Advocacy
What does advocacy mean to The Chamber?
Advocacy is not about political parties. It's about advancing policies that help businesses and communities thrive. The Eau Claire Area Chamber serves as a catalyst for business growth, a convener of business and community leaders, and a champion for a stronger community.
Advocacy in Action
Examples of Chamber-led advocacy and coalition building include:
- UWEC Riverside Science Center (supporting higher education and workforce development)
- The Confluence Project (community and economic development partnership)
- UW-Stout Polytechnic Heritage Hall (advocating for investment in higher education)
- Chippewa Valley Rally (advancing regional priorities through legislative advocacy)
- Eau Claire City-County Housing Our Neighbors Planning Collaborative (addressing county-wide homelessness and housing stability)
- Convened a regional task force in response to the HSHS and Prevea clinic closures (bringing together community leaders to advocate, support affected workers, and address impacts on area businesses and residents)
Click here to read about the Chamber's Advocacy Principles
CATALYST FOR BUSINESS GROWTH
The Chamber advocates for policies that foster business growth, economic competitiveness, and long-term prosperity throughout the Chippewa Valley.
The Chamber supports tax policies that promote economic growth, responsible stewardship of public resources, and efficient, transparent government.
- Support tax reforms that reduce the state income tax burden while maintaining essential services.
- Reduce reliance on property tax referendums by providing local governments with the tools and resources needed to manage growth.
A fair, predictable, and competitive tax environment promotes investment, business growth, and long-term economic competitiveness.
- Support transparent and fiscally responsible tax policies.
- Oppose unnecessary taxes and fees that hinder business growth.
- Encourage public investments that deliver value to businesses, residents, and taxpayers.
- Support a sustainable shared revenue system that helps local governments maintain essential services and infrastructure.
The Chamber supports a regulatory environment that protects public health and safety while promoting business growth through clear, consistent, and predictable regulations.
Local Goals
- Review, modernization, and minimization of current regulations.
- Regulatory consistency and predictability.
State Goals
- Streamline permitting and licensing processes.
- Reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens on businesses.
- Balance public health and safety with economic competitiveness.
- Encourage business input during the rulemaking process.
The Chamber supports policies that develop, attract, and retain talent, expand workforce participation, and strengthen the workforce needed for long-term economic growth.
Talent Attraction & Retention
- Encourage graduates of Wisconsin colleges and universities to build their careers in Wisconsin.
- Foster a welcoming environment where newcomers can contribute to the region's success.
- Market the Chippewa Valley's economic opportunities and quality of life to attract and retain talent.
Childcare
- Increase availability, affordability, and quality of childcare.
- Support childcare solutions that meet the needs of families, employers, and providers.
Workforce Skills & Education
- Support workforce training programs that align education and employer needs.
- Expand apprenticeships, youth apprenticeships, and other career-focused learning opportunities.
- Strengthen partnerships among area employers and education providers, including UW-Eau Claire, Chippewa Valley Technical College, and UW-Stout Polytechnic.
Workforce Policies & Employer Competitiveness
- Reduce unnecessary barriers to workforce participation.
- Reform unemployment compensation policies to balance the needs of workers and employers.
- Support policies that strengthen Wisconsin's economic competitiveness and help employers recruit, train, and retain talent.
The Chamber supports policies that encourage business growth, attract investment, support a diverse economy, and create opportunities for long-term economic prosperity.
Business Growth & Investment
Support efforts to retain and expand existing businesses.
- Ensure an adequate supply of land and infrastructure to support commercial and industrial growth.
- Encourage proactive planning for redevelopment opportunities and emerging business districts.
Entrepreneurship & Business Inclusion
- Support entrepreneurship and business development across a diverse range of industries and business owners.
- Continue partnerships that expand opportunities for historically underserved entrepreneurs, including the Hmong Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce (HWCC).
The Chamber supports policies that strengthen Wisconsin's energy infrastructure, ensure long-term reliability, encourage innovation, and provide businesses and residents with dependable, cost-effective energy.
Energy Reliability & Affordability
- Support policies that maintain a reliable and resilient electric grid.
- Encourage a diverse energy portfolio that balances affordability, reliability, and sustainability.
- Support policies and investments that maintain reliable, affordable energy and ensure the energy system is prepared to support future growth and demand.
CONVENER FOR THE COMMUNITY
The Chamber brings businesses and community partners together to engage in discussion, address shared challenges, and create opportunities that strengthen the Chippewa Valley's future.
The Chamber supports strong education systems that prepare students, strengthen the workforce, and support long-term economic growth.
K-12 Education
- Encourage policies that promote academic achievement, innovation, accountability, and responsible stewardship of public resources.
- Expand career awareness and workforce readiness opportunities beginning in K-12 education.
- Support policies that promote funding stability and long-term sustainability for school districts.
- Expand apprenticeship and youth apprenticeship opportunities.
Higher Education
- Support adequate investment in the UW System and Wisconsin Technical College System.
- Encourage seamless credit transfer and career pathways between educational institutions.
- Support employer partnerships that align curriculum with workforce needs.
- Strengthen partnerships between educational institutions, employers, and communities to provide students with the skills, resources, and real-world experiences needed to be workforce ready.
The Chamber supports policies that strengthen healthcare access, improve affordability, encourage innovation, and ensure the Chippewa Valley has a resilient healthcare system that meets the needs of businesses, workers, and residents.
Local Goals
- Support efforts to improve healthcare price transparency, promote affordability, and provide employers and consumers with clear, accessible information to make informed healthcare decisions.
- Support policies and partnerships that align regional healthcare capacity with current and future community needs.
- Support policies and partnerships that strengthen the resilience of the regional healthcare system and its ability to meet evolving community needs.
- Encourage collaboration among healthcare providers, educational institutions, employers, and community organizations to address regional healthcare challenges.
- Support initiatives that expand access to emergency, specialty, behavioral health, and rural healthcare services.
State Goals
- Support policies that strengthen the long-term sustainability, accessibility, and affordability of Wisconsin's healthcare system, particularly in rural and regional communities.
Healthcare & Workforce Innovation
- Support partnerships with UW-Eau Claire, Chippewa Valley Technical College, UW-Stout Polytechnic, and healthcare providers to strengthen the healthcare workforce.
- Encourage innovative approaches to healthcare delivery that improve access and efficiency.
- Support initiatives that expand the pipeline of healthcare professionals serving the region.
CHAMPION FOR A STRONGER COMMUNITY
The Chamber advocates for policies that enhance quality of life, support community vitality, and foster a strong business climate in the Chippewa Valley.
The Chamber supports policies that increase housing supply and affordability to meet the needs of residents across all income levels while supporting the continued growth and economic vitality of the Chippewa Valley.
Comprehensive Planning & Development
- Encourage proactive planning for future housing development.
- Promote development policies that balance community input with long-term regional housing needs.
- Support comprehensive planning that aligns housing growth with available land, infrastructure, and community priorities.
State Housing Policy
- Support state initiatives that increase housing supply and affordability.
- Continue strengthening programs through the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA).
- Support policies that allow housing developments to leverage financing tools such as Tax Increment Financing (TIF) and historic tax credits where appropriate.
Zoning & Development Review
- Modernize zoning codes to encourage a broader range of housing types, including missing middle housing and infill development.
- Review regulations and building codes to eliminate unnecessary costs and barriers to construction.
- Ensure permitting and inspection processes are timely, consistent, and predictable.
The Chamber supports investments in transportation, utilities, broadband, and other critical infrastructure that enhance mobility, strengthen regional connectivity, and support long-term economic growth.
Local Goals
- Maintain and improve local streets and roads.
- Improve local transit options that connect people to employment.
- Address downtown parking, traffic flow, and visitor access to ensure businesses are accessible to patrons.
- Continue to reassess the efficiency of transit.
- Maintain commercial air service at the Chippewa Valley Regional Airport.
- Preserve freight rail and intermodal transportation.
State Goals
- Maintain I-94 and key freight corridors.
- Support balanced transportation investments that improve the movement of people and goods.
- Support continued study and evaluation of passenger rail opportunities that demonstrate regional economic benefit.
The Chamber supports strategic partnerships and policies that strengthen Eau Claire's position as a regional destination while maximizing the economic benefits of tourism throughout the Chippewa Valley.
Local Goals
- Support the work of Visit Eau Claire as the region's Destination Marketing Organization.
- Continue investing in amenities, events, and infrastructure that strengthen Eau Claire as a year-round destination.
- Encourage collaboration among tourism, business, arts, recreation, and community partners.
State Goals
- Maintain statutory support for the use of tax revenues for tourism promotion.
- Support state investments that strengthen Wisconsin's tourism industry and regional destinations.
Looking Ahead
The issues outlined in this agenda are interconnected and cannot be addressed in isolation. Workforce, housing, infrastructure, education, healthcare, taxation, and economic development are interconnected and require collaborative solutions.
The Chamber will continue working with investors and community partners to advance policies that support a strong business climate and long-term prosperity throughout the Chippewa Valley.
Questions
For questions about the contents of the Business Issues Agenda, contact Director of Advocacy, Erica Bodden, bodden@eauclairechamber.org
