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November 2010
Small businesses represent more than 80 percent of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce membership. This e-newsletter is distributed periodically to address issues that have the greatest impact on businesses with 100 and fewer employees. If you have any questions, please contact Jennifer Byers, vice president, at (651) 292-4673, (800) 821-2230 or jbyers@mnchamber.com,
 Senator Geoff Michel (from left) and Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch, along with House Speaker-Elect Kurt Zellers, appeared November 4 before the Minnesota Chamber Board. |
NEW LEGISLATIVE LEADERS PLEDGE FOCUS ON JOBS
Newly elected leaders in the Minnesota House and Senate majorities promise to focus on jobs and the economy when they convene January 4. That was their message when they met with the Minnesota Chamber Board two days after Republicans took control of the House and Senate.
House Speaker-Elect Kurt Zellers, R-Maple Grove, was joined by Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch, R-Buffalo, and Senator Geoff Michel, R-Edina. The leaders pledged that their caucuses will be aligned in their agendas.
“Maximizing the state’s existing resources is our top priority,” Chamber President David Olson said. “Legislators should focus on how to effectively and efficiently direct the $33 billion in the general fund to those programs that will make the greatest contribution toward the development and growth of the state’s economy. We’re pleased that we had an opportunity to identify our priorities with the new legislative leadership. We look forward to sharing our initiatives with the new Governor as well.”
ADVANCE YOUR PRIORITIES
Take advantage of these opportunities to advance your priorities as we approach the 2011 legislative session.
Regional Policy Sessions:
2011: New Leadership, Big Challenges
Minnesota, like nearly every other state in the country, is facing a significant budget deficit – almost $6 billion. Only 75 percent of Minnesota students graduate from high school, and of those entering the higher education system, nearly 40 percent need remedial education. Minnesota's lengthy and cumbersome permitting process has forced expansions out of the state. Minnesota's energy costs continue to rise.
The Minnesota Chamber stands ready to resolve these issues and move our economy forward. Please join us for a discussion of these priorities, and provide your feedback as we build the business agenda for 2011. Provide your voice and help us build a strategy to move Minnesota's economy forward.
Click here for a list of dates and locations of a session near you.
2011 Session Priorities
January 6
Saint Paul RiverCentre
175 West Kellogg Boulevard, Saint Paul
4:00-9:00 p.m.
Reserve your seat now at this high-profile reception and dinner with a typical sell-out crowd of over 1,500 business leaders, elected officials, association representatives and local chambers of commerce. The new Governor has been invited to share his Administration’s priorities for the new session.
The new legislative leadership is confirmed for the always lively and informative panel discussion:
Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch (R-Buffalo)
Senate Minority Leader Tom Bakk (DFL-Cook)
House Speaker-Elect Kurt Zellers (R-Maple Grove)
House Minority Leader Paul Thissen (DFL- Minneapolis)
Register online at www.mnchamber.com/events. Cost is $95 for members and $130 for nonmembers. Tables of 10 are also available, $900 for members and $1,300 for nonmembers. For additional information, please contact Kim Anderson at (651) 292-4676 or (800) 821-2230 or kanderson@mnchamber.com.
KEEP ABREAST OF FEDERAL HEATLH CARE REFORM
The federal health care reform legislation – HR 3590, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act – was signed into law eight months ago, and we’re still learning its widespread ramifications. Many of the provisions will require additional clarification before the full extent of the legislation can be realized.
The Minnesota Chamber will keep you abreast of the latest developments and assist you in fully understanding this legislation. Click here to view the health care website. The site is updated regularly and alerts employers when specific actions are required.
HEALTH CARE WEBINAR SERIES
A three-part webinar series will help keep you informed on the important developments regarding the regulations and implementation of federal health care reform legislation and its impact on Minnesotans. Mark your calendars.
Update on Rules and Regulations
Thursday, December 16
Click here to register.
Update on Rules and Regulations
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Click here to register.
Update on Rules and Regulations
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Click here to register.
HOLIDAY SURVEY
The Employers Association publishes an annual survey of office closings for the holidays throughout the year. For Christmas and New Year’s, the results are as follows:
Winter Holidays |
Closed Full Day |
Closed Half Day |
Uncertain |
Not Applicable |
| CHRISTMAS 2010 | ||||
12/23/2010 |
136 31.6% |
15 3.5% |
11 2.6% |
125 29.1% |
| 12/24/2010 | 390 90.7% |
18 4.2% |
3 0.7% |
6 1.4% |
| 12/27/2010 | 77 17.9% |
0 0.0% |
12 2.8% |
152 31.2% |
| NEW YEAR'S 2011 | ||||
| 12/30/2010 | 38 8.8% |
5 1.2% |
10 2.3% |
153 35.6% |
| 12/31/2010 | 326 75.8% |
13 3.0% |
13 3.0% |
40 9.3% |
| 01/03/2011 | 88 20.5% |
0 0.0% |
12 2.8% |
134 31.2% |
Includes Office, Plant and Operations |
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For more information or a list of other surveys or programs, go to www.mnchamber.com/benefits/hr.
2011 COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENTS
The Internal Revenue Service has released the 2011 cost-of-living adjustments for compensation and benefit limits related to retirement plans. Click here for a chart summarizing 2011 retirement plan limits and other benefit plan limits. These limits are adjusted as often as every year to account for increases in the cost of living, or as established by statute. By statute, several of these numbers may not be reduced. All 2011 limits noted remain the same as 2010 amounts. The 2010 limits are also listed for reference.
2010 GE AVIATION SMALL BUSINESS SUPPLIER SYMPOSIUM
December 7
Sheraton Bloomington Hotel
7800 Normandale Boulevard
Bloomington
7:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Small businesses that supply products and services to the aviation industry will have an exclusive opportunity to connect directly with GE Aviation in an event arranged by Grow Minnesota! and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). The symposium is intended to match various small-business interests with large corporations and defense contractors that offer contract opportunities. Small businesses and buyers will have the opportunity for private, one-on-one appointments.
DEED and Grow Minnesota! will evaluate all appointment requests prior to the event to ensure companies’ top appointment choices are obtained. These prescheduled appointments will create a structured environment to maximize participants’ time. Each buyer also will have an exhibit area for additional networking opportunities. The event is a distinctive opportunity for small businesses to meet various GE Aviation supply chain executives and their Tier 1 suppliers.
The event is by invitation only, said Bill Blazar, senior vice president of public affairs at the Minnesota Chamber. Any small businesses that worked with the aviation industry in recent months – and are interested in attending this event – should contact Blazar at (651) 292-4658 or bblazar@mnchamber.com.
“If this event proves successful, we hope other Fortune 500 companies will contact us to help them find suppliers,” Blazar said.
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STEADY FLOW OF INQUIRIES FOR BUSINESSCONNECTION
BusinessConnection is proving a valuable resource for businesses. The service has fielded more than 6,000 inquiries since February 2010. The business assistance and referral network operated by Grow Minnesota! was developed jointly and is co-sponsored by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. The service is especially useful to small businesses.
Here is one sample inquiry. Country Collection Antiques and More of Waseca, an antique and gift store, annually holds a flea market outside her store during the Waseca County Fair. Interested in also serving food, she contacted BusinessConnection to determine the necessary permits. In the end, she contracted with another Minnesota food vendor, saving her the trouble of getting her own permit. She was glad to have BusinessConnection as a source of information.
BusinessConnection can be reached toll-free by calling 1-888-MINN-BIZ (646-6249), with live operators standing by. On the Web, go to www.mnbizconnect.com. The website provides three ways to track down answers:
TESTIMONIALS FROM CENTRALLIA 2010
Two Minnesota businesses participated in Centrallia 2010, taking advantage of the opportunity to promote their products and services to an international market. The October event was in Winnipeg, Manitoba, hosted by the Winnipeg Chamber in partnership with ANIM, Manitoba’s bilingual trade agency.
Attending from Minnesota were Top Tool Company, Minneapolis, and Northern Resources Cooperative, Roseau. Their participation was coordinated by Grow Minnesota!, the Minnesota Chamber’s private-sector initiative focused on job retention and creation.
“It was a very positive conference with lots of positive emphasis on business partnerships,” said Marty Cavegn, sales engineer at Top Tool Company. “Although we don’t anticipate any immediate connections, of the nine business-to-business meetings we participated in, several have some potential. One unscheduled additional meeting with a company may be one of our best leads. We appreciate the Minnesota Chamber and its Grow Minnesota! for arranging this opportunity.”
For Northern Resources Cooperative, General Manager Kelly Christianson said the event was perfect timing as the company was actually looking to expand sales specifically into Canada. “All facets of the event were very professional,” he said. Christianson is following up on 17 leads. Centrallia provided him with a personal introduction to many companies, plus attendees received a published event business directory. “If I hadn’t participated, I’d just be making cold-call inquiries. Centrallia was an affordable opportunity that may result in potential sales outlets.”
More than 630 companies participated in 4,250 meetings at Centrallia. Each participant averaged 10 one-on-one meetings.
“We naturally had hoped for greater participation from Minnesota companies,” said Bill Blazar, senior vice president of public affairs and business development at the Minnesota Chamber. “Still, we’re happy to see that the event was beneficial for those who attended. We continue to believe that international sales are key to the development and growth of Minnesota’s economy. We will continue to look for and promote solid opportunities for Minnesota small businesses to meet and pitch customers outside the United States.”
A similar “speed-dating” event, Futurallia 2011, is scheduled for May 18-20 in Kansas City. For more information, click on www.futuralliakc2011.com.
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