Description

PLEASE NOTE: The 29th Annual Chippewa Valley Rally, originally scheduled for February 22, has been postponed due to the severe weather forecast, with 10-18 inches of snow, low temperatures, and the expectation of high winds predicted for February 21-23.

A new date has been set for the Rally - Wednesday, March 29, 2023.  

 • If the original date did not work for you, but you can attend on March 29, registration is open and we'd love to have you!
 • Please register by Friday, March 10, so that we can finalize our Rally teams.

Taking the Chippewa Valley's Voice to Madison 

This annual event is organized by the Chippewa Valley Chamber Alliance, representing the Chippewa Falls, Menomonie and Eau Claire Chambers of Commerce. It's a unique opportunity to bring the collective voice of Chippewa Valley business and community leaders like you to Madison all at one time. With workforce issues at the top of the agenda, we'll be there to emphasize the impact on our region of initiatives being undertaken or considered by state government, including education, infrastructure, housing supply & affordability and more.

How it works: You'll be part of a team of several dozen area business and community leaders traveling to Madison for small group meetings at legislative offices, a luncheon, informal discussions with lawmakers and staff, and networking with others from the area who are interested in state government policy. And don't worry if you've never participated before. Our legislative office meetings will be led by experienced previous participants.

2023 Issues: The heart of the Chippewa Valley Rally is presenting critical area economic issues to state policy makers. Topics for this year focus especially on workforce challenges: housing supply and affordability; talent attraction and retention; child care availability, and professional licensing backlogs; infrastructure investments including broadband, the electric vehicle charging network, and passenger rail expansion; and critical UW System capital projects, including UWEC's Science & Health Sciences Building and UW-Stout's Heritage Hall. We will follow up on past issues, including the sale of excess public land in Chippewa Falls for economic development. We will encourage lawmakers to consider tax reforms - opportunities to reduce or eliminate the state income and personal property taxes, but also to address the financial squeeze on local governments and school districts.
Click here to read the 2023 Issues Statements.

Schedule: You'll spend a full day in Madison from late morning through early evening, scheduled to allow you to leave in the morning and be home by late evening. Events will take place at the State Capitol and the Best Western Premier Park Hotel. Registration fees include a keynote luncheon and a closing reception. There will be online pre-event briefings to acquaint you with the 2023 Rally Issues and the political climate in Madison.

Pre-event recorded briefings
Two advance briefings were recorded to help you prepare for the event: 
 * An Issues Briefing reviewing the 2023 Chippewa Valley Rally Issues
 * A Political Experts panel with Bill McCoshen and Shawn Pfaff on how to be effective in talking with lawmakers
You'll receive the links to view these recordings once you register for the Rally

Chippewa Valley Rally Day
Wednesday, March 29
  6:00 a.m. Bus boards at CVTC Health Education Center, Prevea Lobby
  8:00 a.m. Optional session for early arrivers with WisDOT Secretary Craig Thompson and key staff
  9:30 a.m. Bus arrives at hotel
  9:45 a.m. Opening session with address by Governor Tony Evers
10:15 a.m. Chippewa Valley area legislators
11:15 a.m. Small group meetings at legislative offices in the State Capitol
12:30 p.m. Luncheon, with Address by UW System President Jay Rothman, Park Hotel
  1:45 p.m. Small group meetings at legislative offices in the State Capitol
  3:45 p.m. Panel of key cabinet dept officials, Park Hotel
                   Sec Peter Barca, Dept of Revenue; Sec Kathy Blumenfeld, Dept of Administration; Deputy Sec Sam Rikkers, WEDC
  4:30 p.m. Closing reception, Park Hotel
  6:00 p.m. Events conclude, bus leaves for Eau Claire at 6:15 p.m.

Transportation: You may travel on your own, or take advantage of optional same-day charter coach transportation which will be available from Eau Claire, boarding 6:00-6:15 a.m., arriving in Madison by 9:30 a.m., and returning by 9:30 p.m. The cost to ride the bus is $25.

Overnight accommodations: If you wish to combine your trip with other business, we've arranged for discounted rates at the Best Western Premier Park Hotel: $139/night plus tax for a king or 2 queens on the night before and after the Rally. Click here to reserve online, or call (608) 285-8000 and ask for the Chippewa Valley Rally special group rate. Cutoff date for room reservations is March 17.

After you register, you'll receive more information and be kept informed of plans as they are finalized. Cancellation policy: If you find later you can't attend, cancel by Thursday, March 16, to receive a full refund (or you may send a substitute). If you have questions, contact Scott Rogers, Vice President Governmental Affairs, at the Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce:  rogers@eauclairechamber.org