News from Your Chamber

Tuesday, February 20, 2024

This e-newsletter is brought to you by Chairman's Circle member:

Chamber Connection on Friday

Join us Friday 7:30-8:30am for networking and all the latest news and announcements from the local business community. Don't forget to bring $1 and your business card for a chance at door prizes! Everyone gets a chance to introduce themselves and share a brief update on their business or community happenings. The host ends the Connection with brief overview of their business followed by a drawing for door prizes.

Mainstream Boutique

Full Schedule of Events

ADVERTISE IN THE E-NEWSLETTER

One top banner ad is available every week in the Chamber e-newsletter. Reach 1,500 people for just $125! Ads are on a first come, first served basis, and are also available in the body of the e-news for $100. Partner level members and up receive one complimentary e-news insert per year.

Please email jtanner@willmarareachamber.com to reserve your space.

Stay N Play Celebrates One Year in New Location!

Congratulations to Stay N Play Child Care on the one year celebratory ribbon cutting of their new and expanded location at 500 Industrial Drive SW in Willmar! Stay N Play would like to thank their families, friends, and the community for their support through this transition. Stay N Play's mission is to provide dependable, quality education, in a warm and happy atmosphere for children 6 weeks to 12 years to learn and play. Stay N Play believes that every child has the potential to shine. Licensed to care for up to 100 children, it is a Parent Aware rated program and follows Kindergarten Readiness best practices. Pictured are Hailey Eischens (holding Blakely Hanson), MaKayla Swanson (holding Elsy Hernandez), Shantell VanVleet (holding Willow Solyntjes), Keilynn Swenson (holding Brooklyn Gamez), Sveta Magnuson (holding Huxley Reed), Chamber Ambassadors Kelsey Olson (Kandiyohi County & City of Willmar EDC), Kris Gulbrandsen, Jeff Jensen (West Central Technology, Inc.; holding Gentry Tanner), Director Jessica Rheaume, Executive Director Kristin Jaquith, President Colleen Kotila, Kami Anez (Anez Consulting), Fernando Cano Weichert Realtors, Dawn Lippert (Mainstream Boutique), Aaron Backman and Tanna Stucky (EDC), Kyle Rheaume, Matt, Xyla and Kali Jaquith, Jason Sabacky, Jeremy Sietsema, Tanya Prek (holding Brayden Nath) and Don Kotila.

Stay N Play

Congresswoman Fischbach Visits the Chamber

The Chamber hosted Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach earlier this month for business leaders to hear a legislative update, ask questions and share their thoughts on a range of topics. We hope to welcome the Congresswoman back this spring.

Free Legislative Breakfast

RSVP

Save Our Tails Fundraiser

Learn More

Age-Friendly Communities Survey

The Vision 2040 Health and Wellness Focus Group has been working towards becoming an age-friendly community. The Age-Friendly Communities Network is a member of the AARP's and strives to identify the community's needs and develop an action plan to address them. The AARP Livable Communities Initiative supports the efforts of neighborhoods, towns, cities and rural areas to be great places for people of all ages. Your feedback is vital to determine what the needs are in the Willmar Lakes Area.

Take the Survey

2024 Session Priorities

The Willmar Lakes Area business community was well represented at the kickoff to the 2024 Legislative session with the Minnesota Chamber at the St. Paul RiverCentre. Session Priorities is known for uniting business leaders and elected officials from across the state with an exclusive preview of the legislative agenda from those at the forefront of shaping it. Thanks to Senator Andrew Lang, Kelsey Baker, Matt Schrupp, Dr. Cindy Firkins Smith, Steve Gardner, Dr. Richard Wehseler, Kelly O’Farrell, Joanna Schrupp and Representative Dave Baker for attending. Speakers included Governor Tim Walz, Senate Majority Leader: Senator Erin P. Murphy, Senate Minority Leader: Senator Mark Johnson, Speaker of the House: Speaker Melissa Hortman, House Minority Leader: Representative Lisa Demuth and Jill Bollettieri, Senior Vice President, General Counsel & External Relations at Post Consumer Brands, 2023-24 Chair of the Board, Minnesota Chamber.

Business Education Network

The Business Education Network and the Willmar High School welcomed West Central Steel and the YMCA to the high school on February 7th. Thank you to both businesses for taking time to engage with the students. Zero Hour is the first hour on Wednesdays at Willmar High School. This time is scheduled every other week for students to catch up on tests or missing work. Those that do not have work to catch up on are in the commons area until classes start at 9am. This provides the opportunity to showcase all the fantastic businesses right here in the Willmar Lakes Area. If you would like the opportunity to connect with the Willmar High School students, please reach out to Jennifer Lindquist - the program coordinator for BEN - at BENCoordinator@willmarareachamber.com to schedule your date to attend.

neXt Trivia Recap

neXt enjoyed a fun night of trivia, local brews, tasty apps, and laughs at Foxhole Brewhouse! Special thanks to triviamaster and Chamber President James Miller for bringing the enthusiasm and challenging questions! Congrats to Team Tommy for taking first place, and to Team Ted for coming in second! Better luck next time Team David and Sara!

Energy to Grow Lunch and Learns

Student Job Fair & Career Expo

Chamber Community Job Board

Hiring? Don't forget to login to ChamberMaster to post your openings on the Chamber Job Board! Job postings will be shared weekly in the e-newsletter that reaches 1,500 people as well as on the Chamber website. Please contact the Chamber if you have any questions.