Community Connections January 2024
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Mission Statement: The Fairmont Area Chamber of Commerce is an advocate for promoting a healthy business clim<br />
Board of Directors Officers:<br />
Chair<br />
Aaron Speltz<br />
Hy-Vee<br />
Vice Chair<br />
Vonnie Cone<br />
ReMax Total<br />
Realty<br />
Board of Directors:<br />
Rick Ash<br />
United Hospital<br />
District<br />
Kermit Brown<br />
Kinship of Martin<br />
County<br />
John Christ<br />
Kahler Automation<br />
Mike Christians<br />
Green Mill<br />
Staff:<br />
Past Chair<br />
Joe Evans<br />
Mayo Clinic<br />
Health Systems<br />
Treasurer<br />
Joe Loughmiller<br />
Phileo by Lesaffre<br />
Zak Clemetson<br />
Mayo Clinic Health<br />
Systems<br />
Jeff Militello<br />
Militello Motors<br />
Miranda Tulowetzke<br />
Sweet Financial<br />
Partners<br />
Brooke Wohlrabe<br />
Visit Fairmont<br />
Kandi Menne<br />
President<br />
president@fairmontchamber.org<br />
Rachel Manwarren<br />
Finance Director<br />
finance@fairmontchamber.org<br />
Sydney Andrews<br />
Office Manager<br />
info@fairmontchamber.org<br />
Contact Information:<br />
Fairmont Area Chamber of Commerce<br />
323 East Blue Earth Avenue<br />
P.O. Box 826<br />
Fairmont, MN 56031<br />
Phone: 507-235-5547<br />
www.FairmontChamber.org<br />
Happy New Year!<br />
Kandi Menne<br />
Fairmont Area Chamber of Commerce President<br />
On behalf of The Fairmont Area<br />
Chamber Board of Directors and<br />
staff I would like to thank our 2023<br />
individual and member businesses<br />
who have made the commitment to continue<br />
Chamber membership in <strong>2024</strong>. Your belief in<br />
the work we do is valued and we are anticipating<br />
many great things to offer you again this year!<br />
When you are a member, you are investing<br />
in the future of our community! During 2023,<br />
your support has enabled us to bring you events,<br />
local, state and national news and networking<br />
opportunities, seminars, community visibility<br />
and other valuable benefits that have helped to<br />
strengthen our local businesses and personal<br />
environment.<br />
Reflecting back at 2023<br />
• The Fairmont Area Chamber of Commerce<br />
along with partners launched<br />
a refreshed Fairmont Area<br />
Life Website and Facebook<br />
page. These are two excellent<br />
resources for all things<br />
Fairmont. If you haven’t<br />
already, check them out!<br />
• Did a refresh on<br />
the Fairmont Area life<br />
Guide (formerly known as<br />
the visitor and relocation<br />
guide)<br />
• Held a Seminar in<br />
August for businesses to<br />
learn about the various new<br />
law changes, a few that had<br />
already gone into effect,<br />
the Earned Sick and Safe<br />
Time beginning <strong>January</strong> <strong>2024</strong> and a short briefing<br />
of the Paid Leave Time starting <strong>January</strong> 2026.<br />
These laws affect every business and employee in<br />
our community<br />
• We held the first annual sip n shop event<br />
in Fairmont! Businesses throughout Fairmont<br />
opened their doors for you to shop and sample 2<br />
a tasty beverage. The proceeds from this event<br />
will accelerate our Fairmont<br />
holiday decorations for<br />
the street lights fund much<br />
quicker! If you, as an<br />
individual or business would<br />
like to make a donation - we<br />
accept them all year long.<br />
• Partnered with Sweet Financial Partners<br />
to bring motivational speaker Cyndra Kamphoff<br />
to our community<br />
• Leadership Martin County started in<br />
September and will run through May <strong>2024</strong>.<br />
Fourteen individuals are going thru the program<br />
this year. It’s remarkable to see how engaged<br />
they all are with a new area of exploration each<br />
month. Plan now to apply for Leadership Martin<br />
County 2025<br />
• As Chamber President I attended<br />
Southwest Minnesota Chamber of Commerce<br />
Executives (SWMCCE) quarterly meetings,<br />
participated in the 6-month Minnesota Chamber<br />
Executive Leadership program visiting 6 different<br />
Chambers of Commerce’s where we had an<br />
Industry Orientation, discussed organizational<br />
development, learned leadership skills, advocacy,<br />
policy, politics, membership. Partnerships,<br />
workforce, retail, events, programs and more!<br />
Attended the annual Fall and a Winter Conference<br />
through the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce.<br />
• Partnered with Downtown Retailers on a<br />
scenic holiday setting which included, beautifully<br />
decorated storefronts and outdoor space,<br />
reindeer, carolers, Santa and a Santa house, glows<br />
parade and a tree lighting!<br />
• The Chamber Ambassadors visited<br />
twenty-eight businesses celebrating their<br />
continued investment in Martin County.<br />
Ambassador ribbon cutting/visits are held<br />
to recognize new ownership, remodel, grand<br />
openings, new managers and more.<br />
• Restructured and implemented tiered<br />
membership dues.
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