Lunchtime Learning is on Wednesday, April 1st from 12-1pm at the Chamber office. Come hear from a panel of experts about investing in interns and part-time employees ? register now!

Join us for the St. Cloud Area Business Showcase on Tuesday, April 7th from 4:30-7pm. Learn more about over 70 different local businesses. Free and open to the public!

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

Share your thoughts on the future of Downtown. On April 22 the City of St. Cloud will be hosting an open house from 4-7pm at the Rivers Edge Convention Center to examine the direction the downtown area should go. Learn more

 

Economic uncertainty likely to grow over coming months. This was the report shared by SCSU economists during the latest QBR. Read more here.

 

Large grant to help with future planning for a major roadway. The St. Cloud Area Planning Organization (APO) has received a $2.5 million grant to help with advance planning and design for Highway 15. Read more

 

The application is now open for the Rural Entrepreneurial Venture (REV) program. Communities across Central Minnesota can apply through midnight on Friday, April 10. Learn more

 

Are you an SCSU alum who owns a business? Husky-Driven Business is another avenue to connect St. Cloud State University alumni. SCSU Advancement & Alumni Engagement invites all alumni-owned businesses to submit their information to be included in this public directory. 

 

STATE & NATIONAL

Best & Worst States to Raise a Family: WalletHub raked Minnesota the second-best state in the nation to raise a family. Learn more

 

The Road Ahead for America’s Surface Transportation: According to the U.S. Chamber, a reliable, modern transportation network - spanning highways, bridges, rail systems, ports and transit - is essential to supporting American businesses, workers, and communities. Read more

 

DEED awarded more than $1.6 million. This Youth Support Services investment went to 21 organizations around the state, including Central MN Jobs and Training locally. Funds will help to prepare underserved young adults for successful employment. Learn more

 

Have consumers gone "K-Shaped"? The term “K-shaped economy” arose after the COVID-19 pandemic to characterize the diverging economic paths of high-income Americans and everyone else. Read more

- Sponsored Content -

Investing in Interns and Part-Time Employees

Discover how interns and part-time employees can strengthen your talent pipeline and support your organization’s long-term success. This panel discussion brings together an internship placement professional and representatives from companies that consistently hire interns and part-time staff. They’ll share practical structures, processes, and best practices for recruiting, onboarding, and managing these workers effectively. Attendees will learn how to maximize the value of these roles, from building future full-time talent to boosting productivity and workplace culture. Designed for managers, business owners, and HR professionals, this session offers actionable insights you can implement right away.

Date & Time

Wednesday, April 1st

12 p.m. - 1 p.m.

Register by 5 p.m. today!

Location

St. Cloud Area Chamber Office

1411 W. St. Germain St., Ste. 101

St. Cloud, MN 56301

Sponsored by Williams Dingmann Family Funeral Homes

Since 1988 the St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce has been recognizing excellence in business with our annual Business Awards Luncheon. Over 85 different businesses and professionals have received recognition at these awards. We take pride in honoring the success of Greater St. Cloud organizations. Our 2026 honorees are...

2026 Small Business Owners of the Year
Jason Kath and Adam Preusser, Motor Works Auto Repair

 

BUSINESS CENTRAL MARK OF EXCELLENCE:
2026 Family-Owned Business
Brandon Testa, House of Pizza

 

2026 Entrepreneurial Success Award
Guy Magno, Ryan Schoepf and Taylor Feero, Switchboard

Date & Time

Wednesday, May 6th

11:30 a.m. - Doors open for networking

12:00 p.m. - Lunch is served

12:30 - 1:30 p.m. - Program 

 

Location

The Park Event Center

500 Division St., Waite Park, MN

Support & Celebrate

Show your support for this year's recipients by sponsoring the event. Learn more or get your tickets below.

- Sponsored Content -

SHIFT 2026 returns May 14 to Waite Park as a full-day experience focused on healthy leadership momentum. Produced by ALIGN Strategy, the event features NY Times Best Selling Author and leadership expert Jon Acuff and mini keynotes that equip leaders with clarity and tools they can use immediately. Tickets and sponsorships are now available.

Connecting Across Diverse Generations
Designed for business, education, government, healthcare and other professionals who are interested in improving the experience for their customers, patients and clients; and growing a diverse and inclusive workplace.

Keynote Speakers:

• Dr. Jermaine Davis, Jermaine M Davis Seminars & Workshops, Inc.
• Dr. LaDonna Butler, LMHC, MCAP, President & CEO, The Well, PLLC.

Date & Time

Tuesday, April 21, 2026

8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Harvester Square Event Center

- Sponsored Content -

404 Garage Open House

Starting At $268,650

 

The perfect place for someone to create a space of their own. Come visit the Club 404 open house on April 2nd from 3-6PM to see a unique twist on personal storage and recreation space. Inexpensive dues with lots of amenities is just where it starts.

 

Light food provided by Milaca Meats

Beer & wine provided by 404 Garage Condos

 

RSVP: Sam Johnson, Sam@parcel.properties

What's Inside? 

Lear more about all of the opportunities to increase your exposure within the business community. 

• Event Sponsorship
• Professional Development
• Hosting Opportunities
• Chamber Advertising
• Chamber Foundation
• Chamber CORE

Opportunities fill quickly, so now’s the time to jump in!

The Connectors are to serve as the engagement arm of the St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce. Connectors mentor both new and existing members on how to utilize all aspects of their chamber membership. Connectors also work in conjunction with Top Hat Ambassadors as they visit and congratulate new Chamber members and member firms who have made improvements or moved to a new location. Connectors seek out new members, new representatives and existing members who are reengaging, at Chamber events.

Connectors Committee

• Troy Lenarz, Regional Diagnostic Radiology, Chair
• James Neppl, Williams Dingmann Family Funeral Homes, Vice-Chair 
• Rachael Sogge, Eyecon
• Ann Thelen, Falcon National Bank
• April Mae Good, AMG Promotions
• Kris Crandall, AGC Agnecy
• Sheri Moran, Gabriel Media
• Zack Rieger, U.S. Bank
• Dakota Johnson, Blacklight Adventures
• Mike Lardy, Bravo Burrito
• Caitlin Heglund, Kyle Hedtke State Farm
• Dan Schepers, Lamar Outdoor Advertising

New Member Mixers

If you’ve joined in the past 12 months or are a new representative from a Chamber member business, this event is for you. Stop by to meet fellow new members, connect in a relaxed environment, and start building valuable relationships. This is a great opportunity to learn more about the Chamber and how to get involved.
 
Come and go as your schedule allows, and food and drinks will be available for purchase at your convenience. New Member Mixers are hosted on the 3rd Tuesday of every month, alternating between a 12pm start time and a 4:30pm start time.

Want to connect with a connector? Email Brad to get connected!

St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce

1411 West Saint Germain Street, ste. 101

St. Cloud, Minnesota, 56301

 

320-251-2940

StCloudAreaChamber.com