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In this issue:
• EC City Council to hear Parking Study recommendations
• Middle School Civics Bee entry deadline Tuesday, Feb 4
• Passenger rail progress highlighted
• Gov Evers delivers "State of the State" address
• Trump takes oath of office, issues executive orders
• World Relief says refugee and aid funding suspended
• Food for thought
• Mark your calendar
Note on article links: A subscription is required for those marked with "$"
Publications known to have article limits or other access restrictions for non-subscribers are marked with "+"
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Today at noon...
Virtual Town Hall with US Senator Tammy Baldwin
You're invited to participate in a Western Wisconsin Virtual Town Hall with US Senator Tammy Baldwin Monday at noon, co-hosted by the La Crosse Area Chamber of Commerce and the Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce. This will be a valuable opportunity to connect with one of our key representatives in Washington on issues of concern to business and our region. Senator Baldwin will provide an update on her priorities and answer questions submitted by participants. The event will be moderated by La Crosse Chamber CEO Beth Franklin.
• Monday, January 27, 12:00 noon
Click here to register and receive the Zoom participation link
Last chance to register...
Eau What A Night - The Chamber's 110th Annual Meeting
Join us as we honor our past, celebrate our achievements, and look forward to an even brighter future.
• Thursday, Jan 30, 4:30-9:30 p.m., The Sonnentag Center
Click here for details and to register
Eggs & Issues: Washington Insights from the US Chamber
How will the new players in Washington impact business and the economy in the Chippewa Valley? With the new Administration and Congress in place, and a continuing resolution expiring in March, John Kirchner from the US Chamber will provide us insights into the new power structure in DC. Learn what issues are getting the most attention, and how the US Chamber is advocating for a positive business climate. John Kirchner is Vice President, Midwest Region, Congressional and Public Affairs Division, US Chamber of Commerce.
• Friday, Feb 21, 7:00-8:30 a.m., CVTC Business Education Center
Click here for details and to register
31st Annual Chippewa Valley Rally
A unique opportunity to bring a collective voice on regional and state economic priorities to Madison all at one time. Organized by the Chippewa Valley Chamber Alliance, representing the Chippewa Falls, Menomonie, and Eau Claire Chambers of Commerce. In these first months of the new year, the Legislature is tackling the 2025-27 biennial budget, which sets the spending and priorities for the state over the next two years.
At the Rally, we'll deliver to policymakers a shared consensus on issues important to the economy of the Chippewa Valley. This year's topics will include healthcare, education, talent attraction & retention, childcare, the state's role in addressing homelessness, economic development & tax reform, transportation & infrastructure, and energy. Plus, we'll express thanks for previous regional priorities enacted during the past two years.
• Wednesday, March 5, Madison
Click here for details and registration information
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EC City Council: Parking study recommendations,
hearing on 4.1% water utility rate increase
As the Eau Claire City Council meets this week, it will have a public discussion Monday evening on the draft downtown parking study (see pages 43-119 of the Monday Agenda Packet linked below) conducted by Jon Forster, Parking and Mobility Planner with consulting firm Fishbeck of Grand Rapids, Mich. Following Tuesday's Legislative Session, the Council will hold a work session to discuss feedback on the parking study. (Work Sessions are less formal City Council meetings, usually following a scheduled meeting, for purposes of education or exploring a topic that affects the City or might be brought forward for future legislation.)
There will be a public hearing on Monday and vote on Tuesday on a 4.1% increase in city water rates (see pages 120-122 of the Monday Agenda Packet). The Council's agenda this week also includes hearings and action on planned alley, street, utility, and sidewalk improvements (Pages 5-42 of the Monday Agenda Packet).
More information:
Eau Claire City Council
• Monday, Jan 27, 6 p.m. Public Hearing Agenda Packet (122 pages)
• Tuesday, Jan 28, 4 p.m. Legislative Session Agenda Packet (93 pages)
Link to videos of city meetings (City of Eau Claire)
City Council Online Comment Form (City of Eau Claire)
Contact information: City Council members (City of Eau Claire)
City of Eau Claire News Updates (including weekly City Manager's Update)
More information and city news...
Parking Study Executive Summary (Jon Forster, Fishbeck)
Parking Study Draft Findings and Recommendations (Jon Forster, Fishbeck)
Trash haulers discuss composting and pick up schedules with deputy city manager (Leader-Telegram $)
Also meeting this week...
Full public meetings schedule
Altoona Board of Education
• Monday, Jan 27, 6:30 p.m. Meeting information
Eau Claire Board of Education
• Monday, Jan 27, 7 p.m. (closed session 6 p.m.) Meeting information
More local stories...
WI Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez takes part in Point-in-Time Homeless Count (WEAU 13 News)
La Crosse organizations come together for Project Homeless Connect (WEAU 13 News)
Reservations now open to tenants at Orchard Hills Development (WQOW News 18)
Eau Claire Housing Authority seeks ways to reduce evictions (Leader-Telegram $)
Eau Claire Housing Authority looking to find ways to grant leniency for affordable housing tenants (WEAU 13 News)
WEAU Exclusive: Sneak Peek inside Willow Inn & Suites (WEAU 13 News)
Hope Village proposing project to turn Indianhead Motel into affordable housing unit (WQOW News 18)
Sun Country flights EAU-Ft. Myers begin on Friday (Chippewa Valley Regional Airport)
More travelers expected at Chippewa Valley Regional Airport in 2025 (WEAU 13 News)
County board supervisors dispute over Transit Equity Day (Leader-Telegram $)
Local institutions face much less significant, difficult delays with FAFSA (Leader-Telegram $)
It's been one year since HSHS announced hospital closures. What's next for healthcare in the Chippewa Valley? (WQOW News 18)
One year since HSHS announced closures (WEAU 13 News)
Health Department creates drinking water dashboard to make information easier to understand (Leader-Telegram $)
Oktoberfest Chippewa Falls welcomes new management (WEAU 13 News)
NWSF board to take over operations of Oktoberfest in Chippewa Falls (Leader-Telegram $)
Valley Sports Academy opens new outdoor skating space (WQOW News 18)
Feed My People announces selection of new director (Leader-Telegram $)
Marieke Penterman earns ‘Master Cheesemaker’ title (WEAU 13 News)
Announcing Volume One's 2025 Vanguard Award Winners (Volume One)
Summer Jam announcement adds more headliners (WEAU 13 news)
For ‘Mr. Baseball,’ It All Began in Eau Claire (Volume One)
Bob Uecker’s long, hilarious road to stardom started at Carson Park
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National Civics Bee for middle school students
1st Step: Submit essay by Feb 4 deadline
The Eau Claire Chamber is one of the regional hosts sites for the 2025 Wisconsin Civics Bee. Middle school students in 6th, 7th, and 8th grade from public, private, charter, and home schools are invited to take part in the first-round of civics essay competition. The competition begins with a 750-word civics essay where students are asked to identify a community issue and propose how they could help improve it. In each region, the top 20 essays will be selected to advance to a live event on April 12. The portal for essay submissions is now open, with a deadline of February 4, 2025. Click here for details.
More information:
Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce Launches 2025 National Civics Bee® (Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce)
or contact Tina Probst: probst@eauclairechamber.org
Leaders strike optimistic tone at passenger rail meeting
The prospects for bringing passenger rail service to West Central Wisconsin have advanced significantly in the past year, with two studies in the federal Corridor Identification and Development Program that are part of the pipeline to establish new train services under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
At the annual meeting of the West Central Wisconsin Rail Coalition in Eau Claire last Tuesday, local, state, and national leaders were optimistic about continued progress.
Jim Mathews, President, Rail Passengers Association, Washington, DC, provided an outlook on the political landscape in Washington and valuable information about the economic return on investment passenger trains provide in return for public support. He cited information from the US Senate confirmation hearing for Transportation Secretary-designee Sean Duffy providing expectations for key programs to continue.
There was an update on the Eau Claire-Twin Cities corridor study from the Chippewa-St. Croix Rail Commission; including comments from HDR, the consultant completing the Step 1 Scoping Study; AIPRO, the trade association for potential train operators; and host railroad Union Pacific. Participants also heard from representatives of Wisconsin DOT and Minnesota DOT on their passenger rail programs; from Ramsey County, MN, owner of St. Paul Union Depot; and from Dan Bilka, All Aboard Northwest, about potential new long distance service to the Pacific coast.
The meeting was recorded and can be viewed at the link below:
West Central Wisconsin Rail Coalition Annual Meeting
(Enter passcode &8Pi!51. to view; Zoom recording:1 hr 49 min)
Links to visuals shown by speakers:
The State of Play in DC and the ROI of Passenger Trains - Jim Matthews, RPA
Ramsey County's St. Paul Union Depot - Mike Rogers, Ramsey County
Bringing Trains to West Central Wisconsin - Scott Rogers, Rail Coalition; Victor Stone, Union Pacific; Mason Baxter, AIPRO; Angela Jones, HDR Engineering.
Long Distance Trains to the Northwest - Dan Bilka, All Aboard Northwest
WisDOT Update - Rich Kedzior, WisDOT
MnDOT Update - Greg Mathis, MnDOT
News coverage:
Annual passenger rail coalition meeting brings local, state and federal update (WQOW News 18)
Train coalition updates plans on passenger lines to Eau Claire (Leader-Telegram $)
Eau Claire-Twin Cities passenger rail project on track (The Business News)
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National and economic stories...
Trump vows to restore democracy and freedom to Americans in inaugural address (Axios)
Inaugural Address Transcript: Trump returns to presidency declaring ‘the golden age of America begins right now’ (AP)
Trump signs slew of executive actions after being sworn in (CNN)
Trump’s attempt to end birthright citizenship would overturn more than a century of precedent (AP)
Federal district court judge temporarily blocks Trump's birthright citizenship order (NBC News)
Wisconsin joins challenge of Trump executive order ending birthright citizenship (WPR)
US refugee group funding suspended under Trump aid pause (Reuters)
World Relief Grieves Abrupt Halt to Foreign Assistance Funding, Urges Church & Community to Step Up to Fill Gap Left by Governmental Decisions (World Relief)
Trump Cabinet confirmation status: Which nominees have been confirmed? (AP)
Hegseth survives Senate nail-biter as Vance breaks 50-50 tie (Axios)
Duffy hearing goes smoothly in Congress (APG Wisconsin)
What Trump’s Infrastructure Announcements Mean for States (Governing)
Congressional Republicans Giving Trump Time to Make a TikTok Deal (The Dispatch)
Senators Baldwin, Johnson reintroduce CURD Act to support state dairy industry (WSAW)
House passes immigrant detention bill that would be Trump’s first law to sign (AP)
Pentagon to send up to 1,500 active duty troops to secure US-Mexico border: Officials (NewsNation)
Trump Threatens Sanctions, Tariffs on Russia if Putin Won’t End War in Ukraine (Wall Street Journal +)
NATO chief says Russian victory over Ukraine would have a costly impact on alliance’s credibility (AP)
Food for thought...
Use Transportation Options to Brighten Downtown Eau Claire’s Future (Jeremy Gragert, Volume One) Building more parking isn’t the answer
Addressing the Cycle of Chronic Homelessness Requires Collaboration (Chris Hedlund, Volume One) ‘Giving a hand up instead of a handout restores dignity and shows respect,’ Hope Gospel Mission program director says
Housing Shortages Create an Alternative to NIMBYism (Jared Brey, Governing)
The Yes In My Backyard movement is barely a decade old. But it has set the terms of the debate over state and local housing policy.
COVID-19 Resources:
Eau Claire County COVID-19 Information Hub (Eau Claire City-County Health Department)
Mark your calendar:
• Eau What A Night: 110th Chamber Annual Meeting - Thursday, Jan 30
• Business After Hours - Monday, Feb 10
• Eggs & Issues: Washington Insights from the US Chamber - Fri, Feb 21
• 31st Annual Chippewa Valley Rally - Wednesday, Mar 5, 2025
Public Meetings Calendar
Click the link above for the our regularly updated schedule of public meetings.
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
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