Marshfield-area Chamber pitches $25,000 partnership to support northern county businesses

Denise Saum, executive director of the Marshfield-area Chamber of Commerce and Industry, told the committee the chamber serves roughly 415 members across a 10–15 mile radius that includes parts of Marathon County and asked the county to continue a $25,000 annual contribution similar to what Wood County provides. “We are a small chamber. We have roughly about 415 members,” Saum said, and explained the chamber’s work on youth apprenticeships, workforce development and an upcoming developer tour on Sept. 25.

Saum described specific programming — from youth apprenticeship cohorts to a WEDC grant application to help local restaurants apply for $10,000 improvements — and argued county partnership helps reach communities north of Marshfield that she said might otherwise be overlooked. Supervisors asked whether the county already contributes to other chambers; Administrator Leonard said the county is a member of the Greater Wausau Chamber and provides a $40,000 allocation to McDevco for entrepreneurial work but does not currently fund chambers’ economic-development activities in the same way as Wood County.

No formal action was taken at the meeting; Saum’s visit was agendized as an educational presentation, and committee members said they would consider the deliverables if a formal funding request advanced during the budget process.