Your Chamber toured the Rock-Tenn Company’s plant in Saint Paul’s Midway industrial district on Tuesday.  It was an historic day for the 100-year-old business, which is one of North America’s leading manufacturers of packaging products, merchandising displays and recycled paperboard.  Tuesday was the last day steam - which has been conveyed through a five-mile long pipeline from the Xcel Energy High Bridge Plant - powered the boilers used in converting waste paper products into recycled cardboard.  Jack Greenshields, Brian West and Robert Carpenter led the tour, describing efforts to find an alternative energy source to power the plant in the future.  In the interim, the plant will use natural gas and fuel oil.

Thanks to sponsor TDS Metrocom and nearly 500 Gopher football fans who turned out Wednesday for the Gopher Football Kick-off Luncheon.  Coach Tim Brewster and several players shared their enthusiastic outlook for the season, and $2,500 was donated to the Goal Line Club.  Please join us in filling up the Dome to show our support for Gopher football!

A Maplewood City Council candidate forum was held Thursday. Five of the eight city council candidates – who are vying for two open positions -- were present: Incumbent Rebecca Cave, James E. Meehan, Jr., John Nephew, DelRay (Rocky) Rokke and incumbent Will Rossbach. Thank you to these candidates for participating and for sharing your business perspectives and views. The forum will be rebroadcast on local cable channel 16. The primary election on September 11 will narrow the field of candidates from eight to four. Also thanks to Keystone Computer Solutions for sponsoring the forum.

The Roseville City Council is seeking applications from residents and members of the business community to serve on a comprehensive plan steering committee. The comprehensive plan is the City’s guiding policy for long-term land use, transportation, parks, public infrastructure, natural resources and economic development.  The committee will work with the consulting firm Hoisington Koegler Group, Inc. (HKGI) to update the comprehensive plan.  Applications, which are available at Roseville City Hall, 266 Civic Center Drive, or at www.cityofroseville.com/CommApp., are due by noon on September 7. 

Your Chamber’s Transportation Funding Task Force, chaired by Song Fawcett, Kelly & Fawcett, and Ryan Rutzick, All, Inc., received a briefing this week from Krista Boyd, Fiscal Analyst for the Minnesota Senate Transportation Committee on how transportation is currently funded in Minnesota.  In addition, I met with Chamber and trade association executives from across the state to discuss transportation funding. This issue will continue to evolve over the next few weeks, and we will continue to keep you briefed on your Chamber’s activities.

The next opportunity for professional development begins Friday, September 7. TIPS for Networking will provide you and your employees with information on effective networking and business lead exchange. This session features Joe McIntosh of Dale Carnegie Training, Paul Esch of Breakthrough Business Success, Inc., Kathleen Watson of Client Connections and John O’Malley of Action Business Coaching.  Contact Amanda Faletti at 651.265.2778 or amanda@saintpaulchamber.com.

Your Chamber’s suite at the Xcel Energy Center is available to lease for the College Ice Breaker Tournament, October 12-13, $1,750, which includes 16 tickets. Contact Stephanie Moore at 651.265.2786 or stephanie@saintpaulchamber.com.

Enjoy the last holiday weekend of the summer and the Minnesota State Fair!

Member Reward Coupons

Your Chamber's unique member-to-member online business tool is just a click away! Browse "Members Only" offers from your fellow Chamber members and post your own using the links below.

Click Here to view "Rewards Coupon" offers from your fellow Chamber members.  To add your "Rewards Coupon" click here.  Your  Membership ID# is  %%User1%% + the last four digits of your main phone number.