DCR Charitable Foundation Awarded Grant

The DCR Charitable Foundation applied for a Dual Training Grant with The Minnesota Office of Higher Education (OHE), Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI). Determining the grantees of the Dual Training Grant is a competitive and extensive process. Application requests totaled over $4.4 million, and OHE was only able to award about $3.3 million. We are excited to announce the Foundation has been awarded a $76,000 grant. This grant will fund training for up to 40 individuals in health care with a focus on Phlebotomy. Dakota County Technical College (DCTC) is our program partner.

Dakota-Scott County Employers of Excellence Awards

The Dakota -Scott County Employers of Excellence Awards 2022 was held on Wednesday, May 25, 2022, at Playworks Links Event Center. Awards were given to small and large businesses in Dakota or Scott County that have excelled in employee retention and opportunities. Keynote Speaker Gerry Hoeffner, President of Personnel Dynamics Consulting, was the Keynote Speaker and spoke on "Recruiting and Retention in a Fully-Employed Market.”

DCR Members Better Business Bureau and Dakota Electric Association were recipients of the Employers of Excellence Awards for Large Business. 

Thank you to the major sponsors: Dakota-Scott Workforce Development Board, Scott County Community Development Agency, Dakota County Community Development Agency, Inver Hills Community College, and Dakota County Technical College.

What Got Done and What Didn’t During the 2022 Legislative Session

Minnesota legislators worked until their midnight Sunday deadline to pass important legislation, but many bills did not get passed. Legislators are negotiating with Gov. Tim Walz about the possibility of a short special session to get some of the items they didn't get to before their deadline to adjourn. Some prefer waiting until next year to spend the remainder of the state's projected nearly $9.3 billion budget surplus. Hero’s Pay, unemployment Insurance, reinsurance, liquor, broadband are just a few that got done. What did not get done that are important to the business community are taxes, public safety, and housing.  

Click here to read the Star Tribune article.

Sub-Committee Opportunities

The Business Excellence Awards & Gala is set for Friday, October 28. We are looking for sub-committee volunteers to help make this signature event another success. The sub-committees are 1) Wine & Spirits Pull, 2) Dessert Auction, and 3) Awards. Meet other members and share your talents. Minimal time required. Contact Becca Scholz at bscholz@dcrchamber.com to join a group.

Golf at the Mendakota Country Club

The 16th Annual Golf Classic is shaping up to be another fantastic golf tournament. There are a few foursomes available for Monday, June 20, at the Mendakota Country Club. If you aren’t a golfer, you can join us at the 19th Hole Reception & Awards – only $20. Register here.

There is one sponsorship available – it has great visibility, opportunity to meet all golfers, and includes one golfer admission with lunch, breakfast, and 19h Hole Reception. Contact Laura at lroehl@dcrchamber.com. Thank you to our sponsors. 

Renewed Members

Tapemark – 49 years

A Precious Petals Florist – 5 years

Immanuel Dental – 7 years

SouthMetro Score – 2 years

MV Ventures, LLC – 3 years 

Minuteman Press – 10 years

Salvo Soccer Club – 3 years

If you have any questions or concerns about your membership renewal, contact Anna Schueler:

aschueler@dcrchamber.com 

(651) 288-9204

Welcome Minnesota Aurora to Eagan



Cheers to the new franchise! With a sellout crowd of more than 5,000 fans cheering them on, the Minnesota Aurora women’s soccer team (USL W League) played last Thursday night in Eagan, in the franchise’s first game at TCO Stadium.

Art Walk

The Art Walk "Experience. Wonder. Together." is back at the Flint Hills Family Festival from May 31 - June 4, where downtown St. Paul will be filled with artwork from local students. The original works were evaluated by a panel of experts from Forecast for Public Art, Juxtaposition Arts, and members of the Ordway Community Advisors Council earning spots in windows throughout downtown St. Paul and at the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts during the festival.

Click It or Ticket Safe Driving Campaign

As you head out around the Memorial Day holiday, law enforcement will be on the roads as part of Click It or Ticket. The campaign, which includes extra patrols, runs from May 23 - June 5. It reminds drivers and their passengers of the life-saving importance of buckling up and the legal consequences – including fines – for not wearing a seat belt.

eBay’s Up & Running Grant Program

eBay has announced the launch of its third annual Up & Running Grants program, created to encourage and support U.S. small businesses with the resources they need to scale, grow and thrive online.

Now open for nominations, they will award $10,000 grants each to 50 small business sellers in the U.S. for business needs such as physical and digital store improvements, new equipment and inventory, technology, hiring and training to support their success. Application due June 10 at https://helloalice.com/partners/ebay/.

Grant Opportunity for BIPOC & Women-Owned Businesses

Comcast will award another $1 million in grants – $10,000 each – to 100 Twin Cities small businesses owned by people of color or women to help grow their businesses, create jobs, and play a vital role in supporting our communities. To qualify, grant applicants must have been in business for three or more years, employ a staff of between 1-25 employees, and operate in the seven-county Twin Cities metro. Apply at https://www.comcastrise.com/investment-fund/ June 1-14.

Check out upcoming DCR Chamber events on our online calendar!

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