June 1, 2015
Donate to the Wine and Beer Pull 
Help the Chamber and Bring Visibility to Your Business

The Wine and Beer Pull is a great opportunity to help raise money for the DCR Charitable Foundation for the 2015 Golf Classic. Please consider donating a bottle of wine or craft beer that has a minimum store value of $10.00. Not only will your donation be appreciated by over 140 participants, but it's also tax deductible. You get to attach your business card to each bottle, leading to more exposure for you and your business. For more information, click here! If you'd rather donate to our silent auction, we welcome that as well. Please click
here 
to see the form.
Committed to Business... for YOU.

It's a Wrap Except for the Special Session 

 

The 2015 Legislature adjourned on May 18 with legislative leadership reaching agreement on the FY 2016/17 budget. While we made progress on several of your priorities, work remains on other issues-especially on tax relief and long-term transportation funding, key priorities for the business community.  Additionally, the Governor vetoed the E-12 bill, along with the jobs and energy bills as agreed to by both the House and Senate.  New negotiations are underway and in all likelihood a special session will be called in June to avoid a government shutdown on July 1. Join us on Friday, June 5 from 7:30 to 9:00 a.m. for the final Legislative Breakfast of the series. Click here to register for this event.

 

Confirmed speakers include:

 


Representative Anna Wills - 57B

Representative Pat Garofalo - 58B

 

Representative Laurie Halverson - 51B 

 

Invited speakers include:


Senator James Metzen - 52  

 
Thank you to our presenting sponsor:

 

Thank you to our June program sponsor:

MAC Considering Higher Minimum Wage - Part Two

 

Last week the Metropolitan Airports Commission, at the urging of Governor Dayton, gave preliminary approval of an increase in the minimum wage to $10 per hour for airport workers.  Your Chamber supports the minimum wage preemption bill that prevents any local government from setting a minimum higher than the state minimum wage.  This issue will return after further study is completed and a final decision will be made in June.  Until then, we urge you to contact your MAC commissioner and encourage them to oppose an airport-only minimum wage.  Contact information can be found here. 

SMYPros Recap: Cleaning up Camp

 

The South Metro Young Professionals met for their community service event on Wednesday, May 27th at YMCA Camp Streefland.  The group spent two hours mulching and weeding the camp grounds.  Each week during the summer, Camp Streefland sees several hundred kids at their site.  As a non-profit organization, YMCA Camp Streefland tries to provide as many kids as possible with the opportunity to go to camp.  The service provided by the SMYPros saved Camp Streefland several dollars, and the camp can allocate those funds towards their mission to help youth afford the cost of camp.  Thank you for your efforts, SMYPros!
You're Invited: DCR Chamber Why Not Wednesday? Event
Complimentary Food and Beverages at Superior Service Center
 
The DCR Chamber would like to invite you to the Why Not Wednesday? Business After Hours event at Superior Service Center on Wednesday, June 3rd from 4:30pm - 6:00pm.  
  
Food and beverages will be served! Superior Service Center will provide appetizers and a HOSTED bar with free beer, wine and "Bloody Marys".  Bring your business cards and get ready for an evening of fun, networking and socializing!  Please invite your fellow co-workers, friends, and others you feel may enjoy this event. To register or to find more information about the event and to RSVP, click here.
 
Events Calendar
 
 
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
12
8:00 a.m.
3
4:30 p.m.
4
12:00 p.m.
5
7:30 a.m.
89
7:30 a.m.

8:00 a.m.
10
8:00 a.m.
Noon
Noon
11


8:00 a.m.
12
1:00 p.m.
15
10:00 a.m. to 
7:00 p.m.
16
Noon
17


7:30 a.m.

8:00 a.m.
18


11:30 a.m.
19
22
7:00 p.m.
23
8:00 a.m.
24
8:00 a.m.
Noon

2526

Did You Know?
According to research by "The Status of Women in the States, cited in the Pioneer Press, " Minnesota is the best state for women, having made progress in key areas since 2004. Minnesota scored among the Top 10 states in employment and earnings, poverty and opportunity, health and well-being, political participation, and work and family. To see the full report, click here.

WomEn's Circle Recap
The WomEn's Circle Wine Tasting social took place on Thursday May 21st at 5-8 Grill & Tap in West St. Paul. In attendance was Davina Albanese, a certified Wine Specialist, who answered questions and guided the group through a paired wine tasting. Thank you to 5-8 Grill & Tap for hosting the event and we are looking forward to the next WomEn's Circle social. 

 

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

 

Eagan City Council meets June 2- see the agenda.
Rosemount Port Authority meets June 2 - see the agenda.
Rosemount City Council meets June 2 - see the agenda.
Mendota Heights City Council meets June 2- see the agenda. 

Farmington City Council meets June 1 - see the agenda. 

 

Click here to read Eagan E-Biz 2nd Quarter Newsletter. The Eagan E-Biz is the online journal of the Eagan Business News.

Calm and Deep:  The State of Manufacturing

 

Your Chamber hosted one of Enterprise Minnesota's 2015 State of Manufacturing® (SOM) events to learn more and discuss the findings from its seventh annual survey. Minnesota's manufacturers say they'll grow, crate jobs and increase salaries.  But the skills gap, the costs of health insurance and zealous government oversight remain possible impediments.  To learn more and obtain a copy of the results please contact the Chamber office at 651-457-9872 or by email.
Membership Opportunities for Different Industries

 

As a DCR Chamber member, you receive numerous benefits that help expand your network and raise your company's visibility. One of the most valuable benefits to your membership is our member-only referral policy. When the DCR Chamber is contacted for information on a particular business, we only refer member businesses. With the Chamber being a popular contact among residents for information, the exclusivity of our member-only referral policy is a major benefit to members. However, we currently have many different industries without any member businesses that belong to them. These business categories are:

  1. Plumbing
  2. Pool Maintenance
  3. Dry Cleaning
  4. Car Wash
  5. Nail Salon 
  6. Electronics
  7. Bookstore
  8. Music Store
  9. Car Rental
  10. Photography
  11. Airlines

With there being numerous different industries available for exclusivity within the Chamber, there are plenty of prospects in the Dakota County who would benefit greatly from joining the Chamber. When the Chamber grows, the value of your membership does as well, which means new memberships benefit everyone. If you frequent any businesses that belong to the industries listed above or have any relationships with employees of such businesses, don't hesitate to reach out to them and invite them to a Coffee Break or Why Not Wednesday. Don't forget, not only do new memberships benefit the Chamber; ultimately, they benefit you and your company! 

Member Spotlight: Mike Fries, American Red Cross

 

Mike Fries of the American Red Cross is the featured member in this week's Member Spotlight.  Mike works as a Donor Recruitment Representative and has been active with 

the Chamber for 3 years.  When asked why he values his membership, Mike says, "I enjoy 

being a member of the Chamber because of the many networking opportunities it provides me.  I get the chance to interact with a wide variety of business professionals at various chamber events in a casual atmosphere.  At most events all attending members get the chance to give a 30 seconds infomercial about their business and the Chamber will send a list of who attended the event. This is a great prospecting tool. "

 

Thank you for your support of the Dakota County Regional Chamber of Commerce, Mike!  Your Chamber staff truly appreciates your commitment to the business community.
 
New Members
We welcome the following new members!

 

  

Vanguard Cleaning Systems

3459 Washington Drive

Suite 101

Eagan, MN 55122

(651) 289-6435

Contact: Eilene Wisniewski

Website HERE

 

Vanguard® franchisees will deliver an affordable customized janitorial program that provides green cleaning services that are healthy for your office and safe for the environment. Green cleaning, which utilizes special equipment to remove a higher percentage of dirt and bacteria, while requiring less cleaning chemicals, are vital aspects of the services Vanguard franchisees offer.

Our franchisees provide janitorial cleaning and customer services for a variety of industries, including the following:

1. General Offices

2. Multi-Tenant Facilities

3. Medical Offices

4. Schools, Preschools and Day Care

5. Churches

 

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

 



Congratulations on your new office, Jean Pierre Pallais Agency- American Family Insurance.  Ambassadors stopped by for a ribbon cutting on Thursday, May 28th.

 

Databank will be opening in Eagan at the beginning of June.  City officials, DCR Staff and Chamber members welcomed them with a ribbon cutting on May 21st!

 


 Congrats on your recent move to Eagan, American Cancer Society.  Welcome to the City!  View the event news release HERE.


SPIRE Credit Union celebrated a new move to Town Centre Drive last week.  Congrats on your new location, SPIRE!


August Ash has been named a Top 25 Web Firm by MSP Business Journal. Congratulations! 

Eagan's July 4th Funfest invites local Youth and Young Adults as candidates for our Funfest Ambassador Program. Our program is open to both males and females from ages 10 - 19 years. Do you enjoy giving back to your community through volunteerism? Visit www.eaganfunfest.org/ambassadors for Candidate Program details, forms and application. Click here to view the full press release.

Steeped in history, the ProAct Golf Classic is making its move in 2015, inviting team golfers to Southview Country Club in West St. Paul on August 17. With facilities in Eagan, Red Wing, Zumbrota and Hudson, Wis., ProAct is a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit corporation which has served the needs of people with disabilities for more than 40 years.


 Carol Keyes, one of the founding principals of Complete Health, Environmental & Safety Services, Inc. (CHESS), was recently awarded the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE)-Northwest Chapter Safety Professional of the Year (SPY) award.


  Swirl, Sip, Socialize and Savor at Eagan Foundation's Annual "A Taste of the Eagan Foundation" on June 18th.  You won't want to miss our delightful blend of wines, craft beers, delicious food and a spectacular silent auction.  Come join us as we celebrate our 25th Anniversary!  Tickets can be purchased at www.EaganFoundation.org.


 

The NDC4 Cable Commission is considering a Competitive Cable TV Franchise Application submitted by CenturyLink. The Commission is seeking comments and questions by residents in the Northern Dakota County. 

 

DataBank's Eagan Data Center has been awarded Uptime Institute's Tier-III "Build" Certification, which offers prospective clients the assurance that DataBank offers the highest-spec multi-tenant data center environment available in the Twin Cities. 


Dakota County Regional Chamber of Commerce
3352 Sherman Court, Suite 201
Eagan, MN 55121
651.452.9872