December2017_ChamberNewsletter_REVISED

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Mission Statement: The Fairmont Area Chamber of Commerce exists to promote a healthy business cli Board of Directors Officers: Chair Kerry Nagel Allen MRCI-WorkSource Vice Chair Les Anderson Martin County Farm Bureau Board of Directors: Deb Barnes Lakeview Methodist Health Care Center Stephanie Busiahn Visit Fairmont Chris Carstensen Carstensen Cabinetry and Woodworking Zephanie Cole Align Chiropractic & Acupuncture, PLC Staff: Past Chair Ron Kopischke Profinium, Inc. Treasurer Sara Pierce Pierce Accounting and Tax Services Dave Cone Kahler Automation Corporation Brandon Edmundson Krahmer, Shaffer & Edmundson, Ltd Mandi Kosbab Edward Jones Ann Terfehr Dan’s Appliance Margaret Dillard President margaret@fairmontchamber.org Kandi Menne Office Manager/Director of Communications info@fairmontchamber.org Benjamin Landsteiner Marketing & Social Media Coordinator benjamin@fairmontchamber.org Louis Hinton Finance Coordinator finance@fairmontchamber.org Contact Information: Fairmont Area Chamber of Commerce 323 East Blue Earth Avenue P.O. Box 826 Fairmont, MN 56031 Phone: (507) 235-5547 www.FairmontChamber.org The new American Dream By: Margaret Dillard - Chamber President Everything you have learned about traditional economy, education, workforce and shopping habits is no longer relevant without considering that the focus of the American Dream has shifted. New generations have brought on this different way of thinking about … well, almost everything! According to a 2015 US Census report, not only do millennials outnumber baby boomers, accounting for about a quarter of the population but are also “more diverse than the generations that preceded them, with 44.2 percent being part of a minority race or ethnic group.” Living for the experience “Living for the experience has replaced the overwhelming need to amass wealth. Being part of something bigger than one’s own wants and needs is forcing change in how we connect.” has replaced the overwhelming need to amass wealth. Being part of something bigger than one’s own wants and needs is forcing change in how we connect. Case in point, while the national retail environment is reeling, small business, boutiques and mom and pop shops are primed to answer shopping trends. Small Business Saturday is a new twist on the Midwestern Crazy Daze promotion. It's an annual shopping tradition dedicated to supporting small businesses and celebrating communities across the country. Founded by American Express in 2010, Small Business Saturday is celebrated every year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. The board of directors at Fairmont Area Chamber expressed the desire to participate in this effort, so for the past two years, we have been recognized as a “Community Champion” thereby receiving resources and materials to lead an effort to encourage people to shop local. Both years, we’ve chosen to facilitate the Passport Program. The Shop Small Passport is part scavenger hunt, part souvenir for shoppers to collect stamps from all their favorite places. Each time shoppers made a purchase at a participating place, they received a stamp. When they shopped at other small businesses, that stamp got them something special—like a discount or hot chocolate. Thank you to participating Chamber Members: Dan's Appliance & TV, JL Computers, Minuteman Press, NAPA Auto Parts, Sovell Jewelry, Twelve Baskets Re-Sale and The Visual Identity Vault and other Participating Businesses: The Cutting Edge Salon, Dees Floral, The Extra Touch and Sommer Outdoors. Another shift now widely recognized is that young professionals will forego financial compensation to live in communities that feature safety, quality educational options, affordability, recreational amenities and a variety of local healthcare facilities. For years, we’ve heard and readily accepted that rural America is dying. We believed that as we sent our youth off to acquire their key to success and happiness – a four-year degree – we were sealing the fate of small communities because they would never find the American Dream of yesteryear (otherwise known as the six figure salary) back home. Research of Ben Winchester, at Minnesota’s Extension Center for Community Vitality further supports that millennials do not shoot for the same goals as their parents. The “Fairmont Area Life” project is a collaborative venture of the City of Fairmont’s Economic Development Authority, Fairmont Area Chamber and local stakeholders that adopts an aggressive approach to recruiting and retaining talent using social media and websites as well as traditional media and personal contact to showcase quality of life indicators, local human interest stories and testimonials unique to Martin County, Minnesota. In addition to ex- 2 (Continued on page 7)
mate through leadership, communication and education for its members in the greater Fairmont area. MCYF Awards Grants The Martin County Youth Foundation held its Donor Recognition and Awards Presentation on Monday, November 13, 2017 at the Fairmont Elementary School. Grants totaling $13,580 were awarded to help fund eight area organizations/projects during the Fall 2017 Award cycle. As of November 2017, the foundation has awarded more than $385,000 to assist in funding over 280 local youth-oriented projects. The Martin County Youth Foundation was founded in 2000. The organization is committed to acquire, manage and distribute funds to enhance the lives of youth in Martin County, contributing over $30,000 each year in grants to support youth related programs and activities in Martin County. For more information, visit www.martincountyyouthfoundation.org Farewell Curt This fall, the foundation awarded grants in the following amounts to these local organizations and projects: Martin County Historical Society $600 Annual School Visitation Program Martin County Library $2,000 Code Academy Martin County Preservation Assoc. $500 Childrens' Theater Workshop GHEC School (ISD #2536) $2,400 Preschool Tuition Fairmont Area Schools (ISD #2752) $2,380 Strong Fathers/Strong Families Program Fairmont Area Kinship $3,100 Scholarships and Staff Training Fairmont CER (ISD #2752) $1,000 STEAM Adventures Workshop Fairmont CER (ISD #2752) $1,600 Minecraft Camp The board and staff of the Fairmont Area Chamber of Commerce would like to thank Curt Foster for his years of service as our Director of Finance & Operations. After nearly three years at the chamber, Curt has moved on to pursue new opportunities in the development of his professional career. His kindness and sincerity will be greatly missed by all of us at the Fairmont Area Chamber of Commerce. We wish him all the best in his future endeavors as he begins this new chapter in his life. Thank you Curt! 1 RAOS TO JOIN THE CHAMBER TDY 1. Referrals to Potential Customers 2. Free and Discounted Information Seminars 3. Invitations to Chamber Events 4. Free Listing on our Website 5. Unique Sponsorship and Advertising Opportunities 6. Member to Member Networking 7. Increased Consumer Favorability 8. City and State Advocacy 9. Free Business Resources 10. Brochure or Card Placement 11. Free Media Exposure 12. Member Only Discounts 13. Social Media Visibility 14. Region-specific Business News 15. Online Presence Assistance Join the Fairmont Area Chamber of Commerce between October 1 and December 15 and receive member benefits for the remainder of the year at no charge. Just pay next year’s dues in full at time of joining to receive the remainder of this year absolutely FREE! You’ll receive up to 20% OFF your total dues through the end of next year. THE SOONER YOU ACT, THE BETTER THE DEAL! 3 Tri-County Implement St. James Martin County Implement Truman Tri-County Implement Jackson Feature your business ad in full color for only $60 per month with your annual contract or $75 per month. 323 East Blue Earth Avenue | Fairmont, MN 56031 507-235-5547 | www.FairmontChamber.org www.deerequipment.com
Page 1: December 2017 Community Connections
Page 5 and 6: e recognized as the leader in assis
Page 7 and 8: ment for our members, recognition o

December2017_ChamberNewsletter_REVISED

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?