The gift of time

The St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce is comprised currently of 7 staff members plus 5 staff members at Visit Greater St. Cloud. The chamber membership base is over 860 businesses. The chamber operates 14 committees and a board of directors, which in total includes over 100 volunteer leaders. The St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce is truly run by volunteers, and the time and talents that they give to this organization are crucial to the success of the chamber.

 

Engagement on a volunteer level within the chamber is not only a sweet way to give back to the organization, but an opportunity to utilize and grow your skillset, to have a seat at the table when it comes to operations, and most importantly to network and engage with other members routinely. It maximizes a chamber membership and provides growth, connections, and satisfies your craving for fun!

 

Interested in learning more about volunteering and giving the gift of time within the St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce? Reach out to Laura Wagner, she can inform you about all of the sweet opportunities plus recommend the best group for you to take part in. 
 

Connect, learn, grow!

Lunchtime Learning takes place on November 2nd from 12pm - 1pm and features Joe Goering from ATS with a session about On-boarding for Employee Retention. Register now - lunch is included!

Don't miss Business After Hours hosted by St. Cloud State University on November 10th. Stop by anytime between 4:30pm and 6:30pm for informal networking, light appetizers, and lots of fun! Learn more at the link below.

With the goal of keeping members informed and up to date, these news bites feature local, regional and national news items that relate to the business community in Central Minnesota. 

 

LOCAL

  • Is your information up to date? The 2023 Chamber Membership Directory is currently in the works, so it's important to make sure your chamber profile is current. Check it out now
  • More benefits for YOU. The St. Cloud Area Chamber is now a member of the MN Small Business Federation, which means over 50% of our members can gain complimentary memberships to the MN Chamber of Commerce. Learn more
  • The best place! According to Forbes, St. Cloud ranks in the top 6 best places to live for under $1,500/month - Read more
  • Celebrate 100 years - The Stearns County Courthouse is hosting a Courthouse Centennial Celebration on November 15th. Fun for all ages! Learn more
  • Welcome Dr. Pattit! Join Falcon National Bank for a welcome reception for new St. Cloud State University Herberger Business School Dean Dr. Katherina Pattit on November 17. Learn more

STATE & NATIONAL

  • Job Growth: According to MN DEED, Minnesota has seen job growth for 12 consecutive months. Read more
  • 2022 Institute Research Conference: Tune in to the MN Federal Reserve Bank's Opportunity and Inclusive Growth Institute research conference on November 17 - learn more.
  • October was National Cyber Security Month. The IRS shared these tips for keeping you and your family safe online. Check it out
  • Moving the dial: MN DEED received a $13 million to support Minnesotans with disabilities in finding employment that pays at least minimum wage. Learn more
 

Honor Those Who Served

Come out and show your support at the St. Cloud Veteran's Day Parade. The St. Cloud Veteran's Day parade will march downtown on West St. Germain Street on Friday, November 11th, beginning at 11:00 a.m. The parade will start at the Great River Regional Library and end at Rivers Edge Convention Center. The parade is being put on by the St. Cloud Area Metropolitan Veterans Council.
 

- Sponsored Content -

Advance your education. Reach your career goals.

 

The College of St. Scholastica offers flexible learning formats to help you advance your education and move ahead in your career. Learn more about the wide variety of MS and MBA opportunities available for busy professionals to build their skills.
 

Happy Anniversary!

Congratulations and thank you to these businesses who celebrated milestone Chamber anniversaries in September, 2022. We appreciate your continued support and partnership!
 

ELECTIONS 2022

As you know, the 2022 elections are coming up on November 8th. The St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce is here as a resource and a connection to all of the candidates and the issues that will be presented on your ballot. In the next few Bottom Line emails, we will highlight some of the special questions that may appear on your ballot on November 8th. We do not take a stance on any of these special questions, we are here to inform so that you can make the best decision for you, your company, and your family. 

St. Cloud City Question 2

Saint Cloud will have a question on the ballot on November 8th regarding a proposed increase in property taxes. The increase shall be used for general obligation bonds in a principal amount not to exceed $20,000,000 to be dedicated to improvements of recreational areas.

  • If passed, improvements and developments will be made to recreational trails and neighborhood and community parks to improve and enhance park quality, access and safety.
  • It will also activate residents through improvements, amenities, maintenance and operations to existing parks, special use facilities, natural areas and recreational facilities for children, adults, families and seniors.

For more information this special question, click here.
 

Member Referral Programs

One of the most important benefits as identified by members is networking with other members. As our membership grows, so does your ability to get to know new businesses and connections. One way that the Chamber continues to grow is through referrals from existing members, which prove to be very valuable in attracting new members!

 

To show our gratitude for referrals, we have a few ways that you can benefit from sending potential new members our way. 

Each One Reach One

Throughout the year, members refer non-member businesses to the chamber in an effort to get them to join. If the referral ends up joining, the referring member is entered into the Each One Reach One contest. At the end of the fiscal year, the member with the most successful referrals receives a prize!

Chamber Bucks

For warm referrals - regardless of whether or not they join - members can receive Chamber Bucks of various denominations. These can be used to purchase tickets to Chamber events or to be put towards chamber advertising. The more qualified referrals, the more you can earn!

Send qualified referrals to Antoinette to participate in either of these programs.
 

St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce

1411 West Saint Germain Street, ste. 101

St. Cloud, Minnesota, 56301

 

320-251-2940

StCloudAreaChamber.com