'Tis the season for plenty of treats, and the Chamber has an easy way to treat your company and your fellow members! 

 

With a St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce membership, you have the ability to offer a Chamber Perk to your fellow members. This comes in many forms, for example a buy-one, get-one deal, a percentage off savings, referral bonus or a waived signup fee. These perks are then shared in the monthly Chamber Member Happenings email that is sent out to all members, as well as on the Chamber website. Treat yourself to some additional exposure! 

The Chamber's 2nd Annual DEI Summit is on October 22nd. Register now to hear from a great lineup of speakers on how to build a more inclusive workplace and community. (NEW LOCATION - now at the office of Central Minnesota Council, Scouting America, 1191 Scout Drive, Sartell, MN 56377)

Chamber Connection is hosted by Mastey Financial on Friday, October 25th for the annual Monster Bash! Come in your best costume and ready for some spooky fun. The members with the best costumes (by popular vote) will win some fabulous prizes, so you are encouraged to go all-out!

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

St. Cloud Schools launch Future 100. Future 100 is a new initiative unique to St. Cloud Area Schools that is designed to help all students chart a successful course after high school. Bringing community together, Future 100 supports seniors in creating clear, actionable plans for their future while also supporting the higher education institutions and local workforce in the Greater St. Cloud Area. Want to help students on their paths? They are currently seeking volunteers.

 

Help the Sauk Rapids EDA plan for the future. Take this 3 question survey to help inform the EDA on what thoughts the community has for the corner of 2nd Ave North and 3rd Street North next to Rock Creek Coffee. This will help inform the EDA as they seek development partners for this property. Take the survey

 

NOTICE for Stearns County Residents: The State of Minnesota has determined that Stearns County needs new justice facilities to meet the current public safety needs of the community. Your YES or NO vote on November 5 decides how we pay for it. Learn more

 

STATE & NATIONAL

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

BBB Torch Awards: The BBB Torch Awards for Ethics recognizes marketplace role models who demonstrate an outstanding commitment to ethics and integrity in all they do. Applications are now open!

 

2025 Session Priorities: Join the MN Chamber again this year for Session Priorities on January 15th, the Minnesota Chamber's must-attend event kicking off the legislative session! Don't miss this opportunity to engage, network and make your voice heard, register today!

 

Labor Market Information Training: DEED's Regional Analysts have scheduled a set of Labor Market Information training sessions for the fall of 2024. These hands-on training sessions - whether virtual or in-person - will help attendees learn where to find and how to use DEED’s labor market information data tools. Learn more

 

Access to Good Jobs For All: October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, when we celebrate and honor the contributions and skills that workers with disabilities bring to Minnesota’s workplaces and economy. Learn now DEED is committed to ensuring Minnesotans with disabilities have access to good jobs all year long.

 - Sponsored Content - 

Radio & Video Solutions for a Safer Environment

Granite Electronics provides high-performance wireless solutions for organizations in Wisconsin and Minnesota. We offer Avigilon video surveillance, Motorola digital radio communications, Avtec dispatch consoles, GPS fleet management, and more. Our experts will help you find the best products to improve efficiency, productivity, safety, and collaboration.

September New Members

• Ancona Title & Escrow
• DaBella
• Kraft Mechanical
• Thrive Awareness
• ZenBusiness

The St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce is seeking applicants for the role of Director of Membership. The Director of Membership plays a important role in driving the growth and success of the St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce by acquiring new members and strengthening relationships with existing members. This position showcases the Chamber’s value proposition to local businesses, including networking opportunities, advocacy, education, and business resources.

Learn more about this opportunity or apply now.

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 16: St. Cloud City Council Candidate Forum
• Tuesday, October 22: Waite Park Mayoral Candidate Forum

If you missed the St. Cloud Mayoral Candidate Forum or the MN House Candidate Forums, you can watch recordings of them online:

• St. Cloud Mayoral Candidate Forum
• MN House Candidate Forum

Join this special advertising section in the January issue of Business Central Magazine, dedicated to highlighting Central Minnesota's commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. This section will feature an opening editorial on DEI in the workplace, your business profile, and a DEI Directory. By participating, you'll not only showcase your business’s values but also help promote our region’s pride in fostering a more inclusive and diverse workforce.

 

Don't miss out on connecting with nearly 6,000 highly engaged readers who are striving for growth. Reach out to Melinda today for advertising details. The deadline is Monday, December 2nd.

ALSO COMING IN JANUARY: The 2025 Central Minnesota Farm Show Program

Purchase your ad before December 2nd and get your name in both Business Central Magazine and the day-of event program! That's 5,900 copies in the Jan/Feb 2025 issue of Business Central Magazine AND 2,000 copies distributed at the Farm Show to guests upon arrival. Contact Melinda for more details and special rates.

The Annual Membership Directory

This is the number one print resource for finding contact information for your fellow Chamber members. With over 3,200 copies distributed, it reaches business owners, community members and everyone in between. Now is your chance to get your message out - advertise in the 2025 directory!

 

Contact Eric to learn about advertising.

Eric Hanson | Arvig Media

320-493-4364

eric.hanson@arvigmedia.com

We celebrated the Annual Chamber Celebration on October 8th at the Holiday Inn & Suites, and it was a fantastic evening! We had so much fun honoring our outgoing chairs and taking a look back at the last 12 months with all of you. Cheers to everything you've accomplished!

Our volunteers are all amazing! Check out this video to see for yourself.

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!

If you have ever attended a Chamber Connection, Business After Hours, Waite Park or Sauk Rapids Chamber meeting or special event, chances are, you've seen some snazzy folks in top hats welcoming you in. But do you know everything about this helpful group of Chamber advocates? They do much more than welcome you to events. 

• Ribbon Cutting: Opening a new business? Wrapped up a remodel? New location? Schedule a Ribbon Cutting with the Top Hat Ambassadors to celebrate!
• Milestone Celebrations: If your company is celebrating a major milestone ? such as a new location, anniversary, or Chamber member anniversary, the Top Hat Ambassadors can visit you for a special keepsake photo! Plus, these photos are published in Business Central Magazine for additional exposure.
• New Member Photos: Every business that joins the Chamber gets a photo visit from the Top Hat Ambassadors, which doubles as a chance to get to learn more about the Chamber and all there is to do. Plus, all photos are published in Business Central Magazine!
• Networking & Events: At almost every Chamber event, keep an eye out for the Top Hat Ambassadors. They are the welcoming face you see at the door, and they can help you get comfortable at the event and learn more about the Chamber. Make sure to say hi!

If you would like to schedule a visit with the Top Hat Ambassadors, contact Laura.

Top Hat Ambassadors 2024-2025

• Bernie Perryman, Batteries Plus
• Brady DeGagne, Boys & Girls Clubs of Central MN
• Brenda Eisenschenk, InteleCONNECT
• Brian Jarl, Advantage One Insurance
• Chase Larson, St. Cloud Financial Credit Union
• Chris Jacques, Premier Real Estate
• Clint Lentner, Northland Capital Financial Services
• Debbie Clausen, Thrivent Financial
• Donna Roerick, Advantage Chiropractic
• Eric Johnson, Bradbury Stamm Construction
• Jason Miller, Premier Real Estate
• Jenna Binsfeld, St. Cloud Orthopedics
• Julie Forsberg, Forsberg Investments & Insurance
• Kelly Doss, Great River Children's Museum
• Kristin Hannon, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central MN
• Michelle Henderson, BadCat Digital Marketing
• Mike Brower, American Family Insurance - Michael Brower Agency
• Patrick Hollermann - InteleCONNECT
• Rachael Sogge, Eyecon Graphics
• Rachel Layton, Tri-County Abstract and Title Guaranty
• Rory Cruser, Lamar Advertising
• Tauna Quimby, City of St. Cloud RSVP

St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce

1411 West Saint Germain Street, ste. 101

St. Cloud, Minnesota, 56301

 

320-251-2940

StCloudAreaChamber.com