How a Madison community land trust provides affordable housing (The Cap Times)
Green Bay hopes to bring pro soccer team to Titletown (WPR)
Foxconn planning $569M expansion in Racine County that could create 1,300 jobs (WPR)

Federal and economic stories...
Marquette pollster: National survey results ‘huge’ problem for GOP (WPR)
What to know about the 38 cases Wis AG Josh Kaul has joined against Trump (Journal-Sentinel +)
Core wholesale prices rose less than expected in September; retail sales gain (CNBC)
Private payroll losses accelerated in the past four weeks, ADP reports (CNBC)

Food for thought...

Keep America Moving (US Chamber of Commerce) The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is calling on policymakers, businesses, and communities to Keep America Moving by prioritizing the reauthorization of federal surface transportation infrastructure programs—and ensuring a responsible, long-term funding mechanism is in place to sustain them.

Cash Alone Won’t End Poverty (Melissa S. Kearney & James X. Sullivan, The Dispatch) Raising national standards of living requires investing in people.

Thanks for reading this issue of Business Advocate. If you have comments or questions, contact Scott Rogers, Sr Dir of Governmental Affairs, at 715-858-0616 or rogers@eauclairechamber.org