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We will be announcing our 2024 Businesswoman of the Year very soon. If our symposium attendees are your target audience, contact us about the title sponsor benefits for this year's event.

Lunch Mob is simple – meet up with some fellow members at one of our local eateries each month! This is drop in, order off the menu, pay your own tab, and hopefully meet a few new friends and potential clients!

Thank you to Stonebrooke Wealth Management for sponsoring our VIP Package this year! One lucky winner (couple) will get a night at a local hotel and some fun things both at the Gala and at the hotel. All you need to do to qualify is be registered to attend the Gala by September 18!

This month’s Access & Issues meeting will be around the horn updates from our local and elected officials. In addition, Mel Simon (2024 Foundation Chair) will talk about a new opportunity for businesses to utilize the Chamber Foundation as the fiduciary agent should you want to create a named scholarship program.

Access& Issues is open to all members, and is the 2nd Friday of each month at 8am via Zoom. If you would like to join the meeting, please email me for the link.

We have a couple lanes left for the bowling tournament next week! Grab 5 friends and come out for pizza and school night fun! Click image to register.

Who’s with me?! Chamber logo tattoos?!  

As a part of our commitment to advocating for our local business community, the Chamber will be hosting our candidate forums again this year. You are welcome to attend in person, or watch via live stream or recording.

In addition to the 100+ New Teacher Bags we delivered to ISD 194 a few weeks back, we have been busy delivering New Teacher Bags to staff at All Saints Catholic School, Christian Heritage Academy, and Small Wonders as well. Another Thank You to all our members who donated items to our newest teachers.

Minnesota’s minimum-wage rate will be adjusted on Jan. 1, 2025, to $11.13 an hour for all employers in the state.

During the 2024 legislative session, Minnesota’s minimum wage law was revised to eliminate the reduced minimum wages applicable for small employers (defined as annual gross revenues less than $500,000), youth under the age of 18 and J-1 visa workers. These minimum wage changes are effective Jan. 1, 2025. Effective Jan. 1, 2025, the state’s minimum-wage rate for all employers, including large employers, small employers, youth and J-1 visa wages for hotels, motels and lodging establishments, will increase to $11.13 an hour. The law still allows for a 90-day training wage for workers under age 20. The current hourly training wage, $8.85, will increase to $9.08. These rates reflect a 2.6% increase. The cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul have minimum-wage ordinances that require higher minimum-wage rates for work performed in Minneapolis and St. Paul. 

Minnesota law requires employers to display state-mandated posters in a location where employees can easily see them. The new minimum-wage poster will be available for download this fall.

The Dakota-Scott Workforce Development Board is bringing you a series with tips on employee retention, recruitment and building a positive culture. Gerry Hoeffner, Personnel Dynamics, provides the insights based on his years of experience working with companies of all sizes. Come meet Gerry and hear his insights and tips on October 2nd!  

Lakeville School Board appoints Michael Baumann as interim superintendent.

Credit: Sun Thisweek Newspaper

The Lakeville School Board unanimously appointed former district superintendent Michael Baumann as interim superintendent at Tuesday’s board meeting.

The board interviewed Baumann during Monday’s work session. His appointment follows superintendent Douglas Van Zyl’s resignation on Aug. 20. In July, Van Zyl decided that the 2024-2025 school year would be his last as superintendent in the district. The announcement of his early resignation came in an email to district staff and families on Aug. 22.

Baumann served as superintendent of the district from 2013 until his retirement in 2022 and has lived in Lakeville since 2005. During his eight years as superintendent, Baumann helped implement the district’s current strategic plan and guided the district through the COVID-19 pandemic.

To read the full article click HERE. For all of your local news each week, subscribe to Sun Thisweek HERE.

Last chance to nominate an Exceptional Businesswoman – deadline is Sunday at 11:59pm. And, start thinking about our 2024 Businessperson of the Year! The committee, made up of alumni honorees, will chose the next winner in November. Mark your calendars – The Women’s Symposium is November 12 and the Annual Dinner is January 30 – both at Brackett’s!

Lakeville Art Festival

Sept 21st

10am - 5pm

Sept 22nd

10am - 4pm

Considered to be one of the finest art festivals south of the river, the Lakeville Art Festival is held the third weekend in September in historic downtown Lakeville, Minnesota on the grounds of the Lakeville Area Arts Center. Featuring 100+ juried artists on the park-like grounds using a unique circular arrangement of artist booths, the Lakeville Art Festival provides an intimate and accessible setting to enjoy fine art.

Thank you for your support!