As we approach Labor Day, we take a moment to celebrate the dedication and hard work of our labor force?the backbone of Central Minnesota's economy. This day is not only an opportunity to relax and recharge but also a time to reflect on the contributions our workers make every day. At the St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce, we remain committed to advocating for the growth and success of our local workforce, ensuring that the businesses and individuals who drive our community forward have the support they need to continue thriving.

 

Workforce development is a core value at the Chamber, and we offer a variety of programs to help you learn, engage and succeed!

• Lunchtime Learning
• Supervisor Development
• St. Cloud Area Leadership Program
• NEXT - Chamber's Young Professionals
• APEX Groups
• ACTION Summit

Whatever your workforce needs are, we are here to listen and to help. Contact us if you have any questions or ideas. Have a great Labor Day Weekend!

Lunchtime Learning is back for the fall season! Kick it off with us on Wednesday, September 11th as we hear from a panel of local entrepreneurs on their business journey. The session is from 12pm - 1pm and includes lunch. Register now to attend!

Get a behind the scenes look at the historic restoratioin of the Foley Mansion when Arivg hosts Business After Hours on Wednesday, September 18th from 4:30-6:30pm.

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

Are you ready for paid leave? On August 7th, the Chamber hosted a DEED Paid Leave Listening Session with Paid Leave Director Greg Norfleet to inform business owners more about paid leave. View the slides here.

 

St. Cloud grants are still available, but not for long. The St. Cloud Downtown Exterior Improvement Grant Program provides incentives to stimulate external, visible investment in Downtown properties. Property owners and business owners are encouraged to consider improvements incorporating aesthetic, environmental, cultural and historical elements that enhance downtown character and architecture. Learn more

 

2024 Central MN Tour of Manufacturing kicks off in October. Communities, schools, and job seekers are encouraged to attend and learn about the manufacturing industry. Manufacturers will offer behind the scenes tours, show you how products are made, and discuss job opportunities of these paying, in-demand careers. Learn more

 

CareerForce is here to help you hire. From monthly hiring events to online resources, the team at CareerForce has a wide variety of tools to help you hire. Plus, save the date for the annual Career Fair at the River's Edge Convention Center on October 8th, 2024. Registration coming soon, but in the meantime you can learn more about all of their services here.

 

St. Cloud Area Quarterly Business Report is on September 19th. At the upcoming QBR Review, industry experts will provide valuable insights on the region's economic landscape. Discover the impact of recent events?including the Crowdstrike software update outage, the Trump/Vance political rally, and the decline in international trade of agricultural goods?from results of the monthly St. Cloud Area Business Outlook Survey. Register now

 

St. Cloud Mayor Dave Kleis interviewed the final mayoral candidates. You can watch their conversations online: 

• Mike Conway
• Jake Anderson

Your voice is needed! Please help assess the health of our community by completing the Central Minnesota Alliance Community Health Survey. Take the survey.

 

STATE & NATIONAL

New minimum wage starting January 1st. Minnesota’s minimum-wage rate will be adjusted for inflation on Jan. 1, 2025, to $11.13 an hour for all employers in the state. Learn more

 

Join the monthly DEED small business call. The meeting, which is the 2nd Tuesday of every month at 2:00 p.m., is an opportunity for small business owners to have a conversation with business experts and their peers. The next call/Teams meeting, will be on Tuesday, September 10th, at 2:00 p.m. Add recurring meeting to your calendar.

 

Attend the DEED Twin Cities Startup Week event. DEED's Office of Small Business and Innovation invites you to attend "How our State Supports Startup Businesses and Entrepreneurs" on Tuesday, September 17th at 9AM. Ask questions, connect with consultants, learn and engage. Learn more 

 

2024 Workplace Compliance Summit. Feeling overwhelmed by the recent changes in Minnesota's compliance landscape? This MN Chamber event is designed for employers and HR professionals like you! Learn more & register

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Mark your calendars for the can't-miss event of the year?the Annual Chamber Celebration on October 8th, 2024! Join us from 4:30 to 7:30 PM at the Holiday Inn & Suites as we reflect on the past year at the St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce and honor the outstanding contributions of our dedicated volunteers. This is the event everyone will be talking about, so make sure you’re there to celebrate with us!

The Quick Details

Date: Tuesday, October 8th

Time: 4:30PM - 7:30PM

Location: Holiday Inn & Suites

Who will be named the Shining Star?

The final five nominees are all incredible assets to the Chamber of Commerce, but only one can be crowned the Star. Get your tickets now to support these amazing volunteers and see who takes home the award! 

Honor outgoing chairs.

Part of the Annual Chamber Celebration is honoring our outgoing committee chairs and board members. Please join us in celebrating these incredible individuals!

Members: $25/session | Non-Members: $35/session

SAVE $25: Purchase a season pass and get in to all five sessions for just $100!

 

Email the Chamber to purchase yours.

 

All Lunchtime Learning sessions take place at the St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce office located at 1411 W. St. Germain St. ste. 101, St. Cloud. Please register at least two days before the session by calling (320) 656-3826, emailing registrations@StCloudAreaChamber.com, or online here. Reservations must be cancelled 48 hours in advance to receive a refund.

Join us on October 22 for a summit dedicated to fostering community and inclusion in the workplace. This event will provide strategies that business owners and managers can implement in their own workplaces and insights into building diverse teams.

OCTOBER 22 | 8AM - 2PM | SCSU

This summit is a great fit for anyone working in human resources, marketing, or upper management of organizations of all sizes. It will take place at the Atwood Memorial Center at St. Cloud State University. Registration will begin at 7:30am and it includes lunch. The cost to attend is $35 for members and $45 for non-members.

• Dr. Jason Woods, St. Cloud State University
• Hudda Ibrahim, St. Cloud Technical & Community College and OneCommunity Alliance
• Charlie Curtis, St. Cloud State University LGBT Resource Center
• Luke Hartog & Cindy Belmont, Vocational Rehabilitation Services
• Susan Roberts, Eye Kraft
• Lacey Lokken, St. Cloud State University
• Melissanne Frank, St. Cloud Technical & Community College
• Dana Zimmerman, St. Olaf University

8:00 -9:00 ? The Inclusion Dilemma: How Do You Move from Diversity to Inclusion

9:15-10:00 - Breakout Session (choose one)

• The Journey to Opportunity: Tales of Immigration 
• Building Bridges: Tools for Creating an LGBTQAI+-Inclusive Workplace 
• Beyond Accessibility: Creating a Supportive Workplace for All Abilities 

10:15-11:00 - Breakout session (choose one)

• The Journey to Opportunity: Tales of Immigration
• Building Bridges: Tools for Creating an LGBTQAI+-Inclusive Workplace
• Beyond Accessibility: Creating a Supportive Workplace for All Abilities

11:15-12:00 DEI in practice in the workplace:

• The Inclusive Playbook: Cultivating Culture for All Employees
• I-WE Program ? Workforce Development, Inc.

12:00-12:30 - Lunch

12:30 -12:45 - Sponsor Presentations

12:45-1:45 ? Diverse Realities Panel: Navigating Workplace Challenges Through Marginalized Experiences

APEX (Advisory Peer Exchange) Groups are an opportunity for ambitious professionals to cultivate meaningful relationships with peers at similar stages and paths in their careers.

Groups are created based on professionals job level and industry. Groups will decide when and how often to meet. During each meeting, group members will present questions or challenges they are facing and engage in confidential discussion with each other.

This is an opportunity to grow your professional network and receive valuable feedback toward the success of your company. Not sure if it's for you? Let's chat!

Unlock new opportunities in the November/December issue of Business Central Magazine! We're featuring a special section dedicated to financial and wealth management services, putting your business directly in front of Central Minnesota's key decision-makers. This is your exclusive chance to showcase your expertise with an ad and a spot in our Financial Services and Wealth Management Directory.

 

St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce

1411 West Saint Germain Street, ste. 101

St. Cloud, Minnesota, 56301

 

320-251-2940

StCloudAreaChamber.com