31st Annual Chippewa Valley Rally is Wednesday
For the second year in a row, the annual Chippewa Valley Rally on March 5 will see a record number of participants representing business and community leaders from Chippewa, Dunn, and Eau Claire Counties. Organized by the Chippewa Falls, Eau Claire, and Menomonie Chambers of Commerce, the event is designed to bring a collective voice on regional and state economic priorities to policy makers in Madison.
2025 area economic priorities
With the biennial budget deliberations now getting underway, this year's topics include healthcare, education, talent attraction & retention, childcare, the state's role in addressing homelessness, economic development & tax reform, transportation & infrastructure, and energy. The group also expresses thanks for regional priorities enacted after previous Rallies.
How it works
On Wednesday, March 5, there's an opening session with Chippewa Valley area legislators, a keynote luncheon with Governor Evers (invited), informal discussions with lawmakers and staff, and networking with others from the area who are interested in state government policy. In between those program events, Rally participants are each assigned to a small group team that visits several legislative offices representing districts throughout the state.
Registration for the 2025 Rally is now closed with the program reaching full capacity at over 150 participants.
Click here to see the 2025 Chippewa Valley Rally Issues Book
Wisconsin Legislature website
Chippewa Valley leaders to rally in Madison on health care, economics, education (Chippewa Herald $)

Meeting this week...
Full public meetings schedule

Eau Claire Plan Commission
• Monday, Mar 3, 6:00 p.m. Meeting information

Commonweal releases 2024 annual market report
Commonweal Development last week released is 2024 annual market report, anticipated each year to provide a snapshot of the local market for office, retail, industrial, and multi-family space, including vacancy rates and other fundamentals.
Click here to read the report (NAI Commonweal)

April 1 Eau Claire City Council Election
Candidate sit down interviews now available to view
The April 1 non-partisan Spring Election includes five at-large seats on the Eau Claire City Council, with seven candidates on the ballot. It includes incumbents Larry Mboga, Joshua Miller, and Charlie Johnson, along with newcomers Philip Swanhorst, Nate Otto, Ethan Reed, and Mary Catherine Partlow. Incumbents Kate Felton and Roderick Jones are not seeking reelection.
There are also five district representatives and the City Council President who make up the 11-member body. Election of each category is staggered, with district representatives most recently elected in 2024, and the City Council President seat up next in 2026.
The Chamber does not endorse candidates, but provides voter education to help you make informed decisions. Chamber VP Governmental Affairs Scott Rogers sat down with all seven candidates with five minute interviews to meet then and hear what their policy priorities will be. Click the link below to view them on our YouTube channel:
2025 EC City Council Sit-Down Interviews (Eau Claire Chamber, YouTube)
Eau Claire voters hear from City Council candidates (WEAU 13 News)
MyVoteWI (what's on your ballot, voter registration, find your polling place, etc.)

Other local races are non-competitive
For other local races, there are no contests for the two School Board seats up each in Altoona and Eau Claire, and no contested races for the three Altoona City Council seats on the ballot. In fact, no candidate filed for the District 3 seat in Altoona, which will be decided by write-in.
High-profile state races
Both statewide races this Spring are expected to attract a lot of attention and spending, especially that for a 10-year term on the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Current Justice Ann Walsh Bradley, considered part of the liberal wing of the court, is retiring. Squaring off in April will be Dane County Judge Susan Crawford and former Republican Attorney General Brad Schimel. The February 18 Primary narrowed the field for Superintendent of Public Instruction to incumbent Jill Underly and education consultant Brittany Kinser.
Judgeships on our local ballots are unopposed, including District 3 Court of Appeals Judge Lisa Stark, and Eau Claire County Branch 2 Judge Doug Hoffer.
Watch for more election information from the Chamber as election dates draw nearer.
More information:
Underly and Kinser advance in state superintendent race (WPR)
Incumbent Wisconsin schools leader and GOP-backed challenger advance in primary (AP)
Crawford, Schimel agree to March 12 debate (WisPolitics.com)
Behind the scenes of the Supreme Court race, a 'turf war' simmers between Wisconsin GOP and Turning Point (Journal-Sentinel +)
Crawford, Schimel won’t pledge to recuse from cases involving political parties (WPR)
Wisconsin Supreme Court candidates spar over Musk and Soros donations in high-stakes race (AP)

Nominate a Business for the 2025 "Bravo to Business" Awards
Nominations are now open for the Chamber's 2025 Annual "Bravo to Business" Awards. They're designed to recognize the outstanding businesses that make Eau Claire thrive, celebrating excellence, innovation, and resilience in our local business community. Finalists will be honored and winners announced at the "Bravo to Business" Awards event on October 22.
Anyone can nominate a business—or businesses can nominate themselves. Award Categories are: Small Business of the Year, Business of the Year, Emerging Business of the Year, Resilient Business of the Year, and Young Professionals Best Place to Work.
More information:
2025 "Bravo to Business" Awards
• Nominations deadline: April 30
• Wednesday, October 22: Awards event
Click here for details and to nominate a business

National and economic stories...

Chambers, Associations Urge Congress to Permanently Extend Pro-Growth Tax Reforms (US Chamber of Commerce)

Event meant to make sense of US administration showcases divisions (Leader-Telegram $)

What they said: Trump, Zelenskyy and Vance’s heated argument in the Oval Office (AP)

What US lawmakers are saying about the White House clash between Trump and Zelenskyy (AP)

State Department axed contracts for refugee services despite court order, faith groups say (Wisconsin Examiner)

Baldwin discusses federal budget cuts, ICE raids in conference call (Leader-Telegram $)

Can Congress Extend Trump’s Tax Cuts Without Ballooning the Deficit? (The Dispatch)

HUD Grant Delays and Planned Staff Cuts Are Sending Homeless Service Providers into Panic (Next City +)

Food for thought...

These Six Policies Will Make Your Town Housing Ready (Strong Towns)
Policies that can be implemented on a local level, meaning your place doesn’t have to wait for help from above to fight back against the housing crisis.

Is Single-Family Zoning Pro-Family? (Darrell Owens, The Discourse Lounge)

COVID-19 Resources:
Eau Claire County COVID-19 Information Hub (Eau Claire City-County Health Department)

Mark your calendar:
• 31st Annual Chippewa Valley Rally - Wednesday, Mar 5
• Morning Momentum - Thursday, Mar 13
• Eggs & Issues: Housing & Zoning - Friday, Mar 14
• Chamber/UW-Eau Claire Business Community Breakfast - Tues, Apr 9
• National Civics Bee - Local Competition - Saturday, Apr 12
• Business After Hours - Monday, Apr 14
• Golf Day in Eau Claire - Monday, Aug 4
• 2025 "Bravo to Business" Awards - Wednesday, Oct 22

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