Chamber Update - November 2020

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ChairDeb BarnesLakeview MethodistHealth Care CenterVice ChairDeAnn EversmanDee’s Floral &DesignsMission Statement: The Fairmont Area Chamber of Commerce is an advocate for promoting a healthy business climBoard of Directors Officers:Board of Directors:Stephanie BusiahnVisit FairmontWendyEmlerCentury 21Northland RealtyNicole GriesValero RenewablesJudy GustafsonU.S. BankStaff:Past ChairSara PiercePierce Accountingand Tax ServicesTreasurerKeith HoyeKSUM and KFMCRadioTeresa HaycraftFairmont FordJohn KasperGraffiti CornerSteve PomerenkeCompeer FinancialBlake PotthoffFairmont OperaHouse, Inc.Tyler StahrFareway StoresNed KoppenPresidentpresident@fairmontchamber.orgKandi MenneOffice Manager/Director ofCommunicationsinfo@fairmontchamber.orgMiranda LarsenFinance Coordinatorfinance@fairmontchamber.orgContact Information:Fairmont Area Chamber of Commerce323 East Blue Earth AvenueP.O. Box 826Fairmont, MN 56031Phone: (507) 235-5547www.FairmontChamber.orgLocal businesses lead the wayBy: Ned Koppen - Chamber PresidentGreetings from the Fairmont Area Chamberof Commerce. The year 2020 has turned out to be ayear unlike any most of us have ever experienced. Thechallenges have been many and difficult. Dealing withchange has become a very necessary skill. With thatintroduction, it might seem that this will be anothergloomy, pandemic themed monologue that we have allheard many versions of over the past many months. Iam going to avoid that, I promise. Instead I am going totalk about positives in our community. COVID 19 willbe somewhere in the background, as it has since mid-March, but that is the kind of year it has been.Like every Chamber member, the FairmontArea Chamber office has beenforced to make concessions to theway we do business. Every timewe plan to hold a meeting (big orsmall), plan an event or do any ofthe things we have always done,we have to think about how to do itthe right way, the safe way or to doit at all. The information that helpsyou make those decisions seemsto change weekly, daily or maybeduring the course of any given day.Those are big challenges and allof our businesses are navigatingthat minefield. They have changedwhen they needed to and pivotedwhen necessary. It is impressive. When you go shopping,you can still go to the stores you want and buy thethings you want and need.Over the course of the last few months ofchange, our businesses have changed as well. Theyhave figured out ways to offer you more choices andmore value than you received before a pandemic ofchallenges and circumstances came into the picture.Think about how many of our LOCAL businesses nowoffer expanded ways to shop on-line now (I’m not talkingabout Amazon). You can call in orders, have yourpurchases delivered to your home, curb side pick-up, allof these services are things that our local businesses aredoing for us. And they figured out how to do it when“Let's ShopLOCALThisHoliday Season "things were most difficult for them. I have often felt thathow someone reacts when times are toughest is a prettygood indicator of what they are made of. If that is true,we are lucky to live in this great community made up ofall these great businesses and the people who work forthem.So, with that said, the Chamber office has startingthe planning for the Glows Parade and that meansthat the Holiday Shopping Season is ready to get underway. I think we can all assume that there will be changesto some of what we do and challenges in how we dothings this year. Here is one change that we can be intentionalabout. Let’s shop local this holidayseason. You hear the Chamber talkabout shopping local all of the time.It’s a good thing, and it benefits ourcommunity and local businessesin many ways in a normal year.This strange and unpredictableyear all of those same reasons stillhold true. In addition, we shouldall think about the businesses andchoices that we have right here inour community because shoppinglocal is great for our communityAND our businesses deserve it!They have fought and clawed theirway to keeping their doors openand made sure we could safely get theproducts we needed when times were tough. Let’s givethem a thank you for that and buy local this year.The Chamber’s Retail, Business & Entertainment(RBE) Committee created a Top 10 Reasons toSupport Local Businesses list. Here is the list:1. Creates Local Jobs for the Community2. Boosts the Local Economy3. Supports Your Neighbors4. Provides More Personalized Service5. Saves Time6. Donates Back to the Community7. Encourages Other Businesses to Invest Locally8. Creates More Choices for the Local Economy(Local - continued page 3)2
ate by facilitating access to leaders, communication and education through programs and services for its members.Local cont.3(Continued from page 2)9. Fosters a Healthier, Happier Communityan impossible balancing act of switching from one teaching model to another10. Builds Community Pride and a Sense of Pride.to best serve education and conform to state directives. Our local city andThose are ten great reasons that we should all shop local. Number 11 county government has stepped up and created grants for local businessesthis year is that they deserve it for all they have done for us this year. If you hurt by the pandemic, from federal CARES Act funding that they received.find something online, in a magazine or you’re tempted to go shop outside Every business that I have talked to over the past few months, refers to howour community, pause and think about all of the businesses we have. Think we need to make sure we all get through this. Not just their business, but everyone.about all of the choices we have to choose from here in our community first.We can all help too, by doing our part and shopping “Fairmont First”.Stop into a local business and have a conversation, look at a local business Build Community – Think. Shop. Buy. Local.website, set up a local delivery, get great customer service and shop local.Stay safe, stay healthy, enjoy our great community and all it has toNo one knows when things will get completely back to normal. One offer. If you would like to learn more about the Fairmont Area Chamber ofthing I am sure of is the importance of getting through this as a healthy community.Commerce and the work we do call me at the Chamber office (507) 235-Our health care providers are doing a great job of advising us how to 5547 or send me an e-mail at president@fairmontchamber.org.stay healthy as individuals. Our schools are educating our kids while doingRecent Ways that the Fairmont Area Chamber ofCommerce has been Working for You!City and County CARES Act Grants• The Chamber advocated for the funds to bemade available to our businesses• The Chamber was a collection point forgrant applications• The Chamber administered the grant applicationsfor the CountyDowntown Revitalization• Working with key partners to developa plan for revitalization of our HistoricDowntown• Participating in community meetings gatheringideas and direction for a revitalizationeffortGoogle DMO Partnership• Partnering with Visit Fairmont & FEDA tobring an evaluation of our business communities’• Current Google My Business presence• Specific feedback provided to improve individualbusiness profiles• Identify local locations that are important tovisitors that do not currently have a GooglelocationCommunity Recruitment• Promote our community to families lookingfor a new landing spot when they considerwhere to live• Promote all of the great things our communityhas to offer• Create and implement a marketing campaigntargeted towards those considering achange based on a target demographic, ie:location, age, income, and interests.www.deerequipment.comPAUL KLOECKNERProduct Specialist■ Sales & Leasing Expert■ Customer Focused Service■ Competitive Pricing“Your Friendly Ford Dealer Since 1909”FAIRMONTFORDwww.fairmontford.com700 E. Blue Earth Ave.507-235-6681email: Paul@fairmontford.comMon 8-8; Tues through Fri 8-5:30;Sat 8-3
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Chamber Update - November 2020

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