Keeping college graduates local: What students
are telling us - and why it matters
   What matters most to students deciding whether to stay in the Chippewa Valley after graduation? Working with Chippewa Valley Technical College (CVTC) and the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (UWEC), the Chamber surveyed 575 students  to help us understand how to build a region where young talent wants to stay and grow. It found that factors important to them are career opportunities, community connection, a welcoming culture, and access to affordable housing.
   Overall, the effort was aimed to better understand what young people value in a community as they prepare to launch their careers and whether they see the Chippewa Valley as a place to stay long term.
   “We conducted this survey because we want our community to better understand the Chamber’s role in helping retain college students as part of our future workforce,” said Dave Minor, President/CEO of the Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce. “These students are already here, living and learning in our region. If we listen to them – and respond to what they need – we have an incredible opportunity to keep them here as contributors to our economy, our neighborhoods, and our future. This survey helps us all see what matters most to the next generation and how we can work together to create a place where they want to stay.”
Key Takeaways:
   Housing Affordability is a Top Concern: The overwhelming majority of students at both institutions named affordable housing as one of the biggest barriers to staying in the region. Students reported feeling priced out of the market, with many citing unsafe and poorly managed housing options and lack of inventory for young professionals.
   Employment Expectations are Evolving: When it comes to choosing a workplace, students rank monetary compensation, career growth, and workplace culture as critical factors. More than half of CVTC students and nearly 70% of UWEC students are open to careers outside their major – demonstrating a desire for flexibility and opportunity in the labor market.
   Other key factors included the region's natural beauty and outdoor recreation, connectivity to the community, and transportation and public infrastructure.
   Students Want to Stay – If We Can Meet Their Needs: 71% of CVTC students and 34% of UWEC students said they plan to live and work in the Chippewa Valley after graduation, or would return someday. However, this would require a focused investment in the areas they care about most – housing, job access, and a sense of belonging.
   “This data provides a powerful roadmap for our region,” said Tina Probst, Director of Workforce & Emerging Talent. “With Eau Claire County projected to grow by over 12% by 2050 – making it one of the fastest-growing counties in Wisconsin – we must act now to create the kind of community that attracts and retains the next generation. These survey results give us a clear direction and chance to make informed changes that will strengthen our local workforce and support sustainable growth.”
   The Chamber will be reaching out to local businesses, municipalities, and educational institutions with actionable data and insights specific to their sectors, encouraging them to review the findings and consider how their policies and practices could evolve to meet the current and future workforce challenges. Aligning local decision-making with what young professionals are looking for will be essential to the Chippewa Valley’s continued success – especially as Eau Claire County is one of the few counties in Wisconsin to grow considerably in the coming decades, even as the state’s overall population trends downward.
More information:
2025 Student Survey Results: Here's what we learned (Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce)
Listen: “Chippewa Valley Student Surveys – What Students Really Think!” (Talking Po!nt Podcast, 25:15, Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce)
Eau Claire Chamber survey reveals students' concerns about housing, jobs (WQOW News 18)
EC Chamber's 2025 Student Survey gives deeper insight into area college students' values (Leader-Telegram $)
Student Survey: Housing & Workforce Shortage are Top Concerns (WEAU 13 News)

CV Airport: Sun Country flights coming back next winter
   The Chippewa Valley Regional Airport (CVRA) has announced the continuation of Sun Country Airlines’ nonstop seasonal service to Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) in Fort Myers, Florida.
   “We’re thrilled Sun Country will continue offering this valuable nonstop service to Fort Myers,” said Charity Zich, Airport Director at Chippewa Valley Regional Airport. “This is truly a community success story—made possible by the ongoing support of our passengers, local businesses, and regional partners who recognize the importance of maintaining and growing air service options in our region."
   The nonstop flights will continue to operate seasonally. They are scheduled to operate on Mondays and Fridays from January 30, 2026, through April 6, 2026.
   Last year, the federal Essential Air Service (EAS) contract was awarded to SkyWest to provide daily United Express flights to Chicago's O'Hare airport, while CVRA was able to work with Sun Country to continue to service the local airport on a seasonal basis.
More information:
Sun Country flights coming back in January 2026 (News release, Chippewa Valley Regional Airport)
Sun Country's non-stop flights to continue from Chippewa Valley Regional Airport (WQOW News 18)
Chippewa Valley Regional Airport extends nonstop flights to Florida for 2026 (WKBT News 8000)
Chippewa Valley Regional Airport announces continuation of Sun Country Airlines’ nonstop seasonal service (WEAU 13 News)
Sun Country will continue CVRA flights in 2026 (Leader-Telegram $)
Our View: Sun Country's return a win for the region (Leader-Telegram editorial $)

Input sought for future train service to Eau Claire
Survey asks about destinations, travel reasons
   An online survey being conducted by the West Central Wisconsin Rail Coalition continues to be open this week, looking for input from prospective travelers on what destinations they're most interested in when passenger train service comes to the community. In addition to identifying specific preferred destinations, the online survey seeks input on fares, information about travel purposes, and provides information on taking action to ensure that current feasibility studies underway can continue. The Coalition is seeking input from anyone on the community who is interested in train service: Click here to take the brief 5-question train travel survey
Longtime Chamber advocacy goal
   A longtime goal of the Chamber in concert with the Coalition has been the establishment of rail passenger service to West Central Wisconsin, including likely stops in Eau Claire, Menomonie, Baldwin, and Hudson, to link the region with the Twin Cities, Milwaukee, and Chicago. It has also been part of the issues agenda for the annual Chippewa Valley Rally legislative day.
  Two current studies are underway as part of a federal funding pipeline, enacted in the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, that would take service planning to the next step. They envision an Eau Claire-Twin Cities frequent regional service, as well as through service Chicago-Milwaukee-Madison-Eau Claire-Twin Cities.
   It will be important for the 2025-27 Wisconsin biennial budget to fund the non-federal 10% match to complete the key feasibility studies, known as Service Development Plans, to move the regional studies, as well as others in the state that would investigate service to Appleton, Fond du lac, Green Bay, Madison, Oshkosh, and other communities.
   Additionally, the Eau Claire-Twin Cities regional corridor proposed by the local Chippewa-St. Croix Rail Commission includes several innovations that could provide additional cost-effectiveness, reliability, and local economic benefits. They include a competitive process for selecting a train operator; negotiated access agreement with the host railroad, Union Pacific; and transportation-oriented development around the station sites.
State budget support needed
   As part of Wisconsin's overall transportation program, a relatively modest amount of funding will be needed to continue the feasibility studies, and primarily will be needed to maintain current support for the Chicago-Milwaukee Hiawatha trains and the Chicago-Milwaukee-Tomah-La Crosse-Twin Cities Borealis train started last year. There are also capital projects underway related to current services and enhancements.
   The budget is now in the hands of the Legislature's Join Finance Committee (JFC), which is drafting the legislature's version of the budget.
More information:
Train travel input survey (West Central Wisconsin Rail Coalition)
Chamber passenger rail letter (Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce)
Business sign-on statement (Business Coalition for Passenger Rail)
Do you want trains in Western Wisconsin? (West Central Wisconsin Rail Coalition newsletter)
Survey open for Eau Claire to Twin Cities train service (WQOW News 18)
Western Wisconsin passenger train discussed from Eau Claire to Twin Cities (KSTP Eyewitness News)
Amtrak’s Borealis beat ridership expectations in first year. Minnesota wants to build on its success. (Start-Tribune/MSN)

City of Eau Claire invitation: Working Better Together
professional development experience
   The City of Eau Claire is inviting community leaders to join city staff and other governmental and institutional partners in a three-month professional development program. According to the invitation, participation is sought by those "who want to create more welcoming workplaces and build lasting connections across the Eau Claire region." The program will run three times, with the first being this summer. The deadline to apply or express interest in Monday, June 9.
More information: 
Working Better Together - Strategies for Success (City of Eau Claire)