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Chamber Blog


Small Street Journal: July 31, 2020

7/31/2020

 

11th Annual Lemonade Day - Boys & Girls Clubs of the greater Chippewa Valley

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The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Greater Chippewa Valley will hold their 11th Annual Lemonade Day on Thursday, August 6th 2020 from 10:00am-3:00pm.

​For the past ten years, lemonade stands have been set up around the four BGC GCV communities. Members have marketed and sold lemonade with the help of volunteers at each stand. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Lemonade Day will look very different this year, however the kids will still be learning about running a business through the Boys & Girls Club program. To keep Club kids safe, each Boys & Girls Club will have a stand at the Club in their community, staffed by volunteers. Lemonade can be picked up that day or preordered online through this LINK. For an extra $5 volunteers will deliver orders.
Full Press Release
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Order Here

Downtown Eau Claire, Inc. is excited to announce the winner of the semi-annual downtown enhancement grant, ambient inks

You’ve probably enjoyed a food or beverage cart at an event, but soon you’ll be able to get event merchandise literally “hot off the press” from a new mobile screen printing cart thanks to the Downtown Enhancement Grant and Ambient Inks! 
 
Ambient Inks, a local print shop that does so much more, has schlepped their anything-but-mobile screen printing equipment to several events in the Chippewa Valley over the years. Not only did the live screen printing add a cool spectacle to the festivities, but those buying the merch also got a mini education lesson and glimpse into how a local business worked. These experiences were rewarding for Ambient, however they were having to turn down events that were shorter or smaller in size because of the significant time and physical commitment it took to lug their mammoth screen printing set-up around.
 
As many businesses have had to do this year, Ambient revisited some ideas that were previously shelved and decided that the Downtown Enhancement Grant might be able to help make a more mobile screen printing cart a reality. Although they had stiff competition from nine other eligible plans, a panel of judges made up of grant donors agreed that Ambient’s long-term philosophical vision of continually reinventing themselves in ways that put people, community, and our world first, paired with the promise of an engaging, educational screen printing opportunity at Eau Claire community events, helped make their application stand out among the rest.
 
More About the Grant
The $2,000 Downtown Enhancement Grant is awarded twice a year. A judging committee made up of donors reviewed all eligible downtown enhancement plans that were submitted. This year 10 eligible plans were reviewed which is the most to date in program history! In light of COVID-19, there was also an adjustment to the eligibility of this grant cycle that waived the requirement for the business to have been in operation for 2+ years. Thank you to the sponsors of this grant: Jill and Tom Barland, B~Framed Galleries, Charter Bank, Kristen and Donn Dexter, JAMF, JB Systems, Kerry and Dan Kincaid, Royal Credit Union, Ruder Ware, Lissa and Tom Siedow, U.S. Bank.
​
For more information, please visit https://www.downtowneauclaire.org/news/1209-making-merch-on-the-move/ and https://www.downtowneauclaire.org/programs/our-programs/downtown-enhancement-grants/.
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Two Local Attorneys Elected Firm Shareholders

Pictured Left Benjamin Ludeman, Right Sven Strutz
Eau Claire, WI - The law firm of Weld Riley, S.C. is pleased to announce Attorneys Benjamin D. Ludeman and Sven W. Strutz have been elected shareholders of the firm.

“I am truly humbled that my colleagues recently elected me as a shareholder. I look forward to continuing to provide legal services for new and existing clients and being a part of this wonderful community,” Ludeman said.

Ludeman is a member of the firm’s Business, Probate and Estate Planning, and Municipal Law Sections. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, with a B.S. in Criminal Justice and his law degree from William Mitchell College of Law, where he graduated with honors. While in law school, Ludeman worked for Hennepin County in its Child Support and Civil Divisions..

Strutz is a member of the firm’s Labor and Employment Section, working primarily in the area of school law.  He  advises and represents numerous school districts throughout the State of Wisconsin. Strutz graduated with a degree in Political Science from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and graduated with honors from the University of Wisconsin-Madison Law School.

“It is an honor to be asked to join the shareholders at Weld Riley.  I look forward to future opportunities to provide clients, particularly school districts throughout Wisconsin, with the superior legal advice and service they have come to expect from our firm,” Strutz added.

Weld Riley, S.C. has offices in Eau Claire, Black River Falls, Wausau, and Menomonie and serves families, private sector businesses, and public sector clients, including school districts, county governments, and many municipalities around western Wisconsin.

Reps. Kind, Kelly Introduce Legislation to Protect Independent Music and Entertainment venues through COVID-19

https://www.broadwayworld.com/washington-dc/article/Reps-Kind-Kelly-Introduce-Legislation-to-Protect-Independent-Music-and-Entertainment-Venues-Through-the-Pandemic-20200723
​
(Eau Claire, WIS) — On July 23, 2020, Rep. Ron Kind (D-WI) and Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA) introduced the Entertainments New Credit Opportunity for Relief & Economic Sustainability (ENCORES) Act also known as House Bill HR: 7735. This bipartisan legislation would support independent music and entertainment venues as they work to survive the COVID-19 crisis. The COVID-19 and the necessary response to combat the spread of the disease is continuing to drastically impact Wisconsin’s artistic venues who, without any source of revenue or large corporate backers, are at risk of not being able to re-open after issuing refunds for canceled events. As spaces for indoor, large gatherings – arts venues were the first to close and will be the last to re-open.

This comes as a direct response from Rep. Kind after Jason Anderson, Executive Director Pablo Center at the Confluence in Eau Claire and a constituent of his, reached out to Rep. Kind’s office with concerns. In May, Congressman Kind announced his intention to work with the industry to address this problem by addressing disaster loss rules to ensure independent venues are not shut out.
Full Press Release
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​CVTC Grad’s Career Change is ‘Something for Myself’
Graduation celebration also marks milestone for the MLT program

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Eau Claire, WI – Contemplating a late-life career change, Deb Van Den Heuvel was in a position to do something for herself, unrestrained by child-rearing duties or societal norms that she dealt with growing up. Chippewa Valley Technical College turned out to be the perfect place for her to strike out on a new path as a machinist.
 
“My kids were getting out of college, and I wanted to do something for myself,” said Van Den Huevel, 52, who splits time between Mondovi and Gilman. “I had been sitting in an office all day and wanted to do something more active.”

Full Press Release
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Opportunity to help the coin shortage while helping families in need 

When:   August 11th, 2020, 8 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Where:  Northwestern Bank-River Prairie
         1430 Rivers Edge Trail
         Altoona, WI 54720
Interviews:   Sandi Polzin, Hope Gospel Mission
         Sarah Stokes, Event Sponsor 
         Jerry Jacobson, President, Northwestern Bank
Photos/Video:  Families donating change at Northwestern Bank

Altoona, WI – We are in the midst of a national coin shortage and community members have the opportunity to help circulate change and make a difference August 11th. 

Donate jars of change to Hope Gospel Mission’s Change for Kids fundraiser and help to recirculate coins into the community. The pandemic slowed the flow of coins circulating through businesses all across the country, and local businesses are facing a challenge of having to ask for only card payments. 
Full Press Release
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Merchants' second quarter earnings report shows stable performance and continued COVID-19 Relief assistance

WINONA, Minn. – Merchants Financial Group, Inc. (MFGI) has announced financial results for the second quarter and details about COVID-19 assistance provided to its customers, according to MFGI President & CEO Gregory M. Evans.
 
Second quarter earnings of $8,442,992 were behind MFGI’s 2020 plan by $346,298 and behind 2019 mid-year results by $484,989. June earnings were profitable for MFGI even though the Company reversed $4 million out of income in the form of additional Allowance for Loan/Lease Loss Reserves as a precautionary measure to cover potential loan risk as the challenging economic situation continues to unfold.
 
“Our profitable performance through two quarters is a source of pride for our extraordinary employee team, which has been intensely focused on assisting our customers and communities experiencing hardship due to the COVID pandemic,” said Evans. “Most gratifying is the feedback I’ve received from clients who are appreciative of how our bankers have been available to them in serving as trusted advisors at this difficult time.”
 
Since March, Merchants has provided relief to more than 1,300 consumer and business loan customers in good standing in the form of loan payment deferment programs across all product categories. The Bank continues to assist business customers across its footprint with Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) financing through the Small Business Administration and will be accepting applications through the August 8, 2020 deadline. Merchants has been one of Minnesota’s PPP banking leaders, originating more than 1,500 loans with total volume of approximately $200 million. In addition, Merchants reported a 16.1% increase in deposits and origination volume of $478 million of residential mortgage loans through the first half of the year, as customers take advantage of the current interest rate environment.
 
“We want our customers and communities to know that Merchants will continue to be a source of assistance for those hit hardest by the pandemic and that we take our responsibility as a community bank seriously. We’re here to be your financial partner as you navigate challenges in the coming months,” Evans noted.

Royal Credit Union Announces New Corporate Risk Manager

Eau Claire, WI – Cassie Fisher has joined Royal Credit Union (Royal) as Corporate Risk Manager.  In her role, Fisher leads the Risk Analyst and Compliance-Risk Management teams, and leads the development and implementation of the Compliance, Risk Management, Fraud, Disaster Recovery, Business Continuity, and Vendor Management functions. Within her role, Fisher will also serve as a member of the Cybersecurity Committee and as the Compliance Officer, Bank Secrecy Act and OFAC Officer, and Security Officer.
 
Prior to joining Royal’s team, Fisher accumulated 13 years of experience in the fields of risk management, regulatory examination, and audit. Fisher holds a Bachelor’s degree of Business Economics which she obtained from the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire.
 
Fisher currently resides in Eau Claire with her husband Greg and two children, Taylor and Camden. Fisher has volunteered with Junior Achievement of Wisconsin, Feed My People, and Bolton Refuge House along with helping at her children’s schools as a way give back to the community.

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Phone: (715) 834-1204 |  Fax: (715) 834-1956  |   information@eauclairechamber.org
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