The Chamber is here to advocate for your business, connect you with the community, and help your business and your workforce grow. Through a variety of programming and opportunities, our goal is your success. We are always looking for new ways to help, which is why we launched the DEI Summit last year. It was such a great day of learning and growing, and this year we've brought it back bigger and better!

 

Renamed the ACTION Summit, this half-day conference is 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.

 

A great fit for anyone working in human resources, marketing, or upper management of organizations of all sizes, it will take place on October 22nd from 8am - 2pm at the Atwood Memorial Center at St. Cloud State University. Come with questions and a willngness to learn, - this is going to be a great day of growth!

The Annual Chamber Celebration is THE Chamber event of the year! Come celebrate our amazing volunteers and another great year with the Chamber on October 8th. 

Williams Dingmann Family Funeral Homes is hosting Business After Hours on Thursday, October 17th. Stop by anytime between 4:30 and 6:30pm for networking and refreshments!

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

EPIC Volunteers Needed: EPIC is an annual, high-quality student career exploration event bridging education and industry for over 5,000 Central Minnesota high school students. Volunteers are needed for this year's event on October 25, 2024 at SCTCC - learn more.

 

Quarter 3 Survey Results: Every three months, two St. Cloud State University economists analyze the latest business and worker data, as well as the results from a survey of local business leaders. The result is the St. Cloud Area Quarterly Business Report. Read the latest report.

 

(Still) Construction Season. Motorists will encounter changes as they navigate through the Hwy 10 and Hwy 23 work zone each day. Click here for updates on road closures and more. 

 

ICYMI - St. Cloud Mayoral Forum: In case you missed teh September 24th St. Cloud Mayoral Candidate Forum, you can watch the recording online here. 

 

Creating Seven Day Weekends: Saint Cloud area financial institutions, legal and business advisory services discussed how to maximize business value prior to a sale or transfer during the "Creating 7-Day Weekends" seminar. You can read the recap here.

 

STATE & NATIONAL

PFAS update: Written responses to questions asked of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) during two webinars about PFAS in products requirements are now available on the agency's website. View here. You can also learn more about what other companies are doing to prepare here.

 

Prepare for the election. The Office of the MN Secretary of State has several resources you can use to prepare for the upcoming election: 

• View sample ballot for your area
• Find out where you vote
• Cast your vote early

Largest job gain in two years. Minnesota employers added 14,400 jobs in August, the largest monthly increase in jobs since July 2022, according to data from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. Read more

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The 2024 election is fast approaching, with important decisions on the ballot. The St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce is here to support you in making informed choices. Below are upcoming forums:

• Wednesday, October 2: Sauk Rapids Mayoral Candidate Forum
• Wednesday, October 9: MN House Candidate Forum
• Wednesday, October 16: St. Cloud City Council Candidate Forum
• Tuesday, October 22: Waite Park Mayoral Candidate Forum

If you missed the St. Cloud Mayoral Candidate Forum, you can watch a recording of it online here.

Contact Eric to learn about advertising.

Eric Hanson | Arvig Media

320-493-4364

eric.hanson@arvigmedia.com

Check out the 2024 directory.

The History

The Chamber’s scholarship program for area high school graduates has grown over the past 44 years. In 1978, six sponsors contributed $1,400. In 2024, ten businesses and organizations contributed over $19,000.

The Chamber of Commerce believes the business and education communities must partner to build a successful future for the St. Cloud area.

Get Involved

You can make a difference in the opportunities available to area high school seniors. Join with other Chamber members to provide financial resources for post-secondary educational experiences for our area youth. After all, they are our future leaders! The deadline for 2024 contributions is January 31, 2025.

The Annual Chamber Celebration

 The Annual Chamber Celebration on October 8th, 2024! Join us from 4:30 to 7:30PM 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!

 

Tuesday, October 8, 2024

4:30 - 7:30PM

Holiday Inn & Suites

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!

Chamber Connection takes place every Friday morning (excluding holidays) from 7:30-8:45AM (doors open at 7am). It is hosted by a different business each week, and costs $1 and your business card to get in - no registration required!

 

The Chamber Connection Location Committee secures hosts and sponsors for the weekly Chamber Connection meetings and welcomes new attendees and members. 

 

Location Committee Members

• Alexis Demuth, Mother Nurture
• Mike Forsberg, Forseberg Investments & Insurance LLC
• Mark Harren, Harren Companies, Inc.
• Theresa Henning, St. Cloud VA
• Laura Holzheimer (vice-chair), Central MN Mental Health Center
• Jeff Jackson, Skatin' Place
• Christian Kermeier, Wits Realty
• Jenna Kingsley, St. Cloud YMCA
• Casey Krafnick, United Way of Central MN
• Jeff Lawson, Coldspring
• Melinda Pedersen, Melinda Pedersen Coaching
• Maraya Robbins, WELL & Co.
• Jeremy Salzbrun (chair), H & S Heating, A/C, Plumbing & Electrical

Thank you, "Fun" Location Committee for all your hard work to make Friday mornings such a success for our membership!

St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce

1411 West Saint Germain Street, ste. 101

St. Cloud, Minnesota, 56301

 

320-251-2940

StCloudAreaChamber.com