Career Connect Day – Tomorrow’s Leaders

So excited to talk about our upcoming Career Connect Day, on October 18, at RiverCentre.  This year’s event will welcome 2,500+ high school sophomores to an interactive day of career exploration with you, the employers who would like to introduce them to potential opportunities within your organization and sector.  Our vision is to make this available to any high school or student interested in participating, with room for all employers who want to connect with them.  Our first year is building up to be even bigger than we’d anticipated, and we look forward to seeing you!  If you’d like to participate with a booth or sponsorship, please contact us for more information.  Our vision? For 2024, we’ll expand and partner to invite all metro high schools that are interested, and add a second day for post-high schoolers looking for full-time, internships, retraining, or re-entry.  Please join us!

On a side note: Invest magazine is a great resource on markets, business, and the economy, and one I read regularly. I spoke with them again recently on the economy and how we’re recovering.  In case you’re interested…

​See you in the trenches.
B​

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• This week I'd like to add a comment that is personal to our team. Public Safety has a real human cost, and real people are impacted. This past weekend our own Yao Yaj attended her grandmother's funeral. She was killed in a recent hit-and-run that also injured Yao's grandfather. Thinking of her and others whose lives are changed tragically. 
• We are working with the Downtown Alliance on a public safety survey to assess perceptions about public safety among employees at member businesses with a St. Paul presence. Watch for more information this fall!

• Results of the Met Council’s latest general business survey:  webinar on results and summary article – firms are less optimistic as rising prices and continued labor shortages create strains.
• How immigration can offset the U.S. labor shortage and rising inflation.

• The 2022 Minnesota Border-to-Border Broadband Grant application locations are now available as a layer on Greater MSP’s Federal Funding Hub Minnesota map. Check it out. 
• U.S. Chamber article: Inflation is creating a ‘perfect storm’ of challenges for small business owners.
• Info on The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021: articles here on the Small Business Credit Initiative and here on investments in clean energy.

First and foremost...WELCOME to Amanda Duerr, our new VP of Public Affairs! Amanda is a  veteran of the government affairs community. Prior to joining the Chamber, Amanda served as the Director of Government Affairs for Charter Communications, where she was responsible for state-level lobbying and maintaining positive relationships with the local communities served by the company. Learn more about Amanda in our Access newsletter. 
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Federal

• Quiet week, running out the clock on August recess (Senate is back on Sep 6; House back on Sep 13). Stay tuned for the challenge ahead over a must-pass government funding bill, to keep the government open past September.
• President Biden’s plan to cancel some federal student loans continues. Is expected to cost about $24B/year based on 75% participation rate.  Another article here.

State

• Because such a concept is interesting, I’m sharing the Minnesota Reformer’s article on Scott Jensens’s (contender for Governor) proposal to eliminate income tax.  The article brings with it strong criticism in terms of its potential impact to equitable outcomes, and a good read. Here is another analysis, economic pros/cons laid out.
• Election 2022: Governor Walz and challenger Scott Jensen had their first debate last week in Greater Minnesota; they are diverging on taxes.

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Regional

• This past Wednesday rent control again was the topic at St. Paul’s City Council: 3 hours of public comment on proposed amendments. Here is coverage.  Several comments were made denying any indication of reduced permits for housing; HUD figures don’t align and here is an article on single-family permits down 28% in August – 4th consecutive month of declines.

 
Election season is ramping up. Be sure to reference our East Metro Voter Guide to learn more about your candidates!
 
Subscribe to our Chamber Advocacy Update to keep up with advocacy news.​

• Minnesota State Fair is upon us! Aug 25 – Sep 5, 2022.
• Check out your Chamber’s calendar of upcoming events as well, which include:
  • First round of this election season’s Politics @ the Pub: Tuesday, August 30: Register here!
  • September's Lunch with Leaders: Entrepreneurship Edition: Wednesday, September 14: Register here!
  • Our next Equity Leadership Series - Using Data to Meet your Equity Goals: Wednesday, September 21: Register here!
  • Workforce Solutions: Utilizing Alternative Ways to Recruit Employees, Roseville Business Council: Wednesday, September 28, Register here!
  • 2022 Leaders in Local Government Awards: Thursday, September 29: Register here!

• Because I love Brian Lassiter:  “Things I forgot from Kindergarten: 61 insights for better leadership, better living.”

• Entrepreneur investments: startup competitions lead to growing companies like immigrant-led Silk Road Wellness.
• 2022 Twin Cities Startup Week (Sep 16-23) looks beyond tech to spotlight other entrepreneurs.

• Housing in the East Metro:
  • Shoreview’s former Union Gospel Mission site – Tycon Co’s working on up to 179 housing units on 18.4 acre site.
  • Fort Snelling’s Upper Post – led by Dominium Partners and several public/private partners, $160M redevelopment into low-cost housing for veterans.
  • Lino Lakes project on a greenfield – Integrate Properties planning for up to 700 new homes on a 158-acre farm property.