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Don't miss it!
Eau What a Night: 111th Chamber Annual Meeting
Illuminate: An evening that recognizes leadership, innovation, and meaningful impact while bringing the business community together to celebrate.
• Thursday, Feb 12, 4:30 p.m., Eau Claire Event District
Click here for details and to register
In this issue of the Business Advocate
• Housing Our Neighbors Collaborative releases homelessness recommendations
• EC City Council approves amended Graham Ave development agreement
• Trump endorses Tom Tiffany for Wisconsin Governor
• Fed holds interest rates steady
• Food for thought
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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Earlybird registration discount extended to this Wednesday, February 4
32nd Annual Chippewa Valley Rally
Organized by the Chippewa Valley Chamber Alliance representing
the Chippewa Falls, Eau Claire and Menomonie Chambers of Commerce
This annual event is a unique opportunity to bring a collective voice on regional and state economic priorities to Madison all at one time. This year's trip will be important to strengthen relationships with legislators, express thanks for accomplishments, and highlight issues that still need attention. Click here to see the 2026 Issues.
When you join us, you'll spend a productive day taking part in issue briefings, small group meetings at legislative offices, a keynote luncheon, and networking with others from our area who are interested in state government policy. You'll also be invited to online pre-event briefings to help you be prepared for a effective day in Madison. And don't worry if you've never participated before. Our legislative office meetings will be led by experienced previous attendees.
Event information:
• Thursday, February 19, Madison
Click here for details and to register
Early bird registration extended for 32nd Annual Chippewa Valley Rally (WEAU 13 News)
Eggs & Issues: Altoona's innovative housing initiatives
Addressing housing supply and affordability has long been a policy priority for the City of Altoona, already known for its innovative Solis Circle affordable housing community. At this edition of Eggs & Issues, we'll learn how the city plans to deploy the $6 million affordable housing fund created from its recent tax increment district closure, discuss plans underway for its 80 acre east side development to include a new model for housing at attainable price points, and look at aspects of its new zoning code designed to achieve housing goals. City leaders will detail the 12 principles guiding their efforts and the importance of key partnerships in achieving success. The discussion will include Mayor Brendan Pratt, City Administrator Mike Golat, Grant and Housing Program Manager Julian Emerson, and co-owner of C&M Home Builders & Real Estate Cody Filipczak.
Event information:
• Friday, Feb 27, 7:30-9:00 a.m., River Prairie Center, Altoona
Click here for details and to register
Also for your calendar...
• Business After Hours - Tonight! Monday, Feb 2
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Housing Our Neighbors Collaborative releases report: Six
strategies to address homelessness in Eau Claire County
The Housing Our Neighbors Planning Collaborative - a public-private effort across a wide spectrum of local governments and organizations - has spent the past year developing local strategies to bring together existing resources and initiatives, build on local strengths, and apply evidence-based strategies to tackle homelessness in our community.
Last Friday, Collaborative leaders detailed six key strategies the collaborative is recommending to make homelessness in Eau Claire County rare, brief, and non-recurring. They include:
- Align the system — close gaps in service and provide a coordinated response system
- Share data strategically — Establish data sharing procedures to get an accurate and timely understanding of homelessness in our community
- Strengthen outreach — Meet people where they are to provide support and resources
- Prevent homelessness — Prevent people and families from experiencing homelessness by intervening before it happens
- Ensure affordable housing — Develop and maintain affordable housing with integrated support services
- Community engagement — Build a deeply engaged community that understands, supports and actively participates in ending homelessness
Speakers and panelists at the presentation included Angela Weideman, Eau Claire County DHS Director; Angela Stokes, Assistant Director; Paul Savides, JONAH Affordable Housing Task Force; Mara Langreck, Lived Experience Advisory Board; and Julian Emerson, City of Altoona Grants and Housing Program Manager. The Chamber has been involved in the process as a convener and facilitator, including hosting the Collaborative's meetings.
Next steps for implementing the recommendations include establishing a process to provide leadership, coordination, and accountability. Leaders noted that some benefits have already been created by using the strategies, including improved outreach coordination among service providers, individual-focused case management, and simplified housing assistance processes. The newly opened Community Haven House at the Day Resource Center was also cited as a new opportunity to provide coordinated services.
More information:
PowerPoint visuals (Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce)
One-page summary of recommendations (Housing Our Neighbors Collaborative)
Full report (Housing Our Neighbors Collaboarative)
EC County DHS - Housing Collaborative website (Eau Claire County)
One Better Way: Day Resource Center/Community Haven House Western Dairlyland)
Addressing Homelessness: Community collaboration shares action plan for growing crisis (Leader-Telegram $)
Community leaders confident after launch of new homeless initiative plan (WQOW News 18)
‘Eggs and Issues’ event tackles topic of homelessness in Eau Claire (WEAU 13 News)
Volunteers help conduct bi-annual, point-in-time homeless count (WEAU 13 News)
California Cities’ Homeless-to-Housing Experiment Shows Early Promise (Governing)
Eau Claire City Council approves development
agreement for Graham Ave parking ramp site
After postponing action at its January 13 meeting, the Eau Claire City Council last Tuesday approved a proposal to declare the site of the current Riverside Parking Ramp at 402 Graham Avenue as excess land, selling it to a developer and approving a development agreement. The agreement with the entity, 402 Graham Ave. 1st Floor LLC, represented by Stuart Schaefer, would allow it to purchase the site for one dollar, remove the current, closed parking deck, then later fully develop the site.
The proposed development agreement included language related to the future residential project that would allow "for construction of either townhomes with attached garages atop a new parking structure, or conventional multifamily housing featuring three floors of rental housing above one or two levels of parking, whichever approach Developer determines best meet market need and demand."
The top deck of the two-level ramp was closed on November 1, and the lower level is scheduled to close March 1, with the facility at the end of its useful life. Under the proposed development agreement, the sale would close on March 31 and the developer would take responsibility for removing the ramp. It would provide temporary surface parking within six months, then develop a residential project within five years with a minimum value of $10 million. Purchase price would be one dollar, taking into account the estimated demolition and site stabilization costs of $700,000. By moving to private ownership, the current public site would also pay real estate taxes. (See pages 37-66 of the Monday Agenda Packet linked below.)
Final action on the agreement included an amendment proposed by Council Member Clara Serrano to clarify that the housing development could include either rental or condominium options.
More information:
Eau Claire City Council
• Monday, Jan 26, 6 p.m., Public Hearing Agenda Packet (66 pages)
• Tuesday, Jan 27, 4 p.m. Legislative Session Agenda Packet (104 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, YouTube channel)
City of Eau Claire Public Notices (City of Eau Claire)
City News Updates -incl. City Manager's Weekly Update (City of Eau Claire)
Comprehensive Plan website (City of Eau Claire)
City of Eau Claire approves land sale off Graham Ave for apartment development (Leader-Telegram $)
Eau Claire City Council Approves Graham Avenue Land Sale (Civic Media)
Eau Claire Transit: Free rides Wednesday for Transit Equity Day
Each year, Eau Claire's Transit Division celebrates Transit Equity Day, which falls on Rosa Parks’ birthday. This year it is on Wednesday, February 4th. Transit will be free, including both fixed routes and Northern Lite, with paratransit copays waived as well, thanks to the financial sponsorship by JONAH of the Chippewa Valley. Click here for City Transit Information
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