First Quarter Updates for the Elk River Region
The Chamber's proactive involvement in legislative advocacy, infrastructure development, community engagement, and member promotion, reflects our commitment to fostering economic growth and prosperity in the region while staying true to our mission of "Energizing the PACE of Business with Promotions, Advocacy, Connections, and Education."
Legislative Session and Advocacy Efforts
The Legislative Session commenced on February 12, with the Elk River Chamber once again supporting efforts with the Minnesota Chamber to support key legislative initiatives. The chamber once again hosted a table at the dinner and were joined by all three of our District 30 legislators. Areas of focus for the 2024 session include reducing costly regulations, environmental permitting reform, and informing voters about changes to election laws enabling early and absentee voting.
Local Advocacy and Partnership
Collaborating with the City of Elk River, the Chamber is advocating for updates to the sign ordinance along the 169 corridor to address visibility issues caused by changes in road elevations.
Partnership with Sherburne County Economic Development aims to establish a supportive ecosystem for regional entrepreneurs. A workshop was held where strategies were developed and the groundwork was laid for expanding and coordinating existing support for emerging entrepreneurs.
Infrastructure Projects and Community Engagement
Hosted by the City of Elk River, the Highway 169 Redefine Project's final year open house on March 11th will detail the upcoming interchange at Hwy 169 & Main St. and lane reduction plans. Additionally, the event will provide information on temporary access arrangements and the removal of the final signal on Hwy 169.
The Zimmerman Business Council will receive updates on road construction projects along CSAH 4 and plans for the fully funded 169 & CR 4 project, including timelines and anticipated impacts on local businesses and residents.
A new initiative, the Otsego Business Alliance, launching in early March, aims to provide businesses connected to Otsego with comprehensive information about development projects, infrastructure updates, and growth opportunities. The first meeting on March 5th will feature insights from Adam Flaherty, Otsego City Administrator, covering upcoming commercial development, infrastructure projects, and growth trends in both commercial and residential sectors. Plans are for a quarterly meeting.
Community Events and Member Promotion
Promotional efforts include retail-focused initiatives such as Oliver the Elk Christmas promotion and the inaugural Chocolate Tour, fostering community engagement and supporting local businesses.
The upcoming Saddles N’ Spurs event on March 21st promises an engaging evening. Sponsorships are nearly sold out and ticket sales are ahead of last year at the same time. The event will feature both live and silent auctions, games, and networking opportunities.
