With St. Patrick's Day around the corner, it got us thinking. Does it ever feel like some people have all the luck? They win all the door prizes, get all the bids, and make all the right connections - how do they do it? You could call it luck. Or is it something else?

 

Joining the Chamber is an excellent first step (of course!) in creating your own luck. By engaging with the Chamber through events, volunteer opportunities, advertising, networking, sponsorship and more, you might just find that more doors open for you. Your network grows, your resources deepen, and eventually you might just get lucky with a great opportunity. Want a shot at improving your luck? Reach out to the Chamber to learn about how to get more involved. 

 

“I'm a great believer in luck. I find the harder I work, the more I have of it.”
― Unknown 

Lunchtime Learning is on March 6th from 12pm-1pm. Speaker, Clare Richards, will be talking about bridging the generational age gap in the workplace. Register now!

Connect with your state legislators in St. Paul at the annual Evening at the Capital event on Tuesday, March 19th from 5-7pm. Transportation is included! 

Here are a few more important dates to put on your calendar, but don't forget to check out our full events calendar for even more.

With the goal of keeping you 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

The 2024 St. Cloud Area Visitors Guide is here! Get your free guide for geat information on all of the fun things to do, see, eat and experience in Greater St. Cloud. Order yours now!

 

SCSU Interim President search profile: St. Cloud State University is seeking nominations and applications for a twoyear interim president. You can learn more about what is involved in the search here.

 

Launch Minnesota event series comes to St. Cloud. The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development Office of Small Business and Innovation is holding six Launch Minnesota events, including one at Iron Street Distillery from 3 to 5pm on March 6th. Register here

 

$100,000,000 for downtown development. The city of St. Cloud is asking for $100 million in bonding dollars to revitalize downtown St. Cloud this year. Here's what they plan to do with it.

 

STATE & NATIONAL

Minnesota is part of Super Tuesday voting. MN is among a cluster of states and territories holding presidential nominating contests in the main multistate voting event of the 2024 primary campaign. Here's how to cast a ballot.

 

Businesses continue to struggle with high prices and interest rates. Revenue fell and hiring slowed for many firms amid ongoing price pressures and high interest rates, according to a January survey of businesses. View more results

 

New Voluntary Disclosure Program: As part of an ongoing initiative aimed at combating dubious Employee Retention Credit (ERC) claims, the Internal Revenue Service launched a new Voluntary Disclosure Program to help businesses who want to pay back the money they received after filing ERC claims in error. Learn more

 

FedEx Small Business Grants Program: Do you have a FedEx Buiness account? You could win a grant of up to $50,000! Learn more and apply here.

The St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce is in need of a network equipment update and are seeking qualified member businesses to make recommendations to fulfill those needs.  With that, please accept our invitation to provide a proposal as specified in the attached document.

The St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce presents this exclusive opportunity focused on unraveling the complexities of Minnesota employment law changes while fostering a supportive network among local employers. Throughout this event, attendees will engage in enriching networking sessions with peers, gain insights from esteemed industry experts, and access curated resources aimed at enhancing compliance efforts. Join us as we work together to navigate regulatory changes and timelines with confidence and efficiency.

This Program Will Cover:

• Earned Sick & Safe Time
• Family Medical Leave Act
• Secure 2.0 Act (Employee Retirement Plans)
• Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) 
• New MN Cannabis Laws in the Workplace - MN Lawful Consumable Products Act

Date & Time:

Wednesday, April 10th | 8am - 12pm

 

Location

St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce

1411 West St. Germain Street, Ste. 101

St. Cloud, MN 56301

 

Cost:

$35 for members, $45 for non-members

With recent legislation impacting multiple aspects of Minnesota employment law, attendance at this event will provide employers, small business owners, HR professionals, and business advisors invaluable guidance and resources for navigating changes scheduled to take effect within the next few years.

Annually, St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce members travel to Washington D.C. to engage with Minnesota's congressional delegation. These trips provide an exceptional opportunity to converse with federal officials and the U.S. Chamber administration about issues impacting businesses in Minnesota. Plans are in progress now for the 2024 trip and we look forward to welcoming you.

Want to know more about how things work in St. Paul and Washington, D.C.? Ever wonder why laws, regulations and issues move like they do, and how you might access the process? Come join us at the Government Relations' Business Advocacy Bootcamp!

 

This 3 session course takes place March 5th, March 19th and concludes on April 10th with a trip to the capital. All are welcome to register!

The Chamber’s Marketing Committee is the marketing department for the Chamber. Committee volunteers brainstorm campaigns, help market different events and initiatives, and consult on the Chamber brand and marketing materials, such as the WeAreHappening campaign and more.

The Chamber’s Marketing Committee meets on the second Wednesday of every month from 8am to 9:15am at the Chamber office. Come visit us & see if it’s a good fit for you! Contact Emily at or Rachael at  to learn more.

St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce

1411 West Saint Germain Street, ste. 101

St. Cloud, Minnesota, 56301

 

320-251-2940

StCloudAreaChamber.com