Schedule
Wednesday, September 13
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Finalists Expo
Lunch
Welcome
B Kyle
President and CEO, St. Paul Area Chamber
Erin Dady
Chief Marketing and Public Relations Officer, Bremer Bank
Awards Presentation
Amanda Duerr
Vice President of Government Affairs, St. Paul Area Chamber
Lunch
Welcome
B Kyle
President and CEO, St. Paul Area Chamber
Erin Dady
Chief Marketing and Public Relations Officer, Bremer Bank
Awards Presentation
Amanda Duerr
Vice President of Government Affairs, St. Paul Area Chamber
Business Retention and Expansion
Finalists: |
|
Dakota County Career Fairs
Dakota County’s CareerForce location in West St. Paul holds hiring events which provide an easy, no-cost way for employers and job seekers to connect. In the past 18 months, they have held 30 virtual events and 25 in-person events, including specialty events with a particular focus such as healthcare, construction/utilities, information technology, manufacturing, 55+, and Second Chance. Additionally, CareerForce partnered with Dakota County Libraries for teen job fairs which had outstanding attendance. Job seekers enjoyed the relaxed and non-confrontational nature of the events, while employers appreciated the chance to talk face-to-face with job seekers and network with other employers.
|
|
City of Oakdale Business Retention, Expansion, and Attraction
In 2022-2023, the City of Oakdale started a new business visit program in partnership with the Oakdale Area Chamber. Every member of the City Council participated in at least one visit. Visits also included a representative from the business community and City Economic Development staff. A total of eighteen visits to a diverse array of businesses in the City were conducted. Visits included a survey, facility tour, and presentation of a resource packet and appreciation statue that read, “Thank you for growing in Oakdale.” Issues revealed in the visit received expeditious follow-up from the City. Following the visits, the City created social media posts highlighting the businesses.
|
Communications and Marketing
Finalists: |
|
Dakota County Bison Reintroduction Campaign
A robust Dakota County communications and marketing effort celebrated Dakota County becoming the first Minnesota county to reintroduce bison to prairieland. The effort highlights prairie ecology, draws visitors to Dakota County’s Spring Lake Park Reserve, and honors the strong historic and cultural connection to Indigenous communities.
Extensive publicity and social media engagement resulted from an integrated campaign featuring a video, distinctive logo, commissioned song, brochure, fact sheet, and special events. The best part, however, is seeing park visitors stop at the bison paddock to observe the bison in their natural habitat and see the past come alive before their eyes. |
|
City of Farmington
UNEXPECTEDLY BOLD! When city staff started showing up at different places to tell Farmington's story and share their excitement about Farmington's opportunities and potential, they heard how unexpected it was...and then people wanted to know more! Organically, the new economic development tag line was born. It is unexpected that our community is being more visible, but every day we work to change that perception by loudly and proudly getting out in front of different audiences. Farmington is proud of our past and is now boldly defining our future in unexpected ways and inviting others to be part of our journey, vision, and story.
|
|
Oakdale Recreation
The Oakdale Recreation staff work tirelessly to accommodate requests from the Oakdale community: scheduling; reserving the Discovery Center and park facilities for events; initiating, designing and printing flyers to be distributed; training seasonal and year-round staff to work with children’s activities; overseeing a variety of large annual special events; working closely with and supporting the grassroots volunteers of Oakdale Wellness 50+. The staff also manages the Oakdale Farmers Market and Indoor Market and make sure both run smoothly. The annual Spring Park Clean-Up Week is organized by this department, and it makes such a difference to have beautiful outdoor spaces to enjoy.
|
Innovation
Finalists: |
|
Dakota County Juvenile Services Center Garden
A partnership between Dakota County Master Gardeners, the New Chance Day Treatment Program and Juvenile Services staff, this program provides an opportunity for participating youth to grow and maintain a vegetable garden. Food grown is used to feed program participants, with the remainder donated. In 2022, 422 pounds of produce were donated to Dakota County food shelves.
Program participants are taught about horticulture skills, plant biodiversity, pollinators and their importance in a garden, clean and wise use of water, sustainable techniques for growing local food, and ways to create resilient landscapes. The program is being expanded in 2023. |
|
Dakota County Provider Shortage Workgroup
To address the shortage of providers and staff in disability services, the Dakota County Board brought together people with lived experience, advocates, providers, state government, county commissioners and Community Services staff to develop innovative solutions. Keeping people with disabilities and their families in the forefront, over a period of nine months, the work group developed concrete recommendations aimed at addressing workforce challenges, including innovative approaches to improve the network of community supports for people with disabilities in the long-term. In partnership with the community, Dakota County is moving forward with initiatives aimed at helping support the workforce and technology solutions.
|
|
Woodbury Public Safety - Otis the Community Support Dog
Otis is Woodbury Public Safety’s first Community Support Dog who was brought on board with our team as a puppy in December of 2021. Otis was sponsored through fundraising by the non-profit Woodbury Police K9 Fund. Otis works primarily with the Woodbury Police Department’s Community Support Team which is a specialized unit started in 2019 made up of a Woodbury Police Detective and a Washington County Licensed Clinical Social Worker focusing on responding to and following up on 911 calls involving mental health, substance abuse, and homelessness. In addition to helping those in crisis situations, Otis provides support to our public safety staff and participates in community engagement events. Otis is in training to become a certified therapy dog. In 2022, Otis helped out on 74 different occasions in the field and attended 36 community events and presentations. In his off time, Otis enjoys jogging, playing with other dogs, and of course – snacks.
|
Planning, Land Use and Public Works
Finalists: |
|
|
Dakota County Cliff Road Wildlife Tunnel Project
In 2020, planning efforts began to reconstruct Cliff Road, near Lebanon Hills Regional Park. Dakota County Natural Resource staff seized this opportunity to protect wildlife, since this was a hotspot for animals dying from vehicles as they traveled between wetlands on both sides of the road. A collaboration including Dakota County’s Natural Resources Program and Transportation Department, the Minnesota Zoo, and MnDOT designed and installed three wildlife tunnels to reduce the number of deaths.
A trail camera has recently demonstrated that animals are successfully using the tunnels. This is a ‘win-win’ situation since it saves wildlife and reduces damage to cars. |
|
Washington County Parks
Washington County Parks uses grazing goats as a tool to reduce the presence of undesirable plant species in areas where park staff are restoring historic oak savanna landscapes. Restoring the oak savanna landscape (a transition zone between forest and prairies) is part of a long-term habitat and conversation plan for county parks.
While goats are cost-competitive with other vegetation management techniques, the big advantage is that the goats have become an attraction and draw people to nature. The County has even set up a “Goats in the Park” website to alert visitors where they can find the goats within the several county parks where they are controlling invasive species such as common buckthorn and garlic mustard. |
|
Maplewood Parks and Natural Resources
Maplewood Parks and Natural Resources has undertaken an innovative program to control invasive species while increasing storm water infiltration and addressing climate change without the heavy use of pesticides. This is a real thinking outside the box solution to invasive species control and restoration of natural habitat.
|
Public Safety
Finalists:
|
Ramsey County Juvenile Justice Program
In response to an uptick in serious incidents involving youth, and a lack of adequate placement options, the Ramsey County Attorney, Sheriff, and Board collaboratively developed a proposal to create small-group, community-based, therapeutic treatment homes for youth designed to address their needs and stop the harmful behaviors. Ramsey County also stressed the importance of providing wraparound services for youth and their families to support successful re-entry into our community. Partnering with crime victims and the business community, the Ramsey County team was able to gain bipartisan support for their innovative solution at the State Legislature, where funding for the homes and wraparound services was provided.
|
|
St. Paul HART Team
The Homeless Assistance Response Team (HART) was created in 2021 to help those facing homelessness. The team directly helps in the following ways:
In the roughly 18 months of a fully-staffed HART, the team has:
|
|
Eagan Police Department
The Eagan Police Department has partnered with the FBI to support Eagan’s young leaders through the Youth Leadership Academy (YLA). The YLA provides lifelong enrichment opportunities through extensive coursework and classroom instruction that focuses on issues faced by the youth of today while providing tools that enhance their individual talents. The vision of the YLA is to develop an influential community of socially conscious and service minded leaders, connected through association who positively shape their community and the world. Students must have demonstrated high academic standards, leadership abilities and good citizenship to be accepted for this academy.
|
Rising Star
Finalists: |
Eric Petersen
City of St. Paul |
Eric Petersen joined the City of St. Paul's intergovernmental relations team in 2023 and truly hit the ground running. He stepped into the role at a time when the City was advancing many priorities at the Capitol, from numerous bonding projects to local sales tax authorization to TIF reauthorization. Eric's steady hand, hard work, and strong legislative relationships delivered an extremely successful session for the City of St. Paul.
|
Jared Johnson
City of Farmington |
There are times when you just know you hired a "good one" - and that is what we got with Jared. Jared is one of the newest additions to Team Farmington and every day he demonstrates the highest level of professionalism, compassion, and genuine interest in making our community the best that it can be. Jared takes on new challenges with a (quiet) vigor, he treats our residents/applicants with respect, and he is always willing to do more. We see so much potential in Jared and are excited to watch him grow AND push us to be better.
|
Kristin Seaman
City of Woodbury |
Kristin is highly engaged, innovative, and progressive. As the environmental resources coordinator, she has spearheaded many projects including the City’s water conservation, erosion control, and native landscape programs. Kristin was awarded the City’s Horizon Award and has consistently presented at professional conferences on the City’s achievements.
Kristin is positive and thoughtful in her approach and considers ways to improve or push the organization to greater heights. She leads efforts to identify solutions when roadblocks are present and successfully approaches difficult conversations with empathy. Kristin often finds synergies and bridges gaps between different departments when developing and coordinating programs and projects. |
Elected Official of Note
|
St. Paul City Council President, Amy Brendmoen
Amy Brendmoen was elected to the St. Paul City Council in 2012 to represent Ward 5. In 2017, she became Council President. Throughout her tenure on the Council, Brendmoen has also served on the St Paul HRA (Chair); Library Board; Board of Water Commissioners (Vice-Chair); Rush Line Corridor Commission; JPTAC; and League of MN Cities. After three terms, she is not seeking re-election.
During her time on the City Council, Brendmoen helped draw investment to struggling neighborhoods including Railroad Island, the North End, and Rice & Larpenteur. She is an advocate for transit, pedestrian safety, and sustainability efforts. She also championed a new Community Center on Rice Street, which is now under construction. |
Thank you for joining us today and
thank you to our sponsors and partners!
Presenting Sponsor | Bremer Bank
Corporate Sponsors | Comcast & Securian Financial
Contributing Sponsor | Land O' Lakes, Redpath and Company, SPIRE Credit Union, University of St. Thomas, WSB, and Xcel Energy
Dessert Sponsor | Mintahoe Catering & Events
Corporate Sponsors | Comcast & Securian Financial
Contributing Sponsor | Land O' Lakes, Redpath and Company, SPIRE Credit Union, University of St. Thomas, WSB, and Xcel Energy
Dessert Sponsor | Mintahoe Catering & Events
Chamber Partners | Dakota County Regional Chamber of Commerce, Midway Chamber of Commerce, Minnesota Black Chamber of Commerce, Minnesota Hmong Chamber of Commerce, and Oakdale Area Chamber of Commerce
