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What's Driving Property Tax Increases
First, I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving break. And I look forward to gathering on December 9 for our Holiday Chamber Connect, to celebrate another successful year together.
I’ve been thinking deeply about leadership today. Leadership is both an art and a science, and is rarely perfect in practice. When leadership fails, the impact ripples through organizations and communities.
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Tuesday, December 9 | 5:00 PM
The St. Paul Area Chamber, along with our partner chambers, annually hosts a wintertime celebration for Chamber members, friends and colleagues. We'll have free food and drink samples from local restaurants, caterers, breweries and more, as well as a cash bar.
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MN Skills - Based Hiring Accelerator
Tuesday, December 16 | 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
The Twin Cities Metro Workforce Development Boards are establishing a new partnership with Goodwill Easter-Seals, the Saint Paul Area Chamber, the Minneapolis Regional Chamber and Twin Cities SHRM for the MN Skills-Based Hiring Accelerator program. Employers can participate in a half-day in-person workshop to receive in-depth learning
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Know someone who should enroll in LSP 2026? Applications are open now!
What is LSP? Leadership St. Paul (LSP) is the premier cohort learning program in the Twin Cities for emerging and current civic & business leaders that prepares, challenges, and engages leaders to strengthen the St. Paul/East Metro region.
Find out more information here and tell your friends and colleague to apply.
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The Marketplace brings together trusted, Chamber-vetted businesses and showcases exclusive offers for our community. If you haven’t explored it yet, now is a great time to take a look—and if you’re a Chamber member, you can even add a coupon or special offer directly through your profile to attract new customers.
Let’s continue strengthening our local business community together.
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Support Our Hamline-Midway Neighbors
The Minnesota State Fair’s Community Gives Together program is hosting a drive to collect items for the Midway Project, a neighbor-led program in partnership with the Hamline Midway Coalition that operates a food pantry at Hancock Recreation Center. Needed items include diapers, baby wipes, laundry pods, shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant and more (new, unopened items only). Collection days are Monday to Friday, Dec. 8 to 12, and Monday, Dec. 15, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Saturday, Dec. 13, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Location: Minnesota State Fair Administration Building, 1292 Cosgrove St., across from the Bandshell. More info: https://www.mnstatefair.org/about/msf-cgt/
| | Discover how the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) Employer Reasonable Accommodation Fund (ERAF) can help your business thrive while fostering a more inclusive workplace. Small to mid-sized businesses in Minnesota can receive reimbursements of up to $30,000 for providing reasonable accommodations for job applicants and employees with disabilities. | USA Hockey today named 28 players to the preliminary roster of its 2026 U.S. National Junior Team, including nine players who helped the U.S. win its second straight gold medal in the IIHF World Junior Championship a year ago. | | |
The Women’s Professional Committee is taking time to reimagine how we support and uplift women in our business community. Your voice and experiences matter, and we want to ensure our work truly reflects what you need and value. By responding to this short survey, you’ll help shape our 2026 programs, events, and connection opportunities—so they feel meaningful, relevant, and supportive to women at every stage of their career.
Thank you for taking a moment to share your perspective. It genuinely makes a difference.
| USA Hockey today named 28 players to the preliminary roster of its 2026 U.S. National Junior Team, including nine players who helped the U.S. win its second straight gold medal in the IIHF World Junior Championship a year ago. | | |
Minnesota Paid Leave Prep & Workplace Updates
Get ready for Paid Family & Medical Leave — plus updates on Sick & Safe Leave and rest break laws.
Minnesota’s employment laws are changing fast — and employers need to be ready. Join the Minnesota Retailers staff for a concise but packed webinar on what’s coming and what steps you should take now.
December 3 | 11:00–11:45 a.m. | Virtual via Zoom
What we’ll cover:
- Minnesota’s new Paid Family and Medical Leave program - what employers must do to prepare.
- Updates to the Earned Sick and Safe Leave law.
- Recent rest break changes every employer should know.
CLICK HERE to register.
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The Minneapolis Fed conducts a Business Pulse Survey each month to get a ground-level view of economic conditions from business leaders like you across the Ninth District, a region that includes Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, northwestern Wisconsin, and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
Please sign up to give us your insights. If you become a participant, you can expect to receive the survey at the start of each month. The survey only takes 2–3 minutes to complete. That’s it. And your insights will give us critical intelligence on current business conditions.
You’ll also benefit by participating. We send survey highlights to our respondent pool and links to full results online within two weeks of the survey’s close.
| | Ramsey County invites you to apply for CEO Next, a dynamic peer-learning program designed for business leaders ready to take their companies to the next level. This program brings together CEOs to address the challenges of scaling and provides access to high-quality research and expert support. Through a partnership with Dakota, Scott and Hennepin counties, CEO Next is available at no cost to individuals leading companies with annual revenues over $1 million and between 10 to 99 employees. Get more details and apply at RamseyCountyMN.gov/CEONext. | | |
This December, the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship celebrates its 50th anniversary right here in the State of Hockey. Over 29 games and 11 unforgettable days, fans from around the globe will experience not only world-class hockey, but also the best of Minnesota hospitality, events, and culture.
The World Juniors Puck Partners program is your chance to help welcome the world and show why Minnesota is the State of Hockey. Participating businesses will be featured in the official World Juniors visitors guide, gaining direct exposure to thousands of fans. By offering special promotions, events, or extended hours, you’ll help create an atmosphere that makes this milestone tournament one to remember—and keeps fans coming back to Minnesota long after the final horn.
Businesses can CLICK HERE to Register.
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Yorth Group Term of the Month: Blue-green Infrastructure
Green infrastructure refers to trees and woods, gardens, parks, green roofs, open spaces, and other “soft” elements in the built environment; similarly, blue infrastructure means features like lakes, streams, fountains, storm drainage, ponds, etc. Together, blue-green infrastructure comprises those elements of urban landscapes that make the environment a pleasant, healthy, and desirable space to live, work and play.
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DEED’s business financing programs help companies and communities retain existing jobs and create new high-quality jobs. Not all businesses are eligible. Qualifying companies must meet specific job creation and wage goals.
Trying to grow your business? Minnesota’s tax credits programs can help. Businesses must meet certain criteria to be eligible for tax credits. Requirements are set by each program.
| The State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) is part of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021 and includes $10 billion for state, territory and tribal business finance programs. Minnesota has been approved by the U.S. Department of the Treasury for up to $97 million for small business financing support. This is the second SSBCI initiative – Minnesota received $15 million through the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010. Minnesota will receive funds in three disbursements over several years. DEED has received the initial disbursement of approximately $29.5 million. Watch the webinar recording providing information on the State Small Business Credit Initiative 2.0 Program Overview. | | |
Union Depot is getting ready to host its annual Hub for the Holidays event series. A variety of festivities will take place throughout the merry season beginning Friday, Nov. 28 through Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025.
Highlights include:
- European Christmas Market, four three-day weekends beginning November 28
- North Pole Express, December 5 – 7 and December 11 – 14
- Tree Lighting, Movie Night and Saint Paul Winter Carnival Button Unveiling, Saturday, Dec. 6
- Holiday Bake Sale, Saturday, Dec. 13
- CPKC Holiday Train, Saturday, Dec. 13
CLICK HERE to view details on each event
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Is your small business a certified Disadvantage Business Enterprise (DBE) being impacted by the US DOT Interim Final Rule (IFR)?
If so, please share your story so we can prepare resources to address your concerns.
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Tree Trust Offers Paid Job Training for Young Adults
Tree Trust is accepting applicants ages 18–28 for its Branches employment training program this fall and winter. The program is open to those with a high school diploma, GED, or completion of 12th grade and enrollment in a transition program.
The next cohort runs Sept. 3–Nov. 12, 2025, with another following from Nov. 17, 2025–Jan. 30, 2026. Participants work Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–3 p.m., earning $16/hour while gaining experience in tree care and landscape construction. Perks include free daily transportation, paid work gear, certification in CPR/First Aid and arboriculture, driving permit/license support, and a dedicated employment coach.
CLICK HERE to apply.
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