April 4, 2016
MailPak: A Great Advertising Opportunity to Promote Your Business 
 
Will your company be having any promotions running in May or June that you would like to announce? Are you hosting an event you would like to invite chamber members to? Or are you simply looking to raise your companies' visibility in the community? If this is the case, the Dakota County Regional Chamber has the perfect opportunity for you to do so, the MailPak!
Your Benefits:
  • Circulation to approximately 525 business members of the DCR Chamber throughout the metro area
  • Inform other members about your business
  • Advertise your current promotions and events
 Advertisers Responsibilities:
  • Call the Chamber to check for availability and reserve your space
  • Print 525 one page inserts, folded in half (no larger than 8.5x11 size paper, folded in half) and bring to the Chamber office
  • $150 investment, paid prior to deadline
 Our next deadline is April 25. Contact Emily Corson today to reserve your spot!
Committed to Business... for YOU.
Legislative Session Update 
 
With the first committee deadline last Friday and the second deadline at week's end, this is a busy and important time at the Legislature with the compressed schedule of a short session. Now is a great time to connect with your legislators about issues that affect the success of your business. Here are some priority updates:
 
 
TAX: The omnibus tax bill, HF 848, is awaiting action in the Tax Conference Committee. We do not expect to see much movement until late April. Both the Senate and House Tax Committees continue to hear various bills and hold them for possible inclusion in the omnibus tax bill.
 
TRANSPORTATION: The Conference Committee is ironing out differences in HF 4. Please support the efforts of Co-Chairs Senator Dibble and Representative Kelly to find compromise between the positions of the House and Senate. We support sustained and strategic investment in roads, bridges and transit.
 
PAID SICK LEAVE: We oppose mandating statewide paid leave. The bills HF 2963 and SF 2558 impose a new payroll tax on all employers and all employees for employees to draw on.
 
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE: Minnesota employers secured important reforms in the state's unemployment insurance system with a bill signed into law by Governor Dayton following passage by the Senate and House. The Governor also signed legislation extending unemployment benefits for laid-off Iron Range workers.
 
REAL ID: The state needed to be in compliance with REAL ID to ensure that Minnesotans have access to federal buildings and federally regulated air travel. Governor Dayton signed this bill into law.
BUSINESS DAY AT THE CAPITOL
 
April 20: Tax Relief
Did you know that 30% of your commercial property taxes go directly into the state's general fund? This "extra" tax is assessed only against Minnesota commercial properties, and it rises automatically every year without any hearings or legislative vote. Join us on April 20 for an opportunity to speak directly with your legislators and advocate for business tax relief. For more information contact Vicki Stute.
April Women's Circle to Focus on Innovation 
 
Do you ever see a commercial for the latest high-tech gadget and wonder, who thinks this stuff up? At the April 21 Women's Circle, we'll hear from Kate Boeckman, Product Manager, Wearable & Emerging Product Technologies at Thomson Reuters. She's a woman who thinks this stuff up!
 
Kate is an attorney with a strong passion for technology. She's currently tracking wearable and other emerging product technologies, generating innovative opportunities for their use, and leading efforts to develop proof-of-concepts, partnerships, and products based on these technologies. She will be showing some of their work on the Amazon Echo, smart watches and virtual reality. Hear from Kate about the applications that work best on these kinds of devices and how to weave innovation into your work day along with her unique career path and how it is possible to forge your own career path.
 
Events Calendar
 
 
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
4
5
7:30 a.m.
PAC Board of Directors

11:30 a.m.
SMYPro Steering Committee
6
4:30 p.m.
7
3:30 p.m.
Golf Classic Committee
8
7:30 a.m.
Executive Committee
11
12
13
8:00 a.m.
Noon
14
8:00 a.m.
15
18
19
7:30 a.m.
Board of Directors
Noon
20
7:30 a.m.
21
7:45 a.m.
22
7:30 a.m.
Government Affairs Committee
25
26
8:00 a.m.
27

7:30 a.m. 		28
7:30 a.m.
29
Did You Know?
Your Chamber will be offering a one day Small Business Conference this fall and we would like your input. What topics would you most like the opportunity to learn more about? Offer your suggestions here. We are also looking for volunteers interested in helping to plan this awesome, new event. Contact Emily Corson for more information.
Expand Your Horizons Conference to Focus on STEAM
 
Independent School District 196 and Inver Hills Community College are co-sponsoring a conference designed to motivate girls in grades 6-8 in the study of Science, Technology, Engineering, Agriculture and Math (STEAM).  The Expanding Your Horizons conference will be held here at Inver Hills on Saturday April 30, 2016. All girls are welcome, not only those from ISD 196.
 
Participants will take part in two hands-on career workshops and interact with positive women role models who are active in their fields. They will also experience a college lab with an Inver Hills professor. A STEAM Expo will be held in the gym during the lunch hour.
Concurrent parent & teacher workshops will focus on college planning, financial empowerment and careers. Transportation will be available from Valley Middle, Rosemount Middle, Falcon Ridge, Black Hawk and Dakota Hills Middle Schools.
Click here for more information and to register. Registrations will be accepted through April 20.  
Work with Talented College STEM Students
 
Are you a business that may benefit from a STEM intern? Check out the SciTechsperience Internship Program. Companies can receive a 50% cash match on the intern's wages up to $2,500. The internship program creates the opportunity for Minnesota businesses to work with talented college STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) students to develop solutions for real world challenges.
Local Focus: Find Out What's Happening In Your Community
 
Farmington City Council meets April 4 - see the agenda
Mendota Heights City Council meets April 5 - see the agenda   
Rosemount City Council meets April 5 - see the agenda
Eagan City Council meets April 5 - see the  agenda
Dakota County Board of Commissioners meets April 5 - see the agenda 
Member Spotlight:
 
Sue Nelson
I am thriving in my second career as a real estate agent with Edina Realty. After nearly 30 years of corporate leadership and business ownership, I have transferred those skills into a successful real estate business-a lifelong interest and passion. The value of relationships with people is the same in the corporate world and in real estate. Putting people first and seeking a great outcome for the clients I work with is part of my DNA. I love to help people with one of the largest decisions of their life!

The DCR Chamber has been invaluable for networking with community leaders. I enjoy the interaction with bright and like-minded people. When I joined four years ago, "Meet the Chamber" was a great way to find opportunities members have to get involved. As a committee member of Women's Circle, WomEn's Conference, Ambassadors, and ChamberNet, I have connected with members on a much more personal level.
 
New Members
We welcome the following new members!
 

Crown Rental


Endurance House Twin Cities
Ken Barringer
3825 Cedar Grove Parkway, Suite 110
Eagan, MN 55122
Visit website here

Endurance House is a retail store and community based around walking, running, swimming, biking and triathlon. With innovative programs such as our Personal Movement Profile (PMP) that will revolutionize the way you purchase shoes that fit correctly and bike fitting services, we will help you get the most enjoyment out of your passions. We also offer training plans and coaching services, seminars and clinics. We are all about "Redefining Your Possible", whatever that might be. Opening May 2016!
   
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 Genisys Credit Union on being named one of the Top 50 "Best Performing" Credit Unions in the United States by S&P Global Market Intelligence.

Two of our members were recently named on the Minneapolis St. Paul Business Journal's 40 Under 40 list. Congratulations to both Kate Boeckman, Product Manager, Wearable & Emerging Product Technologies at Thomson Reuters and Niel Devasir, Chief Information Officer at Spire Credit Union.

Congratulations to Marco on being named the recipient of the 2016 100 Best Companies to Work For Award, by Minnesota Business Magazine. They are also the winner of two 2016 Perfect Image Awards by imageSource Magazine in the categories of Dealer of the Year and Outstanding Leadership in Customer Engagement!  
 Dakota County Regional Chamber of Commerce
3352 Sherman Court, Suite 201
Eagan, MN 55121
www.dcrchamber.com
651.452.9872