March 30, 2015
Top 10 Member Benefits You May Not Know About

1. Submit news releases about employee hires, business development or achievements by logging into your member portal. When you submit a news release, it will be posted straight to our website and social media. Login here or email us if you do not have a login.  You can also submit your event to our calendar here.
2. Looking to hire? Post your company's job openings on the DCR Chamber Job Board. Submit your job through your member portal by logging in. 
3. Find exclusive member-to-member savings on the DCR Chamber Hot Deals webpage. Submit a Hot Deal for all members to see through your member portal. View instructions here.

4. The Chamber provides complimentary Notary and Certificate of Origin services to our members. To schedule an appointment for notary services, please email Vicki Stute. 

5. When you login to your Chamber member portal, 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.

6. Discounted Conference Room rental is available for Chamber Members. Click here to view Conference Room Rental opportunities. 

7. The Chamber provides phone referrals for member businesses. Whenever someone calls looking for goods, services or a certain type of business, we refer our members exclusively.

8. Submit news and announcements to our Weekly Update newsletter by emailing Chelsea.

9. View the number of hits your website has received through the Chamber online directory in your member portal.

10. The Chamber offers free support and advertising of Member Ribbon Cuttings and Grand Opening events. Schedule a ribbon cutting by emailing Kate Bowen. 
Committed to Business... for YOU.
April's Legislative Breakfast Series - Higher Education and Our Workforce Challenge

Join us on Friday, April 3 from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. at the Commons on Marice for our next Legislative Breakfast: Higher Education and Our Workforce Challenge. Workforce development is the number one issue facing businesses today and a well-prepared workforce is vital to Minnesota's economy. However, employers continue to face challenges finding skilled workers due to changing demographics and skills gaps in the labor market. The Chamber's workforce development efforts focus on legislative and private-sector solutions to address both the immediate workforce need for a greater supply of skilled workers as well as improve the overall strength of the education-to-workforce pipeline.


You will be hearing from Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Chancellor Steve Rosenstone. Chancellor Rosenstone is the chief executive officer of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities. He is responsible for providing academic leadership to the system's 31 colleges and universities, ensuring effective and efficient management and operation of the system, carrying out board policies, recommending operating and capital budgets to the board, and planning for the current and long-term educational needs of Minnesota.

 

Click here to register or email Chelsea. 
Let's Put Brakes on Minnesota Spending 
Column by Minnesota Chamber Interim President Bill Blazar

The recent budget forecast sets the stage for Governor Dayton and the Legislature to adopt a budget for the next two years. The good news is that Minnesota has a growing surplus. That's not surprising given the fact that the 2013 Legislature raised permanent taxes by more than $2 billion to solve a much smaller two-year shortfall. A good share of these increases fell disproportionately on Minnesota businesses.... click here to access the full article.
Chamber Night Out! 

As the inaugural year at the new Saint Paul Saints stadium begins, your Chamber invites you to a St. Paul Saints Chamber Night Out. Join us at CHS Field on June 22nd for baseball, networking and fun! Tickets can be purchase HERE for just $18.00.  Bring your colleagues, spouse or the whole family.  The game kicks off at 7:05pm!
Donate Today: 2015 DCR Golf Classic Silent Auction

 As spring is approaching, we are less than 3 months away from our 2015 DCR Chamber Golf Classic! A key element in the success of this event is our silent auction. Golf Classic attendees are influential businessmen and women from various companies throughout the metro area. A donation to our silent auction is a perfect opportunity for you to build goodwill in the minds of these professionals and create additional traffic to your business. In recognition of your donation, we will highlight your business on social media, our website, and more. Additionally, you may put give us business cards to put in the silent auction basket that your item is assigned to, giving you great value to your donation. If you are interested in donating, please click here.

 

 

Golf Classic Kickoff Committee Meeting Planned
 
If you are interested in being a member of our 2015 Golf Classic Committee, pleaseemail Chelsea or register here.  This committee meets 1-2 times per month and works on improving the tournament by getting donations, sponsorships and helping organize the event. This year's Golf Classic Committee Chair is Michael Kinderman from Home Federal Savings Bank. We hope you will join us! Our first meeting is on April 6th at our new office from 3:30 to 4:30.  
 
Events Calendar
 
 
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
30311
4:30 p.m.
23
7:30 a.m.
6
3:30 p.m.
7

8:00 a.m.
8
8:00 a.m.
Noon

9
8:00 a.m.
10
1314
7:30 a.m.
15
7:30 a.m.

8:00 a.m.
16
7:45 a.m.
17
2021
Noon
22
7:30 a.m.

8:00 a.m.
Noon

2324

Benefits of a Chamber Membership

Last week's question: According to a 2012 study done by the Schapiro Group, ___ % of consumers are more likely to purchase a product or service from a Chamber member. 
What do you think the percentage is?
A. 20%
B. 45%
C. 80%
50% of respondents said B, the other 50% said C. Correct answer: C: 80%!

Did You Know? April Fools Fun Fact!

While some historians speculate that April Fool's Day dates back to 1582, the annual 
tradition was popularized by English pranksters in 1700 by playing practical jokes on 
each other. Source

Local Focus: Find Out What's Happening In Your Community

 

Congratulations to the City of Rosemount for earning certification as a 3-Star Community, being recognized for sustainability leadership for 2015.

 

Attend the Resilient Communities Meeting on March 31st from 6pm to 8pm at the Rosemount Community Center. Click here to learn more.

Open to Business Program Helps Dakota County Companies Grow


Open to Business offers free business counseling to prospective and current Dakota County businesses and to county residents who have businesses elsewhere. The program, entering its third year in Dakota County, provided nearly $327,000 in loans to Dakota County businesses and residents from January 2013 through September 2014, the most recent period for which data was available. Companies that Open to Business assisted have created more than 50 jobs since the program's inception in Dakota County. While Open to Business can help entrepreneurs manage gaps in their financing, it also helps cities offer resources for businesses.
STEM Intern Program Offers Opportunities for Hiring 

Through SciTechsperience, your company can receive a 50% cash match on a STEM intern's wages up to $2500. SciTechsperience is an exciting internship program that creates the opportunity for Minnesota businesses to work with talented college STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) students to develop solutions for real world challenges. SciTechsperience provides a low-cost solution for small and medium-sized companies that otherwise may not have access to qualified interns. Participating companies receive matching funds of 50 percent of the intern's wages up to $2,500.

 Benefits:

  • Dollar for dollar cash match up to 50 percent of the intern's wages ($2,500 maximum)
  • Get help finding qualified interns - SciTechsperience does the recruiting for you
  • The hiring decision is yours
  • Find future employees, increase productivity and revitalize your organization with fresh perspectives
  • Develop Minnesota's STEM workforce by providing hands-on experience to talented college students in dynamic industries like yours
  • Keep talented STEM students in Minnesota after they graduate to strengthen and advance Minnesota's knowledge-based economy
If interested, click here for more information and to apply.
 
New Members
We welcome the following new members!




GT Lawns

715 Thrid Avenue

Mendota Heights, MN 55118

Contact: Stan Genadek

612.369.4698

www.gtlawns.com

 

GT Lawns Loves Cutting Grass-and it shows. 33 years of experience in the industry and we are still having fun!  COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL: We service large Commercial accounts working closely with property managers to make their lives easy. We provide fast and affordable service to residential homes to keep them crisp and carefree. Throughout all this time we have learned many things-The most important detail is in the people. Our Employees treat you, our customer, as if your property was their own. Our Ultimate goal is happy customers that are thankful they chose GT lawns. 

Be our happy customer! 

Call today! 

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

 

 

Home Federal is hosting a Red Cross Blood Drive on Thursday, April 2nd from 9:00a.m. - 3:00p.m. All donors will receive a coupon for a free pint of Culver's Frozen Custard and will be entered to win one of the four $25.00 gift cards to Blue Stone Steak and Seafood.  


 The City of Eagan is hosting two Eagan Streets Alive Informational Meetings on April 16th and 18th regarding the Streets Alive festival-type event taking place on September 12th. If you are interested in attending or sending a representative, contact Kerry Phillips by email or by phone at (651) 675-5500. 


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