Welcome to 2010! 

As you know from several years of communications, The Midway Chamber of Commerce has been a proponent of the Central Corridor Light Rail Line because of the long-term benefit to this area, St Paul and the Eastern Metro Region.  However, our support has always been with the understanding of the major challenges this area will encounter during construction which in turn has dictated our efforts to represent business interests during the planning and design of the Central Corridor.  We also have been supportive of the highest level of quality for streetscape and stations that is economically possible.   The major improvement to the look of the Avenue will be immediately beneficial even as light rail and new developments are just starting to be a reality. 

 
This evening the city council is holding a public hearing on the scope of the streetscape betterments and station plan and to approve the portion of the plan to be financed through a property assessment.  Although the timeline from introduction of the plan to the point of the public hearing has been very short, the Midway and St Paul Chambers and St Paul BOMA have been working collaboratively with city staff and your city council members to gain more information and to vet through other options to mitigate the impact on property owners. 
 
To note:
Although moving quickly, the following changes have occurred in acknowledgement of a challenging economy and the extensive construction impacts the area will endure as light rail is built and tested until operational in 2014.
Many other issues like loss of parking and business and construction mitigation will continue to be addressed as this process continues.  Your chamber president Lori Fritts and members of your leadership participate on the Met Council's Business Advisory Council, work directly with Met Council and city staff and are working with several other nonprofit groups to create and implement plans to mitigate the impact of construction. 
 
Please feel free to contact Lori Fritts with questions at 651-646-2636 or email at fritts@midwaychamber.com .  We encourage you to contact your council members with your thoughts at ward1-7@ci.stpaul.mn.us . 
 
In particular, whether supportive overall of streetscape or not, please express support of a delay in ratification of the assessment, so area businesses may have a window of opportunity to recover and benefit from light rail until 2014 before they receive assessments.
 
Thank you, please continue to stay engaged!
 
Tom Whaley

Actors Theater of Minnesota, who will be performing at the Annual Midway Chamber Gala, would like to announce that Hockey Mom, Hockey Dad makes its US premier at the Lowry Theater!  Actors Theater's newest "must see" opens Thursday, January 14!Tickets: $19.50 - $27.50, call 651-290-2290 for tickets and information.

American Bank ishosting on-site document destruction events to help communities and individuals shred the threat of identity theft. 
Individuals will have the opportunity to drop off unwanted bank statements, utility bills, insurance statements and other personally identifying information at various American Bank locations.

Como Zoo is teaming up with the Forest Lake Rotary on February 20, 2010 to raise funds for their new Polar Bear Odyssey exhibit.   Please join us, you don't have to plunge to participate - we have attached this link to show you how easy it is to help.
http://www.comozooconservatory.org/supp/plunge.shtml

Marco, Inc. - Sharp Imaging and Information Company of America recognized Marco as a Hyakuman Kai Elite Dealer.  Sharp awards Hyakuman Kai Elite status to dealers that provide exceptional service to the local business community. Marco is among a select group of dealers recognized by Sharp from the hundreds of dealers that sell Sharp's advanced color and monochrome business products in the U.S.

Metro Plains & Spruce Tree Centre were featured in a recent article by MPR on their innovative energy conservation projects. You can read and listen to the news story here.