May talk of the Town

Membership Director Craig Thompson shares the latest news and events!

Member Guest: Jamie Evans, Blast Softserve

April Talk of the Town

March Talk of the Town

March Chamber updates!

February 2014 Talk of the Town

December 2013 Talk of the Town

Salvation Army Announces Donations Double Thursday & Friday

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 19, 2013

 All donations to Steele County Salvation Army

doubled this Friday and Saturday

Historic $2 million matching opportunity spans Minn., N.D.

Owatonna, MN. – An unprecedented giving opportunity is coming: All donations made to the Owatonna, MN Salvation Army on Friday, Dec. 20 and Saturday, Dec. 21 will be doubled.  

“No matter how you donate – at a kettle, online, by phone or in person – every dollar you give will be matched,” said Gina Shepherd, Owatonna Salvation Army Case Manager. “This matching opportunity is both amazing and historic.” 

The match is made possible by a small group of anonymous donors who pooled together $2 million worth of matching funds to get The Salvation Army’s Christmas Campaign back on track in Minnesota and North Dakota. Kettle donations are down across the board in both states.

“This is the largest two-day matching gift in Salvation Army history,” Shepherd added. “Most importantly, every dollar we receive stays local and helps The Salvation Army provide critical services to our neighbors in need.”

To double your donation this Friday and Saturday:

• Give at a kettle

• Give online at SalvationArmyNorth.org.

• Call 800-SAL-ARMY (725-2769)

• Drop off a check at the Steele County Salvation Army (address at top)

Kettle donors are encouraged snap pictures of themselves showing the peace sign – what The Salvation Army is calling “a sign of northland generosity” – and post them to social media using #double.

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Members-Helping-Members: Homestead Hospice House Benefit Breakfast Nov. 21

All proceeds at the Culver's/Homestead Hospice House Benefit Breakfast go to replenish the
Hospice House Patient Care Fund (to continue to serve all those in need regardless of
financial ability).

Stop in at Culvers on Nov. 21 between 7 AM-10 AM!

October 2013 Talk of the Town

President Jennifer Libby shares the latest news and happenings in the Chamber.

Member Guest: Dan Schreiber, Midnight Sun Spas

September 2013 Talk of the Town

Chamber President/CEO shares the latest news!

Member guests: Community Bank Owatonna

August 2013 Talk of the Town

OACCT Tourism Director Lisa Havelka shares the latest news and happenings at the Chamber.

Member Guest: Dan Haberman, Oak View Nursery

July 2013 Talk of the Town

Chamber President Jennifer Libby shares the latest news and insights!

June 2013 Talk of the Town

Hanson Receives Ringhofer Scholarship

The Sixteenth Annual recipient of the Ted G. Ringhofer Memorial is Monica Hanson.

Monica is the daughter of Jon and Peggy Hanson and is planning on attending Loyola University Chicago and majoring in Human Resource Management.

Monica will be awarded the $1000.00 Scholarship given by TPS Insurance Agency and the Owatonna Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Ambassadors at the Fine Arts Awards Reception in May.

April 2013 Talk of the Town

Latest updates from Chamber staff!

Made in Owatonna-Workforce Event

Cindy Rossow with Cedar Gallery shares her education
background and work history and how it's served
her in owning her own business.

Made in Owatonna is an event partnership between the Owatonna High School and OACCT that brought business together with business class and Options students on April 24th. The day was outlined with numerous speakers and included two manufacturing facility tours.

Manufacturing, service and retail sectors were represented as well as a myriad of career options available in Owatonna from the twelve participating speakers.

Jeff Dahle with Vision Processing Technologies gives a
brief tour of the machines used to make the
powdered product for K-Cups.

All kinds of advice from strong math skills in addition to any technical skill is imperative.  Also soft skills like communication, being punctual and dressing the part were shared from business speakers.  They offered insights on classes to pursue in college, networking, the importance of diversifying within business.  It was also shared to have an initial career goal, but have other options and back up plans as life and circumstances change.

Other advice shared was the importance of resume building and interviewing skills.  Presenting yourself well, keeping a focused resume and researching the company you're applying and job seeking with is important.

Thanks to OHS students and participating businesses and speakers for making the Made in Owatonna workforce event such a success!





Advantage Cabinets-Scott Kubicek        
MMP-Dave Pfieffer                                                          
Cedar Gallery-Cindy Rossow                                            
Owatonna Ford-Chrysler-Craig Herz
Vision Processing Technologies-Melody Hanson, Ben Utigard, Jeff Dahle
Cybex-John Champa, Kelly Anderson, Shawn Tramp
Country Inn & Suites-Kelly Boomgarden
Hy-Vee-Lucas Glasgow
Fernbrook Family Center-Brittanie Schaffer

John Champa with Cybex shared company history,
product information, as well as skills need for various engineering
careers.

Amy Mussman with Cybex gives students a tour of the
facility showing how product is made from start to finish.

Coffee with State Reps on Easter Break

Senator Vicki Jensen (24) and Representative John Petersburg (24A) joined more than 24 members for a legislative update at 'Coffee with the State Representatives' on March 28th, hosted by the AmericInn Hotel & Suites Owatonna- Conference Center.

Senator Jensen and Representative Petersburg
address OACCT members at a legislative
 update event on March 28th.

Senator Jensen shared insights on education bills and funding all day Kindergarten (House, Senate and Governor all want-discussion becomes how much to fund); transportation and Highway 14 funding (Corridors of Commerce bill to drop next week-anticipated to add 5 cent gas tax); and the health insurance exchange status (trying to separate article 1 and 2 for separate votes in Senate).

Representative Petersburg outlined the three state areas that fund transportation (gas tax, licence tab fees and vehicle sales tax) and it's also used to fund airports, port authorities, light rail and salaries for the Highway Patrol.  The state the state's transportation budget includes about 40% from the federal level-he questions how much we as a state should rely on those dollars.

Both officials support funding efforts for the completion of Highway 14. Senator Jensen encouraged people to contact the Governor and let them know they'd support a gas tax for the completion of Highway 14. Rep. Petersburg outlined that the state's fuel consumption has declined in recent years and offered a couple leverage points in the discussion with the proposed $4 billion Mayo Clinic expansion in Rochester (need to have good infrastructure), the potential 'Corridors of Commerce' bill (funding mechanism) and offered that "...

the only time we fail is if we quit.  We need to keep going and keep trying."  

County Board Notes: March 26, 2013

A part of the OACCT's Public Policy efforts for 2013 is for volunteers from the Public Policy committee attend both City and County meetings and report back on items that are of interest/concern to business.

Introduction of New Employees

• 3 resignations

Request to hire 2 and reevaluate need for 3rd (engineer)

• 1 of the 2 will be filled with promotion (sheriff’s deputy sergeant) and backfill the vacated position

Southwest Minnesota Service Region Re-design.

• Commissioner Huntington
• Charity Floen
• Jane Hardwick (co-chair)
• Jim Schug (project manager)
• Tom Shea (co-chair)
• Current status is unsustainable.
• New SDA to include Dodge, Mower, Steele, and Waseca counties.
• Federal and State fund follow the individuals
• 1/3 of the cost will be divided equally between the 4 counties
• 1/3 of the cost will be divided by market value of real estate
• 1/3 of the cost will be divided by the population of each county. It has been suggested that this should be utilization instead of population. There are some difficulties in tracking utilization but this is still being discussed.
• While the new SDA does not show a cost savings, it does allow the use of more FTEs in actual client contact and fewer in administrative and support roles. This will improve the quality of the services provided.
• The addition of another county would more than likely result in an efficiency that will equate to cost savings. 

Low Income Septic Grant Bixby.

• $20,902
• 11 applicants. 
• 3 not homesteaded
• 1 did not meet the low income requirements
• 7 were given the grant
• 3 considered low income
• 4 considered very low income
• Grant was divided among the 7 with higher percentages give to the very low income recipients.

Administrator Report

• Request by AMC for transportation funding
• Jeff Nelson requested an extension of the deadline for the Emergency Management Communications Network grant application. 3 vendors included.
• SWCB has suggested that the board support erosion prevention. 

Talk of the Town-March 2013

Tourism Director Lisa Havelka discusses the busy spring with many shows and conventions in Owatonna

Member Guest: Holly Sobrack, Westbrack Marketing

Talk of the Town-February 2013

Interim President Rhonda Guthier shares the OACCT's latest news and updates.

Talk of the Town-January 2013

Latest news and happenings from OACCT President Brad Meier.

Member Guest: Robyn from Big Brothers/Big Sisters