Eau Claire Chamber expands eBucks partnership
to Downtown Eau Claire, Inc.
The Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce has announced an enhanced partnership for its new eBucks local program with Downtown Eau Claire, Inc. (DECI). The new relationships builds on existing collaborative efforts with Visit Eau Claire to further support local businesses and strengthen the regional economy.
This expanded partnership will integrate DECI more deeply into the Chamber’s digital Chamber eBucks program, powered by Yiftee and backed by Mastercard. The collaboration aims to elevate visibility for downtown Eau Claire businesses, foster stronger alignment between organizations, and encourage continued investment in the vibrancy of the downtown district.
Chamber eBucks provide a secure and convenient digital alternative to traditional gift certificates and are redeemable at participating Chamber Investor businesses as well as DECI member businesses. This strengthened relationship with DECI reinforces the Chamber’s commitment to creating streamlined, community-focused tools that make it easier for residents, employers, and visitors to support local commerce.
More information:
Video: How e-Bucks Work (Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce)
View participating merchants and purchase e-Bucks (Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce)

More local stories...
City News Updates -incl. City Manager's Weekly Update (City of Eau Claire)
EC Transit's 2025 development plan highlights route efficiency, service alternatives and more (Leader-Telegram $)
Chippewa Co. to create EMS ad hoc committee to aid municipalities (Leader-Telegram $)
Chippewa Valley Cooperative Hospital receives 750K donation to help with operations (WQOW News 18)
Chippewa Valley Regional Airport celebrates one year of United Airlines partnership (WQOW News 18)
Menomonie lands Amazon distribution station (Leader-Telegram $)
Amazon shares more details on future Menomonie delivery station (WEAU 13 News)
Dunn County announces major construction projects scheduled for 2026 (WQOW News 18)
Chippewa Co. to create EMS ad hoc committee to aid municipalities (Leader-Telegram $)
Eau Claire Area Economic Development Corporation announces winner of local business idea competition (WEAU 13 News)
Eaux Claires Music and Arts Festival to return in 2026 (WEAU 13 News)
Justin Vernon's Eaux Claires Festival to return in July (WQOW News 18)
Chippewa Valley Air Show to return to Eau Claire in 2027 (Leader-Telegram $)
Sojourner House seeking items as temperature drops (WQOW News 18)

Podcast: Jerry Jacobson reflects on his 47 year banking career
Northwestern Bank President Jerry Jacobson, who has announced his retirement at the end of 2025, was interviewed recently on Jerry Kuehl's "Banker with a Beer" podcast, reflecting on his long, successful career in banking. He has also been widely recognized as a community leader throughout the Chippewa Valley.
The bank also announced that Jacobson will be succeeded by Tracey Smiskey as CEO and Jamie Leibrandt as President.
Podcast: Jerry Kuehl talks with Jerry Jacobson about his career:
Episode 240: Jerry Jacobson and Jerry Kuehl (Select Episode 240, 31:26, Banker with a Beer podcast, Northwestern Bank, Eau Claire Hometown Radio)
Northwestern Bank Announces Leadership Transition as Jerry Jacobson Retires After 47 Years (Wisconsin Bankers Association)

EC City Council President candidates begin to outline priorities
As the campaign gets underway for the open position of Eau Claire City Council President, announced candidates Jeremy Gragert and Scott Rogers have begun doing media interviews to outline their priorities if elected at the April 7 election. See the links below for recent coverage of their announcements.
Rogers, who is currently Chamber's Senior Director of Governmental Affairs, has announced that he is retiring in February after 12 years. Gragert is a former two-term City Council Member who has worked full-time as a community organizer for Citizen Action of Wisconsin since 2022.
To be placed on the ballot, each candidate will need to submit 200-400 signatures from eligible city voters by January 6. If more than two candidates file, there would be a primary election on February 17 to narrow the field to two.
More information:
Gragert's Announcement (Gragert for City Council)
Former councilmember Jeremy Gragert to run for Eau Claire city council president (WQOW News 18)
Jeremy Gragert announces candidacy for Eau Claire City Council President (WEAU 13 News)
Jeremy Gragert to Run for Eau Claire City Council President (Civic Media)
Former EC City Council member Jeremy Gragert announces run for city council president (Leader-Telegram $)
Rogers' Announcement (Scott Rogers for Eau Claire)
Rogers aims to focus on economic growth, balanced spending if elected city council president (WQOW News 18)
Eau Claire Chamber leader to retire, run for City Council President (WEAU 13 News)
Scott Rogers Joins Race for Eau Claire City Council President (Civic Media)
Rogers announces candidacy for EC Council President (Leader-Telegram $)
Chamber release on Rogers' retirement (Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce)

Meeting this week...
Eau Claire County Board of Supervisors
• Tuesday, Dec 16, 7 p.m. Meeting information
City of Eau Claire Redevelopment Authority (RDA)
• Wednesday, Dec 17, 7:30 a.m. Meeting information
Altoona City Council
• Thursday, Dec 18, 6 p.m. Meeting information
Chippewa Valley Regional Airport Commission
• Friday, Friday, Dec 19, 7:30 a.m. Meeting information

Members sought: City of EC Housing Opportunities Commission
The City of Eau Claire's Housing Opportunities Commission is looking for resident volunteers to bring their expertise, lived experience, and passion for community to the table. The City is seeking people with knowledge in: Housing and real estate, Building/development, Accessible design, Property management, Home financing, and/or Local business ownership.
More information:
Housing Opportunities Commission (City of Eau Claire)
Resource Bank to apply (City of Eau Claire)

State Transportation Projects Commission
approves major US 53 safety study
The Wisconsin Transportation Projects Commission (TPC) voted last Wednesday to advance two major highway studies that will investigate safety improvements and operational solutions along high-volume routes in northwest and southeast Wisconsin.
The studies of the US 53 corridor in Eau Claire and Chippewa counties and I-94 in Waukesha County received unanimous votes from the bipartisan, 15-member commission, which reviews major highway project candidates and makes recommendations to the governor and Legislature.
Currently, there are no improvements planned on US 53 related to the TPC action. (However, construction is planned on US 53 in 2026 to complete work started this year. That has no relation to the TPC action.) The TPC vote is the first step in determining whether the two projects will move forward as Major Highway Projects. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation will initiate these studies, and results will be presented to the TPC at a future meeting.
US 53 – Eau Claire/Chippewa counties: The US 53 corridor from County AA in Eau Claire to WIS 29 in Lake Hallie has safety and operational needs due to traffic volumes significantly exceeding the original freeway design. Crash rates are higher than the statewide average for all crashes, and rates are especially high for crashes involving injury or fatality. Originally constructed in 2006, the four-lane freeway has been economically productive, attracting developments near its interchanges and reducing travel times.
The Waukesha County study of The I-94 corridor from Willow Glen Road to the I-41/I-894 Zoo Interchange has safety and traffic operational needs due to heavy commuter traffic and limited freeway capacity.
More information:
Transportation Projects Commission advances US 53 Eau Claire and I-94 Waukesha County project studies (WisDOT)
Wisconsin commission advances safety study on Hwy 53 corridor in Eau Claire and Chippewa Counties (WQOW News 18)
Transportation Projects Commission advances US 53 Eau Claire and I-94 Waukesha County project studies (WEAU 13 News)

More state and regional stories...
Former Evers cabinet secretary Joel Brennan enters race for governor (WPR)
Joel Brennan, former top Evers aide, joins crowded 2026 Wisconsin governor race (AP)
Joel Brennan, former top Evers official, enters Dem field for governor (Journal-Sentinel +)
Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez visits Eau Claire to talk with leaders on affordability, housing (Leader-Telegram $)
Lieutenant Gov. Rodriguez visits Community Table in Eau Claire (WEAU 13 News)
Judges hold hearings on Wisconsin map lawsuits, but signal decisions will take time (WPR)
Wisconsin redistricting cases unlikely to be decided before 2026 (Journal-Sentinel +)
$10M for Chippewa Falls mental health hospital signed into law (WQOW News 18)
Gov. Evers Takes Action on 34 Bills (Office of the Governor)
Republicans block Evers administration from using funds to speed up licensing (Journal-Sentinel +)
State bill would give tax credits to new nuclear power plants in Wisconsin (WPR)
GOP bill would ban local ‘rights of nature’ ordinances (WPR)
Local lawmaker introduces pair of bills that could shake up municipal funding (WQOW News 18)
Legislative panel approves new teaching requirements for UW faculty (WPR)
Two of Madison mayor’s housing proposals advance to City Council (The Cap Times)
Green Bay adjusts zoning code to address ‘housing affordability crisis’ (WPR)
Billionaire Diane Hendricks’ company takes over Charmant Hotel in La Crosse (WKBT News 8000)

Food for thought...
Our View: State finally turns on health care funding tap for region (Leader-Telegram editorial $) The bottom line is that while Wisconsin’s political leadership focused on scoring points, the Chippewa Valley region focused on the problem and on finding solutions. And it did so with admirable successes. Late, as the state assistance is, remains better than never. It will build on the progress already made when northwestern Wisconsin stood up for itself and refused to wait.

EC Chamber to host Wisconsin Civics Bee® for middle school students
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)
2026 Wisconsin State Civics Bee to happen at South Middle School in Eau Claire (WEAU 13 News)

Federal and economic stories...
Divided Fed approves third rate cut this year, sees slower pace ahead (CNBC)
Here are the five big takeaways from Wednesday’s Fed rate decision (CNBC)
$1B in federal funds aims to deliver broadband to ‘every last location’ in Wisconsin (WPR)
Wisconsin shelters could be hit by proposed cuts to federal funding for homeless housing (WPR)
Baldwin, Collins, Van Orden, Salinas introduce bill benefitting organic farmers and producers (Leader-Telegram $)
Baldwin, Van Orden introduce bill to support organic farmers and producers (WEAU 13 News)
Derrick Van Orden’s National Defense Authorization Act passes in House (WEAU 13 News)
Texas sues Wisconsin-based Epic Systems, accusing it of running a monopoly (WPR)
Trump administration will send $12B in bailout money to farmers hurt by trade war (WPR)
Trump administration's $12B is 'temporary lifeline' dairy farmer co-op says (WQOW News 18)
Trump signs order targeting ‘cumbersome’ state AI regulation (Route Fifty)
States will keep pushing AI laws despite Trump’s efforts to stop them (Stateline)

Food for thought...
AI Is a Gift to Human Creativity (Brian J. Gross, Wall Street Journal) When anyone can produce passable work, real talent becomes more readily apparent than ever.

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