This is the place to find the latest and greatest news regarding Chamber, member and community happening and topics of interest to your business! Let us know if there is anything we can share about your business here!
The Buffalo Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Bureau serves our business members, promotes our local assets, and shapes the future of our community.
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INDOOR/OUTDOOR & SEATED/NON-SEATED VENUES
The more often I listen to the details and look at the math of the newest guidelines, the more confused I get, but we are to find out more about community events in the next week or two. We are working with the rodeo, looking at Buffalo Days, Pig & Rigs, and the Classic Car Show as summer events here that we hope to be able to fully participate in. The best information we got was to start/keep planning - so that is positive encouragement!
Of course the fastest way to getting back to some of these type of events is to get more people vaccinated. If you or your employees are eligible, get notified of when and where vaccines will be available closest to you on the COVID-19 Connector.
Your Chamber was part of 32 other Chambers who sent letters to the Governor yesterday asking him to open up the state more fully. Though more guidelines were put out, such as the above, it didn't help small restaurants/businesses. We also encouraged those of you greatly impacted to send a postcard to the Governor's office. Suzanne and I delivered postage paid/addressed postcards to some of you last week. Every nudge helps - thank you!
Tax Filing Season Extended to May 17
The Minnesota Department of Revenue announced last week that they have extended the individual tax filing and payment deadline to May 17, 2021. This means that Minnesotans will have an extra month to file their taxes and make payments for tax year 2020 without any penalty or interest. However, this extension does not apply to individual estimated tax payments. You can find more information on the Department of Revenue's COVID-19 page.
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FORGET ME NOT CAFE (Formerly J's Family Restaurant) NOW OPEN!
We, and the community as a whole, is excited to have Forget Me Not open and once again, have a family restaurant in downtown Buffalo! Owners, Palmer and Brian Alexander, have worked tirelessly and through some pretty major hurdles to get the doors open, but did it right, with replacing and refurbishing things and have a soft open with family and friends to work out all the kinks. They officially opened last Tuesday the 16th and have been hopping every since!
They offer a large breakfast menu with everything from omelets, combos, skillets and pancakes and a good selection of burgers, wraps, sandwiches, and soups and salads for lunch. They also offer a kids menu and have delicious caramel and cinnamon rolls the size of a small plate!
They are open 7 days a week from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Brian and Palmer met at a café so it has come full circle and fulfilled a dream of Palmer's to open up her own. They are very thankful for all the support from the businesses that helped them along the way (see the banner on their wall below) and are eager to meet the friendly faces of our community. Stop in! I did - was wonderful!
Below, at the ribbon cutting next to me is Board Vice Chair Jeremy Laxen of Culver's, Ambassador Jen Carlson of American Family/Chris Chapman, Palmer and Brian, Board Director and Ambassador Tina Anderson of Anchor Realty, Board Chair Denise Koch of MidCountry Bank and Board Director and Ambassador Cheree' Hoese of Commercial Realty solutions. Also, in the second photo, see Mayor Lachermeier welcome them to town!
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GOOD MORNING BUFFALO LAST WEEK - GREAT VIRTUAL ATTENDANCE
Was fun to see so many faces on the screen for our second virtual Good Morning Buffalo of the year. We will be back face to face at Verizon Wireless next month but will continue to do a few virtual ones throughout the year! Thanks to all who attended and thank you Kelly and Elyse from Positive Based Marketing for being our host.
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LAKE RIDGE CARE CENTER
310 Lake Blvd S.
763-682-1131
We all know where Lake Ridge and Park View Care Centers are located (both owned by the same Cassia/Elim group), but if you have never had anyone served there, you may not know much more.
The Ambassador team met with Jason Nelson, Director at Lake Ridge and learned a few things. Did you know that they have 56 skilled nursing rooms (5 in the end of life Lakeside Oasis area) and 27 assisted living apartments? Did you know the assisted living side of Lake Ridge was built in 1987? These units are like studio apartments - no kitchenette - but they have a restaurant where those living there can order up daily what they want for their meals.
Though we might think there is always a waiting list, there most often is not. Only 2.5%of people need actual nursing home type care. Most stay at home, age and may pass on at home or in a hospital after an acute event. But when they do come to need skilled nursing care, Lake Ridge is ready to serve!
It's been a long year for the residents and the staff at Lake Ridge as they worked to protect their people from the pandemic. Finally, now that 98% of the residents and 70% of the staff are vaccinated, they can start to allow guests to visit. The residents can also gather in groups for activities as long as they are masked and socially distanced.
When asked how we could help - the message Jason sent was to make sure that we have a plan for our health and end of life as it makes caring for someone a lot easier/better. Speaking of that - though they have 150 employees - if you know someone who is passionate about caring for other people - they are looking staff and would appreciate any referrals.
Below is Jason, myself, and Ambassadors Denise Koch and Cheree' Hoese.
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HURRY AND GET YOUR BIDS IN!
Auction ends this Friday at 3:00 p.m.
The Chamber Annual Banquet virtual silent auction ends at 3:00 this Friday so be sure to get your bids in! There are still a few items with no bids, so there is ample room and time for you to get those fingers moving and type in your bid!! We are hoping to crack the $3,000 mark soon. Thank you to those who have bid and found a treasure!
A final thanks to our sponsors: Thomes Insurance, Keller Williams MW Integrity/Kimbra Ness, Edward Jones offices, MidCountry Bank/Insurance, Bolten & Menk, Commercial Realty Solutions, State Farm/Mark Olson, State Farm/Cindy LaMont, Buffalo Art Guild, CliftonLarsonAllen and American Family Insurance.
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OPTIMAL FUNCTION PHYSICAL THERAPY AND WELLNESS OFFERING A CLASS JUST FOR US AS CHAMBER MEMBERS!
Whether at work, or even more so if working from home in what might be a make shift office during the pandemic, our posture is important! Having correct posture while working can help stave off the aches and pains from sitting for long periods of time. It's more than just the "get up and walk around" or "sit up straight" type information so let's meet and learn together and work work better!
Thanks Mariel for offering this special session to our members! There is a 20 person limit, so please act fast. Just email Mariel at [email protected].
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SUPPORT OUR HIGH SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
Just go to www.877foundation.org and order up your tickets, drive through and pick up a delicious meal for you and your family! Easy peasy and monies go towards scholarships for high school seniors.
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BUFFALO'S POLAR PLUNGE April 24th
There is currently 53 participants - are you one of them? Hasn't it always been on your bucket list to jump in a frozen lake? Maybe this year you could consider it, as the date is later and you will be running in the water!
With COVID, things will be a little different this year allowing a certain number of jumpers to be in the warming tents and running in etc...They will have 26 people plunging every 15 minutes so there is a specific time to be there to jump. The event itself will take a little longer to get through, but will still be fun and for a good cause!
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BUFFALO STRONG CONTINUES!
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ERIK THERWANGER HOSTING A THINK GREAT EXPERIENCE PODCAST
SUBSCRIBE here to the podcast. The show is designed to be very free-flowing – allowing guests to discuss their thoughts on achieving greatness (personally and professionally) and sharing helpful insights with our listeners. What a great way to hear people's stories that may inspire you - it's sharing greatness in our world - who couldn't use that?
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KEEPING YOU IN THE KNOW
Quick-link to the recent City of Buffalo public meetings:
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Spring brings new growth, weed out the bad & make room for something beautiful! |
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Be sure you follow us on Facebook and Twitter! |
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Buffalo Area Chamber of Commerce
763-682-4902
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