July 2023 Chamber Horizons Newsletter

CHAMBER HORIZONS

Official Newsletter of the Alexandria Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce

Pike & Pint Grill to receive 2023 Business & Industrial Appreciation Day Award

Pike & Pint Grill has been selected as the recipient of the 2023 Business & Industrial Appreciation Day (BIAD) award by the Boards of Directors of the Alexandria Area Economic Development Commission (AAEDC) and Alexandria Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce (ALACC).

The company will be honored for its success and local and regional economic impact at a luncheon on Monday, October 9 from 11:30 am to 1 pm at Arrowwood Resort and Conference Center. Tickets are $30/ticket or $350/reserved table of 10. Tickets can be purchased online at www.AlexandriaMN.org through Monday, September 25.

A publication focusing on the accomplishments of Pike & Pint Grill will be distributed through the Echo Press prior to the event. If you would like to advertise and offer your congratulations to the honoree in the publication, contact Jordyn Cantalope at 320-763-4545 or jcantalope@alexmn.org

ARROWWOOD RESORT & CONFERENCE CENTER

Upcoming Chamber Events

Wake Up Alexandria!

Friday, July 7 from 7:30-8:30 am

Sacred Journey Academy | 4133 Iowa St.

Nonprofit of the Day:

Alexandria Area Youth for Christ

Ribbon Cutting: Community Mural Project at Real Estate by Jo (2nd Avenue)

Saturday, July 8 at 11 am

2nd Avenue across from Big Ole Central Park

Ribbon Cutting: Lake Brophy County Park

Tuesday, July 18 at 7 pm

Lake Brophy County Park

2175 Brophy Landing NW

Wake Up Alexandria!

Friday, July 21 from 7:30-8:30 am

Gate City Bank | 1630 Broadway St.

Nonprofit of the Day:

Promoting the Alexandria Lakes Area as the ultimate destination to live, work, play and prosper. Alexandria

Autumn Cottages by Knute Nelson

Board nominations sought for 2024-26 term

The Alexandria Chamber of Commerce is accepting nominations for 2024 Board of Director positions. Any member in good standing may be nominated or self-nominate. Members may serve 2 terms. Terms are 3 years. A nominating committee appointed by the current board president will review all nominations and create a slate of officers, which will be published in the September newsletter and presented to the Board for approval. Email nominations by July 28 to tbitzan@alexandriamn.org.

OCTOBER 9, 2023

11:30 AM - 1 PM

Duffers Delight Golf Tournament Winners

31st Duffers Delight a success!

The Alexandria Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce held its 31st Duffers Delight Golf Tournament on Monday, June 5th at the Alexandria Golf Club. More than 200 people gathered for a day of fun, networking, and golf, including 36 golf teams and 44 sponsors. The event is the main fundraiser for the Chamber, supporting its mission to promote the Alexandria Lakes Area as the ultimate destination to live, work, play and prosper.

The tournament featured sponsors at nearly every tee and green and three hole-in-one opportunities including a $5,000 cash prize sponsored by Alomere Health, $10,000 cash prize sponsored by Glenwood State Bank and $25,000 toward a vehicle sponsored by Alexandria Motors, Diamond Buick GMC and Juettner Motors. Unfortunately, there were no hole-in-one winners this year. Other major sponsors include: C & L Distributing, Vaultas, Winning Edge Graphics, Marcus Construction, and Tri County Foam Insulation.

A special thank you to our Title Sponsor:

2023 Champions Bell Bank

Team members:

Jeff Patience, Bell Bank

Eddie Reif, Alomere Health

Derek Swedberg, Swedberg Wood Products

Robb Buttweiler, Buttweilers Do All

2nd Place:

Marcus Construction

Team members:

Jim Bach, Marcus Construction

Eli Gunderson, Marcus Construction

Lane Kleist, Marcus Construction

Cody Blevins, Marcus Construction

3rd Place:

The ‘Hole in Fun’ Gang

Team members:

Jeff Roste, Creative Impact Design

Dan Jackson, Retired

Gale Jackson, Retired

Al Brogaard, Retired

Orange Ball Winner:

First Western Bank - Team 1

Team members:

To view all team photos from the tournament, visit: www.AlexandriaMN.org/ DuffersDelightGolfTournament.

Richard Hawes, First Western Bank & Trust

Doug Holm, Realty Executives

Shawn Reilly, Realty Group

Jared Wagner, Integrity Title, Inc.

Skins Winners:

Bethany on the Lake

Team members:

Matthew Fischer, Bethany on the Lake

Adam Arnquist, Arnquist Carpet Plus Color Tile

Jeff Roquette, Pinnacle Manufacturing

Pete Bright, Fifth Third Bank

Putting Contest

$200 Chamber Bucks - Dalon Bitzan, Innovative Builders

$100 Chamber Bucks - Sam Pederson, Juettner Motors

$50 Chamber Bucks - TJ Hinrichs, Northstar Bottle Water Solutions

Read Fred and Terri Bursch’s full hospice story at knutenelson.org/bursch-story or scan the QR Code.

When it comes to caring , compassionate , and comfortable hospice, I really wouldn’t have chosen anybody else.

- Terri Bursch, wife of former hospice patient

Team Bell Bank was the 2023 Champion of the Duffers Delight Golf Tournament. Team members from left to right include Jeff Patience, Bell Bank; Eddie Reif, Alomere Health; Derek Swedberg, Swedberg Wood Products; Robb Buttweiler, Buttweilers Do All.

Wake Up Alexandria

Wake Up Alexandria is a networking event held the first and third Friday of each month from 7:30 to 8:30 am at a Chamber member location. A dollar gets you in the door, with all proceeds donated to a 501(c)3 nonprofit Chamber member.

June Hosts

Off the Clock

Off the Clocks are available upon request and are structured similar to our Wake Up Alexandria events but in the afternoon from 4 to 5 pm at a Chamber member location. A dollar gets you in the door, with all proceeds donated to a 501(c)3 nonprofit Chamber member.

May Host

Legacy of the Lakes Museum | June 2 205 3rd Ave. W

Nonprofit of the Day: Inclusion Network

The Legacy of the Lakes Museum and Gardens celebrates the memories and experiences of lake life and preserves that legacy for future generations. It includes a museum with classic boats, fishing memorabilia, resort histories, and more; the BoatHouse event center; and the Legacy Gardens.

ICON Business Advantage | May 30

Nonprofit of the Day: Salvation Army of Douglas County

ICON Business Advantage partners with companies such as David Alan Capital, Sphere Financial, Relevate, SNI Health Coverage and more to bring you the best products at the best price for both business and personal needs.

Viking Bank | June 16

4277 Dakota St.

Nonprofit of the Day: Sacred Journey Academy

Viking Bank offers a full array of services, including checking, savings, loans, cash management services, operating lines of credit, and more for personal, business or ag needs. Operating under the tag line “Invested in Your Journey,” the team is highly involved in the communities it serves.

YOUCaring

Fossen’s Construction

Matthew Fossen 1223 5th Ave. E 320-298-5591

fossensconstruction@gmail.com

Kimberly Albert Public Relations

Kimberly Albert PO Box 484 612-483-8517

hello@kimberlyalbert.com

Makayla Radtke - eXp Realty, Pemberton Homes Team

Makayla Radtke

394 Homestead Rd. NE, Nelson 218-966-8446

makayla@teampemberton.com

www.Makayla.Pemberton HomesTeam.com

Sunny Acres Fish Farm

Guided Fishing

Mike Cook

12238 Sunny Acres Rd. NE, Nelson 320-766-5600

Membership Team

Volunteers on the Membership Team visit new member businesses to welcome them to the Chamber. They also serve as liaisons, supporting new members with introductions, information, and education on membership benefits.

June Visits

68 & Vine Veterans Winery is located at 13850 County Rd. 68 NE in Miltona. It offers more than 15 wines as well as pizza and cheeseboards. It is open Friday-Sunday from 1-6 pm May through November.

Herby’s Bar, Grill & Café is a locally owned restaurant at 211 Main Avenue in Carlos. It has been serving meals for more than 35 years and offers on- and off-site catering. Its community banquet hall is also available for rent.

Visitor & Resource Center

The Wellness PT is owned by Dr. HIllary O’Connor, a local orthopedic physical therapist. She specializes in pelvic floor health such as pregnancy and postpartum corrective exercise. The Wellness PT plans to relocate to the new Creative Touch Boutique building on Broadway in July.

Did you know that all members of the Alexandria Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce receive a spot in the Chamber’s Visitor & Resource Center at 206 Broadway? This is a great way to market your business or organization! The Visitor & Resource Center offers a variety of information for tourists and residents including area maps; Minnesota publications and visitor guides; dining, entertainment, and shopping brochures; and information on a variety of local services, from senior and health care to education, construction, and more. Add your materials to the Visitor & Resource Center for more visibility! Call Jess at 320763-1489 or email jess@alexandriamn.org for more information.

Herby’s Bar, Grill & Cafe Herby Dahl, Owner

The Wellness PT

Dr. Hillary O’Connor, Owner

68 & Vine Veterans Winery Ron and Rebecca Joyce, Owners

Ambassadors

The Ambassadors are volunteers who extend the public relations arm of the Chamber. They attend business open houses, groundbreakings and ribbon cuttings; welcome new businesses to the area; and commemorate relocations and major remodels. They are out making business visits the second Wednesday of every month.

June Visits

Amy Olinger is the owner of ALO Realty Advisors, a new realty business serving the Alexandria lakes area. ALO are Amy’s initials. Along with the letters R and A from Realty Advisors, they create the acronym ALORA, which in Latin means “My Beautiful Dream.”

ALO Realty Advisors - New Business

Travis Shaw opened a new IT business named Premier IT Consultants. Services include WiFi solutions, off-site data backup, virus and ransom-ware protection, workstation solutions and more. The staff is also Microsoft and Apple certified.

Runestone Heating & A/CNew Location

Kim Carlson, Office Manager. Not Pictured: Greg Carlson, Owner; Dylan Carlson, Service Technician

Runestone Heating & A/C recently moved into a new location at 4603 County Rd. 82 SE. It offers heating and air conditioning services for both residential and commercial needs and provides a maintenance program.

Shenanigans Indoor Playground officially opened at its new location at 1410 S McKay Avenue, Door #3, in the fall of 2022. The playground has since added a horizontal rock-climbing wall, rentable party rooms, and laser tag.

Shenanigans Indoor Playground

New Location/Expansion

Julie Jendro, Shenanigans Coordinator

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Premier IT Consultants

Travis Shaw, Owner; Jayce Warrey, Network Engineer

Amy Olinger, Broker/Owner

Legislative Corner

The MN Legislature passed many bills this session. Here is when they become reality for your business:

ALREADY IN EFFECT

• Hair texture and styles added to definition of race

• Ban on restrictive franchise agreements (no-poach/non-solicitation)

• State Building Code process/rules change to require adult-size changing facilities

• Cumulative impact reporting on state air permits

• Odor management oversight

• Air toxics reporting criteria to obtain a permit

• Additional public meetings for nonexpiring air permits

JULY 1, 2023

• Noncompete agreements banned

• Lactating employees, pregnancy accommodations, unpaid leave updates and small business exemptions removed

• Human Rights Act updated with new definitions of sexual orientation and gender identity

• New and increased OSHA penalties, classification of citation data; authority to inspect employer exclusion

• Ergonomics Grant program;

• New ergonomics reporting requirements

• New agriculture and food processing worker standards

• Nursing Home Standards bd est. to set new employment standards

• Motor vehicle sales tax increases

AUGUST 1, 2023

• Restrictions on employer-sponsored meetings and communications

• New protections in place for warehouse distribution centers

• Stricter construction worker wage protections

• Fees increase for groundwater appropriation permits

• Recreational marijuana legal

OCTOBER 1, 2023

• Sales tax increases for housing

• 1% metro area sales tax for transit and housing

JANUARY 1, 2024

• Sick and safe time mandated

• New ergonomics standards (warehouse, meatpacking, health care)

• New safety standards for meatpacking

• New worker standards for meat and poultry processing

• Ban established on asking about pay history

• Tab fee increases

• Gas tax indexed to inflation

Business Buzz

Alexandria Area YMCA in partnership with ALP Utlities, Trane, and Missouri River Energy Services, recently completed installation of an Ice Plant Chiller to reduce energy consumption.

Bursch Travel announced that Mike Davidson was appointed president of the company.

Vic Benzinger, CFP, Private Weather Advisor with Ameriprise Financial Services in Alexandria, qualified for the company’s Circle of Success recognition program. He was honored at the 2023 Achievers Conference in San Antonio, Texas.

Nathan Reiner joined the Alexandria office of Ameriprise Financial Services as a financial advisor.

Hilltop Lumber was named 2023 Independent ProDealer of the Year. This award recognizes a high-performance independent lumberyard with a commitment to best practices and best values of the lumber and building material industry.

SOWN Unsweetened Organic Oat Creamer, a product made in Alexandria by SunOpta, earned the 2023 Mindful Award for Creamer Product of the Year. This is an independent recognition platform that highlights conscious companies and products that mindfully make waves in the world of consumer packaged goods.

JULY 1, 2024

• New 50 cent per-delivery on retail deliveries over $100

OCTOBER 1, 2024

• Minnesota OSHA fines/penalties indexed to inflation

JANUARY 1, 2025

• Minnesota Secure Choice Plan - retirement savings program

• PFAS ban in 11 products

JANUARY 1, 2026

• New Paid Family and Medical Leave mandate

• New reporting requirements for all PFAS products

Kreg Anderson, manager of Alexandria Aviation, was hired as a pilot by a company that will have him flying aircraft owners to destinations across the U.S., Canada, and the Caribbean. He will continue serving as the local airport manager, which has traditionally been a part-time position.

To include business news in the Chamber Horizon Newsletter, email information to Lauren at marketing@alexandriamn.org.