Helpful Links Related to COVID-19:

• Link to City/County Health Department
   
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
   
• Guidance for Businesses and Employers – CDC
   
• Risk Assessment Guidance – CDC

Today’s Election to Happen After All: State Supreme Court Orders It To Go Ahead

Today’s spring election is scheduled to take place today after all. The Wisconsin Supreme Court late yesterday overruled an order by Governor Tony Evers that would have suspended in-person voting until a date in June. Republican legislative leaders, who had earlier rejected a Friday call from the Governor to suspend the election and move to mail-in voting, petitioned the court after Evers’ last-minute order on Monday afternoon.

Also, Monday evening, the US Supreme Court struck down the extension of the absentee voting deadline, so absentee ballots must now be postmarked by April 7, (today) or delivered today to a municipal clerk or your polling place.

What you need to know now: Health and election officials in Eau Claire County have taken extra precautions at polling places for the safety of voters and poll workers, including a change in location of some polling places. 

If you plan to vote in person today: Be sure to double check your voting location. Polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
  • Click this link at MyVoteWi.gov to find your polling place and confirm what's on your ballot. 
  • Click this link to view a video from the health dept. about what to expect at your polling place.

If you have an absentee ballot: To count, it must be postmarked today, April 7, or returned today to your polling place or local municipal clerk. In the City of Eau Claire, there is a city drop box on the north side of Grand Ave., between Farwell and Dewey streets, next to the fire station. For other municipalities, click here to find your municipal clerk to check drop off options.

Still making up your mind about candidates?:
Click here for the Chamber’s Guide to the Spring Election, including candidate questionnaires and other information. We’ll also have any new information about the election at that link.

This week's Virtual Town Hall Meeting will focus on employee relationships and management within today's new realities.  Topics of discussion will include what to do now to comply with new rules, what you can do to take care of your team and what resources you can draw upon.  Guest speakers are still being finalized but will include Jim Morgan, Vice President at MRA - The Management Association, who will take questions and address concerns you may have as an employer.  

To register for the town hall meeting, click here.

Registration closes at 10:00 a.m on Thursday, April 9.  An email address is required to register. A link to login to this session will be emailed to you at noon on the day of the event.  ***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.    

Click here for a link to recording of the April 2, 2020 town hall meeting that featured Rep. Ron Kind and John Kirchner of the US Chamber.  To view the attendee chats, click here.

Keeping Up-to-Date on an Ever-Changing Situation

Everyone on your Chamber staff is working from home, but making it our top priority to keep you up to date and bring you the most current and accurate information to help you navigate today's challenges.

Critical Business Updates

• Continually-updated page of must-know information for businesses, including the latest information on state and federal orders, other resources

Eau Claire Chamber COVID-19 Page

• Information and links about local businesses, resources and more

Chippewa Valley Business Community COVID-19 Resource

• A Facebook Group for businesses to post and share information

Eau Claire City-County Health Dept COVID-19 page

With everything happening in the world right now the Eau Claire Chamber wanted to bring you a video series every Wednesday that would highlight how businesses are stepping up and making a positive impact in the midst of all this change and uncertainty. We are proud to have such a wonderful community to call home. 

Go to the Chamber's Facebook page to learn more about these local businesses and what they are doing to make a difference.  

Member to Member Generosity

The Chamber would like to recognize its members who've offered their services either free of charge or at a reduced rate during these uncertain times.  We will continue to share and update this information both in our weekly Update e-newsletter and on our COVID-19 resource page.  

Two Chamber members are offering free commercial videos to other Chamber members.  One of the Chamber's newest members, Austin Bower LLC, located in Chippewa Falls, would like to extend this offer: "Since times are a bit strange right now and everything is slowing down, I wanted to reach out to local businesses and offer to make them a free video to help during this situation."  Please contact Austin at austin@austinbower.com or visit their website, https://austinbower.com/

Spectrum Reach - "Our goal is to help keep business moving forward by providing a free video commercial to any business in need. From promoting curbside pick-up, reduced hours, and gift card sales to offering simple words of encouragement, we’d like to provide support with a free commercial video.  Any business owner can take advantage of this opportunity to share a specific message with their customers, let them know of new hours or special service they’re offering right now. They can also share it on their website or social media platforms- wherever they’d like. Go to SpectrumReach.com/Rebound for more information."  

2020 Western & Central Wisconsin Wage Survey

The survey is distributed the week of March 16, due back by May 15, and is published in mid-July. We are proud to be covering employers from nine chambers of commerce including Chippewa Falls, Eau Claire, La Crosse, Marshfield, Menomonie, Portage County, Rice Lake, Wausau, and Wisconsin Rapids. Also involved are the local chapters of Society of Human Resource Management in the Chippewa Valley, La Crosse, Wausau and Winona. We need area employers to contribute their data in order to keep the wage survey viable and relevant; data is kept confidential. We have made it easy to participate, so please review the instructions and complete the forms. All documents for survey participation are on the Eau Claire Chamber's website.

There is a minimal cost to receive the report when it is available in mid-July, and chamber, CVSHRM, and Wipfli HR Forum memberships qualify businesses for discounted pricing.

If you have any questions, please contact Danielle Kummer  at (715) 858-0618.

Making Sense of New Federal Programs and Rules

With various forms of federal help on the way, local businesses are beginning to face the complex task of understanding their options, working to serve their employees and customers, complying with health orders, and in general keeping things afloat during unprecedented times.

Among the most immediate issues for businesses is determining which new federal programs are most appropriate for them to consider based upon their particular business and financial situation. Experts advise business owners to start by working with their accountant and financial institution to examine their situation and determine how each program would apply. 

The US Chamber of Commerce has newly-released and updated guides for businesses for the following key programs: 
   • Coronavirus Emergency Loans (PPP) Small Business Guide and Checklist
   • Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Program Guide
   • Employee Retention Tax Credit Guide
   • Temporary Paid Leave and Family Medical Leave Guide

State-focused help: Similarly, Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce has released a new Employer Toolkit that includes strategies particular to Wisconsin employers and businesses:
   • WMC COVID-19 Employer Toolkit

Continuing Updates From the Chamber

As new information comes out on federal and state programs and resources, must-know information will be added to the Chamber’s Critical Business Updates page.

The Chippewa Valley Alliance Presents:
Trivia Night- A Virtual Networking Experience!
Monday, April 13, 2020
4:30 p.m. - 5:45 p.m.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/567834517?pwd=UHNqL3NSSWN5anNWaWo3TW5JSUMzQT09

Meeting ID: 567 834 517
Password: 178474

Come join us for an evening of networking and trivia on Monday, April 13th from 4:30 to 5:45 PM. Your host, Emcee Phil, will provide the questions by playing three games of trivia. Each game will be 15 minutes. The winners will receive local chamber prizes to be used within the local economy.

A simple way to have fun, network and play!

Friday, April 17, 2020
11:30 a.m.

What do you love about the Chippewa Valley? Is it the music? Food? Or all that there is to do in the area?

Join us for this virtual event on Friday April 17th – via Zoom -  to share stories, experiences and favorites that we love in our area. Let’s heighten awareness in our community and spread the local love!

Since this is over a lunch period we encourage you to order takeout or have a local restaurant deliver your lunch and be sure to share who you ordered from.

Zoom information:
https://zoom.us/j/6609156206
Meeting ID: 660-915-6206

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101 N. Farwell St. Eau Claire, WI 54703
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