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Volume 7, Issue 15, Aug 26, 2024
 Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce, Eau Claire, Wis. 
Published the first business day of each week
Business Advocate Past Issues
Public Meetings Calendar
Chamber Events Calendar
The Chamber's Advocacy Principles
The Chamber's 2024 Business Issues Agenda
"Talking Po!nt" Podcast
How to become a Chamber investor
Contact: Scott Rogers, VP Governmental Affairs
rogers@eauclairechamber.org
Chamber Business Hours: Mon-Thu 7:30a-4:30p, Friday 9 a.m.-Nooon

Note: The next issue of the Business Advocate will be Tuesday, Sep 3

In this issue:
 • Chancellor Schmidt: UWEC must focus on what makes it distinct
 • US Chamber's Kirchner: Imperative to improve national economic growth
 • Bankers Association honors Jerry Jacobson
 • Local Candidate Training Workshop Oct 3
 • State and regional stories
 • National and economic stories
 • 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 "+"

Eggs & Issues: Fall Election Outlook with Bill McCoshen
   With the November 5 election approaching, join us to preview the election's outlook for key offices at both the state and federal levels. We'll hear from Bill McCoshen of Michael Best Strategies, one of the state's top political experts. He will assess Wisconsin's statewide and legislative contests to provide us with clues to watch for as the campaign unfolds.
 • Friday, Sep 27, 7:00-8:30 a.m., CVTC Business Education Center
    Click here for details and to register
All upcoming 2024 Eggs & Issues programs

Pints & Politics: Making a Difference - Your Voice in Government
   Understand how government works, what decisions are made at each level (local, state, and federal), and how to be effective when you want to weigh in on an issue that’s important to you. Includes information on offices and issues on the November 5 General Election ballot.
Presented by the Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce, Chippewa Valley Home Builders Association, REALTORS® Association of Northwestern Wisconsin, and Young Professionals of the Chippewa Valley.
 • Tuesday, Sep 10, 3:30-5:30 p.m., Chamber offices
    Click here for details and to register

Chamber & CVTC Business Community Breakfast
   At this annual event, CVTC President Dr. Sunem Beaton-Garcia kicks off a program focusing on how CVTC is impacting our community and our future workforce. Learn how you can engage with the College to support student success and discover additional opportunities for workforce growth.
• Tuesday, Sep 17, 7:00-8:30 a.m., CVTC Business Education Center
    Click here for details and to register

UWEC's Chancellor Schmidt: UWEC must
focus on what makes it distinct
Asserting a role as a national leader in healthcare education
   At last Tuesday's annual Blugold Breakfast, UWEC Chancellor James Schmidt spoke to faculty, staff, students, and community leaders about the need to employ strategies to ensure the University's future in a challenging higher-ed environment.
   “If we want to be a top-tier institution, we’ll need new strategies driven by what works best for elite institutions, while changing what isn’t working for us now,” Schmidt said, “This will require all of us to grab an oar and row in the same direction.”
   Schmidt laid out three "pillars" that he said are critical to taking the institution forward:
   1. Laser Focus on Student Success
   2. National Leader in Healthcare Education
   3. Champion of Collaboration
   “These pillars can form a foundation to help us reach our vision of being a strong, growing institution,” Schmidt said. “As we seek to attract students who can be successful in rigorous programs, we will also become a more selective institution — a hallmark of the top-tier, strong institutions.”
   Schmidt's challenge builds upon his and the University's role in enabling key University collaborations, including the Confluence Project, the new Science and Health Sciences Building which broke ground in June, the Sonnentag Event Center schedule to open in September, and partnerships with Mayo Clinic Health System, Hewlett-Packard Enterprise, and others.
More information:
Chancellor: UWEC to focus on distinction (UWEC)
Faculty, staff recognized at Blugold Breakfast (UWEC)
Sonnentag grand opening week includes national acts, salute to first responders (UWEC)
Blugold alumnus Curt Krizan named new Foundation president (UWEC)
UWEC Alum Krizan to Replace Retiring Way as University Foundation President (Volume One)
UW-Eau Claire: Student researchers use AI to help improve medical patient care (WisBusiness.com)

More Universities of Wisconsin stories...
Regents approve biennial budget request to help UWs move “Up to the Middle”  (Universities of Wisconsin)
University of Wisconsin president wants $855 million in new funding to stave off higher tuition (AP)
UW system needs $855M increase to compete with neighboring states (WPR)
Former WisDOT secretary joining UW-Madison (The Center Square)
Impending mass layoff of tenured UW-Milwaukee faculty is unprecedented in Wisconsin (WPR)
UW employees would get 5% pay raises next year under budget request (The Cap Times)

US Chamber's Kirchner: Imperative to return 
national economic growth to 3% annually
   Speaking at the Chamber's Eggs & Issues breakfast last Friday, John Kirchner, the US Chamber's Vice President, Midwest Region, emphasized the importance of returning the nation's economy to the 3.4% annual growth rate it experienced in the five decades between 1950 and 2010. Over the last several years, slowing to the 2% range has resulted in less opportunity for businesses and individuals.
   "Sustained economic growth provides a foundation for broad-based prosperity by expanding opportunities, increasing incomes, fostering innovation, and enhancing the overall quality of life for individuals and families," he noted in his presentation. "It is a critical driver in reducing poverty and creating a society where everyone has a chance to thrive."
   Kirchner said that improved economic growth is also essential to taking on the rising national debt. He said the US Chamber is challenging policymakers to make 3% annual growth a goal, applying it to taxes, trade, immigration, regulations, energy, infrastructure, and other policies.
   Kirchner also outlined the state of play for the upcoming fall election, highlighting key races that will determine control of Congress, and how the political landscape has changed with frequent changes of party control of the White House, US Senate, and US House of Representatives.
More information:
Visuals: Political Outlook, The Growth Imperative (John Kirchner, US Chamber)
The Growth and Opportunity Imperative for America (US Chamber of Commerce)
Five issues will determine next election, says speaker at Chamber of Commerce event (Leader-Telegram $)
Americans feel the economy is working against them. How we can speed up economic growth. (Suzanne Clark, President, US Chamber of Commerce, USA Today)

Next Eggs & Issues
Fall Election Outlook with Bill McCoshen
   We'll go deeper into expectations for the Fall Election here in Wisconsin at the next Eggs & Issues breakfast. Bill McCoshen of Michael Best Strategies, one of the state's top political experts, will assess Wisconsin's statewide and legislative contests to provide us with clues to watch for as the campaign unfolds.
 • Friday, Sep 27, 7:00-8:30 a.m., CVTC Business Education Center
    Click here for details and to register

Get up to speed on how government works
Making a Difference - Your Voice in Government
   Join us for a special workshop to help understand how government works, what decisions are made at each level (local, state, and federal), and how to be effective when you want to weigh in on an issue that’s important to you. 
 • Tuesday, Sep 10, 3:30-5:30 p.m., Chamber offices
    Click here for details and to register

More election stories...

DNC: Harris summons Americans to reject political divisions and warns of consequences posed by a Trump win (AP)
Takeaways from Kamala Harris Milwaukee rally: High energy crowd in last month's RNC venue (Journal-Sentinel +)
Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez grabs DNC speaking slot, talks up Harris on health care (Journal-Sentinel +)
WEAU political analyst John Frank breaks down final night of DNC (WEAU 13 News)

Nancy Pelosi tells Wisconsin Democrats ‘everything’ is riding on them this November (WPR)

Trump coming to La Crosse on Thursday (WEAU 13 News)
Trump to Rally in La Crosse Thursday (WKBT News 8000)

Food Industry Pushes Back Against Kamala Harris’s ‘Price Gouging’ Plan (Wall Street Journal +)

Housing finally becomes a focus in a presidential campaign (Route Fifty)

Marquette poll shows Democrats now equal to Republicans in voter enthusiasm (Urban Milwaukee)

Wisconsin Democrats say enthusiasm boost could lift party to success in legislative races (WPR)

Democrats ask Wisconsin Supreme Court to boot Green Party from ballot (WPR)

Voters in Monona to decide whether to approve $3 million in property tax levy (Channel 3000)

Madison voters will decide on property tax increase in November (WPR)