January 18, 2016
Committee Volunteers Needed  
 
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One of the best ways to get engaged in your Chamber and get to know other members is to join a committee. Chamber staff relies on volunteers to help make your Chamber as awesome as it is! We currently have a few great opportunities for you to get involved with in the coming months.

Golf Classic - This event committee helps to create an exciting and entertaining golf experience. Some of the tasks involve recruiting golfers, securing goodie bag items, soliciting sponsors and volunteering at the event.

Small Business Academy - This is a new daylong conference that will be geared toward small business owners and their staff. Committee members will help create the event, secure speakers, solicit sponsors, recruit attendees and volunteer at the event.

Ambassadors - The Ambassador Committee plays an essential role in member communications, recruitment and retention efforts. Ambassadors reach out to new members, attend ribbon cuttings and more.

If you are interested in participating on any of these committees or would like more information, please contact Emily Corson.  
Committed to Business... for YOU.
Bonding Debate Begins Again - How Did Dakota County Fare?
 
Governor Mark Dayton kicked off the 2016 bonding debate last week with an ambitious $1.4 billion package of borrowing projects, focusing heavily on clean water, higher education and public safety projects.  With this as his largest bill yet, he is looking to invest heavily in infrastructure repairs on college campuses across the state, affordable housing and public safety improvements.  Specific projects to Dakota County include (investment in thousands):
  • Met Council Regional Parks - Dakota County - $1,022
  • Military Affairs West St. Paul  - $4,500
  • MnSCU - Dakota County Technical College - $1,900
  • MN Zoo - Heart of the Zoo 2 - $17,780
  • MN Zoo Asset Preservation - $4,000
  • DOT Facilities Capital Program - Mendota Heights Truck Station - $14,100
  • Veterans Affairs Asset Preservation - Hastings - $1,780
A full list of the Governor's proposed projects can be found here.  Next steps:  The Legislature will convene on March 8 and we'll watch for the House and Senate to share with us their proposals shortly thereafter. 
Join the South Metro Young Professionals to Kick-Off 2016
  
Join us on Thursday, January 28 from 4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. at Buck Hill as we kick-off a new year with a great South Metro Young Professionals event. Attendees will have the opportunity to network and go snow tubing at Buck Hill! A cash bar will be available.  Register today!
 
Events Calendar
 
 
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
18
Noon

19
Noon


20

7:30 a.m. 		21
4:30 p.m.
22

25
 
MailPak Deadline
 
26
27

8:00 a.m.
 
Noon

28
7:30 a.m.
 
4:30 p.m.
  
29
1
2
8 a.m.
3
4:30 p.m.

4
5

7:30 a.m.
8

Blood Drive
9

7:30 a.m. 		10

8:00 a.m.
 
Noon

11
8 a.m.

12

Did You Know?
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech in Washington, D.C. on August 28, 1963 and was later assassinated in 1968. Martin Luther King Jr. Day was passed by Congress and signed into legislation by President Ronald Reagan in 1983.
Dakota County Manager Set to Retire: Thank You for Your Service
 
Many thanks to Brandt Richardson, Dakota County Manager/Administrator since 1992, who announced last week that he will retire in May 2016.  Richardson's retirement will bring to a close a career of nearly 40 years in public service. Richardson is responsible for managing the county's operations, a workforce of nearly 2,000 employees, carrying out all decisions, policies, ordinances and resolutions of the board of commissioners, preparing the recommended annual budget, and long-range planning. Read more. 
Local Focus: Find Out What's Happening In Your Community
 
Farmington City Council meets January 19 - see the agenda
West St. Paul Planning Commission meets January 19 - see the agenda
Mendota Heights City Council meets January 19 - see the agenda
Rosemount City Council meets January 19 - see the agenda
Rosemount Port Authority meets January 19 - see the agenda
Eagan City Council meets January 19 - see the agenda
Dakota County Board of Commissioners meets January 19 - see the agenda 
Member Spotlight: Connecting with Others
 
Renee Lawler
When Twin Cities Premium Outlets opened in August 2014 one of first things we did was become a member of the Dakota County Regional Chamber. As the Director of Marketing and Business Development at Twin Cities Premium Outlets, I find the Chamber to be very beneficial. The Chamber has created so many great ways for our company to connect with others in the community. My personal favorite is the Women's Circle. Women's Circle has a relaxed atmosphere that allows you the opportunity to connect with other women and provides a motivating atmosphere. I'm also engaged as a new member on the Chamber's Board of Directors and look forward to helping DCR Chamber grow and address the business community's needs.
 
New Members
We welcome the following new members!
 

Eagan Smiles Denistry
D.T. Meisinger Development Inc.
LaBrash Plumbing
AIT Worldwide Logistics
Dive Guys LLC

Watch for more information about these fine companies in upcoming Weekly Updates.
 
Celebrate Business Success
News on what's happening with our members and in the community!
 

Congratulations to MRCI WorkSource on being named a Business Pathfinder Award recipient by Greater Mankato Growth, Inc.! The Business Pathfinder Award recognizes businesses that strive for equal treatment, human rights and non-violence in the workplace.

Harris Companies recently purchased Summit Mechanical from Summit Fire Protection Company. Congratulations to Harris Companies on their continued growth!

As of January 1, Ruth Lott was promoted to Manager at Mahoney Ulbrich Christiansen Russ PA (MUCR). MUCR is also pleased to announce two partner promotions, Lance Brock and Tom Johnson will be admitted as shareholders. Congratulations to Ruth, Lance and Brock on your continued success!  
   
In 1966, a small advertising firm opened its doors in Saint Paul. Goff Public's founders soon realized the impact of pitching stories to the media, and one of Minnesota's first public relations firms was born. A few years later, co-founder Bob Goff put his politics and government experience to work by adding government relations to our service offerings. As Goff Public celebrates 50 years in 2016, the Goff Public team extends its gratitude to all of the clients and friends who have been a part of our growth and success. Watch this video to see what's changed - and what hasn't.
 
Let's celebrate high ethical standards in Minnesota business. The Minnesota Business Ethics AwardŽ (MBEA) invites all Minnesotans to nominate one or more Minnesota-based businesses for the 2016 awards. Go to www.mnethicsaward.org and click "Nominate a Company." The deadline to nomination is January 22, 2016.

Interested in taking a look into Eagan's future? Join the City of Eagan for the Eagan Forward Launch Party on Thursday, January 28 from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. at the Eagan Community Center. Click here to register.
   

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