St. Cloud Downtown Council Newsletter
Monday Morning Memo 
January 19, 2015
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service

MLK Day  

In This Issue
All About Members
Focus Group & Brainstorming
Join Us for Community Priorities Forum
DTC Member Benefit Reminder
Signature Project for 2015?
New Parking Ramp
New Block Party
Latino Health Fair
All About Members
Meet-N-Greet
The dates are filling up fast, and we are glad that there is so much interest in hosting a Meet-N-Greet in 2015, to get people into your place of business and meet other members.  We are seeking a total of 6 DTC member businesses to open their place of business for an after work "mixer".  Attendees make valuable connections with other members of the Downtown community while enjoying different venues and locations.  

The responsibility of the host business is to provide the location, food and beverages for the attendees (generally 30-50 people).  The DTC will take care of promoting the event.  

If you are interested, please contact Pegg at 257-8600.  
  • February
  • April __ @ SCSU's Welcome Center
  • May 14 @ Bumbledee's
  • June 15 @ the Green Mill
  • August
  • October

DAYTA University: St. Cloud Registration is Open!
DAYTA Marketing is proud to announce the second annual, DAYTA University, a one day social media seminar designed for small business owners, entrepreneurs, business professionals on Friday, March 27, 
8am - 5:30pm at the River's Edge C.C.  
 
Focus Group
The DTC worked with Rod Lindquist, one of the developers proposing to building new market-rate loft housing on the Dan Marsh Lot.  We held a focus group last Thursday which proved to be extremely beneficial to the project as they move forward.

We will be hosting a focus group with one of our retail members in the next couple of weeks before they go to market.  Our members feel that focus groups can be a great benefit to their business and that the DTC can play a role in this.  If this is something that might interest you, please contact Pegg at the DTC at 320.257.8600.  

Brainstorming new opportunity with the St. Cloud Times
Corey Schueller has been working with our organization to discuss new opportunities to promote the Downtown on a more consistent basis and also provide affordable advertising opportunities for our members.  We will be hosting two brainstorming sessions on Thursday, February 12th; the first at 8:00 am and the second at 3:30 pm at the DTC office in the conference room.  Corey and Pegg would like to share their ideas and listen to what Downtown businesses would like to see as well.  
Please RSVP to Pegg if you plan to attend.  
Community Priorities Forum: Feb 11
The Central Minnesota Community Foundation, the Initiative Foundation, the Morgan Family Foundation and Times Media invite you to the 5th annual Greater St. Cloud Community Priorities Forum from 7:30 - 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb 11 at the River's Edge Convention Center.  

This effort is currently focusing on the following priorities:
  • Retain, expand and attract businesses.
  • Support student success through a cradle-to-career approach for education and workforce development.
  • Expand inclusive participation and engagement of people of color in community leadership.
  • Enhance recreational amenities and natural resources.
  • Invest in regional transportation and infrastructure.
  • Elevate culture, arts and the St. Cloud area's sense of place.
  • Assist those facing poverty.
  • Empower youth in the community.
  • Support aging in place.

There is no charge to attend. Breakfast will be provided.

Members Benefit
Monday Morning Memo
This is a reminder that as a member of the DTC, your company is welcome to use this communication vehicle, the Monday Morning Memo, to make announcements, share news and special promotions, etc.  If you are a member in good standing, simply send an email to Pegg by 2pm Friday for the Monday e-newsletter.  

DTC - working for you!

DTC website
We plan to redesign our web site in the near future so that it is more interactive and more beneficial to our members.  If you have suggestions and ideas to share of what you'd like to see, please let me know.  
2015 Signature Project
The DTC Board of Directors has included in this year's goals and objectives, identifying a Signature Project for Downtown.  There is a consensus that a DTC  "Signature Project" would help provide continuity and a greater sense of purpose and accomplishment for the organization. We are looking to our members to engage in this process within the next two months.  

Is it a community garden?
Is it a parking campaign?
Is it a public art project?

Watch for more information soon.  
New Parking Ramp
Construction will begin April 1 (no fooling).  The DTC and the City of St. Cloud will be making the rounds starting this week to provide information.  
New Parking Lot Party on April 25th
If you follow the DTC on Facebook, you've already heard about the new block party scheduled for April 25th.  Pegg met with the event organizers, looking forward to a Spring concert in our Downtown!  Stay tuned.  
Health & Wellness: Feb 1
SCSU invites you to the 5th Annual Latino Health Fair
Sunday, February 1, 2:00 - 4:30 pm at
CentraCare Health Melrose Clinic
525 Main St. West, Melrose

Participate, find answers, tools and solutions for a better lifestyle:
  • Medical consultation
  • Basic dental services
  • Glucose, blood pressure, and hearing screening
  • Vision exam
  • Information on access to medical insurance
  • Information on breast cancer screenings
  • Presentations about mental health, obesity, diabetes and more
  • Information about access to universities, finance, immigration
For more information, Elizabeth Valencia-Borgert at 320-308-0955

53rd Winter Institute: Feb 18-19
The Winter Institute is an annual summit hosted by the Dept. of Economics, School of Public Affairs SCSU.  Minnesota os famous for its winter season and every year gather the best minds in the region and the country to share their thoughts and ideas on various economics issues.  The Winter Institute is important forum for the members of the community to generate ideas that can foster growth and development in the greater St. Cloud area, central MN and beyond.  

St. Cloud's Downtown
Working on behalf of our members for the betterment of Downtown, the heart of the region.

RENEW or BECOME A MEMBER TODAY!
 
"Downtown is our face
to the world."




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Our Members
Check out our web site for the full list of our members and partners. 
 
Our Board
Check out our web site for the full list of our Board of Directors. 
Our Board

Officers:
Kate Hanson, Vice Chair
Jeff Peterson, Treasurer
Sonja Gidlow, Secretary
Penny White, At-Large
 
Our Committees
Get involved in shaping the future of Downtown. 

Membership Development
Infrastructure/Design
DTC Placemaking
Marketing / BR&A

Downtown Walk About
Parking

Winter Nights & Lights Parade
Melissa Althaus, Chair

Downtown Visioning

River's Edge Convention Center
 
Click to view the
 River's Edge Convention Center calendar of events for

Chamber After Hours
 
The St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce's Business After Hours offers a great opportunity to network with other professionals.  BAH is open to all Chamber members and their guests -- bring friends, co-workers and business associates.  The following DTC-member businesses are hosting Business After Hours 4:30 - 6:30pm

Thursday, March 19, 2015         Gaslight Creative
   713 W. St. Germain St.,
 St. Cloud

Thursday, July 16, 2005 
D.J. Bitzan Jewelers
 203 Waite Ave. N.,
Waite Park

Our Organization
 
St. Cloud Downtown Council
& Alliance Foundation
1010 W. St. Germain Street, Suite 250
St. Cloud, MN  56301
320.257.8600