Chamber, DCA seminar to focus on Small Business Success for 2012.
You are invited to attend a seminar on Small Business Success for 2012, 3-5 p.m. Wednesday, February 1, at the Holiday Inn & Austin Conference Center. Conducted by Minnesota Mentors, the seminar will include trends and projections for the current year and beyond, and also provide practical strategies to help small business owners maximize their potential. Cost to attend is $10 per business. Pre-registration is required by calling the Chamber at 507-437-4561, or email to admin@austincoc.com. Space is limited. Deadline to register is January 25, 2012.

CVB and the Hormel Institute organizing "Paint the Town Pink" community events. Families, businesses and groups are encouraged to join in the fun by committing to "think pink" to raise awareness and money for the Hormel Institute's fight against breast cancer, support the Austin Bruins' strong community fundraising efforts and attract more visitors to Austin. Efforts are underway to motivate the community to "Paint the Town Pink" the week leading up the second "paint the Rink Pink" games on Saturday, February 4.
Events scheduled so far include:

• 2/2 - Austin High School girls basketball "Paint the Gym Pink" game at 7:30 p.m.
• 2/3 - Austin Bruins' kickoff happy hour at Torge's Live from 5-7 p.m.
• Fri-Sat - 10% off all pink itmes at the Spam Museum gift shop
• 2/4 - AHS dance team's annual show, 11 a.m. "Fishing for a Cure" at Eastside Lake, 12-3 p.m. Games People Play donates 10% of all sales to Hormel Institute research. ausitn Bruins' "Paint the Rink Pink," 7 p.m. at Riverside Arena.
• 2/5 - Pink pancakes and Spam at St. Olaf Lutheran Church, pink art and decorations.

Call the Austin Convention & Visitor's Bureau at 437-4563 for more information or to include your own "pink" plans in "Paint the Town Pink" publicity.

Riverland Offers free training program in green technologies. Manufacturing company employees, dislocated workers, amd students in manufacturing related programs all qualify for this unique program. GreenPower's curriculum focuses on topics including sustainable manufacturing; energy effeciency; water conservation, reuse and recycling; designing for the environment and how different polluntants affect it. The 48 hours of training consists of six eight-hour classes. Graduates are also eligible for up to $5,000 in continuing education funds if they successfully complete the SME test and an education plan approved by the Blue Green Alliance. For more information call Joe Hesch at 800-247-5039 ext 2280, email joe.hesch@riverland.edu or visit us on the web at www.riverland.edu/rtd.

Report Recommends Changes in Public Workforce Pay. Minnesota public employee compensation is largely out of sync with the private sector and threatens the sustainability of public services, according to a report released December 9 by the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce and NAIOP Minnesota, the Commercial Real Estate Development Association. Several elements of public employee copmpensation must be reined in and reformed to ensure that governments can contiinue to deliver qualirt services and fulfill obligations in a cost-effective manner. Read more...

Promote Your Business Through Chamber Bucks Program. The Chamber is offering all participating members a new way to promote their business through the Chamber Bucks program: Display advertising in the Chamber Bucks brochure. The brochures provide Chamber Buck buyers a complete list of all redeeming stores. While all participating businesses will continue to be listed, members now also have the opportunity to purchase a display ad in the brochure to help their business stand out. This 1x3-inch ad will also allow you to make a special offer to Chamber Buck holders who are ready to buy! Thousands of the brochures are distributed each year, and more than $300,000 in Chamber Bucks are purchased. Cost for the display ad is just $20 per month. Click here for additional information or call the Chamber at 437-4561. Space is limited.

ChamberNet. Is a new business referral committee that meets the second and fourth Thursday of each month to exchange customer referrals, learn about each other's business, and share ideas as to how everyone can work to improve their business. For more information, please contact Jeff at chamber@austincoc.com or by calling 507-437-4561.

U.S. Chamber Releases White Paper on Health Care. Recently released report, "Critical Employer Issues in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act" is designed to serve as a handbook for business owners to help navigate and comply with provisions of this comprehensive new law. To read or download the report, click here.

U.S. Chamber Provides Health Care Analysis For Businesses. Analysis of the recently passed health care reform is now available on the U.S. Chamber's website. Links to the summary of the reform, along with the timeline for implementation, are below.

Click here for the full analysis.

Health Care Aftermath (Printable PDF)
Health Care Implementation Timeline (Printable PDF)

Maximize Your Membership. We have partnered with ChamberMaster, our software provider, to offer you an opportunity to make your business more visible, and at no cost to you. Click here for more information.


Tips for Going into Business in Austin.
You have assessed your personal skills and have made a commitment to the type of business you want to tackle. What do you do next? Click here for more information.


SBA Disaster Assistance For Businesses of All Sizes. Businesses may apply directly to the SBA for possible assistance.
Call 1-800-659-2955 or
click here to download an application


Chamber launches Buy Mower, Grow Mower
To learn more, go to IBUYMOWER.COM

FEATURED EVENTS

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Home Plate
Smitty's Tavern
CenturyLink
Austin Tobacco
Ole Barn BBQ
The Cellular Connection
TSS Photography of Southern MN
Firestone
Moline Awards/United Pack & Ship
Domino's Pizza
The Brickhouse
Austin Symphony
Crossroad Motor Company
RN Consulting & Coordinating, LLC
Zonta Club of Austin
Pizza Ranch
Studio J Images
Sam's Club
Hanson Construction & Specialty Cabinets, LLC
Schieck Dental
Cheers Liquor

Copyright 2011 Austin Area Chamber of Commerce

329 N. Main Street, Suite 102, Austin, MN 55912 507-437-4561 888-319-5655
Executive Director, sandy@austincoc.com
Member Relations & Major Events, jeff@austincoc.com
Office Manager, valerie@austincoc.com