Walker: $15M to Confluence
budget will include state funds for arts center, governor says
While proposed university funding cuts have caused anxiety in the Chippewa Valley, Gov. Scott Walker’s state budget includes one very bright spot for the region: a pledge of $15 million for the performing arts center proposed as part of Confluence Project in downtown Eau Claire.
The funding announcement drew applause from a delegation of Eau Claire-area leaders who visited Madison Jan. 28 to advocate for the region’s interests as part of the annual Chippewa Valley Rally. Backers had been seeking $25 million from the state for the project, but the $15 million commitment was nonetheless received positively by supporters.
“We think that’s a solid, fiscally sound way to do that going forward.” – Gov. Scott Walker, after pledging $15 million to the Confluence Project in the form of a challenge grant
“First and foremost, it keeps the project alive,” said UW-Eau Claire Chancellor James C. Schmidt. “People have given their blood, sweat, and tears to this project for the past two or three years.” UWEC has collaborated with the Eau Claire Regional Arts Council and private developers on the Confluence Project, which includes plans for a shared performing arts center and a privately built commercial and residential complex. (The latter project is already underway on South Barstow Street.)
“This was less than I’d hoped for, but I’m grateful it was in the proposal,” Schmidt said of the $15 million. The Confluence partners had originally sought $25 million from the state for the project. Schmidt said the funding gap could be addressed either by scaling down the proposed building or seeking other sources of revenue.
“We remain deeply committed to delivering the same quality, venue capacity, and patron experience that we’ve represented since the beginning. If there are sacrifices they will not be at the expense of these elements,” said Kimera Way, executive director of the UW-Eau Claire Foundation, whose subsidiary, Blugold Real Estate, is involved in the project.
“We believe that the final product – a $40 million building – will exceed the community’s expectations,” she added. Previously, plans had called for a roughly $50 million arts center.
During the Madison announcement, Walker said that $15 million in state funds would be pledged to match money raised locally for the project, making it akin to a challenge grant. “We think that’s a solid, fiscally sound way to do that going forward,” Walker said. “I think it’s just sound policy, but I also think it makes it easier to keep it in through the legislative process.”
The 2015-17 budget, which Walker was slated to unveil Feb. 3, must be passed by both houses of the Legislature and signed by Walker. Because legislative approval is required, the governor urged Confluence supporters to continue to make their case for the project to lawmakers. “It’s in (the budget), but make sure that you continue to lobby folks, because that doesn’t meant that just because I put it in next Tuesday that it will stay in forever,” he said.
According to a press release from Walker’s office, “Confluence Project fundraisers must raise their entire portion of the project cost before state money will be released.” Enough to meet Walker’s $15 million threshold has already been committed locally: About $7 million (of a hoped-for $13.5 million) pledged from private donors, $5 million from the city of Eau Claire, and $3.5 million from Eau Claire County.
In his announcement, Walker said the $15 million would come from the state’s general fund – not the university or capital projects portions of the two-year state budget.
