1. art and entertainment
2. shows and events
3. classical concert

Albert Lea-Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce
Business Monthly
March 2015
Thank you New
Members
Elite Pet & Garden, Inc
Flowers by Jane/ Memories Aloft
Thank you Renewing
Members
Four Seasons Travel
Humane Society of Freeborn
County
Pantheon Computer Systems
The Albert Lea-Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce
Agriculture Committee
announces the
10th Annual Agriculture Luncheon
March 17th, 2015
12 Noon (buffet lunch)
Fairlane Building - Freeborn County Fairgrounds.
Jensales Inc.
FEATURED SPEAKER:
Kwik Trip-Front Street
Dr. Mary Davenport, Ph.D.
Vice President of Riverland Community College
Thompson Sanitation Services
Vern Eide Motorcars
Herbert Neale
Senior Resources of Freeborn
County
Freeborn County Coop Oil Co.
Farmers Insurance Joe
Talamantes Agency
Mona’s Style Salon & Spa, LLC
Albert Lea Noon Kiwanis
Morreim Drainage
Geneva Bar & Grill
Albert Lea Elevator, Inc
Commerce Bank
Neave Health Care Foundation
Pepsi Cola Of Rochester
Albert Lea Senior Center, Inc.
Home Depot
Grow MN: Reenergizing Agriculture Education in
Southern Minnesota
Dr. Mary Davenport first joined Riverland Community College in 2012 as Interim Vice President and was chosen to fill that role permanently in 2013. Prior to coming to Albert Lea, Dr.
Davenport held a number of positions throughout the MnSCU system. She received her
undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point with advanced
degrees from the University of Wisconsin –Stout. She received her Ph.D. in Occupational
and Educations Studies from Colorado State University.
Join us in honoring the 2015 Farm Family of the Year and help us celebrate past recipients of the award.
Tickets are $12.50 each and can be purchased at the:
Albert Lea-Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce
2580 Bridge Avenue, Northbridge Mall
Albert Lea, MN 56007
Phone: 507.373.3938
A Special Thank You to our Current Gold Sponsors:
Business Monthly
Referrals
The following Business
have received referrals from
he Chamber Office this
month:
Freeborn Lumber Company
& Design
Holiday Inn Express &
Suites
Best Western/ I-90
AmericInn of Albert Lea
Americas Best Value Inn
Big Island Grille & Bar
Wedgewood Cove
Green Mill
Comfort Inn
Alliance Benefit Group
Applebee's Neighborhood
Grill & Bar
Home Depot
Kwik Trip
Albert Lea Family Y
Anytime Fitness
Fleet Farm Supply
The Unbridled Boutique
Hy-Vee
MarketPlace Foods
Salvation Army
Mona’s Style Salon & Spa
Senior Resources
Anytime Fitness Albert Lea
American Red Cross
Country Soule Boot &
Western Market
Trumble's Family
Restaurant
Godfather’s Pizza
Grandma’s Kitchen
Iron Skillet/SKOL Tavern
Membership Drops
The following members
chose not to renew their
Chamber Membership.
This information is made
Page 2
Dear Chamber Members,
Why You Need The Chamber
And Why The Chamber Needs You.
There have been occasions where I have been asked, Why join the
Chamber? The answer can be elusive to some but to me it can best
be answered as follows:
One voice raised in defense of a right or one person or business
taking on a project is often weak and ineffectual. But when many voices are raised
and many people work together in community affairs, much is achieved. Bringing together a coalition of individuals who have differing priorities in unity behind
“community” issues causes others to take notice. The voice of the many has great volume. When you, as an individual or small business, express your opinions and make
your contributions, physically and financially, to that effort, much can be accomplished.
The Chamber of Commerce offers the vehicle for this community "clout" - to stimulate orderly growth and economic development, to work with state and national legislators on major issues affecting the local cities and counties, to develop social responsibilities affecting homes, schools, health, as well as promote the free enterprise system.
Volunteers working together help do the things that as small business operators you
don’t have time to do for yourself. Currently, for example, the Chamber’s Worksite
Wellness Committee is leading the way toward the improvement of the health and
wellness of our community’s workforce through seeking Blue Zones Project Designation.
The Governmental Affairs Committee continues to monitor closely state and federal
issues. Most recently, the Chamber, along with others from our community and South
Central Minnesota, had the opportunity to address the Senate Transportation and Public Safety Committee on the subject of transportation infrastructure and its importance
to the community. We stressed the importance of first class roads and bridges while
cautioning that the funding mechanism should not make us non-competitive with
neighboring states. The problem is real. The funding is elusive.
You, as a small businessperson working in and with the Chamber, make your contributions to the community effort. In turn, the up-grading of the community, the increase in business, the new roads, the new subdivisions, better schools (all things the
Chamber advocates) have a beneficial effect on you, your family, and your business.
You don't serve and support the Chamber; you contribute and work for YOURSELF.
Of course, it takes money to operate the Chamber and it’s various activities, but the
Chamber is working for YOU. lf you make your investment, add your time and concentrate your effort, you're going to have "clout" to work for those things that benefit
you and your business.
Let's all work together for working together works . . .
FOR YOU.
Business Monthly
Ambassador Visits
Chamber Board of Directors
Randy Cirksena
Chair
State Farm at the Barn
373-7717
Jeff Woodside
Vice Chair
Albert Lea Select Foods
379-9265
Catherine Buboltz
2nd Vice Chair
Albert Lea Tribune
379-3427
Ron Holtan Realty—Rick Mummert and Craig Hoium
Amy Davis
Cargill Value Added Meats
377-2526
Kade Vershay
Dave Syverson Auto Mall
373-1438
Julia Thompson
Freeborn County Shopper
373-1310
Justin Oman
Security Bank
373-1481
The INTERCHANGE Wine & Coffee Bistro - Lisa
Hanson & Patrick Hanson
Kathy Sabinish
Dave's Phone Booth/Frames-R-Us
377-0848
Jeff Eaton
Eaton Sport and Spine
377-1570
Patricia Dahl
Mayo Clinic Health
System Albert Lea and Austin
373-2384
Dr. Adenuga Atewologun
Riverland Community College
433-0607
Kim Nelson
The Children Center
373-7979
Gypsy K Consignment-Katelyn Kehret
Page 3
Angie Kolker
Freeborn-Mower Cooperative Services
373-6421
Stephanie Haedt
Past Chair
Peterson, Savelkoul, Kolker, Haedt & Benda, Ltd.
373-6491
Business Monthly
Small Street Journal
35th Annual KATE RADIO
Home & Recreation SHOW
Friday, March 6th 4pm-8pm
Saturday, March 7th 9 am-4pm
Sunday, March 8th 11am-4pm
Outstanding giveaways daily, fun for the entire
family, over 40 exhibitors indoors, all local car
showroom, great food
*Special appearance from the Easter Bunny 9-11
am
Saturday. Bring the family and your camera
Standing Up for Wellness
U.S. SENATOR AMY
KLOBUCHAR
INVITES YOU TO ATTEND THE
SUPPORTING OUR SENIORS
STAFF TOUR
Klobuchar’s staff will hold open forums to highlight
resources currently available to assist Minnesota seniors
THURSDAY, MARCH 12TH
ALBERT LEA
1:30 – 2:30 p.m.
City Council Chamber
221 East Clark Street
Albert Lea, MN 56007
U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar invites you to attend the
Supporting Our Seniors Forum on Thursday, March 12th
at Albert Lea City Hall.
Senator Klobuchar’s staff will put on the forum to highlight resources currently available to assist local seniors
with their health and financial needs. There will also be a
discussion about fraud schemes that target seniors and
steps they can take to protect themselves and their financial security.
Utilizing a grant from the Statewide Health Improvement Program (SHIP), the Chamber recently purchased
an adjustable desk. Shared between staff members, the
desk allows them to get up out of their chairs.
What's wrong with sitting? The effects of spending too
much time in a chair are manifold. Electrical activity in
leg muscles shuts down; your body effectively stops
burning calories; enzymes that break down fat drop by
90 percent; HDL cholesterol production drops by 20
percent; and the risk of diabetes increases 24 percent.
Other ways to change our positions throughout the day
include standup meetings, taking phone calls while
standing, and putting reminders on our desktops to get
up and move.
Page 4
Senator Klobuchar’s staff will be joined by representatives from AARP, Area
The forum is free and open to the public.
RSVP REQUESTED BUT NOT REQUIRED
TO MEAGAN BACHMAYER AT 612.280.7126
We look forward to meeting you!
Business Monthly
Business After Hours
Thank you Green Mill Restaurant & Bar
for sponsoring the February Business After
Hours
2015 Business After Hours Schedule
January 2015 - Pantheon Computer Systems
February 2015 - Green Mill
March 2015– Albert Lea Chiropractic
April 2015 - Vern Eide
May 2015 - Accentra Credit Union
June 2015 - Blue Zones Project
July 2015 - St. John’s
August 2015 - American Legion Post #56
September 2015October 2015 - MarketPlace Foods
November 20145- Hy-Vee
December 2015 - Albert Lea Tribune
Quote of the Month
Desire is the key to motivation, but it's determination and
commitment to an unrelenting pursuit of your goal - a commitment to excellence - that will enable you to attain the
success you seek.
Mario Andretti
We have many organizations that are pleased to announce that
the Otto Bremer Foundation will match any donations given
through GiveMN.org during the month of March. Many organizations can earn up to $100,000 in matching funds. Not only is
each donation doubled during the March Millions Campaign for
Southeastern Minnesota, but donations have the chance to increase by an additional $1000 or $10,000.
From March 1 through March 31, every donation made on
GiveMN.org to will also enter into a daily drawing for a
“Bremer Boost” –a $1000 addition to the donation. On March
31, one donation will be randomly drawn from all March Millions donations to eligible non-profit organizations to receive a
$10,000 boost.
Here is the link: https://givemn.org/
See Ebiz weekly for a partial listing of local organizations.
INTERCHANGE Wine & Coffee Bistro
If you are interested in hosting a Business After Hours
Event
please call the Chamber Office at: 507-373-3938
Page 5
The INTERCHANGE Wine & Coffee Bistro
(formerly Prairie Wind) has been named the first Blue
Zones Restaurant in Albert Lea and, in fact, the State
of Minnesota. Above, Lisa Hanson and Patrick Hanson and members of the Hanson family along with
Ellen Kehr, Organization Lead for the Blue Zones
Project, celebrate the designation by cutting the Blue
Ribbon. Congratulations to the Hansons!
Business Monthly
Chamber Offers Job Bank
The Albert Lea-Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce has initiated a webpage dedicated to job openings in our area. To view
the job openings, go to www.albertlea.org. If you have positions that you would like posted, please send your available positions
to chamberoffice@albertlea.org or call the Chamber for more information.
Chamber Continues to Connect with Membership
The Albert Lea/Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce in an attempt to keep up with the times and in an effort to better communicate with our membership, encourages you to like us on Facebook.
Interested in having an Ambassadors Visit your Office?
Has your business experienced a change – such as management changes, relocation or remodel? If your business has experienced
any of these changes, please contact Geri at the Chamber Office – 507-373-3938 to schedule an Ambassador visit.
Special Chamber Member Offer
The Albert Lea-Freeborn County Chamber in partnership with Coggno.com, are now offering our member businesses the opportunity to purchase, through our website, a carefully selected assortment of online training courses that are relevant to your
needs. For a limited time, we are offering a coupon code for a 20% discount per class for a month. The code is: alfccoc1 and
should be entered at checkout. Go to www.albertlea.org and click on Online Trainings to redeem your coupon and register today!
Video Tours Now Available!
Check out the new community video tours on our
website www.albertlea.org
These videos would be great tools for businesses to use for employee recruitment!
Member Referral
Know someone who isn’t a Chamber Member but who should be? Now there is a reason for you to actively recruit those
non-members. Any member who actively recruits and refers a current non-member to our office and that non-member
subsequently joins the chamber is eligible for a special prize drawing. Drawings will be held once per quarter from those
new members. Prize will be a one night stay in the Country Inn and Suites and a $25 Gift card from Green Mill for both
the new member AND the referring member. The Quarterly drawing will take place at Business after Hours.
Page 6
Business Monthly
Albert Lea-Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce Information Committee Updates
Chamber Green Committee: The Green Committee met on February 18th. The Thompson Electric video was dis-
cussed. Mike is waiting for sample fixtures to use in the video. A very lengthy discussion took place about recycling, and
how to help businesses, particularly bars and restaurants understand that they can recycle, have a smaller dumpster, and save
money. Use of articles in the Tribune was discussed as well as the use of E-Biz and Business Monthly. The next step for
this committee is to focus on business recycling.
The Chamber Worksite Wellness Committee: met on February 20th. Gretchen Bolt of Hilltop Greenhouse & Farm
gave a presentation on Hilltop’s Veggie Club and its benefits to businesses. Ellen Kehr reported for Blue Zones that Riverland has designated and will hold a celebration on March 10th. Cargill has also designated. The Status Report and Workplan
were reviewed. We need to have designations completed no later than the first of June. The soft launch Walking Moai Kickoff went well. There were about 50 people. Let Ellen or Stacy know if you have a walking group. There will be a Purpose
Workshop on Monday, March 2nd from 6-8 p.m. at the museum. Alice Englin reported that she will send out the Guide to
Healthy Meetings & Events to the committee for review. SHIP is still hoping for funding for another two years and all were
urged to talk to their legislators. We need to advocate for SHIP because Alice cannot. A request from the Mayo Patient
Family Advisory Committee for new members was passed along to the group. Dani Armbrust reported that the Diabetes
Prevention Program is going well. The first class will be held April 13th. Anyone who has been diagnosed as pre-diabetic or
has taken the risk assessment and qualifies is eligible for the program. They will be presenting to physicians of the 27th regarding referrals to the program. New programs can start up at any time. There needs to be 4-5 participants for a class to be
formed. They have lifestyle coaches and will train more at the end of April.
The Chamber Governmental Affairs Committee: met on February 12th. John Kluever reported for the County that
the commissioners have been working with the City and School Board on market rate housing tax abatement. This would
be 85% for ten years. It will help to fill the funding gap, but not clear it completely. If all three entities agree to the abatement, the developers say that they will go ahead with the project. The commissioners continue to discuss a ½ cent sales tax.
They have set another workshop for March 10th, with a public listening session on March 17th. It is specific to highway
projects. At the March 10th workshop, they will start to identify what projects they would like to cover with the tax. The tax
increase should gain the County an estimated $2 million/year. The commissioners also will decide if, once the $2 million is
raised, they rescind the tax or continue for long term plans. They will need $40 million for the 10 year plan. They will also
consider what to do about the wheelage tax if the sales tax passes. If the increase is approved, it will take about 90 days for
the state to be ready. John stated that they are looking at it taking effect at the end of the year. The other options for raising
the monies needed for the roads would be a large (10%) increase in property tax or for the State to raise the gas tax by 33
cents.
The City Council voted to go ahead with the engineering study for South Broadway. MnDOT is looking at the end of July
for the mill and overlay. The community needs to know that this is not about roundabouts. Chad Adams reported that the
Council also approved the South Broadway project streetscape elements which are similar to downtown. There will be an
informational meeting on March 8 or 9 and then a public hearing. He also reported that a workforce housing bill was introduced by Sen. Sparks. The Representative from Mountain Lake is the chief sponsor of the bill in the House. The developer
in Albert Lea who was discussed earlier is looking to start grading the property in March or April and Chad is confident that
the deal can come together.
In the Legislature, there was a hearing in the Senate on the Water Trail. Rep. Bennett introduced the bill in the House. there
is legislation requiring independent scientific peer review of MPCA requirements if the cost is more than $50 million. There
is also bipartisan support for job training bills.
Business/Education Committee: the Business Education Partnership Committee met on Friday, February 6, 2015 at
8:30 am at the Chamber offices. We welcomed Kathy Niebuhr, AL schools, and Kari Tuma, Wells Fargo, who are new
committee members. Child Care Survey: We continue to solicit businesses and individuals to submit their thoughts on
their childcare needs. The survey can be found at http://surveygold.com/s/79FABCFF3BE642CD/58.htm.
Page 7
Business Monthly
ALHS Update: Tentative date for Career Day is will be in April/May. 8th and 9th grade academies continue. Kim Danner
is now a FT Counselor at ALC. Blandin Activities: LPEP activities continue, with the next Community Conversation Feb
23. About 75 people attended the January 27 presentation with Jody Farr. Community members are welcome to attend and
get involved. Contact the Chamber for more info. Riverland College update: The Industrial Maintenance program -AL
Campus has submitted a grant for some automation. The school is bringing in three new Ag programs-bio/tech and food
science-related. RCC and WDI are looking at a partnership to explore Food Processing Academy to educate/train people for
that industry. RCC has hired a consultant to work on getting college credits for YA students and also exploring the Auto
Tech and Healthcare world. Will also do research for funding opportunities. Community Education updates: welcome to
new CE staff, Brittany Voigt. She will be doing Community Education booklets, fliers, and other marketing materials. CE is
working on a collaboration of all Pre-Ks in the area to build a common application. They are also exploring a Community
Ed kiosk that would be portable to take to mall events, businesses, etc. Youth Apprenticeship program: continues to go
well. Students are working and learning. RCC is looking at college credit opportunities for the YA program. There are seven
new juniors in the YA class. The District 77 (Mankato) YA rep will be meeting with Val, touring Lou-Rich, meeting with
ALHS on Feb. 13. Announcements/Other: Regional Job Fair, planned in partnership between the Albert Lea Tribune and
Albert Lea Workforce Center, is tentatively set for Tuesday, April 21, 10 am – 1 pm at the Northbridge Mall. The group discussed employment issues in the community/region, and other upcoming events. The next meeting is Friday, March 6, 2015
8:30 am in the Chamber conference room.
The Chamber Agriculture Committee: Ag Luncheon that will be on March 17th at the Fairlane Building.
The Chamber Ambassador Committee: The Ambassador’s are going to be visiting The Children Center, Elite Pet and
Garden and Kay Nail’s.
The Albert Lea-Freeborn County Chamber Board of Directors: met on February 25th. Chad Adams reported for
the City, John Kluever for the County, Jon Murray for the Ambassadors, Susie Petersen for the CVB, and Ryan Nolander for
ALEDA.
Guests Rory Lenten and Annette Hinkle of Minnesota Energy Resources presented to the Board, familiarizing the Board
with the investor owned utility that will be purchasing the natural gas division of Alliant Energy.
Negotiations are taking place with the Carrington Companies on our lease. Board members were encouraged to attend and
speak at the Senate Committee on Transportation & Public Safety public hearing on Friday, February 27th at 10:30 a.m. in
the County Board room at the Government Center. The Ag Luncheon will be held at the Fairlane Building on March 17th.
Noelle Hagen was introduced to the Board as our new Administrative Assistant.
Full Board minutes will be available next month on our website.
Business Monthly
Albert Lea Convention and Visitors Bureau, Susie Peterson, Executive Director
The Annual Explore Minnesota Tourism Conference with over 250 members of the
tourism and hospitality industry gathered together in St. Paul.
Did you know?
Travel and Tourism in Minnesota generates:





$13 billion in leisure & hospitality gross sales
More than $35 million per day
$ 4.5 billion in wages
250,000 full and part-time jobs
$ 840 million in state sales tax
Contributing to the economy:
 Travel & tourism creates jobs and generates jobs in virtually every county of the state.
 Traveler spending indirectly supports jobs in many other industries, as well, from financial services to printing.
 The leisure and hospitality industry accounts for 17% of Minnesota’s state sales tax revenues.
Impacts of State Tourism Advertising:
 3.1 million Minnesota trips
 $320.2 million traveler spending
 $29.7 million direct state and local taxes
 2.0 million additional intended trips in next 12 months
 $68 to $1 traveler spending return on ad investment
 $6 to $1 state and local tax return on ad investment
Traveler expenditures by season:
 24% Winter
 14% Spring
 37% Summer
 25% Fall
Spending during Minnesota’s 69 million annual person-trips (including overnight and day trips) is distributed throughout the
economy:



Food 23.5%
Retail 17%
Transportation 16.5%



Lodging 21%
Recreation 16%
Second homes 6%
The daily impact is that travelers in Minnesota spend more than $35 million per day and these dollars circulate widely into
Minnesota’s local and state economies, supporting businesses and amenities that add to Minnesotan’s quality of life.
Locally in Freeborn County, Gross Sales are over $43 million providing a significant revenue source for our restaurants,
shopping, lodging, convenience stores and retail business.
Business Monthly
Here’s a line-up of events and happenings in March:
Lenten Recitals at Salem Lutheran Church, Sunday, March 8,15 & 22 at 3pm.
KATE Home & Recreation Show will be held March 6-8 at Skyline Plaza.
Interchange (formerly Prairie Wind Coffee) events: Open Mic Thursday, March 5, 6-8pm; swing dance, Saturday,
March 21, 7-11pm.
Northbridge Mall events include: Home Base Business Fair, March 6-8; Spring Craft Show, March 13-15 and
Volunteer Fair, Saturday, March 21, 11-1pm.
The 11th Annual Co-Ed Volleyball Tournament sponsored by Park & Rec will be held March 7 at Albert Lea
High School.
Lighthouse Event Center presents “Turpentine Wine Concert, Saturday, March 7 at 7:30pm.
Marion Ross Performing Arts Center presents Met Live in HD- La Donna del Lago, Saturday, March 14 at
11:55am; Bolshoi Ballet Live in HD – Swan Lake, Sunday, March 15 at 5pm; Bolshoi Ballet Live in HD – Romeo
& Juliet, Sunday, March 29 at 5pm.
Tigers Roar will be held March 12-14, 7pm at Albert Lea High School Auditorium.
Freeborn County Historical Museum Lecture Series presents “Architecture of Freeborn County”, March 14 at
9am.
The Annual March Madness Preview Show will be held on March 20-21 at Freeborn County Fairgrounds.
The Albert Lea High School presents the following: Band Concert, March 2; Orchestra Concert, March 19;
Choir, March 24; All performances are at 7pm.
Glenville United Methodist Church will host Goodtime Band Gospel Concert, Sunday, March 29 at 2pm.
Fundraiser breakfast events:
March 8 & 22- Pancake Breakfast – American Legion – 8-1pm
March 12 – The Rock Spaghetti Dinner – 4:30-7:00pm
March 15 – Amaranth Breakfast – Masonic Lodge- 8-1pm
Do you have an event to promote? We provide free welcome bags filled with information for any event, meeting, tournament, festivals, and class reunions promoting Albert Lea and the surrounding communities! Local
businesses are welcome to place a coupon in the bags for visitors which are very much appreciated by the guests.
For a complete list of events, please go to www.albertleatourism.org and check out our calendar.
trails.
Visit www.albertleatourism.org for a complete listing of events.
Page 10
Business Monthly
Minnesota Chamber Information
Minnesota needs thorough – and predictable – environmental review system
By Bill Blazar
Clean air and water contribute significantly to Minnesotans’ quality of life. That’s why Minnesota
businesses place a high priority on protecting our environment.
At the same time, we regularly hear concerns about the cost, time and uncertainty in the environmental review and permitting system before state agencies. Business owners and managers become frustrated when
a process that takes months in other states and countries can extend for years in Minnesota. Seeking additional efficiencies and transparency in the process remains one of the Minnesota Chamber’s top legislative initiatives.
We’ve made notable strides in the past four years working with Governor Dayton and the Legislature. For example:

We shortened the environmental permitting timetable to better reflect the actual average time of processing.
Permits not requiring a public comment period now have a goal to be completed within 90 days, and those requiring a
public comment period within 150 days.
 We partnered with and assisted the regulatory agencies to make more of their permits readily available online
through “e-permitting.”
 We succeeded in shortening appeals of environmental review documents by eliminating a stop before the District
Court. In other words, like permits, the appeals go directly to the Minnesota Court of Appeals.
We were instrumental in the development of Business One Stop in the Department of Employment and Economic
Development to help businesses navigate the process when projects require multiple permits from multiple agencies.
Businesses have benefited from these changes. Just as important, the local governments, especially cities, are also
among the immediate beneficiaries of our efforts. The permits they need to upgrade their municipal wastewater
treatment plants will now be processed with a goal of 150 days. Managing wastewater and storm water is important
not only to a community’s health, but it can be a key factor in attracting new businesses and residents.
Make no mistake, Minnesota’s environmental review and permitting system should be second to none. At the same
time, we seek a process that enables Minnesota to compete in the global economy. As Governor Dayton has said, our
permitting needs to be completed “at the speed of commerce.” Businesses of all sizes and types and local governments need a variety of permits from state agencies if they wish to start/locate and/or expand in Minnesota. The current process is cumbersome, costly and lacks certainty. That’s why streamlining our systems has been a priority of the
Minnesota Chamber for the last decade. As noted, we have made progress, but there’s more work to do.
The 2015 session should bring our next step forward. Among our priorities is further streamlining the processing of
Tier 1 permits – for example, permits for sewer extension, individual storm water and construction storm water, and
general permits where one permit covers multiple facilities with similar operations. We support decreasing the timeline for these permits, which do not require public hearings now, from 90 days to 45 days. We also are working with
local governments to require legislative approval of state agency rules that have a substantial economic impact and
require peer review of rules that have significant impact on businesses and local governments.
The challenges facing Minnesota companies are more than a frustration; they present a threat to the state’s economic
vitality. Companies routinely compare all costs and regulatory requirements against other states and nations when
exploring additional investments. We must take steps to level the playing field if we are to facilitate a changing and
growing economy.
Bill Blazar is interim president of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce.
Page 11
Business Monthly
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Business Monthly
Chamber Staff
Randy Kehr
Executive Director
director@albertlea.org
Noelle Hagen
Administrative Assistant
chamberoffice@albertlea.org
Geri Jensen
Sr. Administrative Assistant
member@albertlea.org
Check out our Member to Member
Discounts Here:
http://www.albertlea.org/Discounts.php
Sue Axsmith
Exec. Administrative Assistant
alfccoc@albertlea.org
Albert Lea-Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce 2580 Bridge Ave.
Northbridge Mall Albert Lea, MN 56007
Phone: 507.373.3938 Fax: 507.373.0344
Email: alfccoc@albertlea.org
2013- 2014 Mission Statement:
"Promote and develop a healthy and positive
business climate and improve
the quality of life in the Albert Lea-Freeborn County Area."