First off, so glad to see many friends at last week’s Holiday Chamber Connect! Thanks to all the vendors who provided fabulous food, and to those who joined us. Which makes me think of the holiday season ahead. This is my last blog for the year, and we’ll pick back up the first week of January. I want to wish you all a blessed holiday season, however you celebrate!  
 
Last week also was an important Saint Paul City Council meeting, marked by critical decisions and significant financial discussions:

1) Rent Stabilization Ordinance:
Mayor Carter’s proposal to amend the city’s rent stabilization ordinance was not adopted, maintaining the current policy amidst concerns about the precipitous drop in new construction permits since the ordinance's inception.
 
2) 2025 Budget Amendments:
The City Council approved an amendment to reduce the levy increase from 7.9% to 5.9%, cutting $4M from the Mayor’s proposed budget. Key adjustments include:

• $1.2M reduction for non-emergency police time, with $700K for police overtime kept in contingency (at the discretion of the City Council.)
• Elimination of funding for 4 staff positions ($562K), including 1 project manager focused on downtown redevelopment.
• Funding for 3 new firefighter positions.

Details of the approved budget can be found here.  
 
3) Future Budget Changes:
The Council also signaled its intent to pursue several operational reforms by 2026, including:

• A city debt capacity study to ensure external entities fully reimburse city costs.
• Transitioning council members from part-time to full-time roles.
• Adopting a two-year budgeting cycle for better planning and evaluation.

 
Context here is key. Saint Paul faces immense financial pressures while also getting in its own way as it relates to at least one critical priority – the need for new housing. The city’s fiscal stress is detailed in a report released in October by the nonpartisan grassroots nonprofit, In$ight St. Paul. This report highlights a worrisome budget trend.
 
These realities highlight two competing truths: the need for fiscal responsibility and the simultaneously urgent necessity to invest in public safety, downtown revitalization, and housing development. Balancing these priorities will be critical for the city's future. To my mind, last week’s City Council reduced the levy increase through reductions in the priorities we need the most. We will continue to track these developments closely while waiting to see if Mayor Carter uses his line item or full veto of the budget. Stay tuned for updates or read the GA Newsletter on Thursday. 

1. St. Paul City Council bucks mayor in passing lower tax increase, The Minnesota Star Tribune 
2. St. Paul City Council rejects mayor’s budget compromise, holds tax levy to 5.9%, Pioneer Press 
3. St. Paul's new-look city council passes budget over mayor's objections, Axios Twin Cities​

See you in the trenches.

B

The holiday season is here, and tonight we celebrate with our extraordinary partners (MN Black Chamber, MN Hmong Chamber, Oakdale Area Chamber, and Grand Avenue Business Association) at the annual Holiday Chamber Connect! It’s a night full of delicious food, great conversation, photos, and festive fun! Thank you to all our hospitality members who will be sharing samples of their fare tonight. As we reflect on a year of successes and challenges, we’re excited to celebrate the season with you and look forward to what’s ahead in 2025. ​

With that in mind, mark your calendars for one of our most anticipated events to kick off the new year: Breakfast With The Mayors.

📅 Date: January 21, 2025, 7:15 – 9:00 AM
📍 Where: University of St. Thomas

On another note, we’re proud to share insights from our national organization, the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE). Their recent national opinion poll highlights the strong, positive perception of chambers and the significant impact we make in our communities. Chambers are trusted institutions, helping to strengthen business reputations and serving as essential voices for our communities.  

We know this work is not without its challenges—our membership represents a diverse range of perspectives on many issues. Yet, it is your input and engagement that allow us to better represent the voice of business and address shared priorities. Thank you for your continued support and for sharing your challenges and perspectives with us—you make us stronger. 

We hope to see you tonight for a wonderful evening of connection and celebration!

See you in the trenches.
B

I hope you had a great holiday weekend! As I reflect on this year, I am filled with gratitude – and excitement – to share some big news about a project we’ve been working on all year.

Earlier this year, in partnership with Ramsey County and the Minneapolis Regional Chamber, we were thrilled to receive a Drive for 5 grant from DEED. This grant is powering our vision for a regional talent development initiative—and today, we are proud to unveil the result of those efforts: Twin Cities Talent Hub.

The Talent Hub is a bold, demand-driven, and employer-led initiative that bridges businesses with talent providers to address critical workforce needs. Our mission is simple:

• Help businesses connect with top talent.
• Support HR teams in advancing DEI practices.
• Strengthen our region’s workforce ecosystem—all at no cost to you, thanks to our grant funding.

Explore what we’re building, meet our team, and join the conversation by visiting our new website: tctalenthub.com

We’re thrilled to partner with you as we build a stronger, more inclusive workforce for the Twin Cities.

TC Talent Hub and many other valuable resources will be featured at the Inclusive Workforce Summit sponsored by Ramsey County, the Science Museum of Minnesota and Spac. This special event is designed to connect human resources and recruiting professionals to local workforce providers, information and tools to aid in building and maintaining an effective and diverse workforce.  Mark your calendar for the morning of Wednesday, January 29, 2025 -- watch for registration and event details coming soon.

See you in the trenches.

B