New tourism website will soon launch

RIVER FALLS – While the 2022 River Falls Chamber of Commerce annual awards and recognition banquet Thursday, Feb. 2 was filled with great moments, one stood out as especially heartwarming: Terry McAleavey receiving the Citizen of the Year Award. He received a standing ovation.

Sometimes the recipient of this award has had a particularly impactful year, said Executive Director Russ Korpela.

“Sometimes it’s through a lifetime of service to the community, which is the case this year,” he said.

McAleavey has been a smiling face and hard worker at Family Fresh Market for 50 years, through multiple ownership changes, remodels, bosses and decades. He began working there at the age of 18 bagging groceries and stocking shelves and has been there since. He will serve at the grand marshal of the River Falls Days parade in July.

Korpela said a Facebook post announcing McAleavey as Citizen of the Year garnered 27,000 views, 500-plus comments and just as many shares.

“This is the respect the community has for this winner,” Korpela said.

McAleavey told Korpela he’s had a hard time working since the announcement came out, because people come up to him constantly at store to congratulate him.

“Thank you very much for everything,” McAleavey said. “I appreciate it. I was born and raised here. I’ve been at the store pretty much all my life.”

Non-Profit of the Year

HOPE for Creation received the 2022 Non-Profit of the Year award. They were nominated along with American Legion Post 121 and Sexual Assault Response Team (SART).

Those who accepted the award touted the organization’s “simple but powerful” mission, which is to create a hopeful, ecologically sustainable future for River Falls through interfaith collaboration, education, partnerships, advocacy and action.

The group formed in 2014 and continues to grow. Many River Falls churches have joined the group, along with the City of River Falls and the River Falls Chamber of Commerce. The second annual Earth Fest, which had tremendous attendance in its inaugural year despite cold, windy weather, will be held Saturday, April 22.

Small Business of the Year

Fox Den Books earned the 2022 Small Business of the Year award. Other nominees included The Garage Bikes & Brews and St. Croix Lanes.

Korpela said that small businesses are essential to both the community’s and the nation’s economy.

James and Heather Williams opened Fox Den Books in River Falls on Oct. 18, 2012. They moved to a new location last year at across the street from their first home in the 100 block of South Main Street.

Their website states, “We passionately believe in the continued survival of the general stock bookstore … We believe the loss of the element of serendipity – letting the book find the reader, would be a tragic loss.”

The store also stocks all sorts of gift items, games and toys and hosts multiple events each year, such as author book signings, book clubs, game nights and Harry Potter celebrations.

“Thank you for letting us be a part of your lives, your birthday parties, your reading journey,” Heather Williams said. “We love this community.”

Large Business of the Year

Large Business of the Year is awarded to a business that employs 25 or more people. This year the honor went to WESTconsin Credit Union, who was nominated along with Tattersall Distilling and Event Center and Leitch Insurance Agency.

WESTconsin was founded in 1939 as Menomonien Farmers Credit Union. In the summer of 1990, after merging with several other small credit unions, WESTconsin came to be. Today, the credit union serves communities in 26 counties across west central Wisconsin and east central Minnesota.

WESTconsin’s philosophy includes helping people where they can and getting involved in the communities in which they serve through sponsorships, donations and volunteerism.

Other awards

This year’s Chamber Champion honor went to Cory Hart of Swinging Bridge Brewing Company. A Chamber Champion constantly goes above and beyond the call of duty, Korpela said. Hart sits on multiple committees and is always available on-call to help and act as a sound board. He’s also been known to be a gift basket and Bacon Bash superhero.

Hart jokes that he was guilted into many Chamber activities, but genuinely seemed surprised that he had won the award.

Krista Paulus of Security Financial Bank accepted the 2022 Chamber Ambassador of the Year award. Fellow chamber ambassadors selected her for the honor “because she does an outstanding job representing the chamber, exemplifies volunteerism, and goes above and beyond,” said Kovach-Erickson.

“I enjoy River Falls and I love all of you,” Paulus said.

Looking to 2023

Looking toward 2023, Chamber Board Chair Amanda Linehan played off the night’s theme (Greatest Hits) with a speech riddled with song lyrics.

“I’ve got a feeling, that tonight’s gonna be a good night,” she said. “2023 is a whole new world, a whole new place for you and me.”

She detailed how Korpela, Kovach-Erickson and Marketing & Communications Specialist Alexandra Pashina have been working to modernize chamber member benefits, including a new digital training resource page, a new LinkedIn page and a new website dedicated to tourism, plus an overhaul of the current website which will cater to chamber members.

Korpela said staff members took part in a board retreat focused on succeeding in a post-pandemic world. This resulted in a renewed vision and redrafted mission statement zeroed in on promoting, supporting and advocating for member businesses. A new strategic plan will be released in a few weeks.

The new focus will position the chamber to be more transformational and impactful, Korpela said.

“Chambers get things done,” Korpela said. “We will strive to help partners meet challenges and take opportunities.”

Two new committees will be formed: Business Education Leadership and Government Relations, along with a new tourism-oriented website and brand to better promote the city.

“Wisconsin is one of the larges drive-to states for vacations,” Korpela said. “People seeking great places to go come to Wisconsin for fun food, drink and lodging in a safe environment.”

The website will dub River Falls as “Western Wisconsin’s Hometown,” a place where people will wish they were from.

“They don’t just make towns like this,” Korpela said. “We want visitors to our community to feel like they grew up here.”

Stay tuned for more details and follow the River Falls Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau on social media.