Chamber Newsletter - February 2025 | |
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Chamber Chat with Amanda
Join us for an evening of celebration at the Black River Area Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Dinner coming up on Monday, March 3rd, at Ho-Chunk Gaming in Black River Falls, to honor three outstanding businesses and a service organization that have strengthened our community.
2024 Business of the Year (Less than 20 Employees): UScellular Agent/Cell.Plus
For over a decade, UScellular Agent/Cell.Plus has set the standard for exceptional customer service, evidenced by their four "Store of the Year" awards. Their dedication extends beyond business success, as they are deeply rooted in our community, consistently supporting local events and initiatives.
2024 Business of the Year (More than 20 Employees): Walmart #1277 of Black River Falls
A cornerstone of Black River Falls since 1989, Walmart #1277 is recognized for its unwavering commitment to both its employees and the community. Their provision of essential services, coupled with substantial donations and volunteer efforts, underscores their vital role in our area.
2024 Emerging Business of the Year (Operating 5 Years or Less): The Yoga Studio Black River Falls
Since opening in October 2023, The Yoga Studio Black River Falls has cultivated a thriving wellness community. Their diverse range of services, engaging events, and active volunteerism have quickly made a significant positive impact.
2024 Service Organization Award: Merrillan Lions Club
Celebrating 50 years of dedicated service, the Merrillan Lions Club exemplifies community spirit. Their organization of free community events, providing scholarships, and collaborative partnerships with local organizations have created a lasting legacy.
We invite you to join us in honoring these exceptional recipients at the Annual Dinner. Reservations are being accepted until Monday morning at noon. For further details and to secure your place, please visit:
https://www.blackrivercountry.net/annual-dinner/
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Outdoor Recreation Business Survey | |
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2025 Black River Country Visitor Guides
2025 Black River Country Visitor Guides are available! Pick up your copy at the Chamber office, or contact us to arrange delivery.
A huge thank you to The Print Shop for their fantastic work on this year's guide.
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Chamber Annual Dinner
The Chamber Annual Dinner & Meeting will be held on Monday, March 3rd at Ho-Chunk Gaming Black River Falls in the Bingo Hall. Join us for an evening of celebration as we showcase achievements from 2024 and preview what’s to come in 2025. The big highlight of the evening will be the presentation of our annual awards, recognizing businesses and an organization that made a big impact in the community in 2024.
Register for the dinner online: https://forms.gle/6Xo1yQAoPXzBfF7LA
Cost is $35 per person or $250 for a corporate table of 8. You can also choose to support the event by donating items for the Silent Auction or sponsoring the dinner and royalty.
View the Annual Dinner & Meeting page on the Chamber website: https://www.blackrivercountry.net/annual-dinner/
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Fern Helbling Scholarships
The Black River Area Chamber of Commerce is thrilled to offer the Fern Helbling Scholarships, honoring the legacy of Fern Helbling, a dedicated local nurse committed to community improvement. These scholarships support local scholars in their educational pursuits.
Fern Helbling Business Scholarship: Open to male and female students majoring in business at a four-year college. Applicants must be at least sophomores in good standing, taking at least six credits.
Fern Helbling Women’s Scholarship: For women aged 25+ enrolled in a two- or four-year college, taking a minimum of six credits.
Both scholarships, valued at up to $2,000 each for 2025, require applicants to be Jackson County residents with strong moral standards. Applicants must provide a degree audit or schedule, unofficial transcript, three references, and an essay about their goals.
Apply by February 28, 2025! Download application materials or apply online: https://www.blackrivercountry.net/helbling-scholarship/
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2025 Menu Guides
The 2025 Black River Area Menu Guides are now available!
If you'd like copies for your business or lodging facility, swing by our office to pick them up or simply give us a call, and we'll be happy to drop them off for you.
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Free Ad in the Weekly E-Newsletter for All Chamber Members
We are once again offering a free ad in the weekly e-newsletter to all Chamber Members in 2025! We want to help promote your business as much as we can, so your ad will not only be included in the weekly e-newsletter but also featured in a scheduled Facebook post on our page.
To take advantage of this opportunity, simply send your ad to chamber@blackrivercountry.net and let us know when you’d like it to run. Ad sizes should be 8.5x11.
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out!
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Events and Press Releases 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!
We will also share press releases in the Member News section of the monthly e-newsletter! Please send any press releases to amandagunn@blackrivercountry.net.
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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!
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Proud Member Logo
Thank you for being a Member of the Black River Area Chamber of Commerce - we appreciate your membership. Being part of the Chamber means being part of a thriving, innovative and collaborative business community. Your membership brings credibility to your business and increases positive perceptions among consumers and fellow business professionals. We welcome you to increase your visibility in the community with the Proud Member Logo!
You can save a copy of the digital 2025 Proud Member logo by clicking on the image below. You can place it on your website with a link to the Black River Area Chamber website www.blackrivercountry.net. You can also print a copy to display at your place of business.
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February Business After 5
Thank you to G&S Equipment and The Mocha Mouse for hosting a fantastic February Business After 5 on February 12 at the Chamber office! Despite the snowy weather, a great crowd came out to enjoy the delicious food! They truly outdid themselves with a variety of grazing boards piled high with goodies, hot food options, and delectable desserts – all which attendees could also take to go! It was a wonderful evening of networking and community connection.
G&S Equipment offers equipment rentals and small engine repairs. From aerial manlifts and skid steers to hand tools, they have what you need for any project. Their certified technicians ensure your equipment is ready to perform year-round. Give them a call at 715-284-7589 for more information.
The Mocha Mouse offers catering services for individuals and businesses, with a delicious variety of options - including grazing boards, meat and cheese trays, fruit and veggie trays, full meals, desserts, and more! Perfect for any occasion and every appetite. Call 715-299-5413 to inquire about catering!
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2025 Business After 5 Schedule | |
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March 12: No Business After 5
April 9: Creekside Winery
May 14: Waumandee State Bank
June 11: Dilly's Hatfield Resort
July 9: Three Bears Resort
August 13: Black River Falls United Methodist Church
September 10: Ho-Chunk Gaming
October 8: Security Financial Bank
November 12: Republican Party of Jackson County
December 3: Chamber Holiday Party
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If you're interested in hosting a Business After 5 event in 2026, give us a call! | |
St. Croix Hospice Ribbon Cutting | |
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A Ribbon Cutting was held February 4th at St. Croix Hospice to celebrate the grand opening of their new office located at 206 S. Roosevelt Rd Suite 147 in Black River Falls.
St. Croix Hospice listens to patients and families to understand their individual wishes for the end-of-life care journey. With a focus on comfort and quality of life, their hospice teams provide care with dignity and respect. For more information call 608-390-4549 or visit https://www.stcroixhospice.com/
| Pictured (l-r): Kathy Kopp - Chamber office manager, St. Croix Hospice Staff Matt, Alex, Dana, Becky, Matt, Megan, Katie, Janessa, Melissa, Julie, Clare, Sarah, Terilyn, Erica, Amanda Gunn - Chamber executive director, and Brian Westrate | |
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Black River Falls School District Childcare Center Update
Hello, Tiger community! I’m reaching out to provide you with an update regarding the school board-operated childcare center that we are currently working on developing. We have hired a director, Caitlin Osegard, and she is working with our District team to get Gebhardt School ready to receive our youngest Tigers! We are planning on the center opening on June 2, 2025. We are hoping to begin opening up enrollment by mid-March as we fully understand the advanced planning necessary to ensure you have secured quality care for your child(ren). The center will be open from 6:30 am - 5:30 pm, year-round. We will begin with accepting full-time care only, and will later determine if we have the capacity for part-time enrollment.
As a portion of the childcare center funding is coming from a community service levy, we’d like to make sure there are community voices involved in the work! We are seeking individuals who are interested in helping us make some decisions about the operations of the center. We will be meeting at 3:45 on Monday, March 3rd at the District Office in the Board Room. Please contact me at shelly.severson@brf.org or Caitlin Osegard at caitlin.osegard@brf.org if you are interested in joining us for the conversations!
Of course, if this date and time do not work for you, and you are still interested, please let us know so that we keep you included in the conversations moving forward.
Your partner in education,
Dr. Shelly Severson
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Annual BRF High School Alumni Association Banquet Information
When: Saturday, May 24, 2025
Where: Commons Area of BRF High School
Cost: The event is sponsored by David and Judith Lund, John and Sharon Lund, and Gerald Schunke.
Schedule:
•Social hour: 4 p.m. – 6 p.m.
•Dinner: 6 p.m.
•Anniversary-year photos (25-year, 30-year, etc.): 5:30 p.m. in designated meeting rooms
Additional Information:
•The event is open to all BRFHS alumni and their guests.
•Reservations must be made by May 15, 2025.
•Please include your name, class year, mailing and e-mail address, name of guest (class year if applicable), and phone number.
•Email your reservation to brfalumni2025@yahoo.com, call 715-284-4072, or mail your reservation to Clarice Hanson Franke, BRF Alumni Assn. Secretary/Treasurer, W11552 Spaulding Rd, Black River Falls WI 54615.
•Confirmation of your reservation will be made by phone call or email.
•The alumni association awards $2,000 scholarships to BRFHS graduates. Donations are appreciated to help support the scholarship program. Donations can be made at the banquet, mailed to Franke (checks should be made payable to the BRF Area Foundation), or made directly online at brfareafoundation.org (click on “Donate” and then the “Tiger wearing a graduation hat”).
Contact Information:
• Steve Peterson, President: 715-299-7383
• Grace Hanson Nordahl, Vice President/Scholarship Committee Advisor: 715-963-2151
• Clarice Hanson Franke, Secretary/Treasurer: 715-284-4072
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Scholarship Opportunities | |
Wisconsin Fast Forward Program | |
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The Department of Workforce Development is now accepting applications for Wisconsin Fast Forward Industry Sectors Worker Training Grants through March 11 at 3 p.m. CST.
This grant helps fund innovative and collaborative customized worker training programs.
Key features of the program:
- Grants are available to companies of any size in all industry sectors.
- Grant award amounts range from $5,000 to $400,000. A grantee serving as an applicant for a consortium of employers may apply for more than $400,000.
- Cash or in-kind match equal to 50% of the grant award amount is required.
- Grantees must complete training of at least 85% of the contracted number of trainees.
- At least 65% of trainees must be placed in positions with placement partners in the grant application that require skills taught in the training.
- At least 75% of incumbent trainees receive increased wages.
For more information and to apply, see the grant program announcement summarizing program requirements.
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Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation - Grants | |
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Entrepreneurship Partner Grant - The goal of the Entrepreneurship Partner Grant is to encourage the formation of entrepreneurship support programs and to develop startup and emerging growth companies in the state of Wisconsin. View more information.
Opportunity Attraction Fund - This program is designed to attract major opportunities and events to Wisconsin, enhancing our state's reputation as a prime destination for travel, business, and living. View program details.
Small Business Development Grant - This program is designed to assist communities and their economic development partners to expand or create new and innovative locally-managed programs that will directly support small businesses. These programs should provide greater access to capital and other resources to small businesses throughout the state. View more information.
Other Programs - Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation continues to offer several longstanding programs aimed at Downtowns including the Idle Sites Redevelopment Program, Community Development Investment Grant, Historic Tax Credit Program, and their Brownfields programs. For more information on these, visit https://wedc.org/programs/
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Dementia Friendly Community Initiatives of Jackson County | |
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Dear Community Member,
As the number of people living with dementia continues to rise, and is projected to grow exponentially over the next thirty years, the Department of Health Services (DHS) has developed a statewide initiative to make Wisconsin as Dementia Friendly as possible. A Dementia friendly community is one that builds infrastructure to support and take responsibility for enhancing the beneficial effect of services for those living with dementia and their caregivers. This can be accomplished through promoting the awareness that a dementia diagnosis does not mean the person affected can no longer continue with their daily activities. In fact, studies have shown that people with dementia want to continue to be a part of their community, enjoy their regular daily lives and maneuver around their community safely and conveniently.
Community members in Jackson County have joined forces to provide this education, support and outreach to area businesses to enhance the support of those with Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease in our community. For the convenience and efficiency of your business, training takes approximately thirty minutes. The trainer will travel to the location of your choosing, provide all materials, conduct a verbal presentation and answer questions. The information provided will outline what Dementia is, how to recognize it, why being a dementia-friendly business fits into the larger picture of a dementia-friendly community and how to better serve a person who may be suffering a symptom associated with the disease. Our program can enhance your company’s policies and procedures.
We recommend that at least 50% of the staff are trained, which includes managers. Going forward, we request that new employees receive the training as part of their orientation process. After completion of initial training, you will receive the “Purple Angel” window cling (pictured above) and the Dementia Friendly Toolkit for use in the orientation process. The toolkit is provided by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services and can be viewed at https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/dementia/communities.htm. We recommend applying the symbol to all entrances so that customers can identify the business as a safe and supportive environment.
Training is always FREE. There will be no cost to you or your business at any time. We also will not ask for money at any time. Please email ADRCJC@jacksoncountywi.gov to set up your training.
A dementia friendly community is a place where it is possible for the greatest number of people with Dementia or Alzheimer’s disease to live a good, enriching life. Together we can make Jackson County that community!
We look forward to working with you in the future!
The Jackson County Dementia Friendly Coalition
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U.S. Small Business Administration | |
Created in 1953, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) helps small business owners and entrepreneurs pursue the American dream. The SBA is the only cabinet-level federal agency fully dedicated to small business and provides counseling, capital, and contracting expertise as the nation’s only go-to resource and voice for small businesses.
The SCORE chapter that services the western and north central region of WI has a number of different mentors that have expertise in certain areas of business (marketing, social media, bookkeeping, etc). Additionally, SCORE mentors can help a business owner update or create a business plan. Learn more at https://centralwisconsin.score.org/.
Area Contact -
Lisa Taylor
Outreach and Marketing Specialist
Wisconsin District Office
U.S. Small Business Administration
Cell: (202) 407-3299
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SFB - Security Financial Bank | |
2025 Chamber Board of Directors | |
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President - Justin Dougherty, Dynamic Audio & Video LLC
Vice President - Nancy Stevens, Cell.Plus/US Cellular
Treasurer - Jordan Nortman, Coldwell Banker River Valley, Realtors®
Secretary - Crystal Byrns, Wal-Mart
Board Members
Amy Bloczynski, Waumandee State Bank
Miranda Chandler, Co-op Credit Union
Ginger Heath, Regal Rexnord
Bill Laurent, Jackson County Board Representative
Melissa Lechner, Security Financial Bank
Laura Lindow, Reflections on Water
Brianne Massman, #WillPProject & Brianne Massman Health & Wellness Coaching and Consulting
Dana Olson, Black River Country Bank
Melissa Porter, Ho-Chunk Nation Representative
Nichole Sullivan, School District of Black River Falls
Jane Tande, Love On Your Home Real Estate & Boutique
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Black River Area Chamber of Commerce
120 N Water St
Black River Falls, WI 54615
715-284-4658
www.blackrivercountry.net
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