2023 March Chamber Horizons

CHAMBER HORIZONS

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

Official

Newsletter

of the Alexandria Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce

Help build positive workplace culture with FREE Kindness and Resiliency Kits

Creating a culture of kindness in the workplace where people feel connected, have a sense of purpose, and are appreciated makes for a stronger, more successful organization. Join the movement to create a kinder, more compassionate work culture for your team. Kits provide a step by step guide to embed kindness and cultivate resilience within your organization. There are 12 themes with supplies included for activities that all team members can participate in. Kits are valued between $50-$250.

#CommitToKindness

Limited availability on a first come, first serve basis! Email MaggieJ@horizonph.org to reserve a kit today.

Brought to you by:

With funding support from the Blandin Foundation Rural Leadership Grant.

#CommitToKindness

Kindness takes work, but it pays off in many ways. Not only do those we show kindness to benefit, but we ourselves have a lot to gain. Studies show that practicing kindness provides greater life satisfaction, more meaningful relationships, and better physical and mental health.

Why not get on board? Commit to being kind! Visit www.AlexandriaMN.org/CommitToKindness to order FREE materials!

More importantly, share your stories about kindness online at Commit To Kindness on Facebook and/or Instagram.

Upcoming Chamber Events

Wake Up Alexandria!

Friday, March 3 from 7:30-8:30 am Andria Theatre | 618 Broadway St. Nonprofit of the Day: Lakes Chamber Music Society

Wake Up Alexandria

Friday, March 17 from 7:30-8:30 am Duininck Concrete | 4967 State Hwy. 29 N Nonprofit of the Day: Boy Scouts of AmericaNorthern Lights Council

Listen & Learn: MN Unemployment Insurance (see page 2 for details)

Thursday, March 23 from 1-2 pm

Alexandria Chamber | Virtual Event Visit www.AlexandriaMN.org to register Chamber 101 (see page 2 for details)

Tuesday, April 4 from 7:30-8:30 am

Alexandria Chamber | Virtual Event Visit www.AlexandriaMN.org to register

Alexandria Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce

SAVE THE DATE!

Listen & Learn is a one-hour virtual event hosted by the Chamber. It offers information, education and resources on topics that impact the community. Call 320-763-3161 or email info@alexandriamn.org for details. There is no charge for the event and it is open to the public.

31ST ANNUAL FUNDRAISER

MONDAY, JUNE 5, 2023 ALEXANDRIA GOLF CLUB

2300 N Nokomis St. NE

MORE DETAILS COMING SOON!

Learn ways to optimize your membership at Chamber 101 session

Join us for a virtual Chamber 101 on Tuesday, April 4 from 7:30 - 8:30 am to learn more about Chamber programs, events, and membership benefits. Hear from fellow members as they share their experiences of being involved with the Chamber. To register, visit alexandriamn.org. For additional information, contact Jess at jess@alexandriamn.org or 320-763-3161.

MN Unemployment Insurance Learn

THURSDAY, MARCH 23 FROM 1-2 PM Virtual event: Register at www.alexandriamn.org.

Featuring...

Aaron Tell Outreach Specialist, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, Unemployment Insurance Program

Learn about real world Unemployment Insurance (UI) situations and actions you can take in your office to most efficiently work with the UI Program and help reduce your UI costs at an upcoming one-hour, informative, virtual Listen & Learn.

Aaron Tell, Outreach Specialist with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, Unemployment Insurance Program, will speak on how some employers effectively conduct UI within their business and how others sometimes struggle, which is often associated with higher UI costs and frustrations. This presentation will focus on reporting wages, tax rate calculation – base rate – experience rating, and managing your tax rate (cost).

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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.

February Hosts

Welcome Macy!

The Alexandria Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the addition of Macy Johnson to its staff. She will serve as the Chamber’s Member Relations Specialist. In her own words “With being passionate about making connections and serving others, I am excited to be part of the team at the Chamber. The uplifting, supportive environment of Alexandria is something so special to be part of!”

First Lutheran Church/Community Preschool - Feb. 3

1655 18th Ave. E

Nonprofit of the Day: Central Lakes Concert Association

First Lutheran Church was founded by Norwegian immigrants in 1872. A desire to reach out and help those less fortunate has been part of its mission ever since. Community Preschool provides an early childhood social and education experience for 3-to-5-year-old children in a Christian atmosphere.

Macy graduated from North Dakota State University with a Management Communication degree. She was most recently employed as a personal assistant to the CEO of You Betcha, LLC and as the competition coordinator and instructor for the Red River Dance and Performing Arts Company.

Market through eBlasts!

Chamber eBlasts are an effective benefit of membership! They are $100/blast, or $65/blast for nonprofits. Read some fast facts below:

More viewers to your website: Link your eBlast to your website. If one is not available, it can also be linked to a Facebook page/event, or an email.

Great reach: Email blasts are sent to more than 1,200 subscribed email addresses.

Vance Thompson Vision - Feb. 17

2600 Jefferson St.

Nonprofit of the Day: Mount Carmel Ministries

Vance Thompson Vision has grown from a single clinic in Sioux Falls, SD to a network of practices in South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, Montana, and Nebraska. The company offers lasik, cataract, cornea, glaucoma, and eyelid services as well as vision research.

High open and click rates: Open rates average around 46% and click rates average around 4%. That is more than the national average which is around 39% for open rates and 1% for click rates.

Contact Lauren at marketing@alexandriamn.org or 320763-3163 for details.

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.

February Visits

Central Ebikes is located inside Viking Gun & Pawn in downtown Alexandria. The business offers Electric Bike (Ebike) rental and sales. Ebikes may be rented from Central Ebikes either by the half or full day.

Central Ebikes

Dan Tilberg, Owner

Creative Coatings is a familyowned business that serves the Morris and Alexandria areas. The team focuses on heavy duty, industrial floors and recently added a maintenance program and now offers floor scrubber sales.

Creative Coatings

John Boeckner, President

Paffy’s Pest Control is a pest control company serving the Alexandria area, as well as the Metro and Southeast Minnesota areas. It offers residential and commercial mitigation and preventative pest control services.

Paffy’s Pest Control

Steve Reishus, Master Technician; Amy Clauson, CSR; Don Geer, Master Technician

Project Pros Construction is a full service contractor that serves Alexandria and the surrounding areas. It focuses on concrete and excavating but can complete almost any construction project.

Project Pros Construction

Nichole Shell, Administrative Assistant; Dirk Hagedon, Owner

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.

February Visits

Car Care Program is in a new location at 4353 County Rd. 82 SE. Car Care Program accepts donated cares, repairs them, and then gives them to families and individuals in need who find themselves faced with a transportation barrier.

Car

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Glacial Lakes Radon, owned and operated by Kevin Boike, is a radon measurement and mitigation business serving the central Minnesota area. The company’s mission is to work with homeowners to reduce radon levels and give families peace of mind.

Welcome!

The Depot Smokehouse & Tavern is now under new ownership. Mike and Sammi Lindemann purchased the business and changed the business name, remodeled the space, and created new menu items which feature smoked food with its new smoker.

February

ALO Realty Advisors

Amy Olinger

320-302-2850

amy@aloramn.com

www.aloramn.com

JIVE Hair Studio

Jill Swanstrom

123 6th Ave. E 320-248-1748

jivehair@gmail.com

www.JIVEHair.com

Please

YOU CAN BANK ON US.

Football and banking have a lot in common, like experienced coaching and trust. First Western is a locally owned, community bank — trusted for over 50 years. We are your friends and neighbors, people you can count on, providing local decision making.

Lakes Country Service Cooperative

Mary Phillipe 1001 E Mount Faith, Fergus Falls, MN 218-739-3273

jkovash@lcsc.org

www.lcsc.org

Glacial Lakes Radon - New Business Kevin Boike, Owner

The Depot Smokehouse & TavernNew Ownership/Remodel

Sammi & Mike Lindemann, Owners

Care Program

New Location Kris Chisholm, Executive Director

Legislative Corner

Minnesota is home to incredible natural resources that are critical to protect. The MN Chamber advocates for an environmental permitting process that protects these resources but provides clarity and transparency for businesses looking to grow and expand.

MN employers continue to share how time, cost, and uncertainty are major concerns for businesses seeking environmental permits here. It costs too much and takes more time than in other states. And often, there’s uncertainty as to when a business might finally obtain a permit.

Huber Engineered Hardwoods announced they will no longer pursue development of a $440 million facility in Cohasset due to ongoing delays and red tape over the past 18 months. Epitome Energy gave up on permitting a soybean crushing facility near Crookston and Talon Mining decided to locate a processing facility in ND rather than near its mine under development near Tamarack. MN lost more than $1.2 billion investment in just these three projects over the last several months.

The MN Chamber Foundation is conducting an in-depth analysis of MN’s environmental permitting process and its impediment to growth and expansion. Businesses seek expansions outside of MN due to the arduous permitting process, and those that do invest here often face greater uncertainty and lengthier timelines than what may be experienced in other states. Feedback from recent focus groups with impacted industries shows those that need to site a facility in MN plan a 12 to 18 month longer timeline than any other state. Site selectors peg MN as unfriendly on the criteria of environmental permitting, taking it off the list for potential investment.

The study is underway and will include expert research from outside consultants. To share your experience with MN’s environmental permitting process or help support the work, contact Jennifer Byers at jbyers@mnchamber.com.

CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATORS:

Senator Jordan Rasmusson (R) District 9 (218) 205-5062 sen.jordan.rasmusson@senate.mn

Senator Torrey Westrom (R) District 12 (651) 296-3826 sen.torrey.westrom@senate.mn

Representative Mary Franson (R) District 12B (651) 296-3201 rep.mary.franson@house.mn

Representative Tom Murphy (R) District 9B (218) 640-1707 rep.tom.murphy@house.mn

Business Buzz

Edina Realty recognized the following realtors from the Alexandria office for outstanding sales performance, market knowledge, and customer service, as members of Edina Realty’s Executive, Elite, Diamond, Platinum or Crystal Circles: Stu Wood - Executive Circle, Gloria Iverson, Nicole & Mitch Doering, and Wendie VanKirk - Platinum Circle; Julie & Shawn Olson, Christy Schmitz, Denise Dougherty, Lorie & Jim Iriwn, Mandy Rudy, and Sue Palmquist - Crystal Circle. Membership in Edina’s Realty’s circles places them among the top Edina Realty Realtors.

Mid Minnesota Federal Credit Union recently increased its ability to provide more financial education to the communities of Ada, Alexandria, Detroit Lakes, Fergus Falls, Staples, and Wadena. Nicole Pfeffer his taking her 20 years of experience in the financial industry helping members to classrooms, businesses, and community events as a new Community Outreach Specialist.

The Echo Press Newspaper took home 34 awards in this year’s Minnesota Newspaper Association’s Better Newspaper Contest. This is the most awards the newspaper has ever won. The awards were announced at the 156th annual convention in Brooklyn Park on January 26-27.

BE YOU Brands, a certified LGBTQ+ distributorship has launched under the American Solutions for Business umbrella, expanding the company’s branding and customer outreach.

Chelsea Lee, morning co-host for KIKV Radio, part of KIK-FM & COOL-FM, is one of five notable rookies who was selected to attend the annual Country Radio Seminar at Nashville’s Omni Hotel next month.

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

Time, cost, uncertainty hinder Minnesota’s permitting process