The Eau Claire Area Convention & Visitors Bureau is accepting grant applications from non-profit organizations through the semi-annual Tourism and Cultural Arts grant programs. 

The Tourism Grant is intended to encourage tourism development and promotion through events that will generate overnight stays and/or extend visitor stays while creating a positive image of the Eau Claire area. It is appropriate for new and expanding festivals, sports tournaments, conventions, or other special events.

The Cultural Arts Grant is intended to enhance the enjoyment and understanding of arts and culture in the region. Proposals may include performing arts, visual media, literary arts, folk art, festivals, artist series, cultural programs for grades K-12, cultural traditions, or public art programs. 

Grant applications are accepted twice each year on April 15 and November 15. 

Complete grant guidelines as well as application forms for both Tourism and Cultural Arts grants are available by calling the Eau Claire Area Convention & Visitors Bureau at (715) 831-2345 or by clicking HERE!

Fish Farmers from Wisconsin and around the Midwest will be coming together for the 15th Annual Wisconsin Aquaculture Conference to share ideas – “We’re Fresh and Local” on March 19-20, 2010 at the Ramada Inn in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. With the current economic strains on businesses, Wisconsin aquaculturists are meeting to help each other solve problems and promote aquaculture.

The 15th Annual Wisconsin Aquaculture Conference will feature sessions on aquaponics, marketing, pond management, research, health/fish management, regulations, and species breakout groups. Returning again will be Dani Klontz for the ever popular Fish Cooking Demonstration. Included will be a Trade Show for vendors to show off the newest and latest in aquaculture equipment and services, displays of aquaculture research projects and the Third Annual Wisconsin School Aquaculture Poster, which will be judged on Friday afternoon. Cheryl O’Brien, the 62nd Alice in Dairyland, will give a talk on Wisconsin Aquaculture. There will also be a Silent Auction with proceeds going for Future Farmers of America SAE Aquaculture Grant, Aquaculture School Poster Contest and support of the Aquaculture industry. One of the highlights each year is the time participants spend networking and gaining insight from one another and experienced farmers.

The two-day event will be held at the Ramada Inn, 205 South Barstow Street, Eau Claire, WI. This is the largest aquaculture conference in the region and more than 125 people are expected to attend this year’s conference, coming from not only Wisconsin but surrounding states as well. Members of the public who are interested in aquaculture are also encouraged to attend. There will also be a preconference workshop on Regulatory Rules - at the same location on March 18 at 1:00 pm. 

Sponsors of the Wisconsin Aquaculture Conference 2010 include Wisconsin Aquaculture Association, University of Wisconsin Stevens Point, Northern Aquaculture Demonstration Facility, University of Wisconsin – Madison/Aquaculture Program, University of Wisconsin Extension, Wisconsin Department of Agriculture Trade and Consumer Protection.

Who should attend: Current and prospective fish farmers with an interest in finding answers to questions concerning business operations and issues, culture techniques, and aquaculture research, people who want to learn about aquaculture, aquaponics, aquaculture researchers, veterinarians, extension agents, agriculture and natural resource technicians and any member of the public interested in Wisconsin aquaculture. 

Cost: Conference registration is $100 per person ($130 for non-Wisconsin Aquaculture Association members), $85 for additional person same organization, $65 for spouse of an attendee, and $65 for students. The daily rate is $70 for Friday or Saturday. There is an additional $25 late fee after March 4, 2010. There is a separate charge for the Regulatory Rules Workshop on March 18th of $15.

Location: Ramada Inn 205 South Barstow Street, Eau Claire, WI 54701. To make reservations call the Ramada Inn directly at 800-950-6121 with booking code – Aquaculture Conference.

Contacts: To register for the conference and for a conference brochure with lodging information, contact Cindy Johnson, Wisconsin Aquaculture Association, 715-373-2990 or email Cindy@WisconsinAquaculture.com. You may also register online at www.WisconsinAquaculture.com, and click on “Shop Now”, “Product Category”, “Events and Seminars”. For additional conference information contact Ron Johnson, Aquaculture Outreach Specialist at 715-779-3189.

Interviews: There will be photo opportunities and time available for an interview with Cheryl O’Brien, the 62nd Alice in Dairyland, following her talk on Friday, March 19.  Interviews with WAA officers and industry leaders can be arranged.

More than 500 figure skaters, ranging in age from 5 to 55 years, will be participating in the Eau Claire Figure Skating Competition March 12-14 at the newly renovated Hobbs Ice Arena in Eau Claire.

The competition is hosted by the Eau Claire Figure Skating Club and will include skaters from Minnesota and Wisconsin, including 35 entrants from the Eau Claire club.

Competition on Friday and Saturday will include individual events in Free Skating, Short Program, Compulsory Moves, Jumps, Spins, and Artistic Skating. It also includes Championship events in the Intermediate division. Medals for first through fifth place will be given in all events.  

Competition on Sunday is the Synchronized Team Skating. This is the fastest growing figure skating event and is expected to become a new Olympic event. The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Goldenettes and the Eau Claire FSC The Golden Edge will both be competing in the Synchronized Team Skating.

Event times are Friday from 2:00– 7:30 pm; Saturday from 8 am – 7 pm; and Sunday from 9:00 am – 12:30 pm.

Admission is free on Friday and Saturday. Admission for Sunday’s Synchronized Team Skating competition is $2.00 for adults and free for children 12 and under. Concessions will be available.

The Eau Claire Area Convention & Visitors Bureau estimates the economic impact of this event at $135,000.

The Eau Claire Figure Skating Club was founded in 1978 to encourage instruction, practice and advancement in all types of figure skating. Club members can compete in state, regional, sectional, national and international competitions throughout the year.

The Eau Claire County Expo Center and Lowes Creek County Park will host the 4th Annual Rumble in the Jungle Snowshoe Race.  New this year, the United States Snowshoe Association (USSA) has named this event a Regional Qualifier for its national event series.  This race will be one of five regionals in the North Central Region in 2010 and participants will be competing for a chance to qualify for the National Championships.  Event Organizers expect approximately 200 participants.  The single-track course at Lowes Creek County Park will be used for competitive and non-competitive races of varying lengths.  The race will begin and end at the Eau Claire County Expo Grounds.

Registration will run from 9:00 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.  The Mascot & Children’s Race will begin at 10:45 a.m. with the 10K beginning at 11:00 a.m. and the 5K beginning at 11:10 a.m.  Entry Fee is $15/advance, $20/race day for adults and $5.00 for children 12 and under.  Registration can be done online at www.active.com or at www.visiteauclaire.com.

Estimated economic impact to the Eau Claire area is $54,000. 

For more information, contact Mark Blaskey at 715-829-8700.

The 25th Northern Wisconsin Deer Classic & Ice Fishing Show will be held January 29-31 in Eau Claire at the Eau Claire Indoor Sports Center, 3456 Craig Road.

The three day show features events for hunting and sporting enthusiasts of all ages.  Popular family activities will include an electronic shotgun trapshooting game, trout fishing pond, laser shot shooting gallery, archery instruction and shooting for kids, a fish filleting demonstration and contest and much more.

Seminars are free and offered all three days. Topics will include: hunting, ice fishing, turkey hunting, food plot development and much more. Featured speakers include Pat Reeve and Nicole Jones, stars of the TV show, “Driven 24/7”, Jim Hudson from the Ice Team Pro Staff and Rick Koziel, Director of Beaver Creek Reserve in Fall Creek and many others.  Also appearing and entertaining with his amazing archery skills will be the man known as “The Aspirin Buster”, Frank Addington. 

Attendees are encouraged to bring their Whitetail antlers, shed antlers, or bear skulls to be measured and scored. Trophies and ribbons will be awarded in 33 classes in a ceremony on Sunday beginning at 2 pm. All antlers and skulls must be registered before noon on Sunday. 

Friday night is family night with door prizes for the first 100 families, free admission for children age 12 and under, and discounted adult admission of $9.  The show is also offering $1.00 off the ticket price all weekend for anyone bringing at least two cans of food for the Salvation Army Food Shelf.  The food shelf discount is good all three days of the show.

Saturday and Sunday admission is $10 for adults, $6 for children 6-12 years, and free for children under five years of age.  Hours are 3:00 pm – 10:00 pm on Friday; 9:00 am – 6:00 pm on Saturday; and 10:00 am – 4:00 pm on Sunday.

For more information on the Northern Wisconsin Deer Classic and Sport Show, including a complete list of seminars, visit www.deer-expo.com or call Hugh Price at 763-746-2656.

The Eau Claire Ski Club invites you to join them for two K90 ski jumping tournaments on Friday, January 22nd and Saturday, January 23rd at Silver Mine Hill in Eau Claire.  Both events are USSA sanctioned and part of the “Five Hills Tour”.  Athletes from Norway, Finland, Poland and Russia will join US Jumpers in this series of Tournaments at Eau Claire, WI; Ishpeming, MI; Chicago, IL; Minneapolis, MN; and Westby, WI.  Also expected are members from the USSA Women’s Ski Jumping Team including reigning Women’s World Ski Jumping Champion, Lindsey Van from Park City, Utah.  Also enjoy two bonfires, a beer tent, Flying Eagles concessions, $1 snowmobile rides and the Hall of Fame Dance at America's Best Value Inn Saturday at 8:00 p.m.

Advanced admission buttons are available at Airtec Sports, Bridge Stop Convenience Stores, Dooley’s Pub, Eau Claire Energy Cooperative, Festival Foods, Prestige Auto, Ray’s Place, Spring Street Sports and Visit Eau Claire until Friday, January 22nd at noon.  Admission for the weekend is $6.00 in advance and $10.00 at the gate; age 12 and under are free.

For more information and a complete schedule of events, visit www.ec-skiclub.com or call Dan Mattoon at 715-577-4114.

The 2010 Eau Claire Baseball Hall of Fame Induction Dinner will be held on Monday, February 1st at The Florian Gardens in Eau Claire. Silent auction and social will begin at 5:30 p.m. with dinner at 7:00 p.m.  The guest speaker will be Harmon Killebrew.  Killebrew "Killer" is second only to Babe Ruth in American League home runs & retired as the career leader in home runs by a right-handed batter.  He hit an astounding 573 career round-trippers.  Killebrew is also a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

This event includes a silent auction, raffles, baseball memorabilia and displays.  Hall of Fame Inductees include: Andy Pafko and Eau Claire Natives in Minor Leagues.

Tickets are available at EC Parks & Recreation at Hobbs Ice Center, 915 Menomonie Street in Eau Claire.  Tickets are $55.00 per person or $440.00 per table. 

For more information or to purchase tickets, call Patti Keske at 715-839-5032.

The Eau Claire Chamber Orchestra will present its annual free Family concert at 2 p.m. on Saturday, January 23 at Memorial High School, 2225 Keith Street.

The concert will feature the world premiere of My Name is Pinocchio by Michael Cunningham, professor emeritus of music at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.  ECCO will also perform Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears by Peter Hesterman, based on the book of the same name by Verna Aardema.

The Memorial High School Orchestra will also perform with ECCO as part of the program.  Soma Pierce-Smit directs the high school orchestra and is also ECCO’s principal second violinist.  

Members of the Eau Claire Children’s Theatre will provide animation for the Hesterman piece, according to Ivar Lunde, ECCO’s music director.  “This piece was first presented by ECCO in 2003, and we are repeating that successful performance this year,” Lunde said.

The Cunningham world premiere will be narrated by Ryan Liddell, a student at North High School. Paul Gilbertson, choir director at North High School for the past 19 years, will narrate the Hesterman piece. Dan Julson, a member of ECCO’s trumpet section, will conduct the Cunningham and Hesterman compositions. 

Lunde said that “ECCO is particularly pleased to present the world premiere of Michael Cunningham’s new version of the Pinocchio story, originally made so famous by Walt Disney’s film.  This is a piece that will be enjoyed both by the young and by older audience members.”

Lunde also noted that “the collaboration between the Memorial High School Orchestra and ECCO illustrates the chamber orchestra’s outreach philosophy.  For this program, the entire Memorial Orchestra will join ECCO in performing the first movement from Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 2.”

Cunningham, who retired from UW-Eau Claire in 2006, is the former coordinator of the theory division in the Music and Theatre Arts Department.  Hesterman has been on the music faculty at Eastern Illinois University since 1978 and is currently director of the Music Theory and Composition division and coordinator of the M.A. in Music program.

Admission to the concert is free, as part of ECCO's service to the Chippewa Valley community.  The concert is underwritten in part by Xcel Energy, RBC Wealth Management and Visit Eau Claire, with additional contributions by the Clear Water Kiwanis Club of Eau Claire and the AnnMarie Foundation. 

The chamber orchestra is featured on Community Television’s analog Channel 96 and digital channel 993 in Eau Claire and Chippewa Falls (and many other area communities) each Wednesday at 10:30 a.m., and at 6:30 p.m. on Fridays.  The current program previews the Jan. 23 Family Concert and features a conversation with Cunningham and Lunde.  The CTV program is hosted by Tom Barland.  

The next performance of ECCO’s 12th season will be on Feb. 20th, and will feature collaborative participation by musicians from Grace Lutheran Church, commemorating the church’s 100th anniversary.

For more information, please contact Ivar Lunde, Jr. at 838-8890. 

Visit Eau Claire is accepting grant applications from non-profit organizations through the semi-annual Tourism and Cultural Arts grant programs. 

The Tourism Grant is intended to encourage tourism development and promotion through events that will generate overnight stays and/or extend visitor stays while creating a positive image of the Eau Claire area. It is appropriate for new and expanding festivals, sports tournaments, conventions, or other special events.

The Cultural Arts Grant is intended to enhance the enjoyment and understanding of arts and culture in the region. Proposals may include performing arts, visual media, literary arts, folk art, festivals, artist series, cultural programs for grades K-12, cultural traditions, or public art programs.

Grant applications are accepted twice each year on November 15 and April 15. November grant awards will be determined and grantees notified by December 15. Since November’s date falls on a Sunday, applications will be accepted through Monday, November 16.

 
Complete grant guidelines as well as application forms for both Tourism and Cultural Arts grants are available by calling Visit Eau Claire at (715) 831-2345 or at www.visiteauclaire.com by clicking “Living Here”.

Visit Eau Claire’s website, www.visiteauclaire.com has won a 2009 WebAward for Outstanding Achievement in Web Development by the Web Marketing Association in the Travel category.  Risdall Marketing Group, Visit Eau Claire’s design agency, submitted the website to the competition, which included entries from around the world.  The website was a collaboration between Visit Eau Claire, Risdall Marketing Group and Eau Claire, WI based website development company, SitePro.com.  Risdall Marketing Group did the design work for the website and SitePro.com provides the content management system and programming. 

More than 300 travel websites competed in this category, with www.visiteauclaire.com receiving Outstanding Achievement in Web Development along with Explore Georgia, Travel Juneau and others.  Visit Eau Claire beat out websites such as Travel Hong Kong, Visit London and Triporati, Inc.

According to www.webaward.org, since 1997 the Web Marketing Associations annual WebAward Competition has been setting the standard of excellence for website development.  The WebAward Competition is the premier award recognition program for web developers and marketers worldwide.  

For more information, contact Pam Haller at 715-831-2345

Eau Claire, WI – As a continuing part of Visit Eau Claire’s online marketing initiative, www.visiteauclaire.com is going mobile!  You can now access the website from any handheld device (i.e. Blackberry, iPhone) quickly and easily at www.visiteauclaire.mobi.  According to MobiManage.com “More Internet enabled mobile devices will be sold this year than PCs and Laptops combined. According to Microsoft, by 2011 the average person’s first experience with the internet will be on a mobile device”.  As more and more people are using their handhelds to get information, it is important to connect with the visitor.  This new, additional site will bring tourist information directly to the traveler quickly and conveniently.  VisitEauClaire.mobi will bring the information to them in a more data driven format to help locate hotels, restaurants and things to do in a quick and efficient manner.

For more information, contact Pam Haller at 715-831-2345.   

Chippewa Valley, WI – Tourism continues to provide a significant economic benefit to the Chippewa Valley. In 2008, visitors spent $329 million in the region. Visitors include those traveling to the area for pleasure, on business, or for meetings and sporting tournaments.

The visitor spending breakdown for the three counties comprising the Chippewa Valley is: Chippewa County - $99 million; Dunn County - $53 million; and Eau Claire County - $177 million. Of the 72 Wisconsin counties, Eau Claire County is ranked 19 highest in visitor spending. 

Visitor spending benefits many Chippewa Valley businesses and retail shopping continues to represent the largest expenditure category. In 2008, the breakdown by category was: shopping – 30%; food – 27%; recreation – 22%; lodging – 13%; transportation – 8%.

Since 2000, visitor spending in the Chippewa Valley has increased 16%, from $284 million in 2000 to $329 million in 2008.

Statewide, visitor spending generated $13.116 billion in 2008. 

The tourism industry in the Chippewa Valley also directly supported 4,432 jobs and generated $40.2 million in State Government Revenue in 2008, providing additional economic impact through employment.

Tourism economic impact statistics are taken from the 20th annual Economic Impact of Expenditures by Travelers on Wisconsin report compiled by Davidson-Peterson Associates for the Wisconsin Department of Tourism.

For more information, contact Visit Eau Claire at 715-831-2345.

As part of an online marketing initiative, Visit Eau Claire is now on  Twitter!  What is Twitter?  Twitter is a service for friends, family, and co-workers to communicate and stay connected through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to one simple question:  What are you doing?  Receive updates to your email or by text message to your phone.  Visit Eau Claire joined Twitter a week ago and is now being followed by 50 people.  You too can follow Visit Eau Claire by clicking here!

According to online statistics, in the United States 72.5% of the population uses the internet.  This number has grown 130.9% from 2000-2008.  By utilizing this popular social media site, Visit Eau Claire has the opportunity to reach out to a larger number of visitors.

Visit Eau Claire is a regional destination marketing and management organization dedicated to the recruitment of visitors to the Eau Claire Area.  in 2007, tourism generated $315 million and 6,806 full-time equivalent jobs in the the Eau Claire Area with spending supporting multiple area businesses including shopping, recreation, food, lodging and transportation. 

For more information, contact Pam Haller at 715-831-2345.

The City of Eau Claire has been chosen as one of Ten Affordable Places to Retire, according to US News and World Report.  To find affordable places to retire US News and World Report used their Best Places to Retire search tool, www.usnews.com/directories/retirement.  According to writer Emily Brandon, the most weight was given to affordable housing.  Every city on the list has a median home price below $150,000.  They also chose places that offer access to arts and culture, sports, health care and other amenities that retirees want and need in a retirement location.  College towns like Eau Claire generally offer a lot of amenities for the money.

To view the article, visit www.usnews.com/articles/business/retirement/2009/03/26/10-affordable-places-to-retire.html.

For more information, contact Pam Haller at 715-831-2345.