February 22, 2016
Weekly Update Brought to You this Week by:
Make the Most out of your Chamber Membership  
 
At the beginning of each year we encourage you to reflect on your past year as a Chamber member.  Were you involved?  Did you attend any events?  Did you join a committee?  Your Chamber offers countless ways for you to stay involved.  Considering the following tips on getting the most out of your membership:
 
Ambassadors, Government Affairs, Golf Classic, WomEn's Conference, WomEn's Circle, Small Business Academy, Business Excellence Awards

ChamberNets 1 and 2,  Business Owner's Roundtable, South Metro Young Professionals, WomEn's Circle

Coffee Break, Why Not Wednesday?, Breakfast with Champions, Legislative Breakfast Series, a ribbon cutting

The WomEn's Conference, WomEn's Circle, DCR Chamber Golf Classic, Small Business Academy, Legislative Breakfast, Breakfast with Champions, Business Excellence Awards

Hot Deals, Job Board, DCR Chamber website advertising, the online calendar, Weekly Update advertising, send us your news releases

These are only a few ways for you to get involved at DCR Chamber. Visit our website for more info, or give us a call at 651.452.9872 with questions.  As always, if you have questions or if you'd like to see additional programming, please let us know.  
Committed to Business... for YOU.
Chamber Urges Congress to Improve Health Care Options for Small Businesses

Your Chamber joined the U.S. Chamber, along with 20 other business and industry groups, in signing a letter of support for the Small Business Healthcare Relief Act. This legislation would reverse an ACA provision, and, once again, allow small businesses to offer pre-tax health care dollars to their employees through Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs). The ACA requires all businesses with 50 or more employees to offer health insurance benefits, and although small businesses with less than 50 employees are not required to offer benefits, many decide to help their employees offset insurance premiums and out-of-pocket medical expenses by contributing dollars to an HRA. Under the ACA, these small businesses can be fined up to $36,500 per year, per employee for offering their employees this benefit.

Many small business owners want to offer their employees' health benefits, and HRAs provide small employers - the majority of whom do not have human resource departments or benefit specialists - a simpler way to help their employees with rising medical costs.
 
We urge Congress to move swiftly on this bipartisan legislation to improve affordable health care options for small businesses.
South Metro Young Professionals: Community Service Event
 
Join the SMYPros for an opportunity to network and present a short commercial for your business on Wednesday, February 24th from 
11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. at Skyline Exhibits. During your commercial you can let others know the mission of your company, what it is that you do, how other SMYPros can help you grow in your field, a fun fact about yourself and more. Attendees will also have the opportunity to tour Skyline Exhibit's facilities. Lunch will be provided.

Thank you to our program sponsor: 
 
March Calendar = Legislative Events
 
In an effort to keep you informed, your Chamber has a number of legislative programs on the calendar for the month of March. We look forward to seeing you there!

Legislative Reception
Join fellow Chamber members and Dakota County legislators for an evening of conversation on March 3.  Our annual reception provides an opportunity for business owners to exchange ideas with elected officials on the best ways to ensure an economic climate for new investment and job creation in the region. Register today!
 
Area legislators invited to attend include:
Senator Jim Carlson (51); Representative Sandra Masin (51A); Representative Laurie Halverson (51B); Senator Jim Metzen (52); Representative Rick Hansen (52A); Representative Joe Atkins (52B); Senator Dan Hall (56); Representative Drew Christenson (56A); Representative Roz Peterson (56B); Senator Greg Clausen (57); Representative Tara Mack (57A); Representative Anna Wills (57B); Senator Dave Thompson (58); Representative Jon Koznick (58A); and Representative Pat Garofalo (58B)

Thank you to our Legislative Reception sponsors: 
 

State of the City and County Addresses
The State of the City/County Addresses provide an opportunity for attendees to hear from the respective mayor about the successes of the past year as well as provide an overview of what is planned for 2016. New for 2016 is the State of the County Address with remarks provided by the chair of the commission. Mark your calendars and register for the following 2016 State of the City/County Addresses:

Dakota County - March 2
Farmington - March 7
Rosemount - March 16
Eagan - March 17
West St. Paul - March 30 
 
Events Calendar
 
 
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
22
3:30 p.m.
Women's Conference Committee
23

 
4:00 p.m.
24

8:00 a.m.
 
11:30 a.m.
SMYPros

Noon

25
7:30 a.m.
26
7:30 a.m.
Government Affairs
Committee

29
3:30 p.m.
Women's Conference Committee

1
2

7:30 a.m. 		3

4:30 p.m. 		4

7:30 a.m.
7
7:30 a.m.
Executive Committee

Noon
Farmington State of the City Address
 3:30 p.m.
Women's Conference Committee
 
8
9

8:00 a.m.
 
Noon
10
8:00 a.m.
11:00 a.m.
11
14
15
7:30 a.m.
Board of Directors

Noon
16
7:30 a.m.
7:30 a.m.
17
7:30 a.m.
18
Did You Know?
2016 is a Leap Year! A person born on February 29 is called a "leapling." Do we have any Chamber member "leaplings" out there?? Here are the rules on calculating when a leap year occurs: A year is a leap year if it is divisible by four, but century years are not leap years unless they are divisible by 400. So, the years 1700, 1800 and 1900 were not leap years, but the year 2000 was. Enjoy your extra day next Monday!
Dakota County to Study New Transit Options
 
Public officials and business leaders think Dakota County has a transit gap that's hindering employers and their workers. But the county aims to support a study to identify new transportation opportunities in the area to help fill that gap.

The county put out a request for proposals last month for consultants who could conduct the study, which will help transit planners focus on new east-to-west connections in Dakota County. Currently, most bus routes in the county travel north to south, carrying passengers to and from Minneapolis and St. Paul.

The lack of east-to-west connections means that residents and nonresidents commuting to jobs in the county don't always have the option to choose transit, said Vicki Stute, president of the Dakota County Regional Chamber of Commerce, who also serves on the Dakota-Scott Workforce Investment Board.

Current transit options often don't, "take [employees] all the way to the door of the employer, or to a place that they can then pick up a secondary transit option to get them through that last leg," she said. Read the full article.
 
Area Employers to Vie for "Employers of Excellence" Awards
 
With the unemployment rates in Dakota County extremely low, employers are finding it difficult to create a workplace environment that will attract and retain good employees. Part of the solution includes engagement with Dakota-Scott Workforce Development Board (WDB) by your Chamber's president, Vicki Stute. WDB will be recruiting employers to participate in the "Employers of Excellence" Awards program. The program recognizes the best employers in a two-county area and overall provides an overview of employment data, and trends and practices on what employers are doing to maintain an engaged workforce. The program collects data from area employers and produces a 20-page report on employment trends and practices in Dakota and Scott counties. From the data received, the WDB will recognize the businesses that are experiencing the best results in employee retention efforts and providing the best work environments in the area. Additionally, participating employers will receive a confidential report including their individual metrics. Find out more here.
Local Focus: Find Out What's Happening In Your Community
 
West St. Paul Planning Commission meets February 22 - see the agenda
Farmington City Council meets February 22 - see the agenda
Mendota Heights Planning Commission meets February 23 - see the agenda
Rosemount Planning Commission meets February 23 - see the agenda 
Eagan City Council meets February 23 - see the agenda
Eagan Advisory Planning Commission meets February 23 - see the agenda
Farmington Economic Development Authority meets February 25 - 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.
 
New Members
We welcome the following new members!
 

Farrell's Extreme Body Shaping
Sonesta ES Suites MSP Airport
Lake Area Bank


Express Window Fashions
Scott Needham 
1606B Clemson Drive 
Eagan, MN 55122
View website here 
 
Since 2005, Express Window Fashions has provided beautiful window treatments for both residential and commercial customers. As a Centurion Hunter Douglas dealer, we offer hundreds of custom window fashion styles, fabrics, and operating systems allowing us to find the perfect choice for any space. With complimentary design consultations, professional installation, post-sale service, and a turn-key business affiliate program, Express Window Fashions is able to help transform a house into a dream home.


The File Depot-Twin Cities South
Jerry Pittman
2110 West 98th Street
Bloomington, MN 55431
View website here

The File Depot - Twin Cities South is part of a national full service Records Management company. Locally owned and operated by Lisa and Jerry Pittman, we help our customers better manage their documents through the entire life cycle, and when the documents reach the end of their useful life, we provide secure, certified destruction. Our storage facility, located in Bloomington, provides HIPAA compliant security. We help our clients know: what they have, where it is, how to access it and when to destroy it. Let us provide a Simply Smarter™ document management option for you. 
  
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!
 

For increased functionality and technician safety, Medi-CAR has replaced two hoists, purchasing new, space saving Rotary hoists. Like any remodeling project, it also involved a nice early spring cleaning by Debi McConnell. The next project on the 2016 agenda is exterior building painting and all-new exterior signs to be complete in time for their 7 year anniversary event in May!
 
Congratulations to Burville Law Office, P.A. who was recently recognized by the SUN Thisweek Newspaper as the Readers' Choice winner for the category of best Rosemount/Farmington attorney. This is the third year in a row that the firm has received this recognition. The firm and attorney Michael Burville have been providing legal services from the Farmington location for 15 years in the areas of estate planning, real estate, business, and probate.
  
The Rosemount Senior Living at Steeple Center celebrated their January 2016 opening with a ribbon cutting and open house last week. Congratulations! Photo compliments of Jeff Placzek, Augustana Care.

Learn more about Goff Public

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