EC City Council: Fees represent final action on zoning rewrite
Home Builders, Chamber emphasize attention to affordability
Action by the Eau Claire City Council this week on fees and miscellaneous city code updates represent the last decisions to be made as its full rewrite of the City's Zoning regulations goes into effect in October. The agenda includes a Public Hearing on Monday evening and action on Tuesday. See the Agenda Packets linked below.
Because of the importance of increasing housing supply and improving affordability, the Chippewa Valley Home Builders Association (CVHBA) and the Chamber are encouraging the Council to ensure that fees are kept as low as possible to protect housing affordability for homeowners and renters.
"Affordability is significantly affected by the real costs of construction and the costs of complying with regulations. The reality is that any fees charged for the development of housing will ultimately be paid by the buyers and renters who will occupy these homes. Therefore, keeping affordability at the forefront of decisions is essential," noted the Chamber in a letter to City Council members sent this past Friday.
Also on Friday, CVHBA provided a letter to the Council detailing the effects of proposed park impact and tree in-lieu fees on the costs of housing.
"We respectfully urge the City Council to adopt a fee schedule that keeps housing affordability at the forefront and supports both new and in-fill development. We all want an Eau Claire that grows and continues to provide attainable housing for families while also improving the City of Eau Claire," noted the CVHBA letter.
More information:
Eau Claire City Council
• Monday, Sep 22, 6 p.m. Public Hearing Agenda Packet (81 pages)
• Tuesday, Sep 23, 4 p.m., Legislative Session Agenda Packet (156 pages)
Click here to send an email to all City Council members
Click here for individual contact information for each City Council member
Link to videos of city meetings (City of Eau Claire)
City News Updates -incl. City Manager's Weekly Update (City of Eau Claire)
Eau Claire Century Code Update website (City of Eau Claire)
CVHBA fees letter (Chippewa Valley Home Builders Assn)
Chamber letter on fees and zoning (Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce)

Also meeting this week...
Full public meetings calendar
Eau Claire County Committee on Planning & Development
• Tuesday, Sep 23, 6 p.m. Meeting information
Altoona City Council
• Thursday, Sep 25, 6 p.m. Meeting information

Higher education
UW-Stout celebrates Heritage Hall groundbreaking,
CVTC & UW-Stout: Reframing higher education
Initiatives by area higher education institutions continue to make news, as UW-Stout recently celebrated the groundbreaking of its long-awaited Heritage Hall project, and the leaders of CVTC and UW-Stout talked about "Reframing higher education" to respond to today's changing needs.
"In place of perceived rigid educational silos, a more dynamic ecosystem is emerging," asserted CVTC President Sunem Beaton-Garcia and UW-Stout Chancellor Katherine Frank in a joint piece last week. "One where credentials are increasingly stackable, learning is lifelong, and value is measured not solely by credit hours earned but by competencies gained and career opportunities unlocked at different points in time, and is flexible to learners. This is particularly true at the intersection of technical education as offered at Chippewa Valley Technical College and polytechnic learning and research at the University of Wisconsin-Stout."
"Together, our institutions serve as launchpads for students and professionals of all backgrounds to enter the workforce, upskill, or transition into new careers. Our aligned missions are not just to educate, but also to connect education directly to employment. Whether a student is earning an industry certification, an associate degree, a bachelor's degree, or a graduate degree, the ultimate goals remain the same: to make the on and off ramps for students seamless as they navigate educational pathways, and to empower individuals with the knowledge, skills and experience to thrive in today’s—and tomorrow’s—economy." Click here to read the full piece.
Earlier this month, UW-Stout celebrated the start of a three-year, $144.3 million renovation project that will transform the half-century-old Heritage Hall into a cutting-edge educational hub to help meet Wisconsin’s workforce needs.
“Today, we celebrate more than the groundbreaking of a building – we celebrate the power of partnership and perseverance. The renovation of Heritage Hall is a direct reflection of our mission as Wisconsin’s Polytechnic University: to provide career-focused, applied learning and research, and industry collaboration that meets the evolving needs of the state’s workforce and communities,” Chancellor Katherine Frank said at the ceremony on Tuesday, Sept. 9.
Funding for Heritage Hall was a key priority of recent editions of the annual Chippewa Valley Rally, where the Menomonie, Chippewa Falls, and Eau Claire Chambers of Commerce brought regional economic issues to Madison.
“Heritage Hall truly is more than a building. It’s a bridge between campus and community. It’s an investment in the next generation of professionals in education, hospitality, mental health, manufacturing, health care, tourism, nutrition and more,” said Menomonie Chamber CEO Ashley DeMuth.
More information:
Reframing Higher Education (Sunem Beaton-Garcia, CVTC; Katherine Frank, UW-Stout)
UW-Stout Breaks Ground on $144M Heritage Hall Renovation (Volume One)

Silver Spring, Veritas Steel products nominated for WMC's
"Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin" - Voting now open
Products from two area Chamber Investors are among 148 nominated from around the state in the Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce’s (WMC) Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin contest.
Those products nominated include Cranberry Horseradish from Silver Spring Foods and a bridge related to Norfolk Southern Railroad by Veritas Steel.
Voting in the competition opened this week in the bracket-style tournament called Manufacturing Madness.
During each of the rounds of the competition, the public is invited to vote once per day, per device at MadeInWis.com.
Click here to register and vote (To find a product on the online ballot, note that it is listed in alphabetical order by company.)
More information:
Public Invited to Vote for the Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin (WMC)

More local stories...
Visit Eau Claire, Travel Wisconsin discuss tourism and bringing people to Wisconsin (Leader-Telegram)
Visit Eau Claire: August 2025 Digest (Visit Eau Claire)
Jon Johnson reflects on new Eau Claire County administrator role, county budget timeline (Leader-Telegram $)
Chippewa Valley communities among fastest growing since 2020 (WQOW News 18)
10th day enrollment estimates show increases, decreases at regional UW schools (Leader-Telegram $)
Final vacant seat filled on CF Council (Leader-Telegram $)
Chippewa Falls City Council swears in new member to fill vacant seat (WQOW News 18)
Hidden history: exploring the tunnels beneath Banbury Place (WQOW News 18)
Silver anniversary: Heyde Center celebrates 25 years and the community that made it happen (Leader-Telegram $)
Questioning the Locals: Kaitlyn Molis - Eau Claire Chamber of Commerce (Volume One)

Eau Claire Chamber host National Civics Bee state competition
The Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce has been named as the official Wisconsin State Partner for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s National Civics Bee®, an annual competition that inspires young Americans to engage in civics and contribute to their communities. It is a nonpartisan initiative to enhance civic literacy, skills, and participation.
As the State Partner, the Chamber will coordinate the 2026 Wisconsin State Civics Bee, offering middle school students from across Wisconsin the opportunity to participate in a single statewide competition hosted in Eau Claire in late spring/early summer 2026. The state champion will advance to the National Civics Bee finals in Washington, D.C.
The essay submission portal is now open, with applications accepted through February 3, 2026. Competition entry begins with submitting an essay that answers four questions related to a community challenge or opportunity, along with a proposed solution. All Wisconsin 6th–8th grade students, from public, private, charter, and homeschool settings, are invited to take part.
More information:
National Civics Bee details and entry requirements (Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce)
Eau Claire Chamber named National Civics Bee partner (News Release, Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce)
Eau Claire Chamber to coordinate, host 2026 Wisconsin State Civics Bee Competition (Leader-Telegram $)
Our View: Civics Bee announcement is welcome news for region (Leader-Telegram editorial $) We could not be more thrilled with the news Eau Claire will host Wisconsin’s 2026 National Civics Bee competition. The value of a strong background in civics has never been more necessary. Without one, people will find it difficult to tell whether politicians’ claims are valid, whether the actions they propose conform with civil law, and how to think about many of today’s issues and reach an independent, informed conclusion.

More state and regional stories...
St. Louis-based grocery chain will acquire Wisconsin-based Festival Foods (WPR)
Skogen’s is the latest in a long line of Schnucks acquisitions (Supermarket News)
Who's in the race? These candidates want to be Wisconsin's next governor (Journal-Sentinel +)
Madison Rep. Francesca Hong joins Democratic primary for governor (WPR)
Democrat Francesca Hong promises to be ‘wild card’ in Wisconsin governor’s race (AP)
GOP governor candidate Bill Berrien says he would not fire state employees who criticize Charlie Kirk (Journal-Sentinel +)
Governor candidate Sara Rodriguez stops in Eau Claire on tour of Wisconsin (Leader-Telegram +)
Battle for the Capitol: Wisconsin's seats of power up for grabs in 2026 (Journal-Sentinel +)
Report: Wisconsin has work to do toward confidence in elections (The Center Square)
Wisconsin bill aims to finally unite GOP on absentee voting practices (The Cap Times)
New Wisconsin bill would limit the use of emergency powers by local government leaders (WPR)
Evers orders Wisconsin-only COVID vaccination rules; DHS issues recommendation (The Center Square)
Gov. Tony Evers signs executive order on vaccine access amid federal uncertainty (WPR)
These 10 rural hospitals are joining financial forces in Wisconsin (WPR)
Unemployment in Wisconsin holds steady in August even as the number of people working falls (WPR)
Federal complaint challenges Midwest transmission plan, jeopardizes $4.1B in Wisconsin (WPR)
Janesville’s Woodman’s Sports & Convention Center expected to bring economic boost (WMTV)
Marinette, Peshtigo residents frustrated with lack of action on PFAS as cleanup progresses (WPR)
Wisconsin village’s voters unseat trustee after anti-fluoride vote, other controversy (WPR)
Wisconsin congressman seeks federal oversight of Milwaukee County transit, calls out fare evasion (Journal-Sentinel +)
Ditching cars for rail, Wisconsin Amtrak passengers find accessibility (Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service)
Amtrak's I-41 Thruway bus service between Green Bay and Milwaukee will end Oct. 1 (Journal-Sentinel +)
Patti Habeck named CEO of New North Inc. (Fox 11 News)
Wisconsin communities hoping to breathe new life into old industrial sites with redevelopment projects (WPR)
Wisconsin businesses are exempt for now from new air quality rules, federal court says (Journal-Sentinel +)

Federal and economic stories...
Fed lowers interest rates, signals more cuts ahead (Reuters)
Federal Reserve issues FOMC statement (Federal Reserve)
US retail sales increase strongly; softening labor market a headwind (Reuters)
Consumer prices rose at annual rate of 2.9% in August, as weekly jobless claims jump (CNBC)
White House tries to tamp down corporate panic for high-skill visa holders after last-minute overhaul (Politico)
Trump officials at funeral praise Charlie Kirk’s faith and his mark on the conservative movement (AP)
Van Orden proposes blocking federal funds for employers of Kirk commenters (The Center Square)
Following Kirk assassination, Van Orden bill would cut off federal funds when employees ‘celebrate political violence’ (WPR)
Constitutional professor: Rep. Van Orden bill "unconstitutional" (WQOW News 18)
Rep. Tiffany Reintroduces Bill to Create Wisconsin’s First National Park (WEAU 13 News)
Trump administration retreats on combating human trafficking and child exploitation (The Guardian +)
The Georgia Election Chief Who Angered Trump Plans Run for Governor (Wall Street Journal +)
CEO whose comments sparked Trump’s Memphis action also pitched him on a big rail merger (Politico)
Parents of teens who died by suicide after AI chatbot interactions testify in Congress (CBS News)

Food for thought...

The Fed Rolls Back Recession Risk (Greg Ip, Wall Street Journal +) The central bank’s rate cut eliminates the economy’s worst-case scenarios

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