Event recap: Chamber Town Talk
On July 20, the Northeast Minneapolis Chamber held Chamber Town Talk: Doing Business with the Navy at Jax Café. Attendees were guided through the certification process by Emily Harman, director of the Office of Small Business Programs for the Department of the Navy. Marc Cooper, of MN PTAC, shared information on the variety of contracts that are available to Minnesotan companies and expanded more on the ins and outs of certification on a local level. This event was part of Minneapolis Navy Week, a time designed to give Americans the opportunity to learn more about the Department of the Navy, its people and their programs.
If you were unable to attend the event click here for more information on how you can do business with the Navy.
|
|
Minneapolis Sick and Safe Time Ordinance
On July 1, many workers in the city of Minneapolis began accruing earned sick and safe time. Business owners and human resource staff also began the process of tracking this time. In late June the Chamber, with various partners, hosted six compliance learning sessions serving over 100 individuals from across the city. Many raised questions about employee eligibility, maximum accrual amounts and how the ordinance accounts for part-time employees and shift workers. If you have questions about the policy, visit the
city's ordinance specific website. There you will find the policy language, a list of FAQ's, workplace posters and reporting guidelines.
|
|
|
Chamber President/CEO Jonathan Weinhagen talks transit on MPR
Competing commentaries in the Star Tribune this month offered two very different positions on the future and the importance of transit in the Twin Cities.
MPR News host Tom Weber brought the authors of those commentaries together for a debate on transit in Minnesota, and how the state should spend its transportation dollars.
A recording of their conversation can be found
here. Jonathan Weinhagen's full commentary can be found by clicking
here.
One Bloomington Action Group kick-off
You are invited to be part of the next steps following the One Bloomington Summit - the kick-off for the One Bloomington Action Groups. The launch meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, August 15, at 6 p.m. at Bloomington Civic Plaza, 1800 W. Old Shakopee Road.
The session will start with a review and discussion of the results from the One Bloomington Summit. Participants will then split into one of the three One Bloomington Action Groups - Community Amenities, Inclusion and Equity, and Community Image - for an action planning workshop.
Click here or call 952-563-8752 to RSVP for what promises to be an engaging session as we work together around the theme of One Bloomington.
METRO Orange Line Bus Rapid Transit
Metro Transit held a 98th Street Station Visioning Workshop on Wednesday, July 26 at VEAP (Volunteers Enlisted to Assist People) in Bloomington. Attendees were given the opportunity to visit three discussion tables, Transportation, Land Use, and Sustainability, to talk about desired improvements they envision for the station area.
The METRO Orange Line Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project will connect Minneapolis, Richfield, Bloomington and Burnsville with fast, frequent and reliable all-day transit service along I-35W seven days a week. This 17-mile corridor serves 14,000 transit riders every day and is the busiest express bus corridor in the region. The corridor is expected to double in transit ridership by 2040 with the addition of the Orange Line.
The route will upgrade and replace the existing local Route 535 with enhanced service and amenities, and new station features will benefit other transit riders along the I-35W corridor. No changes to existing express bus routes are planned. Orange Line service will have competitive running times for station-to-station trips and offer a new option for reverse-commuters (riders traveling from urban areas to suburban destinations).
For a fact sheet concerning the Orange Line,
click here.
Construction update
For a complete description of construction and traffic conditions, click here.
Lowry Tunnel Closure
July 25 - August 2
- The inside lanes of the eastbound and westbound Lowry Tunnel will be closed
- All trucks weighing more than 9,000 pounds are prohibited from the Lowry Tunnel. They are detoured to I-35W, Hwy 62, Hwy 100 back to I-94.
- The Hwy 55 to EB I-94 ramp will be closed until early September
86th Street Bridge in Bloomington over I-35W closed
April 25 - October
|
|
|
 Enroll now in Minnesota Keystone
Does your business contribute products, funds and volunteer time to local organizations? You might qualify to join 200 area businesses in the Minnesota Keystone Program. Please click here to calculate your level of giving.
Since 1976, the Minnesota Keystone Program has promoted, supported, and recognized organizations that give at least 2% of their pre-tax earnings back to the community in the form of cash, in-kind donations and volunteer hours.
There is no cost to participate in the Minnesota Keystone Program. Visit www.minnesotakeystone.org to learn more.
Questions? Contact Cheri Gengler at 612.370.9160 or cgengler@minneapolischamber.org.
|
|
| 2017 Minneapolis Mayoral Candidate Forum
 Thursday, September 14 | Radisson Blu Minneapolis Downtown | Register
A vast field of mayoral candidates want to lead the largest city in the state. Hear their positions and perspectives on pressing issues, current and proposed policies, as well as the future of the city. This candidate forum will be moderated by Tom Hauser, Chief Political Reporter at KSTP.
Thanks to our presenting sponsor Minneapolis Area Association of REALTORS.
This forum is a partnership between the Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce, mpls downtown council, Meet Minneapolis, BOMA and the Greater Minneapolis Hotel Association.
BCC Business Day at City Hall: Building a Future-Ready Community
 Friday, September 15 | Bloomington Civic Plaza | Register
What will the future hold for Bloomington and its businesses? Don't miss this opportunity to hear about emerging trends in the areas of resources, technology, demographics and governance, and learn how your business can be future ready.
Thanks to our presenting sponsor Mall of America, and our sponsors Xcel Energy and CenterPoint Energy.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
