Workforce Connector: June 2020 Edition

"Committed to Safety" Business Decal Application Launches
About this initiative:The Chippewa Valley Economic Recovery Task Force (“Task Force”) is working to help local businesses recover from and mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Once submitted, applications will be processed. Pending approval, decals will be mailed directly to businesses applying. If a business has multiple locations, an application must be submitted for each.

APPLY FOR THE DECAL HERE!

About this Task Force:
The formation of the Chippewa Valley COVID-19 Economic Recovery Task Force is an effort to pull together resources, organizations and talent from across the Chippewa Valley to help us emerge from this crisis in an orderly, successful, safe and stronger position to support our local economy. We are in strong partnership with the Eau Claire City-County Health Department.

View the full press release here.

Department of Workforce Development - Economic Outlook

Momentum West - COVID-19 Regional Data

Ready For Work - 21 Resilient Workforce Ecosystems Leading Skills-Based Economic Recovery

A first-of-its-kind pandemic is impacting communities around the globe. These unsurmountable challenges seem never-ending: record-breaking unemployment, mandatory business closures, shifts to remote work, social distancing measures, and so much more. In response, regional workforce ecosystems must retool and implement reemployment strategies for the future.

The journey to recovery is something that we will navigate in step with our partners at the local, state, and national levels. Episode 21 of Ready for Work is the first of several episodes with action items to build a resilient workforce ecosystem. In this episode, host Jasen Jones walks through a five-part framework, Adapt, Lead, Engage, Deploy, and Analyze, or ALEDA, to help navigate challenging times and prepare for inevitable impacts on our communities. You’ll hear voices from ACT® Work Ready Communities (WRC) with stories of resilience happening real-time.

Listen Now!

Events

Women's Golf Workshop

More and more women are recognizing the value of golf as a networking tool. This annual Women’s Golf Workshop will be a fun, interactive afternoon and will provide you with everything you need to know to empower you to get out of the office and do business on the course instead!

The workshop will begin with PGA Golf Professional Jim Buyze of Wild Ridge Golf Course giving pointers on the basics, such as attire, behavior, clubs, rules, and expectations of other golfers. Wild Ridge golf professionals will then give you pointers as you practice driving, chipping, and putting. Lastly, you will be split into small groups to play 3 holes of golf, putting your new skills into practice. Instruction will end by 4 p.m.

You are not required to bring your own clubs. Please wear comfortable clothing and tennis or golf shoes. Enrollment is limited, so register early!

Member Registration - $45.00
Non-Member Registration - $75.00
Reserve your spot here!

Eggs & Issues: The state of Higher Public Education

Join us for an online discussion of the present and future of public higher education in the Chippewa Valley. The leaders of Chippewa Valley Technical College, UW-Eau Claire, and UW-Stout have been invited to provide us with an update on their current situation and plans for the future. They'll also talk about the role of higher education as our economy moves forward from the current COVID-19 health and economic crisis. This will be especially timely in light of discussions about potential changes in the UW System.

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. (BYOB - Bring Your Own Breakfast!)

Registration closes at 12:00 noon on Thursday, June 18. 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, June 18.

***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.
To register, click here

Chamber Resources

Job Board

Small Street Journal

Workforce News And Resources

Project Search

Project SEARCH is a 9 month program which provides training and education leading to integrated and competitive employment for youth with disabilities. Project SEARCH is based on a collaberation that includes a local business, school district, DVR, disability services agencies and family. Mayo Clinic Health System has hosted Project SEARCH interns for three years, with 33 interns successfully completing the program. Five Project SEARCH graduates are currently working with Mayo Clinic Health System or Morrison Healthcare. Project SEARCH graduates are also working at businesses in Eau Claire, Chippewa Falls and Bloomer. All partners are vital to the success of the program.

General Business Frequently Asked Questions - CDC Guidelines

Thinking Ahead

Thriving on the Other Side: How Your Community Can Recreate Vibrancy After COVID-19
(Quint Studer, StrongTowns.org)

"As world-famous hockey player Wayne Gretzky said, 'I skate to where the puck is going to be, not where it has been.' Now is the perfect time to start moving toward the puck."

Studer is also doing a webinar tomorrow afternoon, in which I plan to participate.

After COVID - Politics & Policy in the Age of Pandemic
(Bruce Mehlman)

Mehlman spoke at the 2018 US Chamber Governmental Affairs Conference. He is a well-regarded independent policy expert in DC, and has some interesting thoughts on the national and global impact of the pandemic going forward.

For Presenters: A virtual Event Checklist - Blue Sky Blog

Whether your presenters are experienced in presenting to a virtual audience or not, it’s never a bad idea to have a checklist for them to run through. Even if some of these items seem obvious, you never know what someone may forget to do before it’s time for them to present!

Reboot your computer a few hours before the webinar to avoid any automated updates that could launch during the virtual event
Turn off all other applications on your computer that you won’t need for the virtual event.
If you’re using a mouse, make sure the batteries are fresh (or it’s freshly charged).

View more below...

Paycheck Protection Program Could get some Welcome Changes - Ruder Ware

By Mary Ellen Schill, Amy E. Ebeling and Benjamin E. Streckert, Ruder Ware
As some Paycheck Protection Program loan borrowers approach the close of their eight week covered period (the period during which loan proceeds can be used for certain expenses and the corresponding loan amount can be forgiven), Congress is considering making significant changes to the program that would apply to existing loans and new PPP loans. Reports are that the House and Senate are close to agreeing on PPP amendments, and that the House could pass its version on May 28, with the Senate to follow shortly thereafter. The proposed House legislation (which the Senate version closely follows) is intended to address some common complaints among borrowers. View the blog below to learn more.

"Heard" Immunity: The Value of Updating workplace testing policies in advance of the COVID-19 Reboot - Weld Riley

By: Attorney Bryan T. Symes – Weld Riley, S.C.
By now, most people have developed at least a surface-level understanding of the herd immunity, or herd protection, epidemiological concept. Herd immunity describes a scenario in which enough people within a community are immune to COVID-19, such that the remaining individuals who are not immune are sufficiently protected from infection—i.e., the risk of infection becomes politically palatable. The concept of herd immunity is not without controversy—and this post is not an endorsement of herd immunity. No, instead, this post is about something altogether different--heard immunity. Intrigued? If so, keep reading, with the button below.

The content in The Weld Report blog posts are based upon the law applicable at the times blog posts are originally published. Due to frequent changes in the law, the content in these blog posts may not remain accurate or reliable. None of the information contained in these blog posts is intended as legal advice or opinion relative to specific matters, facts, situations, or issues. You should not act upon the information in these blog posts without discussing your specific situation with a licensed attorney. Nothing within The Weld Report blog posts creates an attorney-client relationship.

Chamber Blog