If you want to learn what SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is and how to use it in your marketing strategy, this Lunchtime Learning on November 6th from 12pm - 1pm at the Chamber office is for you! Register now to attend - lunch is included.

Business After Hours is hosted by House of Pizza and Quality Inn on Wednesday, November 6th. Stop by anytime between 4:30-6:30pm for refreshments and networking!

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.

• Chamber Connection: Wits Realty (11/1/2024)
• Lunchtime Learning: Let's Talk SEO! Organic Rankings & Campaign Essentials (11/6/2024)
• Business After Hours hosted by House of Pizza and Quality Inn (11/6/2024)
• Chamber Connection: Harren Companies, Inc. (11/8/2024)
• NEXT - Chamber's Young Professionals Meeting (11/12/2024)
• Chamber Connection: House of Pizza (11/15/2024)

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

Election anxiety in the workplace: Election season is upon us, and we know that emotions are running high. To address these concerns, CentraCare Occupational Health is committed to providing resources that can help employers support the emotional and mental well-being of their teams. Learn more

 

On the Ballot - Fire Station 6: The St. Cloud Fire Department is a full-service, full-time emergencyresponse organization slated to exceed 10,000 fire, emergency medical, and rescue incidents this year. To maintain services and community protection as our population and emergency incident numbers grow, a referendum is being proposed. Learn more

 

Local races to watch: The St. Cloud Area Chamber along with other area partners hosted several candidate forums in the weeks leading up to the 2024 election. You can view them here before election day: 

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

 

STATE & NATIONAL

AI in MN: With more than 1.6 million jobs in occupations that are highly exposed to AI, Minnesota has a high concentration of employment that will be impacted. Learn more

 

Rail Study Stakeholder Meetings: MnDOT is hosting a series of stakeholder meetings to gain a deeper understanding of community needs and to discuss potential benefits and challenges that should be considered in the planning process for the Twin Cities to Fargo-Moorhead Rail Study. RSVP for the November 7th St. Cloud meeting or for the November 13th All Areas meeting.

 

Save the Date for the 2025 Minnesota Redevelopment Conference: Minnesota DEED will be hosting the Brownfields and Beyond: 2025 Minnesota Redevelopment Conference on Thursday, April 24, 2025 to Friday, April 25, 2025 at the St. Cloud River’s Edge Convention Center in St. Cloud, Minnesota. Learn more

 

U.S. Chamber Election Primer: There is likely to be record or near-record turnout for this year’s election. The closeness of this election and the variety of voting and vote-counting procedures mean we may not know the outcome as quickly as we would like. Here's a look at the timeline.

 

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. Add to calendar

The 2025 Membership Directory is coming! Is your information accurate?

 

Double-check your listing before December 1st, 2024 to make sure it is up to date. Login to your account to view your business representatives, address, phone number and more. 

 

Don't have an account yet? You can easily set one up online. If you have any questions, reach out to us for help!

View and update your listing now.

How to Take Part

1. Take a photo of your experience shopping at or using the services of a local business.
2. Share the photo on social media (Facebook, LinkedIn or Instagram) using #ShopSmallSTC and tag the St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce.
3. You will be entered to win a $50 gift card to the Chamber member of your choosing, winner will be chosen and announced on December 20th, 2024!

Let’s make this holiday season a celebration of community and support for our local economy.

As a Chamber member, you have exclusive access to effective advertising opportunities. From digital ads to print publications, grow your brand exposure and 

• Chamber Member Happenings: This email is sent around the 22nd of every month to our entire membership. It includes member events, job openings and perks for free. Gain more exposure by including a display ad in the email that links to your URL of choice.
• Bottom Line: Advertise in this Chamber newsletter, which is sent around the 15th and 31st of each month to all members. There are 2 ad spots available - a sponsored ad with an image and copy, or a banner ad.
• Membership Directory: 3000+ copies of this printed publication are distributed to local businesses in the St. Cloud area. All members are listed for free, but additional advertising opportunities can grow your brand exposure. 

• Mailing List Purchase: We sell mailing lists for our membership, depending on what you are looking for. This is physical mailing addresses ? not email addresses. Contact Shelly for more information.
• Business Central Magazine: Each issue features a different special focus, but advertising of all kinds is available. You can view the media kit online or contact Melinda for more information.
• Enhanced Listing: Add more information, photos, videos and logos to your Chamber website listing for an annual fee. 

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!

St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce

1411 West Saint Germain Street, ste. 101

St. Cloud, Minnesota, 56301

 

320-251-2940

StCloudAreaChamber.com