May 19, 2014
Host a Coffee Break!
 

The monthly Coffee Break was established to casually network while gathering in a comfortable relaxed atmosphere. This event is an hour long of pure networking. Each of our communities has a Coffee Break that meets regularly from 8:00am - 9:00am. 

  • Rosemount Coffee Break:  First Tuesday of the month
  • Eagan Coffee Break:  Second Thursday of the month
  • Farmington Coffee Break:  Third Wednesday of the month
  • West Saint Paul/Mendota Heights Coffee Break:  Fourth Tuesday of the month

 

Opportunities to host a Coffee Break in your area are available!

The benefits include:

  • Increasing visibility in the community
  • Bringing potential valuable business connections into your business
  • Your logo on the event website and listing on the Chamber website calendar
  • Promotion in Weekly Update that reaches DCR membership and beyond
  • Possibility of a photo being highlighted in the DCR Chamber Weekly Update

Contact Chelsea at 651.288.9202 or by email to schedule yours today!

DCR Chamber Intern/Mentorship Program

Weekly Blog: Kristen Howland

  

 Factors of a Successful Business Location

There are a lot of details to consider when starting a business, like the products, advertising, cost, employees, and most importantly- the location. Nearby businesses, customers, and other factors should be considered when choosing the location of a new business.  It's important that the location of business makes sense; for example, there are not many sports stadiums near nursing homes or high end boutiques in low income neighborhoods. 

 

Here are a few factors that can affect the success of your new business:

  • Away from competitors, unless your business can successfully compete with them
  • Near similar businesses that can help the business's growth (Clothing stores in an outlet mall)
  • Near different businesses that can help the business's growth (rental cars near the airport)
  • Safety of the area
  • Amount of space the building offers
  • Room for possible expansion
  • Plenty of available parking for staff and consumers
  • Near target consumers
  • Easy for consumers to find and suppliers to deliver to the business
  • Taxes in the area
Committed to business... for YOU.

Dynamic Sign Ordinance Changed to Benefit Businesses

 

Last week the Eagan City Council unanimously approved a change in the Dynamic Sign Ordinance.  Effective May 16, 2014, businesses will now be able to increase the frequency of change in their messaging to every 60 seconds.  Your Chamber advocated on your behalf to ensure a change from once every 20 minutes to 60 seconds.  With a change rate of 60 seconds, businesses have the ability to relay more information about its services to the community, increasing community awareness.  The increase in communication to the community has the potential to increase business revenue, ultimately increasing sales tax revenue for the city of Eagan.  Additionally, a change rate of 60 seconds provides an incentive for new businesses to relocate to Eagan or open up a new location as the ability to inform the community about their presence and services is easier and more effective than with a 20 minute change rate.  Special thanks to the Eagan City Staff and City Council for working together to benefit business.  

 
Upcoming Legislative Breakfast Series - "It's a Wrap!" 

 

June's Legislative Breakfast features "It's a Wrap" with several of Dakota County's elected leaders on Friday, June 6, 2014 from 7:30 to 9:00 a.m. at the Commons on Marice, 1380 Marice Drive in Eagan.   Join us as they rewind the 2014 Legislative Session.  Learn more about the impact on your business based upon the action of our legislative leaders during the 2014 legislative session.  Did they support your business priorities and make it easier to grow your business and create new jobs?  Or did their decisions create additional obstacles and cost you more to run your business? 
Confirmed speakers include Representatives Laurie Halverson, Anna Wills, Pat Garofalo and Senator Jim Metzen. Register here. 
 
Events Calendar
 
 
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday

19

 

20

 

Noon

    

 

21

   
7:30 a.m.

 

8:00 a.m.

Farmington Coffee Break

  

 

22

 

4:30 p.m.
 

 

23  

 

 


 

26 

 

27

 


   

 

28

 

29

  

 

9:45 a.m.

Style Encore Ribbon Cutting 

30


2

4:00 p.m.

3

 

 

4

 

 

 

 

 
5

4:00 p.m.

6
9

10

 

 

11

 

 

8:00 a.m.

ChamberNet Two

 

Noon

ChamberNet

 

 
12

13

 


 

 
May Quick Poll

Last week's results:
What do you consider the biggest challenge in operating your business? 
75% said lack of qualified workers,
25% said increased business regulations. Comments revealed that businesses struggle with the limited number of qualified workers, and also the fact that most want twice what smaller businesses can afford to pay. 

Forecasting Future Job Trends: Did You Know?
-Minnesota's economy will grow by 13%, or 368,000 new jobs, between 2010 and 2020.
(55%, or 202,060 new jobs within the metro region.)
-Over 663,000 new workers will be needed to take jobs left vacant through
retirements and replacements.
-392,050 replacement workers will be needed in the metro region.
(Information attributed to Dakota-Scott Workforce Investment Board)
Local Focus:  Find Out What's Happening In Your Community

 

Farmington Council meets May 19- see the agenda.

Eagan City Council meets May 20 - see the agenda.

Mendota Heights City Council meets May 20 - see the agenda.

Rosemount City Council meets May 20 - see the agenda. 

Rosemount Port Authority meets May 20 - see the agenda.

West Saint Paul Planning Commission meets May 20 - see the agenda.

Open Houses To Inform Community on Robert Street Study

 

Dakota County will hold a final round of open houses in early June to present the full evaluation results from the Robert Street Corridor alternatives study. The meetings are on June 3 from 6-8 PM at the Neighborhood House, and June 5 from 4:30 to 6:30 at the Dakota County Northern Service Center. For more details, click here. 

 
Chamber Seeking Summer College Intern

Are you or is someone you know looking for an internship? The Dakota County Regional Chamber of Commerce is currently seeking a summer Intern.   

Description: As an intern at DCR Chamber, you would be exposed to many business professionals in the community who could be valuable connections when seeking a job.  You will get hands on experience in a professional business environment. 

Time Commitment: 12-20 hours per week
Compensation: PAID
Desired Class Level(s): College student
Job Function(s): Sales/Business Development, Marketing, Communications, Public Relations, Fundraising/Development, Administrative/Support Services 

To apply, please send your cover letter and resume to Chelsea Johnson at cjohnson@dcrchamber.com. Deadline May 23.
 
New Members
We welcome the following new members!
 
    

 

Regus

860 Blue Gentian Road

Suite 200

Eagan, MN 55121

Contact:  Elizabeth Broz

 www.regus.com

Regus is the world's largest provider of flexible workplaces, with products and services ranging from fully equipped offices to professional meeting rooms, business lounges and the world's largest network of video communication studios. Regus enables people to work their way, whether it's from home, on the road or from an office. Over a million customers a day benefit from Regus facilities spread across a global footprint of 1,800 locations in 600 cities and 100 countries, including 10 locations throughout the greater Minneapolis-St. Paul area, allowing individuals and companies to work wherever, however and whenever they want to.

 
 
 
Lucy 
Outlets Pkwy 3905
Suite 735
Eagan, MN 55122 
Contact: Terri Hensel 

At lucy we make workout wear for activity-prone women. We want pants and tops that support our active pursuits.  And look great. So we design apparel that moves with us when we need it to, and stays put when we ask it to (and even when we don't).  Made from the latest high-performance materials that wick, breathe, reflect and stretch four ways; we can go all out feeling taken care of. lucy outfits us for the studio, gym, running trail and beyond. Every piece of clothing is designed to fit our lives.  The lives we all live. In motion.

 
 
Suit and Tie Delivery
3790 Vermilion Ct. S
Eagan, MN 55122
651.760.8363
Contact: Blake Lis
 

Eagan, MN Restaurant Food Delivery! Order online! Suit and Tie Delivery is a marketing and advertising service that specializes in restaurant delivery. Busy, time strapped, convenience-minded customers in the office, hotel, for events, or at home order Suit and Tie Delivery to deliver the food they want, when they want it, and where they want it with exceptional quality, efficiency, and service. From our extremely efficient ordering system to our drivers who are dressed for success, we take pride in having working relationships. Go to www.suitandtiedelivery.com and order today!  

 

Member News
News on what's happening with our members and in the community!

 

 

  

ProAct will be holding their Golf Classic event on August 18 at Hastings Country Club.  The ProAct Golf Classic supports people with disabilities in Dakota and Goodhue counties, and in western Wisconsin.

  

Argosy University will be hosting an Open House to support an exhibit on campus called "Meditation on War." An open house reception will be held on Thursday, May 22nd from 5 p.m. - 8 p.m. with a brief program at 6:30 p.m.  The exhibit is open to the public Monday through Friday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.  For more information, click here. 

 


Dakota County Regional Chamber of Commerce
1121 Town Centre Drive, Suite 102
Eagan, MN 55123
651.452.9872

Give us a call today!
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