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Volume 7, Issue 16, Sep 3, 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.-Noon

In this issue:
 • "Bravo to Business Awards" finalists named
 • Housing First advocates announce film screening, business lunch
 • City of Eau Claire parks survey
 • Trump visits La Crosse, Harris sits for press interview
 • "Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin" nomination deadline Friday
 • 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 "+"

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

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

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

"Bravo to Business" Awards finalists named
Winners will be announced at October 23 event
   The finalists for the Chamber's annual "Bravo to Business" Awards have now been named, with the winners to be announced at an awards event on Thursday, October 23. 
   The finalists represent a diverse range of industries and sectors, each making a significant impact on the economic landscape of Eau Claire.  These businesses have been selected based on their outstanding performance, community involvement, and commitment to ethical business practices. They include:
   Business of the Year (50+ employees): Aurora Community Services, Green Oasis, and Minnesota Wire
   Small Business of the Year (1-50 employees): Atmosphere Commercial Interiors, Coulee Tech, Midwest Select Insurance Group
   Emerging Business of the Year (operating three years or less): BONDS CoWork + Social Club; Helix Wine, Craft Bar & Cafe; MaidPro
   Resilient Business of the Year: L.E. Phillips Career Development Center, 
OakLeaf Medical Network, Inc., Wendel
   The selection process involved a rigorous evaluation by a panel of judges from diverse professional backgrounds. These judges carefully reviewed the nominations and conducted thorough assessments to determine the finalists in each category.
Bravo to Business Awards
 • Thursday, Oct 23, 5:00-9:00 p.m., The Florian Gardens
    Click here for details and to register
More information:
Finalists Announced for the Eau Claire Chamber’s 2024 Bravo to Business Awards Event (Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce)

Homelessness: "Housing First" advocates sponsoring
film screening, business luncheon on September 17
   Several local organizations interested in pursuing a "Housing First" approach to homelessness are sponsoring a public screening of the film, "Beyond the Bridge: A Solution to Homelessness," at the Pablo Center on Tuesday evening, September 17. They are also inviting business people to attend a luncheon event the same day with Milwaukee County Housing Administrator James Mathy, who is featured in the film.
   Milwaukee and Houston are the two cities whose approaches are the focus of the documentary. Produced by filmmakers Don Sawyer and Tim Hashko, the film details the involvement of law enforcement, judicial systems, business communities, service providers, volunteers, and city & county leadership. The evening event "will include post-screening panels and Q&As... and the opportunity for community members to discuss, together, how they can begin addressing homelessness."
   The local showing is sponsored by Eau Claire Community Foundation, Home for Good of Eau Claire, the Pablo Foundation, Pablo Center at the Confluence, and the Center for Racial & Restorative Justice at UWEC.
A Screening of Beyond the Bridge: A Solution to Homelessness
  • Tuesday, September 17, 6:00 p.m., Pablo Center at the Confluence
     Free Screening & Live Q&A registration: www.pablocenter.org/events 
Additional information:
New Documentary Highlights Milwaukee’s ‘Housing First’ Homelessness Strategy (Urban Milwaukee)

Business luncheon
   The sponsors are also inviting local business people to a luncheon with Mathy, who they say will talk about "innovative strategies and best practices that reduced unsheltered street homelessness by 92% over 5 years," in Milwaukee, including "action steps, data-driven and evidence-based strategy and measurable reductions in homelessness."
More information:
Business Lunch with James Mathy: A Housing First Plan to End Chronic Homelessness
 • Tuesday, Sep 17, 12:00-1:00 p.m., Forage
    Click here for information and to register (no charge, limited to 50)

City of Eau Claire Parks survey
   The City of Eau Claire is asking the public to complete a parks survey as it develops a new five-year Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (CORP). With assistance from Ayres Associates, the survey seeks input on everything to do with parks and outdoor recreation. Click here to take the survey
More information:
From Pets to Picnics to Pickleball, City of E.C. Wants Your Park Feedback (Volume One)

Meeting this week...
Full public meetings schedule

Eau Claire Plan Commission
 • Tuesday, Sep 3, 6 p.m. Agenda Packet

More local stories...

City of Eau Claire News Updates (including weekly City Manager's Update)
BIRD Rental e-Scooters Coming to Eau Claire (City of Eau Claire)

Why Wisconsin cities earn national recognition as best places to live (WPR) Communities like Middleton and Eau Claire land on rankings for more than just cost of living metrics

UW-Eau Claire, WEAU partner to bring grand opening week at The Sonnentag to community, western Wisconsin (UWEC)
Sonnentag grand opening week includes national acts, salute to first responders (UWEC)
Royal Flush event held at The Sonnentag (WEAU 13 News)

Town of Washington takes next step to become a village to prevent further annexing of land (Leader-Telegram $)

Crunching the Numbers: E.C. Residential Construction Broke Records Last Year (Volume One)

Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez, WHEDA CEO Elmer Moore Jr. tour Eau Claire affordable housing development (Leader-Telegram $)
Affordable housing center of Lieutenant Governor and state housing authority visit to Eau Claire (WQOW News 18)

City of Eau Claire's lawsuit against Regency Inn dismissed (WQOW News 18)

Hope Village holds groundbreaking for affordable housing units (Leader-Telegram $)

Chippewa Valley strains outpatient psychiatric services to compensate for lack of beds (Leader-Telegram $)

Health department promotes well-water safety testing by offering discounts between Sept. 9 and 19 (Leader-Telegram $)

Flock cameras assist Altoona police in 21 arrests so far this year (WQOW News 18)

UWEC's Campus Harvest Food Pantry celebrate a decade serving students, new space (Leader-Telegram $)

Renovations on CF facility give Boys and Girls Club a new space for community youth (Leader-Telegram $)

‘Outstanding results’: National award for UW-Stout’s internship program underscores student career success (UW-Stout)

City Council supports limits on political campaign spending (WEAU 13 News)