Chamber Newsletter - December 2019
|
|
Chamber Chat with Amanda
Dear Chamber Members,
Another year is coming to a close and 2020 is just around the corner. Before we close out 2019 and begin 2020, I thought it would be a good time to share a few of the Black River Area Chamber of Commerce highlights from this year. We've had many positive developments over the past 12 months and we look forward to more in 2020.
- We had the Visitor's Guide produced locally by The Print Shop. We had it printed and distributed earlier than ever before.
- We had the inside of our building painted and reorganized our brochure racks.
- We had our tourism booth (located on Oasis road) painted and the tourist information sign by the booth updated and painted.
- We had security cameras installed around our building and had network upgrades done inside the office.
- We continued delivering for Meals on Wheels and volunteered for Project Christmas.
- We were awarded grants for the Karner Blue Race and Oktoberfest from ITBEC Southwest and a grant for Oktoberfest from the Black River Falls Municipal Utilities/WPPI Energy office.
- We hosted a Customer Service Training with the Department of Tourism and a Work/Life Balance training session. We also co-sponsored the Fasttrac series and a Quickbooks class with Western Dairyland Women's Business Center.
- We had an information booth at the WWIS Home Show, Great Tastes Festival and New Beginnings Bridal Fair.
- We co-sponsored the Job Fair with the Black River Falls School District. 40 businesses registered and there were 500+ student participants and 50 job seekers at the Job Fair.
- We had ribbon cuttings at Millie J’s in January, UMOS in February, SureStay Plus by Best Western in May, Marco’s Italian American Grill in July and Black River Falls Cleaning Services in November.
None of this can be accomplished without the right people. I am blessed to work with an outstanding staff - Kathy Kopp, Sammi Windsor and Lynette LeGarde - and with a supportive Board of Directors and Chamber Ambassadors. This is a team effort all the way. It's been a busy year but there's plenty more to be done. Here's to a prosperous 2020!
Thank you, as always, for your continued support of the Chamber. Together we build business, create community and promote tourism.
Sincerely,
Amanda Gunn
Executive Director
Black River Area Chamber of Commerce
|
|
2020 Black River Country Visitor Guide
Work is almost finished on the 2020 Black River Country Visitor's Guide. We are working with The Print Shop to produce and print the publication. Our goal is to get the publication printed by early 2020 so it is available for regional tourism and trade shows. Here is a sneak peek at the beautiful cover!
Main cover photo: Pamela Putrich
Water wheel photo: Dave Meyer
Elk photo: Heidi Kelly
Castle Mound photo: Lina Bloczynski
UTV photo: Lori Chown
|
|
Membership Renewal Forms, ad and sponsorship information and invoices for 2020 were sent to all members. The due date was Nov. 1, 2019. Late notices were sent in November. If for some reason you didn't receive an invoice, please let us know and we can resend it to you.
On the Membership Form, you will notice a flat rate depending on the division for your business. There are no rate increases for 2020. You can pay by cash, check or credit card. Credit card payments can be split over a three-month period with automatic withdrawal.
If you have questions or need assistance, please feel free to contact our office.
|
|
Chamber Board Election Results
|
|
Two Black River Area Chamber of Commerce board members were re-elected and three new members were elected to the board after the annual elections were conducted.
Re-elected to a second three-year term on the board were Robert Crampes from Land O' Lakes and Matthew Streeter from Black River Memorial Hosptial.
Elected to a first three-year term on the board were Laura Lindow from Reflections on Water, Dana Olson from Black River Country Bank and Nick Slegel from Waumandee State Bank. They will join the board in January.
Any Chamber member can run for election as a board member. Contact executive director Amanda Gunn if you are interested in being a candidate in the future.
|
|
Regional Economic Development Meeting Scheduled
The 7 Rivers Alliance and the Black River Area Chamber of Commerce will host a quarterly regional Economic Development meeting from
11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday, January 23rd.
Hear updates on the 7 Rivers Alliance Workforce Development Plan, childcare, housing, transportation and more. We'll also have an open forum to hear about your projects and to share best practices.
WHEN: Thursday, Jan. 23, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
WHERE: Black River Area Chamber of Commerce, 120 N. Water St., Black River Falls
Lunch will be served!
If you plan to attend, please confirm by emailing Chris Hardie at chris@7riversalliance.org.
|
|
Free Lunch & Learn Session with the State of Wisconsin - Edvest - Wisconsin's 529 College Savings Program
|
|
Date: February 5, 2020
Time: 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Lunch will be served at 11a.m. program begins at 11:30 a.m.
Location: Black River Area Chamber of Commerce, 120 N Water St, Black River Falls.
Please call the Chamber office to register by January 31, 2020.
|
|
Employers & Organizations
Join the 370+ Companies Participating in Edvest at Work
A New Employee Benefit at No Cost to You
You want more ways to differentiate and enhance your employee benefits package. With automatic payroll deduction, your employees get a hassle-free opportunity to save for their children’s higher education costs with low, budget-friendly minimums that make saving easy. And the best part? It costs you nothing and creates no additional administrative burdens. In fact, we’ll do all the work.
Edvest offers ongoing support at no charge, a payroll action guide and a digital toolkit with everything you need to help educate your employees about saving for college.
www.edvest.com/benefit
For so many families, the Edvest College Savings Plan is a smart choice.
Here are just a few reasons why:
· State tax benefits
· 100% tax-free growth
· Financial aid friendly
· Use at approved schools anywhere in the US or abroad
For more information, contact:
Jessica L. Fandrich
College Savings Program Investment Finance Officer
Department of Financial Institutions
Wisconsin 529 College Savings Program
4822 Madison Yards Way | North Tower | P.O. Box 8861 | 4th Floor | Madison, WI 53708-8861
Office: 608-266-1805 | Cell: 608-516-9172
|
|
Events to Share
Please send us information on any upcoming events your business or organization is hosting. We will get them posted to the calendar on our website and in the printed calendar we distribute at our office. We also share many different events on our Facebook page!
|
|
Brochures, Rack Cards and Business Cards
Make sure to drop off a supply of your brochures, rack cards and business cards at the Chamber office. Help us help your business by passing along information to both our out-of-town visitors and to local residents who come to the Chamber. If you can't make it to the office, give us a call at 715-284-4658 and we will gladly pick them up at your business!
|
|
Goody Bag Items Needed
Throughout the year, we put together goody bags for our Karner Blue race, new teachers, hockey tournaments and other events. We are asking businesses to donate goody bag items. If you have items such as pens, magnets, key chains, coupons, etc that you would like to donate, give us a call. It is a great opportunity to advertise and promote your business!
|
|
Thank you to everyone who attended the Holiday Business After 5 and Tree Lighting Ceremony at the Chamber office on Wednesday, December 4th. We had a fantastic turnout and everyone had a wonderful time! We would like to thank the following businesses and organizations for contributing to the event:
|
|
Representatives from
Business of the Year winner
Regal Beloit Corporation, Customer Service Award winner Mr Pita
and Service Organization Award winner
Jackson County Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers
had the honor of lighting the tree. Those in attendance were Marianne Torkelson and Lori Chown from Interfaith, Reva Witte, Rick Duss, Al Viste, Patti Krahenbuhl and Ginger Heath from Regal Beloit and Sharon Trujillo and Roberto Hernandez from Mr Pita.
|
|
Black River Area Community Band members played a great selection of Christmas music during the event.
|
|
Members enjoyed the food, beverages and networking opportunities.
|
|
Join us for the next Business After 5 event at
Norgaard Agency on Wednesday, January 8th, 2020!
Remember - all employees of any Chamber member business are welcome to attend Business After 5.
|
|
Looking for the Perfect Holiday Gift?
Purchase Chamber Bucks for the Holiday Season!
Chamber Bucks are similar to a gift certificate – but can be used to purchase merchandise, products or services at over 90 Black River Area Chamber of Commerce member businesses.
Chamber Bucks can be purchased in any denomination and anyone can purchase them. Below is a list of members that accept Chamber Bucks. Participating members are also listed on the back of Chamber Bucks.
To purchase Chamber Bucks, stop into our office, give us a call at 715-284-4658 or email us at chamber@blackrivercountry.net.
Please note - our office will be closed December 24th & December 25th and December 31st & January 1st for the holidays.
|
|
BRMH Recognized as a GOLD Recipient 2nd Year in a Row
Black River Memorial Hospital (BRMH) has been recognized as a GOLD recipient of the 2019 Workplace Health Achievement award through the American Heart Association (AHA). AHA has defined best practices for employers to use to build a healthy workplace for their employees. Companies are measured on how well they have implemented these practices. BRMH is being recognized at the GOLD level for achieving a score of at least 175 points out of a possible 217 points.
BRMH Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Director and Wellness Team Chairman Nicole Schweitzer said, “We’re very proud to receive this recognition. Our goal as a wellness team is to continue to improve the health of BRMH’s workforce from one year to the next.” The team has developed workplace wellness challenges. One program is the B-WELLthy Mile Club, a walking or running program that is a year-long challenge to reach 100, 250 or 500 miles. Schweitzer stated, “We have expanded our programs beyond BRMH and developed Health Works in partnership with the Krohn Clinic. Available services include fit-for-duty exams and physicals, fitness and ergonomic programs, and much more to assist area employers in organizing wellness programs for their employees.”
|
|
Receiving the 2019 Workplace Health Achievement GOLD Award through the American Heart Association are members of the BRMH Workforce and Wellness Teams. Pictured in the back row are (l-r) Becky Windsor, Jessica Pintaro, and Rob Stapel. Seated in the front row are Ruth Chipps and Nicole Schweitzer.
|
|
Rotary Club of Black River Falls November Youth Rotars
Jeffrey Dobson and Kora Ulness were the November Youth Rotars for the Rotary Club of Black River Falls. Both are seniors at the Black River Falls High School. Youth Rotars are selected by their school and Rotary as representatives of “good citizens” in both their school and their community. Youth Rotars spend one month attending the Rotary Club’s meetings and give reports on school events. At their last meeting, they are presented with the Black River Falls Rotary Club’s flag. The Youth Rotar Program runs from September through May with two representatives each month, except the month of December.
Jeffrey is the son of Duane and Carly Dobson. He has three sisters and two dogs. In school, Jeffrey is involved in National Honor Society, TIC, FCCLA and Student Senate. He also plays soccer, golf and basketball. He currently works at Falls Florist & Greenhouse which has taught him about the importance and impact that small businesses have on the local community. Outside of school and work he enjoys watching movies and spending time camping in Hatfield. Jeffrey plans on attending the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire to become an Actuary. When asked about his time as a Youth Rotar, Jeffrey said, “One of the most important lessons that Rotary has taught me is the importance of being involved and informed about what’s going on in the community.”
Kora is the daughter of Derek and Karen Ulness. She has one brother. In school, Kora is involved in National Honor Society, band, volleyball and track and field. She works at the Children’s Learning Village Daycare which has taught her to be flexible and willing to work wherever needed. In her free time she enjoys sports, snowboarding and spending time with friends. After graduation, Kora plans on attending a four-year University to get a Nursing Degree. When asked about her time as a Youth Rotar, Kora said, “I learned a lot of things about the community. I really enjoyed the presentation about the elk reintroduction in Wisconsin.”
The Rotary Club of Black River Falls is part of an organization dedicated to improving the lives of people all over the world. Its purpose is to bring together business and professional leaders to provide humanitarian services, encourage high ethical standards and to advance goodwill and peace throughout the world. The Club meets every Monday at noon at the Skyline Golf Course. For more information visit
www.brfrotary.org
or find the club on
Facebook
.
|
|
Pictured from left are Jeffrey Dobson, Rotary Club President Brad Chown and Kora Ulness.
|
|
Jackson County Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers - Volunteers Needed
Jackson County Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers is a faith-based organization, helping maintain independence and dignity for health impaired older adults, people with disabilities and people with special needs.
Interfaith has volunteer openings for friendly drivers, visitors and shoppers this winter for home bound individuals! Some of these errands can be done on your schedule, after work and can be as little as one hour a month or as much as one hour a week! With the winter weather already in full swing, they really need a few more winter volunteers! If you are able to help, contact the Interfaith office at 715-284-7058.
|
|
The City of Black River Falls has 75 city owned residential building lots for sale for just $9,900*!
The subdivision is located north of I-94 near Exit 115. The list price for any lot is $19,900 and the city is offering a $10,000 building incentive if the buyer builds within 24 months of closing. That's right! Buy the lot for $19,900 and get $10,000 back when an occupancy permit is issued. That brings the final cost of the land down to just $9,900!
For more information, contact the City Administrator at 715-284-2315.
|
|
BRMH Will Not Raise Rates For the Fourth Consecutive Year
Black River Memorial Hospital (BRMH) is consistently looking at ways to be a part of making healthcare affordable. The Board of Directors and Senior Leadership Team have approved the recommendation to not raise rates for the fourth year in a row for 2020. The average rate increase in 2019, for Wisconsin hospitals, was 4.25%, according to the Wisconsin Hospital Association.
Matthew Streeter, CFO for BRMH, stated, “The people of Jackson County deserve high quality, affordable care. We are always seeking ways to reduce the cost to our patients.”
Black River Memorial Hospital offers emergency and urgent care, surgical services, obstetrics, diagnostic, rehabilitation, respiratory, home-based services and more. Being the only hospital in the county, providing the care needed and remaining sustainable is very important to the health and well-being of Jackson County.
Streeter said, “We continually look for ways to reduce the cost of healthcare even in the face of declining payments from insurances. Each year it gets more difficult, but we are committed to making care affordable.”
Hospitals must report changes in revenue related to price increases per state law. This information is public and can be found on the Wisconsin Hospital Association website.
|
|
Jensen-Modjeski Funeral Home
128 S. Hoffman Street
Hixton, WI 54635
Phone: 715-963-2311
Schiefelbein Funeral Home
13507 7th Street
Osseo, WI 54758
Phone: 715-597-3711
When you have experienced the loss of a loved one, you can trust us to guide you through the arrangements necessary to create a meaningful ceremony that celebrates the unique life being honored. Our staff is committed to providing the highest quality care and service in your time of need, and we take pride in our responsibility to lighten your burden as you take the first steps toward healing.
|
|
7 Rivers Alliance Updates
|
|
Inspire Program
The Inspire 7 Rivers team has taken initiative to grow its network of employers and students. Inspire is a way to link together education and industry to help students and job seekers achieve their goals and address communities’ workforce development needs. Inspire 7 Rivers is launched in school districts within Black River Falls, Holmen, Tomah, Hillsboro and Blair-Taylor, and over the next three years, the program will expand to include school districts throughout the entire 7 Rivers Region.
The Inspire program is now up to over 114 employers and 97 coaches that collaborate with over 1,000 active students in the area.
Our team continues to communicate about the benefits of the program to local organizations. We are currently working on creating a more effective, user friendly registration process for employers to join. If you or any employer is interested in learning more please email
Chris@7riversalliance.org
.
|
|
Department of Workforce Development -
Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
|
|
WisConnect is your source for Wisconsin internships!
Employers can recruit interns on WisConnect to enhance their skilled talent pipeline. Create an employer profile, post internships, search for Wisconsin college students and find resources to build or expand internship programs. It's easy to get started.
Create a free WisConnect account
to start your search for interns today. Once registered, you can build your employer profile to showcase and attract interns, post internships and search for qualified interns who meet your talent needs.
College students are joining WisConnect daily. Visit the site frequently to make new talent connections.
Students can seek internships to gain valuable job skills and launch their career. Create a professional profile, upload your resume, and search for internships with Wisconsin employers. Create a free WisConnect account to start your internship search today. Once registered, students can search for internships, explore Wisconsin businesses that offer internships and identify opportunities to gain valuable job skills. New internship postings are added frequently. Visit WisConnect often to find new opportunities.
For more information visit the link below!
|
|
Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation News
|
|
Economic Development Programs
The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) offers programs and resources that spur economic prosperity in Wisconsin! Funding, resources and training help companies that do business in Wisconsin maximize their potential. Discover the support WEDC and Wisconsin’s statewide economic development network offer businesses and communities!
Click here to learn more.
|
|
Made in Wisconsin
High-Quality Products from Hard-Working People
When something is produced in Wisconsin, it is a point of pride for those who had a hand in its creation. WEDC created a cost-free logo for businesses to use to proclaim their products' Wisconsin origin. The Made In Wisconsin logo can be adapted to reflect a company's production process.
Join the hundreds of companies who are already participating in the Made In Wisconsin program by filling out an application
here
!
|
|
2020 Business After 5 Calendar
|
|
January 8 - Norgaard Agency
February 12 - Pine View Care Center
March - No Business After 5
April 8 - Gundersen Black River Falls Eye Clinic
May 13 - Jackson County Historical Society
June 10 - Ho-Chunk Gaming Black River Falls
July - No Business After 5
August 12 - Black River Memorial Hospital
September 9 - Meier's Associates Inc
October 14 - JC Financial Partners
November 11 -
Network for Youth & UMOS
December 2 - BRACC Holiday Party
Our Business After 5 calendar for 2021 is starting to fill up! If you are interested in hosting a Business After 5, give us a call today to reserve your spot!
|
|
2019 Chamber Board of Directors
|
|
President -
Robert Crampes, Land O'Lakes
Vice President -
Dave Meyer, WWIS Radio
Treasurer -
Matt Streeter, Black River Memorial Hospital
Secretary -
Justin Dougherty, Dynamic Audio & Video LLC
Board Members
Karman Briggs, Western Dairyland
Keith Brown, Farm Urban Realty
Kristin Franks, Edward Jones
Grady Gutknecht, Jackson County Board Rep
Bill Laurent, Jackson County Republican Office
Sue Miller, Co-op Credit Union
Melissa Porter, Ho-Chunk Gaming-Black River Falls
Scott Johnson, Aptiv
Tamra Soto, Comfort Inn & Suites
Joe Williams, Theisen's Home-Farm-Auto
|
|
From left: Lynette LeGarde, Samantha Windsor, Kathy Kopp and Amanda Gunn
|
|
Black River Area Chamber of Commerce
120 N Water St
Black River Falls, WI 54615
715-284-4658
www.blackrivercountry.net
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
