February 1, 2016
See Your Ad Here! 
Are you looking for a way to introduce your company, promote an event, a sale or share news with other Chamber members? Placing an advertisement in Weekly Update allows you to reach the desktops of approximately 1,500 DCR Chamber members throughout the metro area. Contact Emily for more information on pricing and availability.
Chamber Charitable Foundation to Provide Scholarships 
 
Your Chamber's Charitable Foundation will be awarding four, $500 scholarships to female seniors attending high school in Districts 191, 192, 196 and 197 who are committed to full-time attendance at a post-secondary institution. The scholarships will be presented to the winners as part of the 6th Annual WomEn's Conference on March 10. Scholarship applications are due Friday, February 5.

A portion of the scholarship funds are raised through a Wine & Spirits Pull at the WomEn's Conference. If you are interested in helping to support these efforts please consider donating a bottle of wine or a spirit. Read more.   
Committed to Business... for YOU.
Chamber Plans to Advocate for Meaningful Business Property Tax Relief during 2016 Legislative Session

Minnesota businesses property taxes are among the highest in the nation. Tax burdens on some properties are more than 90% higher than the national average and more than 200% higher than in neighboring states. Businesses pay a disproportionate share of the property tax; they have 12% of the market value but pay 32% of the total property tax. Much of that disparity is due to the classification system and the state levy that businesses must pay in addition to all their local property taxes. Your Chamber supports reducing this fixed cost of doing business by reducing the statewide levy and eliminating the automatic inflator. We will oppose any additional shift of taxes to commercial/industrial properties.
...Or See Your Ad Here!
Mendota Heights State of the City Address
 
Join Mendota Heights Mayor Sandra Krebsbach on Tuesday, February 9 as she presents the State of the City Address at City Hall in Mendota Heights. This is a great opportunity to learn of the accomplishments of the past year and what the future will bring for the community where you live, work or play. Register today!
WomEn's Circle:Unstoppable Relationships=Unstoppable Results
 
Dina Simon, CEO of Simon Says LeadŽ & Author of Make Unstoppable Simple: Creative Problem Solving in Life and Leadership, will offer practical ways to break down your biggest challenges impacting your business and personal goals. She will share the "secret sauce" of how Unstoppable Relationships = Unstoppable Results.

You will walk out of this session with a plan to motivate and lead yourself (and your team) to realize the goals you set for 2016!  Learn how to ask for help in removing roadblocks and have the power of "others" helping you realize your dreams. Register today! 
 
Events Calendar
 
 
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
1
2
8:00 a.m.
3
4:30 p.m.

4
7:30 a.m.
5

7:30 a.m.
8

Blood Drive
  
4:00 p.m.

9

7:30 a.m. 		10

8:00 a.m.
 
Noon

11
8:00 a.m.

12
15
16
Noon

17

7:30 a.m.
18
7:45 a.m.
1:00 p.m.

19
22
23
8:00 a.m.

24

8:00 a.m.
 
11:30 a.m.
SMYPros

Noon

25
7:30 a.m.
26
Did You Know?
We want to provide education on topics of interest to our members at our programs. Please let us know what you want to learn more about to help you be more successful in your business. Take this quick survey today.
Help Us Spread the Word to Help Our Students
 
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Your Chamber and School District 197 (West St. Paul/Mendota Heights/ Eagan) are partnering on a new mentor program. We are looking for business professionals willing to share their career experiences with high school students.  All business professionals are welcome to participate but we are particularly in need of Latino professionals working in the following professions:
  • Fashion Design, Architects, Mechanics, Welding, Construction, Landscaping, Air Traffic Control, Dentistry and Human Resources
The Mentor Seminar will be held in early April with students and our hope is to connect business professionals with students interested in a similar career pathway.  Mentoring is an increasingly popular way of providing guidance and support to young people.  Studies show that the younger students are when they begin to explore their career options, the greater success they will achieve.  Interested?  Please contact Vicki Stute for more information.
Local Focus: Find Out What's Happening In Your Community
 
Farmington City Council meets February 1 - see the agenda
Rosemount City Council meets February 1 - see the agenda
Eagan City Council meets February 2 - see the agenda
Mendota Heights City Council meets February 2 - see the agenda
Dakota County Board of Commissioners meets February 2 - see the agenda 
Chamber Welcomes New Member Relations Director Feb. 1
 
Heather Waterland comes to us with a small business spirit and entrepreneurial background.  She has over 20 years' experience as a business professional within the corporate and small business communities. Heather cut her teeth in the pet industry with the family business and soon owned and operated a pet store location in her home town in Washington.  Eventually, the fitness industry brought her to Minnesota where she was instrumental in the development and operations of a local fitness club chain called Fitness 19.  Heather brings positive and relatable experiences of small business life to the DCR Chamber.  Heather resides in Prior Lake with her husband, two children and their English Mastiff "Sarge".  Please welcome her.  
 
New Members
We welcome the following new members!
 

American Family Insurance
Eagan Smiles Denistry
D.T. Meisinger Development Inc.
LaBrash Plumbing

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

The South of the River Home & Leisure Show at the Eagan Civic Area on March 11 & 12 is currently accepting booth registrations. Visit the Eagan Civic Arena website or call 651-675-5528 for more information.     

Marco announced this week that it has purchased Data Comm, Inc. located in Missouri and Nexus Office Systems, Inc. in Illinois. The purchase of these companies allows Marco to expand its geographic footprint. Congratulations Marco!

Congratulations to Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota who has been recognized as the first and only health insurance provider in Minnesota to be designated as a Beyond the Yellow Ribbon company for their long support of military members and their families through employment and community outreach. Read more. 

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