Connect with the Local Business Community

Looking for a relaxed way to connect with other professionals in the Menomonie area? Join the Menomonie Area Chamber & Visitor Center tonight for Business After Hours from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. at 414 Main Street E. This month’s event is hosted by Inside Out Transformations, The Abbey Pub & Grub, Toppers Pizza, and Scouting America, Chippewa Valley Council.

Business After Hours offers a casual setting to network, exchange ideas, and learn more about local businesses and the services they provide. The event is free for employees of Chamber member businesses and open to the public for a small fee. Light refreshments will be available, and attendees are encouraged to bring business cards for networking and the door prize drawing.

👉 Get directions to The Abbey Pub and Grub

Practical Guidance for Board Leadership

Serving on a nonprofit board carries important responsibilities, yet many board members begin without clear guidance on what effective governance looks like. This Coffee and Commerce session focuses on the practical side of board service, helping nonprofit leaders better understand their role, responsibilities, and decision making. This session will take place April 16, 2026 from 7:30 to 9:00 a.m. at Stepping Stones.

Attendees will explore where governance ends and day to day operations begin, how to identify board skill gaps using a Skills and Diversity Matrix, and what new board members should focus on during their first 90 days. The session will also explain the legal duties of Care, Loyalty, and Obedience and how these responsibilities apply in real boardroom decisions. Panelists will share insight drawn from years of nonprofit leadership experience.

👉 Register today and strengthen your nonprofit leadership.

Visitor Spending and Local Impact

Tourism plays a meaningful role in the strength of Menomonie’s local economy. This Chamber Luncheon will explore how visitor spending supports local jobs, strengthens the tax base, fuels small business activity, and contributes to the overall vitality of the community. This session will take place March 26, 2026 from 11:15 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Bill's Distributing.

Attendees will gain a broader understanding of how tourism connects to economic development and why it matters for businesses across many industries. Whether a business serves visitors directly or benefits from increased community activity, the discussion will highlight how tourism contributes to long term growth in Menomonie.

👉 Register today to attend the Tourism Luncheon.

A Business Conversation on Economic Infrastructure

Reliable childcare directly affects a business’s ability to hire and retain employees. This Eggs and Issues program will examine childcare as essential economic infrastructure in Dunn County, using local data and real world examples to illustrate its impact on workforce recruitment and retention. The session brings together topic experts from UW Extension, local childcare providers, program facilitators, and statewide association leadership. The event will take place April 2, 2026 from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. at the University of Wisconsin Stout Ballrooms, 302 10th Avenue East Upper Level, Menomonie.

The discussion will move beyond awareness to focus on practical, employer driven solutions and financial incentives available through Wisconsin Act 78. Attendees will explore employer supported childcare models, understand the legal and economic context surrounding childcare access, and learn realistic steps businesses can take to support long term workforce stability.

👉 Register today to join the April Eggs and Issues discussion.

Continue Building Your Marketing Skills

Thank you to everyone who attended the SkillBooster Series session focused on Meta. Programs like this help businesses build practical marketing skills and gain confidence using digital tools. A special thank you to Benny Anderson of Daredevil Consulting for helping make this session possible.

The next SkillBooster session takes place April 8 and will focus on Google Business Profile, search visibility, and advertising. Attendees will learn how these tools work together to help businesses appear in search results and make more informed marketing decisions.

👉 Register for the April SkillBooster session.