Monthly Newsletter Vol. 13 | Issue 148 Promote. Engage. Connect. New Website Launch Director, Nicole Lalum Launching a new website is never an easy undertaking. Launching an intuitive, responsive website that integrates with our chamber member database and still provides ample opportunity for destination marketing has been a long row to hoe. Thankfully, our project coordinator at the website firm held our hands and walked us through the process and I’m pleased to announce that as of April 1st – no foolin’! – www.parkrapids.com has been refreshed and relaunched in an updated format and with a whole new look to it. Take a minute to check it out…go on, I’ll wait. The Tourism Marketing Committee is very excited to have produced a website that is responsive to the device a user accesses the site on since mobile and tablet visitors have surpassed regular desktop pc visitors to the site in the last six months. We’re also pleased to have even more opportunities to promote members on the site with category specific searches of our businesses. Now is a great time to log in to your member portal and update your company profile, if you don’t know how to get in, simply email emma@parkrapids. com and she’ll send you log in information. If you notice any quirks in the flow of the site, please let me know at [email protected] so that I can continue tweaking the site. Happy surfing… Minnesota Cup Accepting Applications Largest state venture competition in tech; life science/health IT; social entrepreneur; the country will offer record $327,000 and student. “More than 9,000 Minnesotans have participated in prize money MINNEAPOLIS – The 11th annual Minnesota Cup — the largest statewide entrepreneurial competition in the United States — is accepting applications for the 2015 contest. Minnesota residents have until May 8 to submit entries to compete for a record $327,000 in prize money. The Minnesota Cup is an opportunity for entrepreneurs, researchers, inventors, small business owners working on innovative business concepts, or businesses generating less than $1 million in yearly revenue to move their ideas to the next level. The 2015 divisions are energy/clean technology/ water; food/agriculture/beverage ; general; high in the Minnesota Cup since its inception in 2005,” said DEED Deputy Commissioner Kevin McKinnon. “This competition encourages Minnesota small businesses to grow their ideas and has helped elevate finalists to attract over $170 million in additional capital.” “Every year the excitement and energy around this competition grows, and every year we strive to find new ways to involve even more Minnesotans statewide,” said Scott Litman, cofounder of the Minnesota Cup. “Last year, we connected with a new category of entrepreneurs through our new food, agriculture and beverage division, and this year we are working to grow the field of female entrepreneurs with our Women in Entrepreneurship series.” Follow this link to continue reading http://business. parkrapids.com/news/details/minnesota-cupaccepting-applications-mn-deed www.parkrapids.com What’s Inside: • New Website Launch, Director, Nicole Lalum • Member News: Itasca Mantrap welcomes areas first community solar project. • Ambassador Committee Member Visits: askRick.com, Walker Area Realty, Dorset Corner Liquor, Living at Home • Meet our NEW Members: Rapids Cabin Service, LLC Charter Media • March Member Renewals • Chamber Working For You Web & Visitor Center Stats • Minnesota Cup Accepting Applications April Inserts: (Click on descriptions to view posters) • Improve productivity, efficiency and customer satisfaction with one phone call. Call Arvig! • Tails on the Trails – Headwaters Animal Shelter 7th Annual Walkathon & Pet Expo • You’re in the GigaZone! Paul Bunyan Communications Now Servicing the Rural Park Rapids Area Save the Date! May 16, 2015 (218) 732-4111 New Member Spotlight Rapids Cabin Serivice, LLC Doug Jewison, Electrical Contractor and Owner of Rapids Cabin Service, LLC, specializes in electrical services for cabin owners and lake homes. Offerings services that are unique to life on the lake. New Construction, Remodels, Service Work, Electrical Design, Trenching, Outdoor Lighting, Cabin Checks & Freeze Alarms. Also available, landscaping and handyman work! Servicing the Park Rapids Lakes Area Visit www.rapidscabinservice.com to learn more! Call Doug at (218) 255-2600 or email [email protected] Charter Media Your District Legislators U.S. Senate Contact Senator Al Franken (DFL) 309 Hart, Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 D.C. (202) 224-5641 St. Paul (651) 221-1016 www.franken.senate.gov Senator Amy Klobuchar (DFL) 302 Hart, Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 D.C. (202) 224-3244 Minneapolis (612) 727-5220 [email protected] In today’s multi-screen world, keeping your business engaged with the right customers is more challenging than ever. Charter Media can efficiently and strategically deliver your message to millions online. Target them with pinpoint accuracy by varying combinations of lifestyle, geography, browsing behavior and more; across thousands of premium websites through any device in any household. Learn more from Local Sales Manager, Peter Provost! (218) 529-8082 • email: [email protected] Member News Itasca Mantrap Welcome Areas First Community Solar Project MN Senate Senator Rod Skoe (DFL) District 02 (651) 296-4196 [email protected] U.S. House of Representative Congressman Rick Nolan (DFL) District 8 2447 Rayburn, House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 D.C. (202) 225-6211 nolan.house.gov MN House of Representatives Representative Dave Hancock (R) District 02A Itasca-Mantrap, a member-owned electric distribution cooperative located in Park Rapids, is proud to announce the grand opening of its SolarWise™ Community Solar project. A ribbon cutting ceremony was held at Itasca-Mantrap Tuesday, March 24. St. Paul (651) 296-4265 Construction on the 46-kW, 112 solar panel array began in the fall of 2014 and was completed in February. Itasca-Mantrap members can purchase the output of a solar panel, locking in electric rates by purchasing that output for 20 years. Members can pay for the panels up front or finance the panels at no interest over a three year period. The cost includes insurance, operations, maintenance and all other costs associated with operating the solar array. As a Minnesota made project, the array utilizes technology from tenKsolar and 3M, both headquartered in Minnesota. St. Paul (651) 296-9918 “A major benefit of the community solar project is that it gives our Members access to participate in solar at an affordable cost.” said Itasca-Mantrap President-CEO Michael Monsrud. Itasca-Mantrap members can own a piece of solar power that is both affordable and accessible through the project. Contact our office for more information or to sign up. [email protected] Representative Steve Green (R) District 02B [email protected] For more information go to www.gis.leg.mn MEMBER RENEWALs FEB. 25 - MAR. 24, 2015 Armory Square Management Corporation Canvaswork Inc Fresh Catch Hafner's Greenhouse, Inc. Lazy One… R & D Resort & Campground Summerhill Farm Wildwood Enchantment The Itasca-Mantrap Board of Directors holds the ribbon with the PRLACC Ambassadors, as the President-CEO makes the cut. Pictured left to right: Debbie Haas, Nicole Lalum, Brian Behrens, Sue Tomte, Dan Breitbach, Mike Monsrud, Nancy Utke, Marv Vredenburg, Debbie Tostenson, Kristin Gilmore, Vicki Stewart, Willard Clausen and Tim Kivi. “Ships in a harbor are safe, but that is not what ships are built for.” Author Unkown Meeting Schedule Member Visits April 2015 Park Rapids Lakes Area Arts Council 1st Monday, 12PM (Noon), Coldwell Banker Lake Country Scenic Byway - (1st Fri.) 1st Friday, 8:30AM, Grace Lutheran Church Osage - Heartland Trail Community Meeting - Quarterly following the LCSB Meeting. Heartland Trail to Itasca Extension Task Force 2nd Monday, 10AM, Hubbard County Public Works Conference Room Park Rapids Downtown Business Association 1st Wednesday, 8AM, Bella Caffe Welcome New Members - askRick.com & Walker Real Estate Park Rapids City Council - Owners Nancy & Rick Schaefer pictured here with Ambassadors, left to right, Nicole Lalum, Jill Dickinson, Debbie Haas, Sue Tomte and Jeremy Nelson 2nd & 4th Tuesday, 6PM, Lower Level of Library Hubbard County Commissioners 1st & 3rd Tuesday, 9AM, Court House 3rd Floor Board Room #324 PRLA Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors 2nd Tuesday, 8:00AM, Chamber Chamber Committees: Legends & Logging Days 3rd Thursday, 7:30AM, Chamber Ambassador Committee - (Brown Bag) 4th Thursday, 12PM (Noon), Chamber Events Committee - (2nd Wed) 2nd Wednesay, 8AM, Chamber Making Connections Working for You... FEB. 25 - MAR. 24, 2015 Web Stats Welcome New Member - Dorset Corner Liquor Owners Craig & Missy Rossman pictured here with Ambassadors, left to right, Jeremy Nelson, Sue Tomte, Jill Dickinson and Debbie Haas Pageviews - 25,943 Unique Visitors - 20,217 Mobile Visits - 4,613 Unique Notable Pageviews: Visitors - 1,473 Lodging - 1,466 Business/List - 861 Events - 650 Itasca - 646 Visitor Center Stats Guests assisted - 439 Discovery Guides mailed - 460 From the Phones and Referrals • Event space for rent • Locally made products • Ojibwe Forest Rally • Commercial space for sale Congratulations on the New Location -Living at Home of the Park Rapids Area Pictured here left to right; Sue Tomte, Jeremy Nelson, Executive Director Jaime Jensen Hemphill, Jill Dickinson, Debbie Haas and Eldercare Services Coordinator, Mark Anderson “Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.” Albert Einstein 2015 Board of Directors Visit Park Rapids... Creating powerful partnerships to unite and grow member businesses and the region. Shop Play Eat STAY * Joe Scharber, President Sleeping Fawn Resort & Campground Uzi Monka Wild Loon Outfitters * Butch DeLaHunt, Vice President DeLaHunt Broadcasting Candy Parks Park Rapids Enterprise * Kent Fritze, Secretary Treasurer Northwoods Tax Professionals Jackie Senenfelder C’mon Inn Hotel & Suites Ed Becker In-We-Go Resort Pete Young Y-Steak House Hendri Ernst Smokey Hills Outdoor Store Cynthia Jones RiverBend Home Expressions Julie Larson Lamb Weston - RDO Frozen Molly Luther The Good Life Cafe * Denotes Members of the Executive Committee Chamber Staff Nicole Lalum Executive Director, [email protected] Emma Moore Project Coordinator, [email protected] Tara Norton Bookkeeper, [email protected] Lynette McFarren Member & Guest Services Agent, 2015 Programs Membership (Chair position open) Ambassadors, Grow MN!, Member & Networking Events Tourism Marketing (Joe Scharber) Discovery Guide, Happy Pac, Tourism Media Campaigns Events (Butch DeLaHunt) 4th of July Parade, Legends & Logging Days, Community Tree Lighting and more Chamber Task Force (Hendri Ernst) Maximizing Membership Value [email protected] Calendar of Events,http://business.parkrapids.com/events/calendar/ APRIL 2015 A complete calendar of events can be found at Apr 8 Community Education - Internet Class $15 Fee - Pre-registration required. 9:00AM - 10:30AM at Frank White Education Center. www.parkrapidscomed.com Apr 9 Cash Mob - 5PM Meet in the parking lot of the Chamber. Cash Mob is a program focused on business promotion and shopping local. It is your commitment to spend $10 at a member’s business. The name of the business will remain a secret until just minutes before the mob! Apr 9 & 10 - 5:30PM Auditions for Northern Light Opera Company’s “West Side Story” Are you ready to mambo? Northern Light Opera Company seeks 14 males, 14 females for the high-energy musical “West Side Story.” Additional character roles available. Be prepared to dance, sing 32 bars of your chosen song, and do a prepared monologue or read from excerpts of the script that will be provided. Auditions begin at 5:30 p.m. Callbacks will be Saturday, April 11. There’s also a need for stage, construction and tech crew. Performances are July 31-Aug. 2 and Aug. 6-8. Auditions held at Calvery Lutheran Church Send email for more information to info@ northernlightopera.org Apr 15 Community Education - Microsoft Word $15 Fee - Pre-registration required. 4:30PM - 6:00 PM at Century School www.parkrapidscomed.com Apr 16 - 6:30PM - 8:00PM Dr. David Walsh presenting on “Alcohol, Drugs and the Young Brain” All parents want their children to be healthy and safe. It is with this spirit of love and concern that parents should take time to understand the harmful effects of underage drinking. By learning how the young brain develops and how drinking affects teen health, parents will be better able to protect their teens from its adverse consequences. Thursday, Apr 16 at 5:30PM Free Meal (Free meal for the first 150 participants) presentation starts at 6:30PM Location: Park Rapids High School Auditorium email [email protected] BUSINESS AFTER HOURS Employment Law Seminar Tuesday, April 21 11AM - 2PM $25 Admission Register Today (Walk-ins allowed) Northwoods Bank Community Room 1200 1st St. E, Park Rapids Enter Drawing to Win $25 ChamberBucks! *Mar 2015 Winner - Jackie Senenfelder, C’Mon Inn Business After Hours is the premier networking event for business professionals, giving you the opportunity to discuss and share ideas while learning about other local businesses. It is a PRLA relationship-building experience held in a setting that benefits you and your company through added contacts and resources. Vibrant and Visible Morning Buzz - Meet the Editor 7:45 AM on Tuesday, April 28 $5 Admission ($2 Member Discount) Bella Caffe - Guests Welcome Enter Drawing to win $10 in Chamber Bucks! *Mar 2015 Winner - Sue Tomte, Mary Kay www.parkrapids.com | 1-800-247-0054 | PO Box 249 • 1204 Park Avenue S • Park Rapids, MN 56470 | (218) 732-4111
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