It’s back-to-school season, and learning isn’t just for students. This fall, the Chamber has plenty of opportunities to learn, grow and gain new perspectives.

 

Our fall Lunchtime Learning sessions kick off this month, with a new session held the first Wednesday of every month. The St. Cloud Area Leadership Program begins Thursday, September 10, and the ACTION Summit returns October 29 with meaningful conversations and practical insights for today’s workplaces.

 

Looking for ongoing opportunities to learn from and connect with others? APEX Groups bring professionals together for peer discussion and shared insight, while NEXT, the Chamber’s young professionals program, offers opportunities for emerging leaders to build connections and grow their skills.

 

Whether you’re looking to sharpen your skills, grow as a leader or explore new ideas, there’s no shortage of opportunities to keep learning this fall.

Business After Hours is hosted by RAYUS Radiology on Tuesday, September 15th. Come by anytime between 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. for plenty of networking and refreshments!

Join us on Wednesday, September 16th at 8:00 a.m. for a Candidate Forum featuring candidates running for Minnesota Senate Districts 13 and 14.

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

The St. Cloud City Council will hold a fourth public hearing on a series of increased permit fees that would generate an estimated additional $800,000. The council meeting gets underway at 6:00 p.m., August 31st, inside city hall. Learn more

 

The Minnesota Secretary of State Business Services Pop-Up is Wednesday, September 23, Stop in from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Stearns County Courthouse. Staff will be available to assist businesses and entrepreneurs with business filings and apostille authentication. Secretary of State Steve Simon is also scheduled to provide remarks from 12:15 to 12:30 p.m. Learn more

 

The City of St. Cloud invites you to the annual Day of Remembrance Ceremony to honor the victims, survivors, and first responders of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Held at the St. Cloud Police Department (101 11th Avenue North), the 45-minute gathering brings together local officials, police officers, firefighters, faith leaders, and community members. Ceremony begins at 5:00 pm. Learn more

 

The Initiative Foundation is accepting applications for fall Enterprise Academy cohorts in Sauk Centre and St. Cloud. Enterprise Academy is the single-largest early-stage entrepreneur training program in Central Minnesota. Learn more

 

STATE & NATIONAL

What explains the broken rungs on the U.S. job ladder? Wage growth for American workers has stalled as moving between jobs has gotten harder. Read more

 

Minnesota Job Growth Outpaces U.S. Over the Year New data from July show that over the year, Minnesota added 44,092 jobs, a 1.5% increase that significantly outpaced the national job growth rate of 0.2% according to data released by DEED. Read more

 

Call for Nominations: Governor's International Trade Awards. The Minnesota Trade Office (MTO) is accepting nominations for the 41st Annual Governor's International Trade Awards. Learn more

 

Public voting for the Coolest Thing Made in Minnesota contest is now open. This annual program is brought to you by the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce and its Manufacturers’ Council. Vote now

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The 2026 election is fast approaching, and local races will help shape the policies and decisions that impact Central Minnesota businesses and communities. To help Chamber members stay informed, we’ve compiled a list of candidates running for state and local offices in our region. We encourage you to learn about the candidates, make a plan to vote, and participate in the general election on November 3rd.

2026 General Election ? November 3

• Ballots available in person and mail: Friday, September 18
• Start of early voting: Friday, October 16
• Last day to vote early in person: Monday, November 2
• Ballots must be received by: Tuesday, November 3

Candidate Forums: Stay informed ahead of the election by getting to know the candidates running for office in our region. 

• Senate District 13 & 14: Wednesday, September 16th, 8-9:15 a.m.
• House District 13 A & B: Wednesday, September 23rd, 8-9:15 a.m.
• House District 14 A & B: Wednesday, September 23rd, 9:30-10:45 a.m.

Meet your five finalists for the 2026 Rising Star Award!

• Jon Hazen, CloudClear Services and JD Home Healthcare
• Bruce Merrell, Shepherd Security
• Jordan Jackson, Trust Real Estate Company
• Lizzy Deutscher, Bookkeeping Barista
• Maddie Berg, White Wolf Custom Apparel & Design

The Rising Star Award recognizes a Chamber volunteer who has gone above and beyond, stepping up, getting involved and making an impact through their committee involvement.

 

Who will take home the 2026 Rising Star Award? There’s only one way to find out! Join us at the Annual Chamber Celebration on October 6 and find out who takes home the honor.

Developing and Optimizing your Employee Handbook
Whether you’re creating an employee handbook or updating an outdated one, this session will help you build a valuable resource for your business and employees. Designed with small businesses in mind, we’ll cover essential HR policies, compliance considerations, workplace expectations, and best practices for keeping your handbook current and effective. 

 

Join us Wednesday, September 2nd - lunch is included with registration!

Today's workplace challenges won't solve themselves.

Join the conversation and leave with strategies you can put to work immediately.

 

Hiring is hard. Retention is harder. Discover how putting people first can help your organization attract talent, strengthen culture and build resilient teams at the 4th Annual ACTION Summit.

Details

Thursday, October 29th

8:00 - 12:15 p.m. (doors open at 7:30 a.m.)

Central MN Council - Scouting America

1191 Scout Dr, Sartell, MN 56377

 

Cost

$25 for members or two for $40

$30 for non-members

$15 for students

St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce

1411 West Saint Germain Street, ste. 101

St. Cloud, Minnesota, 56301

 

320-251-2940

StCloudAreaChamber.com