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Chamber Blog


Workforce Connector: August 2020 Edition

8/5/2020

 
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Workforce Initiatives

The Workforce Connector is a monthly publication made possible by HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital, Marshfield Clinic Health System, Mayo Clinic Health System, Prevea Health, and Xcel Energy.

The Eau Claire Area Chamber has many initiatives to help employers retain, recruit and develop employees. Many of these programs, committees, and events have been around for years; At the 2019 Annual meeting our CEO/President David Minor announced the intention of focusing on Workforce Challenges and Solutions in the Chippewa Valley. This publication and the initiatives highlighted on our website are the beginning, use the button below to "learn more".

The chamber's workforce initiatives are led by the Workforce Development Committee Chair, Monica Obrycki of Eau Claire Energy Cooperative and Kaylynn Stahlbusch, Workforce and Program Director of Eau Claire Area Chamber.
Learn More

Available Now!

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Regional Business Fund Announces new EDA CARES act recovery assistance revolving loan fund

The EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) is designed to assist small businesses most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic by assisting with long-term, fixed rate, low-interest working capital loans.
ELIGIBILITY

  • Utilize the loan for working capital
  • Be located within the seven county region (Barron, Chippewa, Clark, Dunn, Eau Claire, Polk, and St. Croix)
  • Employ less than ten (10) full-time equivalent (FTE) employees
  • Operate within one of the following industry sectors:
    • Manufacturing (NAICS 31-33)
    • Retail Trade (NAICS 44-45)
    • Health Care and Social Assistance (NAICS 62)
    • Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (NAICS 71)
    • Accommodation and Food Services (NAICS 72)
    • Other Services (NAICS 81)
  • Demonstrate ability to repay the loan
FINANCE TERMS & CONDITIONS
​
  • Loan sizes from $5,000 to $10,000
  • Repayment up to 7 years
  • 1% fixed interest rate for the first two years followed by 2% for the remaining term
  • Deferrals of principal and/or interest  payments may be allowed up to 12 months
  • Collateral is required
  • Unlimited personal guarantees required for any owner with a 20% or greater ownership interest in the business
  • All customary out-of-pocket fees and legal costs made in connection with the transaction are the borrower’s responsibility
Learn More and Apply

WEDC Report Assesses Ongoing Economic Impact of COVID-19 pandemic

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In light of the evolving nature of the pandemic and its still-unfolding impact on the state’s economy, the report calls for the state to focus on three priorities:


  • Get Everyone Back to Work: The report notes that COVID-19 has transformed Wisconsin’s workforce. Many service-sector jobs, particularly in retail and restaurants, have been eliminated and are not likely to return. It will be crucial to reskill and train people who lost their jobs. The pandemic has reinforced access to high-quality childcare, early childhood education and health care as essential to the economy.
  • Fix Broadband: The pandemic has highlighted the digital divide in our state. Education, e-commerce, remote working and even contact with government depend on access to computers and high-speed internet.
  • Support Innovation: Innovation fuels job growth, as well as flexibility and resiliency in our businesses. In a time of constrained resources and risk aversion, Wisconsin has the chance to use its innovative, entrepreneurial spirit to launch its recovery.

View Full Report
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Now Available for purchase

Due to employers devoting most of their resources COVID-19 pandemic response during our submission period, participation in the recently completed survey declined 25% this year – to 119 vs. 162 last year. This was especially, and understandably, acute in the healthcare sector.  We are optimistic that 2021 will see a return to our previous robust response rate. 


As the survey results are effective April 1, 2020, it is difficult to say if this data will be reliable for compensation planning in late 2020 or into 2021. It appears that average pay increase percentages have remained consistent at around 3% in the area.  As with any emergency situation though, the impact across employers is uneven with some being very negatively impacted and others scrambling to hire more employees in high-demand jobs.  It will be an interesting year for compensation.  Now more than ever, employers will need depend on applying good business judgment to determine their response to the pandemic’s impact on wages and salaries.   

The survey results were compiled from submissions by 119 organizations in various industries, in an area encompassing the chambers of commerce in Chippewa Falls, Eau Claire, La Crosse, Marshfield, Menomonie, Portage County, Rice Lake, Wausau, and Wisconsin Rapids. Also involved were local chapters of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) in the Chippewa Valley, La Crosse, Wausau and Winona, MN. The survey is administered by the Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce.

To purchase a copy of the wage survey, please contact Danielle Kummer (715) 858-0614. 

Order Form

Workforce Retention

Working Parents, Childcare, & COVID-19: U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation

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Childcare is important for children, and it is essential for working parents. Parents rely on childcare to help them enter, re-enter, or remain in the workforce. but access to affordable, quality childcare is hard to come by. Now due to the COVID-19 pandemic, families are experiencing additional challenges in finding childcare that meets their needs.
In June 2020, the Chamber Foundation surveyed working parents from across the country to understand the impact that childcare has on their ability to return to work. Check out the report below.
Families now face immense pressure to re-evaluate how to meet their childcare needs. Faced with this burden, families are having to make tough decisions regarding their employment situation. As a result, businesses will surely encounter difficulties with their return to work plans, including recruiting and retaining employees.
In June and July of 2020, the Chamber Foundation surveyed employers from across the country of every size and industry to understand the impact that childcare has on businesses' ability to return to work. Check out the report below.
Impact on Parents Report
Impact on Employers Report

Altoona, Eau Claire Schools Announce Reopening Plans

Hybrid in-person, online instruction at both districts
Both the Altoona and Eau Claire school districts last week announced their plans for resuming classes in the fall. In both cases, the districts will offer a mix of in-person and online options, with families also being able to choose an all-online option.

In Altoona, K-5th grade students will attend classes in person on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, while 6-12th grades will be divided into sections, which will attend in-person classes two days per week, and learn online the other three. All buildings will close on Wednesdays for cleaning.

“The Railroader Return-to-School Plan was collaboratively developed to both follow health official guidance and maximize resources to bring students back to school safely," said Superintendent Heidi Eliopoulos.

In Eau Claire, the mix between in-person and online classes will vary by grade level. For grades 1-2, students will attend in-person classes on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, while grades 3-12 will be assigned a cohort to attend in-person two days per week and online the other three. All schools will be closed on Wednesdays for cleaning. 

See the links below for more detailed information from each district regarding their plans.

Challenges for employers, parents and families
With students not going to school five days per week, parents and families will face logistical challenges, as will, by extension, their employers. Eau Claire Superintendent Mike Johnson said the district is exploring partnerships with organizations that can help, like the YMCA, Boys and Girls Clubs, local churches and others. He said that was one reason for getting the plans out as soon as possible. "By planning now, we can help them plan for the future," he said on a morning interview on WEAU last Tuesday, the day after the School Board acted on the plan.
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The Chamber will be following up with businesses on how fall school plans will affect their employees and families, and share ideas, resources, and best practices as they develop.

6 steps for employers with a cOVID-19 Positive Case

Click the link below to view the document which exists to assist employers with the proper steps to take should a positive case of COVID-19 exist in the workplace. This document was drafted by the COVID-19 Economic Recovery Task force in collaboration with the The Eau Claire City/County Health Department & research through various HR Management firms in the Chippewa Valley.
View Document
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Virtual Eggs & Issues: The State of public k-12 education

Join us for insights into plans for local school districts this fall as they navigate COVID-19 concerns to deliver education to students in our communities. Confirmed guests include newly-installed Superintendents Heidi Eliopoulos at the School District of Altoona and Michael Johnson at the Eau Claire Area School District.

An online virtual event: Thanks to the Perigon system provided by WIN Technology, you'll be able to participate in this event live from your computer. 

Registration closes at 12:00 noon on Thursday, August 20.  An email address and mailing address is required for each attendee to register. A link to login to this session will be emailed to you about 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 20.

***PLEASE NOTE: If you do not receive the email containing the link to log in to the meeting, please be sure to check your spam folder. 
 
Register Here

Building Cultural intelligence (certificate Series) - UW - Eau Claire Continuing Education

Creating culturally intelligent organizations and workspaces has become increasingly important in today’s society. Working towards creating equity, diversity and inclusion goals will improve the efficiency, recruitment, and retention of employees. Create systems for all employees to feel empowered, safe, and equipped to do their
best work. This three-part series lays the foundation for you to support diversity and inclusion in your workplace and personal life.
  • Safe Spaces: Honoring Gender and Sexuality in the Workplace (October 8, 2020 or January 7, 2021)
  • Microaggressions and Bias in the Workplace (November 12, 2020 or February 11, 2021)
  • Strategies for Creating Culturally Intelligent Organizations (December 17, 2020 or March 11, 2021)
Event Flyer
File Size: 113 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File


Workforce Attraction

MRA presents "Hot Topic Leadership Series" - a Chippewa Valley exclusive virtual Event to showcase business leaders and member success stories

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First session on August 11, 2020
Acquiring and Retaining Talent in a Recovery World 
The talent acquisition landscape has shifted dramatically given the pandemic’s impact on businesses and industries alike. As some employers froze job postings or decreased headcount, others maintained hiring plans or stepped up recruitment efforts. As we look ahead to a job market that may be wildly different from today’s landscape, what is your game plan?

Member: $25 per session or $100 for the entire five-part series
Nonmember: $30 per session or $115 for the entire five-part series

All sessions will be held from 8:15 to 9:15 a.m. CDT.
Recordings will be available for those who register but are not able to attend. 
 
Series topics include:
August 11: Acquiring and Retaining Talent in a Recovery World
September 24: Compensation Trends: Pay, Benefits & Best Practices
October 13: Elections and Politics in the Workplace
November 10: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion – Your Responsibility as an Employer and Leader
December 8: 2021 Forecast
Learn More and Register

Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce, Junior Achievement Study: Almost 500 Wisconsin High School Seniors say they are changing their post graduation plans

A study by Junior Achievement of Wisconsin shows almost 50% of graduating high school seniors have changed their post-high school plans. Out of 1,000 high school seniors in Wisconsin, almost 500 of them changed the course of their futures, in some way or another, because of COVID-19.
Read More

Workforce Recruitment

National Career Readiness Certification Event (NCRC)

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This in-person testing event provides you with skills based certification.
  • Achieving an NCRC demonstrates to employers career readiness.
  • Connect to Employers in our area.
  • High scoring test takes can earn college credit at CVTC.
  • Post-Test options for coaching and opportunity for job placement.

August 10, 2020
Chippewa Valley Technical College
Cost: $20 

Two Sessions Available: 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. and
​1:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Event Flyer
File Size: 1400 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Register Here

Volume One - Where the jobs are

UW-Stout Summit Tackles Teacher ShortagesCOVID-19 may exacerbate concern, and Gen-Z may provide the answerHow to attract and retain diverse teachers because of a growing shortage nationwide was the main topic of UW-Stout’s fifth annual Career and Technical Education Summit held ...


Eau Claire Metro Area Jobs by the NumbersFor nearly a decade, these numbers told a pretty positive story about the Chippewa Valley, Wisconsin, and the nation as a whole, with the economy expanding and unemployment steadily ...
Read More
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add value to your workplace incentives though the young professionals of the chippewa valley

The Young Professionals of Chippewa Valley is a personal and professional development program of the Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the Chippewa Falls Chamber of Commerce that encourages young business people to interact socially, exchange ideas, share common interests, learn more about the area’s business community and engage in the community’s future. The Young Professionals began in September 2003. If you are between the ages of 21-40, please look into membership or contact Casey Schumacher at the Chamber for more information. 
Learn More
To get connected, get involved or learn more please contact Kaylynn Stahlbusch, Workforce and Program Director at the Eau Claire Area Chamber.
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101 N Farwell St, Ste 101
Eau Claire, WI 54703
 Phone: (715) 834-1204
Fax: (715) 834-1956
​information@eauclairechamber.org 
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101 N. Farwell Street - Suite 101, Eau Claire, WI 54703
Phone: (715) 834-1204 |  Fax: (715) 834-1956  |   information@eauclairechamber.org
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  • Advocacy
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    • Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI)
    • Explore Eau Claire Concierge Program
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    • Think Eau Claire >
      • Visiting Eau Claire
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