Governor Scott Walker today voiced his support for the Confluence Project, indicating the state will work with UW-Eau Claire and public and private partners to move the project forward. The governor spoke during a luncheon in Eau Claire hosted by the Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce. See Leader-Telegram coverage of the governor’s speech.
This pledge of support from Gov. Walker comes at a key time as the Confluence partners continue their work, and it further carries the momentum for the project, which was boosted following a show of support from voters in city and county referendums in April.
I was pleased to hear the governor cite the innovative partnership behind the project, as it’s clear these kinds of partnerships hold great promise for future economic development across Wisconsin. As I’ve said repeatedly since coming on board at UW-Eau Claire a year ago, the Confluence Project is a model for a new way in which government and private enterprise can work together to achieve things that no single entity can create on its own.
We continue to keep focused on the immediate work before us to ensure that the Confluence Project is included among the Board of Regents recommendations for the state 2015-17 biennial budget, and then seeing that the project makes its way successfully through the ensuing state budget process.
Gov. Walker’s words of support today will go a long way toward helping us achieve our goal of partnering in a community arts center that will serve the university and foster growth for our city and our region for years to come.
