EC City Council work sessions: Industrial development, budget
The Eau Claire City Council meets this week. The Monday Public Hearing meeting has been canceled because there are no agenda items requiring one. Tuesday's Business Agenda is fairly light. The Council will consider approval of the Operating Plan for the South Barstow Business Improvement District (BID). See pages 66-90 of the Tuesday Agenda Packet linked below.
After Tuesday's meeting, the Council will have two work sessions. The first will "discuss the status of available spaces in our industrial parks, demand for industrial space, user types, impacts and benefits to the community, land acquisitions, and future needs." The second will be about "Ongoing Fiscal Stability Planning" (see page 143). According to the notice, it will be to seek direction of the City Council as the City takes "additional steps to address the City’s decades-long structural deficit."
More information:
Eau Claire City Council
• Monday, Nov 24, 6 p.m., Public Hearing (Canceled)
• Tuesday, Nov 25, 4 p.m. Legislative Session Agenda Packet (143 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)
City of Eau Claire Public Notices (City of Eau Claire)
City News Updates -incl. City Manager's Weekly Update (City of Eau Claire)
Budget Process and Final Adopted 2026 Budget

More local stories...
ECASD no longer considering elementary school closures and repurposing (Leader-Telegram $)
ECASD no longer considering consolidation of some elementary schools (WEAU 13 News)
Eau Claire school district weighs options for early learning center, school boundaries as enrollment declines (WPR)
Digging Deeper: Next steps after ECASD nixes school closures amidst enrollment challenges (WQOW News 18)
Altoona city council passes 2026 budget (WQOW News 18)
Community leaders discuss energy at Eau Claire Chamber’s ‘Eggs and Issues’ event (WEAU 13 News)
Eau Claire Chamber launches digital eBucks to boost local spending (WQOW News 18)
Ribbon is cut at the new Chippewa Valley Cooperative Hospital (WEAU 13 News)
Plans for Chippewa Falls behavioral hospital moving forward (WQOW News 18)
Lt. Gov. Rodriguez talks with community leaders during visit to Day Resource Center (Leader-Telegram $)
Lieutenant Gov. Rodriguez visits New Day Resource Center (WEAU 13 News)
Lt. Governor Sara Rodriguez hosts affordability roundtable as Day Resource Center nears completion (WQOW News 18)
District survey: Not enough support for new Altoona High School but other options possible (Leader-Telegram $)
Altoona community referendum survey results released (WEAU 13 News)
Lake Altoona dredging, dam repairs pushed back (Leader-Telegram $)
Dunn County's 2026 budget highlights roadwork, operation increases and tax rate reduction (Leader-Telegram $)

Local Spring election already? Time to consider candidacy
Nominating petitions circulate in December with Jan 6 deadline
The Spring election of 2026 will be held April 7, with a primary February 17 if necessary. This election is crucial for the Eau Claire area with a number of important offices on the ballot including non-partisan offices of county board, city councils, village and town boards, and school boards.
For those interested in running for office, now is the time to be preparing. That's because, to appear on the ballot, candidates may start collecting signatures on ballot petitions beginning December 1, with a filing deadline of January 6.
The Eau Claire Chamber provides information on a variety of offices that will appear on the ballot at the state and local level, including position and current seat-holder. For those with an interest in running for a local position, tips to organize a successful campaign, encouraging others to run, and important December deadlines are available.
More information:
Spring 2026 Election Information (Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce)
How to Run for Local Office (Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce)
2026 brings full slate of elections for Eau Claire voters (WQOW News 18)

City of Eau Claire - Citizen opportunities to serve
In addition to those in elected office, nearly 200 people serve the City on Boards, Commissions and Committees. These groups advise the City Council on various areas. The City Manager's Office maintains a Resource Bank made up of city residents interested in serving on boards, commissions, or committees. The primary qualifications are an interest in participating in City government and a willingness to work with others to help address the needs of the community.
Citizen Resource Bank (City of Eau Claire)
Other local governments also have similar opportunities. Check with your local county or municipality,

EC Chamber to host Wisconsin Civics Bee, essay portal open
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)

More state and regional stories...
WisconsinEye may shut down due to lack of funding (WPR)
Legislation intended to help homeless veterans clears the Assembly (WEAU 13 News)
Republican bill to fund veterans housing grants passes Assembly unanimously (WQOW News 18)
Wisconsin Assembly passes Republican school consolidation bills (WPR)
Abortion, school district mergers among Wisconsin Legislature votes (The Cap Times)
GOP senators pass bill to repeal Evers’ 400-year veto for school funding (WPR)
Wisconsin Senate passes bill to block state health funds for undocumented immigrants (WPR)
Wisconsin sports wagering bill pulled from Assembly calendar Wednesday (The Center Square)
Backers of legalizing online sports betting confront conservative pushback in Wisconsin (Journal-Sentinel +)
Online sports betting in Wisconsin hits snag in Legislature (WPR)
Wheel taxes in Wisconsin would need voter OK under state bill debated at hearing (Journal-Sentinel +)
Cudahy council stops $50 wheel tax in its tracks following resident backlash (Journal-Sentinel +)
Wisconsin GOP introduces series of school district consolidation bills (WPR)
Democratic Wisconsin lawmakers propose legislation capping utility bills (WPR)
UW regents approve changes to teaching workloads and transfer credits (The Cap Times)
Wisconsin construction, labor leaders say data centers will grow long-term jobs (WPR)
Judge dismisses wedding barn lawsuit (WPR)
Gov. Evers visit UWEC Campus Harvest Food Pantry while talking about food assistance (Leader-Telegram $)
Democrat Sara Rodriguez gains a key union endorsement in the 2026 Wisconsin governor's race (Journal-Sentinel +)
PSC approves $304.5 million hike on electric, gas rates for Alliant and Xcel (WisPolitics.com)
Wisconsin utility rate increases amount to $300M over 2 years (The Center Square)
Almost all Wisconsin schools meet or exceed expectations, under new report cards (WPR)
Madison’s Exact Sciences will be acquired by Abbott health care company (WPR)
'Years in the making': La Crosse leaders share excitement as Allegiant Air announces new routes (WKBT News 8000)
Tourism up, office workers down: 6 downtown Madison report takeaways (The Cap Times)

Federal and economic stories...
Former SCOWIS candidate Brad Schimel sworn in as top regional federal prosecutor (WPR)
Federal judges block Texas from using redrawn congressional map (Fox News)
New Marquette Law School national survey finds more people favoring Democrats than Republicans in anticipated 2026 vote for Congress (Marquette Law School Poll)
Gilbert: New national Marquette poll adds to danger signs for Republicans in 2026 mid-terms (Journal-Sentinel +)
Meta wins FTC antitrust trial that focused on WhatsApp, Instagram (CNBC)
U.S. Backs $1 Billion Loan to Restart the Three Mile Island Nuclear Plant (Wall Street Journal +)
The Fallout From USAID’s Shutdown (The Morning Dispatch)
Respect and remembrance for Dick Cheney from Bush, Biden and past vice presidents as Trump is excluded (AP)

Food for thought...

Regulations Can Create the Monopolies They’re Meant to Prevent (Mark Dalton, The Dispatch) Regulatory complexity can create barriers to entry and compliance costs that hamper competition.

Cash Alone Won’t End Poverty (Melissa S. Kearney & James X. Sullivan, The Dispatch) Raising national standards of living requires investing in people.

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