Recognition of Excellence, Service, Partnerships

​MLS All Star Week recap: was a great week! There was the MLS Skills Challenge and the MLS All-Star game, which were both very exciting. Minnesota’s job hosting the MLS All-Star Game draws praise from visiting players, fans. Along with that were community service projects and a Hometown Heroes Showcase, hosted by MLS, Minnesota United, and Black Players for Change.
 
The Showcase event acknowledged the work of four impactful leaders making positive change in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul communities in four areas: education, mental health, food security, and social justice. Each of the leaders from these organizations will receive a $15,000 grant as well as a suite of promotional assets from MLS to help continue their work and impact in the community. This year’s honorees are Muhammad Abdul-Ahad, Founder & CEO of T.O.U.C.H.; Marisa Miakonda Cummings, President & CEO of Minnesota Indian Women’s Resource Center; Braxton Haulcy, Executive Director of Walker West Music Academy; Ekta Prakash, CEO of CAPI. Tony Sanneh was recognized as an Honorary Hero for his support of the Hometown Hero program and commitment to our community both through soccer and other facets of life. Congratulations to all the honorees! To read more click here.
 
M Health Fairview Community Health and Wellness Hub had its open house on August 4, introducing the redesigned space to the community. This is a manifestation of community investment and partnership. St. Joseph’s was the first hospital in Minnesota. CEO James Hereford welcomed us with this assurance: “Our Response to community need remains unbroken.”  The redesigned space is the beginning of a new concept in responding to health needs, a community resource as well as a health system resource. This amazing investment exemplifies MHealth Fairview’s willingness to be bold in its commitment to the community. United Healthcare also partnered on this project. On behalf of its 20,000 employees, CEO Brett Edelson said: “United healthcare is excited about this concept, Trusted partners in the same place to provide services.”
 
See you in the trenches.
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• New Woodbury police leaders have local roots: ‘We are in the service industry.’

• The Minnesota Chamber’s Center for Economic Research: two reports on Minnesota’s economy. Minnesota: 2030 – what lies beyond the immediate horizon and how can businesses maximize the opportunities to advance and grow the state’s economy?
• The Minnesota Chamber Foundation Quarterly Economic Snapshot, Summer 2022. This Snapshot is an overview of key indicators measuring Minnesota’s current economic performance. Mixed signals in the first half; overall performance remains steady.

​Federal

• The House passed the Inflation Reduction Act on Friday. The massive spending package, which includes around $370 billion for climate and energy programs, now head to President Biden’s desk for approval.  5 changes Minnesotans will likely see from the historic climate bill.
• Student loan decision time: It's time to put the pandemic-related student loan moratorium back on your radar ahead of Biden's self-imposed Aug. 31 decision deadline (two weeks from Wednesday). What we're watching: Officials are already expected to continue a payment freeze until after the November elections. The bigger question now is whether Biden will cancel at least some amount of student loan debt in the future. That was at the center of a meeting last week with activists and advocacy groups pushing the Biden administration to cancel large amounts of student debt.

 
State

• With primaries over, Minnesota’s elections take shape.   

 
Regional

• St. Paul City Council picks Russel Balenger to fill Ward 1 seat. Balenger will serve the remainder of former CM Thao’s term, through 2023.

 
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.
 

• Ramsey County and the Workforce Innovation Board have been sponsoring a series of e vents offering information and resources to help employers better understand the potential of hiring individual impacted by the criminal justice system. The third event in this series is being held this Thursday, Aug 18, 3:00 – 4:30pm. Join us for a riveting presentation and discussion on supporting fair opportunities from We Are All Criminals.
• Minnesota State Fair is upon us! Aug 25 – Sep 5, 2022.
• Check out your Chamber’s calendar of upcoming events as well, which include:
  
  • Our next Equity Leadership Series - Building an Inclusive, Effective Workplace: Wednesday, August 17, 7:30 – 9:30am. Register here! ​​

• Former President and CEO of the Ford Motor Company:  “putting people first means that you ‘love ‘em up.’” That happens by recognizing that everybody is important, that humanity and dignity are important.  Listen to this clip on why it’s essential to include all stakeholders in every step of every project.
• It's a stressful and scary time to be a hiring manager. Recruiting is as time-consuming as ever, but with added urgency and considerably higher stakes on the cost front. Shifting employee-employer dynamics, coupled with soaring salary offers, have made retention an even greater priority. Here are five sobering stats that should be a wake-up call for employers.
• DEED’s Summer of Jobs Summit: a snapshot of collective work and key takeaways to showcase jobs, amplify the source of labor, highlight the innovation and best practices.

• The lack of a major overhaul in the United States’ immigration system for roughly thirty years has created an ecosystem where states have attempted to insert their authority over immigration, especially when it comes to enforcement. So, when it comes to certain functions of immigration policy, it is worth asking “Whose role is it anyway?”
• MSPBJ celebrates our 2022 Best Places to Work honorees. Learn what makes them tick!
• Four Black-owned St. Paul startups to know for Black Business Month. Each was chosen by Lunar Startups, to complete its 6-month training, networking, and mentoring program. ​

• Gener8tor’s gBETA St. Thomas startup accelerator program, based in St. Paul, announces its summer 2022 cohort.
• RAISE grants: U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg announced that the Biden-Harris Administration has awarded more than $2.2 billion from the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) program to help urban and rural communities move forward on projects that modernize roads, bridges, transit, rail, ports, and intermodal transportation and make our transportation systems safer, more accessible, more affordable, and more sustainable. More coverage here.  A fact sheet detailing the awards is here. The following awards are in Minnesota:
  • Big Wood Transit Facility – Bois Forte Band of Chippewa (p. 69) 
  • 6th Street Bridge – City of Rochester (p. 70) 
  • Hwy 197 Safety and Mobility – MnDOT (p. 71) 
  • Lake Street Improvements for BRT – Hennepin County (p. 72) 
  • Station 73 Transit – City of Plymouth (p. 73) 
  • West Superior Street – City of Duluth (p. 74) 
  • North Dakota/Minnesota Bridge – City of Fargo (p. 116)