CHAMBER E-CONNECTION
Marshall Area Chamber of Commerce Weekly Events Newsletter
 
October 21, 2016
In This Issue
Taste of Marshall 2016
Thai Yoga Workshop
Zombie Night at the Museum
Let's Connect
SMOC Family Planning Fundraiser
Canoga Park Childcare 1 Year Anniversary
Popcorn Time at Bremer Bank
Holy Redeemer Yac 'O' Lantern Event
Food Access Solutions
Chamber 101
Sleep Inn & Suites Business After Hours
Chili Cook-Off
Ambassador Visits
Young Professionals Luncheon
Candidates Debate
Q&A with Mayor Bynres
Federal ADA Reform Bill
Minnesota Business Benchmarks
City Boards & Commissions
E-Connection Policies


Welcome New 
Chamber Members!







Have a job posting within 
your company?
Want to post it on the
Chamber website?


 

This is FREE for Chamber Members!

 

Log in to your ChamberMaster account 

and post now!  

Not sure how to log in? 

Call the Chamber at 

507-532-4484 

or email 

erinr@marshall-mn.org

to learn how!

Shop Local
Improve our community by continuing to shop local and make Marshall it's best!  



           

 

 

 
 
 
 
Minnesota Works
Where Talent Meets
 Its Match
 
 
 


 CORE
SW Core Logo
 
 
 
 
SW MN Careers
SW MN Careers
 
 
 
 


 
Grow Minnesota!
 
'Get Ready to Grow' 
Grow Minnesota




  Marshall GreenStep
Marshall GreenStep



| CURRENT/UPCOMING EVENTS |


Taste of Marshall 2016

Save the Date! Taste of Marshall 2016 is Monday, October 24, 2016
Southwest Minnesota State University

Tickets available online for $10 or $15 at the Door
Thai Yoga Bodywork Partner Workshop

Saturday, October 22nd
1:00-3:-- pm
Zombie Night at the Museum
 

Saturday, October 22nd and 29th
Lyon County Museum

'Scary' Encounter 6-7 PM
'Terrifying' Experience 8-9:30 PM
Let's Connect

When: Thursday, October 27th (7:30-9 AM)
Where: AmericInn (1406 E Lyon St)

Make sure your business leads stay hot!  Check out our networking event that gives you a chance to show off your company with your one minute verbal commercial while enjoying a great breakfast and learning about other local businesses.  Be sure to bring brochures to display and business cards to share!

SMOC Family Planning Fundraiser



Thursday, October 27th
4:30pm to 7:30pm
109 S. 5th Street Suite 100
Canoga Park Childcare 1 Year Anniversary Celebration



Thursday, October 27th
6:00pm-8:00pm
1301 Canoga Park Drive
Popcorn Time at Bremer Bank


Friday, October 28, 2016
8:30-4:00
Holy Redeemer Yac 'O' Lantern Event

Yac 'O' Lantern event! 

On October 31, our High School Students will be going door to door from  6:30 to 7:30 to collect food for the Kitchen Table Food shelf in Marshall.

Thank you for supporting them and our local food shelf! Contact Dana at 532-3602 for more details.


Food Access Solutions
 

Community Gathering to Discuss Food Access Solutions
 
Hundreds of thousands of Minnesotans live in areas with insufficient access to a reliable source of nutritious food-including many residents in Marshall and surrounding communities. The good news is there is no shortage of interest in identifying and supporting local solutions.
 
A new effort called the Good Food Access Fund is preparing to leverage state dollars into local solutions supporting the sale of healthy, affordable food in underserved areas. The Fund will provide grants, low-cost loans, and technical support for food-related enterprises such as grocery stores, mobile markets and farmers' markets, fresh food refrigeration, community supported agriculture, and other innovative community-driven solutions.
 
Join us for a discussion about food access challenges and solutions in the Marshall area.
 
Wednesday, November 2
10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Court House
2nd floor- Public Health
607 West Main St.
Marshall, MN 56258
 
Agenda:
  • Overview of the Good Food Access Fund Campaign
  • Updates on related efforts underway in the area
  • Discussion questions:
    • o   What food access solutions would be most impactful in our community?
    • o   What challenges would need to be addressed?
    • o   What resources and community assets can be leveraged? 
  • Next steps in moving forward with solutions
Please RSVP to Leah Gardner:
952-278-7918
Refreshments and materials will be provided.

Marshall Chamber 101

When: Tuesday, November 3rd (8:00-9:00 AM)
Where: Marshall Chamber (118 West College Dr)

Are you interested in learning how to make the most out of your membership or are you just curious as to what the Chamber can do for your business? Join us at the Marshall Area Chamber of Commerce Office to hear from Chamber staff and volunteers about the programs, benefits and services that are available to Chamber members. Whether you are a brand new member, a longtime member or just want to learn more about membership this is the event for you!  Also, learn some new enhancements that businesses can now use with their business listing and more!

Sleep Inn & Suites Business After Hours

Thursday, November 3, 2016
4:30-6:30 P.M.
Sleep Inn & Suites
Chili Cook-Off

Calling all Chili Chefs and Connoisseurs!!


WHAT:  CHILI COOK-OFF to support the United Way of Southwest Minnesota
WHERE:  BREMER BANK, 208 E. COLLEGE DR., MARSHALL, MN
WHEN:  Thursday, November 3rd - 11 AM - 1 PM

Do you have a chili recipe that is just screaming to be shared? We would love to have you enter your creation in our competition!  Don't want to cook?  We also need LOTS of chili lovers to come and help us eat all these wonderful entries.  This is a free will donation lunch with all proceeds going to support the United Way of Southwest Minnesota.  Bring a friend and cast your vote for your favorite pot of Chili.  Register to enter your chili by October 27th.  Contact Sara Haney, (507)537-0236 or sjhaney@bremer.com


 
| BUSINESS NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS |
  
 



Ambassador Visits


(Combined with Albright & Wesley Methodist Churches)
202 N. 4th Street
(507) 532-4010


Marshall Yoga Shala 1st Dollar Award
227 West Main Street 
(507) 828-1033




Young Professionals Luncheon

Jodi Maertens from Southwest Initiative Foundation, speaking at the October Marshall Area Young Professionals luncheon on the daycare crisis in Southwest Minnesota.



Candidates Debate



The Marshall Area Chamber of Commerce and SMSU Political Science Student Association sponsored a forum for legislative candidates running in Lyon County at Southwest Minnesota State University Monday evening.



Q&A with Mayor Bob Byrnes

Searching for answers in all the right places.
One thing the Chamber attempts to do is find answers to commonly asked questions or answers to rumors that seem to get everybody's attention. There seems to be a lot of people talking or wondering about some specific questions around the Red Baron Arena and a couple other topics. So we decided to go directly to the mayor and get the facts and share them with you. 


1. We hear budget numbers about the Red Baron Arena from it being way over budget to under budget.  Can you clarify? Why is there a perception that it is over budget? 

The total construction numbers are still being pulled together.  We anticipate being $300,000 under budget overall and on time.  I think mostly because of the process that we chose to use where we hired a construction project management group. So the city actually becomes the general contractor. In this method everything is bid separately so we end up with more local people securing the work. It also means we have to go through numerous change orders which has been very public and gives the appearance that all these change orders are above budget. That isn't always true and in fact some of these changes saved the project money and also none of these would have been visible if we weren't the general contractor.
 
2. It seems like there has been a lack of activity at the Red Baron Arena.  When and how will that change?
The Arena is still being finalized and has not really been ready for events. There are still details and changes being made to accommodate events. For the next 6 months, the Arena will contain 2 sheets of ice and will not be hosting events that aren't ice-related other than in the club or meeting rooms.  However, at the end of October, we will be hosting the State Legion convention which will be a large event happening right before the second sheet of ice is put in.  We also have a number of smaller events such as the Ralco Tru Shrimp and University of Minnesota SPARKS event and various meetings.
 
3. We've heard about potential hotel development.  Can you shed any light on that subject?
There have been several different opportunities for different name brands as well as size and function in addition to rooms. The city has recently approved a study done by an outside firm to bring us the actual information needed to determine the right size, need and potential. As we build more events especially when we only have one sheet of ice on all summer we believe we can drive the need for more rooms.

4. Are taxes collected to fund the Red Baron Arena coming in above or below expectations and how are they being used?
The local option sales tax (.5%) is up roughly 10-15% from projected amounts.  The food, beverage and lodging tax (1.5%) is slightly above estimates. This is good news as the estimates were done on the most recent dollars being spent in Marshall. This shows us that there are more dollars being spent in Marshall than planned and more people are seeing us as a regional hub. Please keep in mind that these taxes are used for both the Red Baron Arena and the Merit Center.
 
5. How is Tall Grass Liquor doing? 
The numbers look very good for Tall Grass Liquor.  For January-September 2016 total sales are up 15.4%.  That number is actually a little low because tobacco was sold in the old store and isn't in the new store.  If we included the holidays and grand opening, the sales would be up even higher.  With numbers like this there is the potential to shorten the bond indebtedness from 15 years to 9 years.
 
6. Is there anything else you would like to add?
We constantly hear about taxes in Marshall even though our tax rate has stayed the same for 8 years. Growth is part of the reason we have been able to hold the tax rate. The more we grow the more taxes can be collected through new businesses and people without additional burden going to existing business or people. Continued growth is very important to communities that thrive to become relevant to new generations that basically become our future. 
 
One other area we know we will need to address is parking at the Red Baron Arena. Additional parking has been added behind the facility to be shared with the new ball fields but additional parking needs are being addressed. 




FEDERAL ADA REFORM BILL

 
***ACTION*** FEDERAL ADA REFORM BILL - CONTACT CONGRESS

The ICSC (International Council Shopping Centers) report that Senators Jeff Flake (R-AZ) and Roger Wicker (R-MS) introduced S. 3446, an identical bill to the House ADA reform proposal H.R. 3765, sponsored by Rep. Ted Poe (R-TX) and 59 others, and have launched a grassroots effort to educate other policymakers.

The Marshall Area Chamber supports both the letter and spirit of the ADA and recognizes the tremendous positive impact that the law has had on our society. However, in Minnesota, and across the nation, we have seen the law abused.  We believe this narrowly focused legislation is needed to deal with "drive by" ADA lawsuits. These suits or the threat of such suits are an unintended consequence of the historic law that does little to promote access and much to enrich certain attorneys.  We have made progress in Minnesota, but national legislation is needed.

The legislation protects the ability of individuals with disabilities to file lawsuits and ensures they have full and proper access to businesses open to the public, such as shopping centers, retailers, restaurants, theatres, etc. while restoring the necessary balance to Title III litigation. The legislation contains a "notice and cure" provision that would create a temporary pause in litigation for up to 120 days to allow property owners to correct identified barriers to access.

**Please click here to send a message to your Members of Congress asking for their support of this critical issue.**




Minnesota Business Benchmarks

 
MN Chamber
Minnesota Chamber releases Minnesota Business Benchmarks

Annual report reaffirms innovative, skilled talent; workforce shortage a growing concern
A talented workforce remains a backbone of a growing Minnesota economy, according to the Minnesota Business Benchmarks. But the second annual report produced by the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce and its local Chamber Federation partners cautions that Minnesota could be losing its advantage.

"Our members regularly cite shortage of workers and high taxes as the two biggest impediments to growing and investing in Minnesota. The difficulty of finding workers at all skill levels across all industries is a huge issue for Minnesota businesses," Chamber President Doug Loon said. "The problem already is exacerbated by a slowing growth in the working-age population coupled with the retiring baby boomers. Plus, we struggle with the persistent achievement gap among students of color."

The report highlights an additional strain on the workforce. Minnesota is losing more people to other states than it is gaining. This trend is hindering growth opportunities for many companies, Loon said.

Business Benchmarks is a collection of key economic indicators that measure Minnesota's competitiveness and the health of the state's economy compared with the rest of the country. Comprehensive, objective data was compiled from sources such as state and federal agencies.

Minnesota continues to lead in many categories, the report shows. But it is slipping in key areas, too.

On the positive front, innovation remains a trademark with Minnesota ranking fourth highest among states in patents per capita. The state ranks second in the nation for residents with at least a two-year degree.  It is 10th best in concentration of STEM jobs - science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

The good news/bad news dynamics, however, are reflected in economic growth, Loon said. Minnesota ranked 13th among states for GDP growth in 2015, up from 27th the previous year and tied at the national average of 2.4-percent growth. That improvement, however, was largely on the strength of the first quarter. Minnesota ranked 41st when viewing GDP growth for the final three quarters of 2015 and the first quarter of 2016.

Minnesota improved in job growth and personal income growth but still lags the national averages - ranking 29th and 30th, respectively, Loon noted. And its standing in key tax categories was largely unchanged from 2014. The state is still third highest in the nation for its corporate and income tax rates, and second highest for some business property taxes.

The Business Benchmarks provides an excellent springboard for priorities to focus on at the2017 Legislature, Loon said. Policymakers and business leaders must work collectively to build on the state's strengths and minimize its weaknesses.

"We cannot rest on our past successes. We must continue to adapt to changing competitive pressures," Loon said. "Our work at the Minnesota Chamber is to make Minnesota ready for the future - ready for change and ready to grow."





City Boards & Commissions

CITY OF MARSHALL
ANNOUNCES OPENINGS
                  ON THE FOLLOWING COMMISSIONS/BOARDS/AUTHORITIES
 
Adult Community Center - 2 openings
         (1) 3-yr term to expire 5/31/19
  (1) unexpired term to expire 5/31/17
        
Community Services Advisory Board - 4 openings
         (1) unexpired term to expire 2/28/18
         (3) 3-yr terms to expire 2/28/20

Convention & Visitors Bureau Board - 2 openings
            (2) 3-year term to expire 12/31/19

Library Board - 2 openings
         (2) 3-yr terms to expire 12/31/19
 
Planning Commission - 3 openings
         (1) unexpired term to expire 5/31/18
 
These positions represent an opportunity for interested residents of Marshall to become more involved in local government activities.  Positions are nonpaying.  Interested residents can obtain additional information and applications from the City Administrator's Office at the Municipal Building, 344 West Main St., Marshall, MN. (Call 537-6760) or at the following website:  http://www.ci.marshall.mn.us.  The completed application should be returned no later than Friday, October 28, 2016.  Appointments will be made by the Mayor and City Council as set forth in policy statements.
 
            APPLICATIONS FROM WOMEN AND MINORITIES ARE ENCOURAGED
 
Mayor & City Council
City of Marshall



Chamber E-Connection Guidelines and Policies

Newsletter Goals and Audience
The purpose of the Chamber E-Connection newsletter is to share our members' events with  other business and community members. It is an informational newsletter and helps to promote  our member businesses and their events.
Each Friday, our newsletter is sent to over 1,500 individuals. Our separate emails are sent to  the same list, but are held especially for our Chamber events and Business After Hours.

Newsletter Policy
E-Connection events are included based on requests from the member business. The following criteria are requested by the Marshall Area Chamber for event submissions:
  • Events flyers or submissions must be an actual event. We do not include sales or promotions.
  • Events can be included in the E-Connection for 2 weeks Free of charge, and you have the option of adding one additional week for $10. 3 weeks is the max per event.
  • Submissions must be sent the Wednesday prior to that Friday's
    E-Connection to be included to chamber@marshall-mn.org

  • All event flyers are for Marshall Area Chamber of Commerce members only. 
Any Chamber member businesses events can be submitted to the Chamber website as well here. Click submit new event.
Chamber Member Job Postings             

Any Chamber me mber may submit job postings! Ask about your login by 
emailing chamber@marshall-mn.org or c all the Chamber at 532-4484.

 
Sincerely,
 
Chamber Logo
Marshall Area Chamber of Commerce
118 West College Drive
Marshall, MN 56258
(507) 532-4484