July 7, 2014
This Weekly Update is brought to you by...


Mailpak: A great advertising opportunity to promote your business

 

Does your company have any promotions currently running that you would like to announce? Are you hosting an event you would like to invite chamber members to? Or are you simply looking to raise your companies' visibility in the community? If this is the case, the Dakota County Regional Chamber has the perfect opportunity for you to do so, the MailPak!

 

 You Provide:

- 500 Flyers

- 20lb paper; 8 �" x 11"; must be folded in half

- Materials need to be at the Chamber by deadline

-  $150 investment, paid prior to deadline

 

You Receive:

- Circulation to approximately 500 businesses in Dakota County

- Advertising for current promotions and events

 

Our next deadline is July 25 at Noon- Submit your ads today! Click here to participate in the quarterly Mailpak. Questions? Contact Chelsea at 651.288.9202 or by email.

Committed to business... for YOU.

Increases in Minimum Wage Effective August 1, 2014   

 

Effective August 1, 2014, the minimum wage in Minnesota will rise over the next several years. The schedule is:

  • Large employers, an enterprise with an annual gross volume of sales of $500,000 or more) must pay a rate of at least:
    • $8.00 per hour beginning August 1, 2014.
    • $9.00 per hour beginning August 1, 2015.
    • $9.50 per hour beginning August 1, 2016.
    • The rate as adjusted for inflation, beginning January 1, 2018.
  • Small employers, an enterprise with an annual gross volume of sales of less than $500,000) must pay a rate of at least:
    • $6.50 per hour beginning August 1, 2014.
    • $7.25 per hour beginning August 1, 2015.
    • $7.75 per hour beginning August 1, 2016.
    • The rate as adjusted for inflation, beginning January 1, 2018.

The law also provides minimum wage raises for the 90-day training wage (for employees 18 and 19 years old), and establishes a youth wage (for workers under 18) and a special wage schedule for certain hotels, motels, and resorts with a summer work travel exchange visitor program. Click here to read the law.

Legislative Voting Record Results Are In

 

The 2014 legislative voting records are finalized and can be found here. Legislation that was voted upon includes: Taxes, minimum wage, environmental permitting, as well as many others. The document also includes the Chamber's legislative priorities.

DCR Chamber Seeks Committee Members for Annual Meeting

 

Are you interested in being more involved with the DCR Chamber? We are currently looking for committee members for this year's Annual Meeting and Volunteer Celebration Committee. This provides a wonderful opportunity to get involved with the chamber and put together a great event like last year's Barnyard Bash. If you are interested in being a part of the Annual Meeting & Volunteer Celebration Committee, please email Chelsea. 

 
Events Calendar
 
 
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
789
8:00 a.m.

Noon
10

8:00 a.m.
11
1415

Noon
16

7:30 a.m.

8:00 a.m.

1718
2122

23
 
8:00 a.m.
24

9:00 a.m.
25
282930311

This Week in History: Did you Know? 
 
 On this week in 1889, the Wall Street Journal published its very first issue. The
 Wall Street Journal is an international newspaper that is published daily in New York City. The Dow Jones & Company publishes the paper along with the Asian and European editions of the newspaper. The Journal primarily covers American economic and international business topics, and financial news. Its name derives from Wall Street, located in New York City, which is the heart of the financial district. It has been printed continuously since its inception in July of 1889, by Charles Dow, Edward Jones, and Charles Bergstresser.
 
Local Focus:  Find Out What's Happening In Your Community

 

Farmington City Council meets July 7 - see the agenda.

Rosemount City Council Work Session meets July 8 - see the agenda.

 

Did you know? Member benefits are everywhere!

 

When you login to your DCR Chamber member login, you can use the community feed to post status updates (any comment such as advice, tips, or general updates), links, photos, videos, and more. Automatic posts will appear when another member submits a deal, job, event, news item, or member to member deal. Login by clicking here to see the many new features of our updated member portal!

Korean Business and Investment Seminar to Take Place in July

 

The Dakota County Regional (DCR) Chamber of Commerce and Allthatstory America will be hosting a seminar for businesses more interested in learning about Korean market exports and investments. The seminar is supported by a variety of experts including the Department of Employment and Economic Development, 3M, and KOTRA. The Seminar will expose business owners and interested enterprises to Korean trade opportunities and how these opportunities can help their businesses. Following the seminar, there will be an opportunity to obtain more detailed information on specific topics through private meetings with the specialists. The event is set to take place on Thursday, July 24 at the Eagan Fire Safety Center from 9:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M. and will include lunch. Click here to register, spots limited.

 

 
New Members
We welcome the following new members!
 
    
 

 

 

 

 

 Great American Cookies

3965 Eagan Outlets Parkway- Suite 345

Eagan, MN 55122

Contact: Rahul Aphale

www.greatamericancookies.com/eaganoutlets

Great American Cookies is coming to Eagan, at Premium Outlets. Founded in 1977 on the strength of an old family chocolate chip cookie recipe, Great American Cookies has set the standard for gourmet cookie sales in a fun, celebratory environment. Great American Cookies is known for its signature Cookie Cakes, trademark flavors and menu of delectable products baked fresh in store. Our signature cookies cakes come with personalized decorations to celebrate each and every occasion at your business such as  Award of contracts, project completions, promotions, milestones, in addition to other celebrations such as birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays.

 
 
KinderCare Learning Centers
1865 Plaza Drive
Eagan, MN 55122
Contact: Christy Larsen
 
3620 Krestwood Lane
Eagan, MN 55123
Contact: Landon Skogstad
 
1101 Town Centre Drive
Eagan, MN 55123
Contact: Tiffyan Loffelyong
 
Knowledge Beginnings
4155 Lexington Ave.
Eagan, MN 55123
Contact: Jon Woodruff 
At KinderCare Learning Centers, a leader in early childhood education for nearly 50 years, everything we do is designed for learning. Every activity and lesson in our classrooms is designed and carried out to help children explore, discover and develop in a safe and nurturing environment. Whether children have their first words or first grade on the horizon, we prepare them for success in school and beyond. We operate more than 1,600 community-based centers across the country, more than 800 of which are accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and the National Accreditation Commission for Early Care and Education Programs (NAC).

Boonya Systems

645 Evergreen Drive
Burnsville, MN 55337 

Contact: Ryan Boon

www.boonya.net

We are an IT solution provider that works with small businesses to un-complicate their technology. Our clients come to us because their current IT provider is always putting out fires rather than being preventative, they have experienced loss of productivity due to down time and are concerned whether their important files are being backed up. Do any of these challenges ring true to you? 

 

 


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

 

 

Congratulations to Lone Oak Market for a successful ribbon cutting on Monday June 23, 2014. Your ambassadors stopped by to celebrate. 
 
 
Regus celebrated the opening of their Eagan location by hosting a Chamber ribbon cutting. Congratulations!
 

DataBank from Dallas, Texas, has decided to locate a new data center facility in a  

distribution center in Eagan. It will provide an entry-point for multiple telecommunications providers and carriers to connect from other cities, while providing reliability required by DataBank for its clients. Dakota Electric was able to partner with DataBank throughout the process and play a significant role in bringing them to the Dakota County area by offering strong flexibility and reliability for power in the region.  

 

Home Federal is currently seeking and accepting applications for bankers. Applicants can inquire about current open positions here. Home Federal offers a range of personal, business and private banking services and products, including checking and savings accounts, home loans, identity-theft protection, non-profit accounts and cash management.

 

Due to a recent decline in donations, your American Red Cross blood donation is urgently needed.  You can help prevent a summer shortage by rolling up a sleeve to give blood or platelets as soon as possible. You are urged to make an appointment to give in the coming days. Call 1-800-REDCROSS or visitwww.redcrossblood.org. For more information about times and dates, please click here. 
 

The Armful of Love program is seeking a warehouse location that will allow them to provide clothing and gifts to around 1,000 needy families this year running from October to December. The program will require a warehouse approximately 10,000 square feet of mostly open space with rest rooms, running water, heat and preferably two front doors. Contact Kathryn Archambault for further information.

  

Springhill and TownePlace Suites by Marriott in Eagan will be hosting a food drive to assist The Open Door Food Pantry Organization running July 1st-July 31st. Please drop by and donate your non-perishable food items to the front desk agents at the SpringHill or TownePlace suites. 

 


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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