February 8, 2016
Work Smart-Promote a Culture of Health! 
 
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The State Health Improvement Program (SHIP) helps create good health where Minnesotans live, work, learn and play. Through SHIP funding, the Dakota County Public Health Department is providing you with free resources to create a culture of health at your worksite.
 

A consultant will help your business:
  • Complete a comprehensive organizational assessment to help identify your greatest worksite wellness needs
  • Create a wellness committee, brand and vision statement
  • Set goals and create an action plan
  • Apply for additional funds to support your planned wellness initiatives
Ideal characteristics of a participating worksite:
  • Has leadership that is committed to building a workplace wellness initiative
  • Can provide staffing for this project (about 6 hours per month)
  • Is looking to make changes to policy and work environment
  • Has limited resources to dedicate to employee wellness
How to Apply:
Please complete the application form by February 12th, 2016 or contact Annie Ketcher for more information, 763-287-0746.
Committed to Business... for YOU.
Daudt and Bakk Discuss Business Property Tax Relief and Transportation

Last Friday, Speaker Kurt Daudt and Majority Leader Tom Bakk spoke at your Chamber's Legislative Breakfast. Much of their discussion focused on your Chamber's 2016 Legislative Priorities  - enacting meaningful business property tax relief, passage of a ten-year, comprehensive transportation funding package that provides increased investment in the state's multi-modal transportation infrastructure, and wage and benefit mandate preemption. During the event we asked audience members to weigh in on these issues too. Here's what your Chamber colleagues had to say:
 
Do you believe the 2016 Legislature will pass a transportation funding bill this session?
Yes - 90%
No - 10%
 
If so, will it most resemble that of the:
Governor's plan - 27%
House of Representatives' plan - 58%
Senate's plan - 15%
 
Do you believe the 2016 Legislature will pass a tax bill that includes property tax relief for businesses?
Yes - 60%
No - 40-%
 
A special thanks to Speaker Daudt and Majority Leader Bakk for taking the time to share their views on issues of importance to business.  
Breakfast With Champions - The Leadership Connection
 
Join us on February 25 to discover your greater purpose as a leader and unlock your potential, inspiring your team to set and accomplish important goals. Our speaker, Erik Therwanger, founder of Think GREAT, will help attendees discover the leadership strategies and techniques necessary to inspire, motivate and influence their teams. With an emphasis on creating an empowering culture, leaders will learn new ways to encourage their team members, achieve exponential growth and experience unparalleled results. Attendees will:
  •    Learn strategies to Enhance Perceptions
  •    Understand techniques to Elevate Priorities
  •    Discover new ways to Empower People
  •    Develop the ability to Exceed Possibilities
Erik draws from his experiences as a U.S. Marine, executive business leader, sales professional and entrepreneur to help organizations to achieve greater levels of success. Register today! 
Granite City: Dine to Donate
 
Thursday, February 24th is Dakota County Regional Chamber of Commerce Day at Granite City in Eagan! Granite City in Eagan is generously donating 20% of your total tab to your Chamber's Charitable Foundation to help fund scholarships for high school students. Just show this flyer when you dine at Granite City, 3330 Pilot Knob Road, Eagan, on February 24 and you will be helping to make a difference in someone's life. Thanks to Granite City for their support. Enjoy!
 
Events Calendar
 
 
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
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.
4:00 p.m.
24

8:00 a.m.
 
11:30 a.m.
SMYPros

Noon
ChamberNet One

Granite City
Dine to Donate 

25
7:30 a.m.
26
29
1
2

7:30 a.m. 		3

4:30 p.m. 		4

7:30 a.m.
vacancy_sign_desk.jpg Did You Know?
Your Chamber is hiring! The Office Services Coordinator will handle general office processes and technology systems, database management, administrative support, bookkeeping, and retention of membership accounts. Read more on the position. Do you know someone that would be perfect for this position? If so, contact Vicki Stute.
Help Wanted:
 
If you're searching for a new job in the area, you're in luck. Below is a listing of the companies hiring in Dakota and Scott Counties with most jobs posted during the last two weeks in January 2016 (Wanted Analytics).

    • Mystic Lake Casino Hotel - 387
    • Thomson Reuters - 361
    • Medical Staffing Network Healthcare, LLC - 225
    • Allina Health - 214
    • Life Time Fitness, Inc. - 194
    • Anthem, Inc. - 159
    • CHS Inc. - 138
    • Robert Half International - 128
    • Pizza Hut - 127
    • Playworks - 120
Your Chamber works in partnership with the Dakota Scott Workforce Investment Board to address workforce shortages and other labor issues on behalf of the region.  A special thanks to the WIB for providing this important data.
Local Focus: Find Out What's Happening In Your Community
 
West St. Paul City Council meets February 8 - see the agenda
West St. Paul Economic Development Authority meets February 8 - see the agenda
Farmington City Council meets February 8 - see the agenda
Rosemount City Council meets February 8 - see the agenda
Eagan City Council meets February 9 - see the agenda
Farmington Planning Commission meets February 9 - see the agenda 
Member Spotlight: Personal and Professional Growth
 
Chris Dixon
Being involved in our community is both personally and professionally rewarding. As the President of Insider Training, Inc., providing a personalized fitness & nutrition experience is our passion. Our company's involvement in  Dakota County Regional Chamber of Commerce is a way to develop long-lasting relationships with community members. For several years I have been the chair of the ChamberNet1 networking group. It's an honor to lead a group of this caliber and work closely with other motivated business leaders. Additionally, as an Ambassador Captain, I've found it fulfilling to welcome new businesses and watch as they grow. As a proud member, I encourage you to engage in the DCR Chamber for personal and professional growth.
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!
 

Lake Area Bank
American Family Insurance
Eagan Smiles Denistry
D.T. Meisinger Development Inc.

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!
 

Last week the City of Rosemount welcomed the community to the expanded Steeple Center. It provides a central location for programs for Rosemount's seniors and added space for the arts programs held at the Center.    

Congratulations to The Law Offices of Jeffrey A. Ellis, PLLC on celebrating their fifth anniversary in business!

Flint Hills Resources announced last week that it plans to invest $750 million in its Pine Bend refinery in Rosemount to replace or upgrade major equipment and add advanced emission controls. The planned work is expected to start in 2017. Click here for more information.  

Congratulations to Wings Financial Credit Union on earning an A+ health rating for its financial standing through the end of Q3 2015 from DepositAccounts.com. This is the highest rating awarded and signifies its outstanding performance in achieving exceptional fiduciary standing.  

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