News
Fergus Falls Area Chamber of Commerce and Mayor Ben Schierer Proclaim 4/28-5/4 Small Business Week
The following Proclamation was approved at the Fergus Falls City Council meeting held on Monday, April 15, 2024: Whereas, small businesses are the backbone of our local economy, contributing to the vibrancy and resiliency of our community; and Whereas, small businesses play a crucial role in providing employment opportunities, fostering innovation, and driving economic growth within the City of Fergus Falls; and Whereas, the entrepreneurial spirit and dedication of small business owners enhance the
Spring Cleaning for Fergus Bucks!
We want you to "spring clean" for OLD Fergus Bucks. We are looking for old Fergus Bucks with the Community First Bank or Bank of the West logo. Please check your pockets, coats, closets, drawers, and purses to see if you have any OLD Fergus Bucks. Then: bring them in or mail them to the Chamber of Commerce Office (202 S. Court St.) and we will exchange them for you with new ones! (If you mail to us, we will mail you new ones for free if you inlcude a return address.) If you bring in old Fergus Bucks to
The Fergus Falls Area Chamber of Commerce Celebrates Small Business Week
The Fergus Falls Area Chamber wants to celebrate all small businesses for National Small Business Week - April 28-May 4. We encourage you to participate in our special focus days for each day of the week. We want to honor all small businesses - without them our community would not be the same! Each days focus will be posted on our social media pages daily as a reminder. We celebrate all local businesses this week. We appreciate you!
FM Bank Groundbreaking to Celebrate Their New Building
FM Bank in Fergus Falls will have a Groundbreaking Ceremony on Wednesday, April 24 at 4:00 pm to celebrate the beginning of construction for their new bank location. It will take place at: 226 E. Lincoln Ave. (the former Shopko/Pamida building) in Fergus Falls. Above is an artist rendition of what the new bank will look like. The Fergus Falls Area Chamber of Commerce is the proud sponsor of this event. The Chamber will be bringing their golden shovels to commemorate the day. All are welcome to join
Chamber Offers Wage Reimbursement for Summer Interns
Chamber Offers Employers Wage Reimbursement for Summer Internships Is your business hiring summer interns soon? Will your interns work in high-demand roles such as construction/trades, healthcare, automotive services, childcare, education, manufacturing or general business? Would your business like to receive up to $500 in wage reimbursement per intern from the Fergus Falls Chamber? We hope you will say, "YES to the CASH!" The Fergus Falls Area Chamber of Commerce received a $40,000 “Future Ready
Chamber Cafe at Fergus Home & Hardware in May
The Fergus Falls Chamber is planning a Chamber Cafe event on May 9, which will be hosted at Fergus Home & Hardware (1005 N Tower Rd). Chamber Cafe events are held every other month on the second Thursday morning from 7:30-9:00 am. They are an excellent event to attend to find out what is happening in the community and to stay current on new things coming. Chamber Cafes cost $5 for members (free for Access and higher level members) to attend and $10 for non-members/general public. Breakfast and
Networking Event for Students Held at Fergus Falls High School
More than 50 Fergus Falls High School students and several employers attended the Speed Networking event at the Community Education office on March 11. The event was an opportunity to meet and network with potential future employers. The Fergus Falls Chamber, with Eli Hill, Work Based Learning Instructor, organized the event. Employers could ask students questions and then share basic details about their business. We appreciate working with the Fergus Falls School District and area employers to elevate
Future Ready Workforce Grant Applications Being Accepted Now
Attention area businesses! If you currently host an intern(s) from the high school or plan to in the future, you can now be reimbursed for a paid internship at your business. The Fergus Falls Chamber of Commerce has been awarded a “Future Ready Workforce Grant” from the Greater Twin Cities United Way and the Minnesota Chamber Foundation to amplify work experiences for you in the area. The funds will be distributed to businesses as reimbursement for wages paid to student interns in high-demand career
Meet Chamber Board Member: Coreen Schoep
Coreen Schoep became a board member of the Fergus Falls Chamber in October 2023. She is a licensed mental health therapist who has worked for Solutions Behavioral Healthcare for over 15 years. She is currently the Alexandria site Clinic Manager and supervisor for Solution’s Autism Developmental Clinic. Coreen is also the Behavioral Health/Human Services Program Advisor and Intern Supervisor for Alexandria Technical College. Locally, she is involved in a regional and local suicide awareness and prevention
Fergus Falls Chamber ''Ignite Community Leadership Program'' Kicked Off
The Fergus Falls Area Chamber of Commerce has launched a new Leadership Program called “Ignite Community Leadership.” The first session of the pilot program was held on March 28 with nine participants. The program will feature half-day sessions providing technical skills in leadership combined with community connections to education, government, tourism, local history, health/wellness, and business. Participants in the pilot program will graduate in May. Feedback from the pilot program will be used to
Help Us Welcome Our Newest Members
Advanced Business Methods joined as a new Fergus Falls Area Chamber of Commerce member in February 2024. They are headquartered in West Fargo, ND, and have been in business for 53 years (founded in 1971). They have seven sales locations in Minnesota and North Dakota with about 100 employees. ABM is 100 percent employee-owned. They support Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOP) and how it benefits the community and employees. Advanced Business Methods is currently in a growth phase. Their biggest news is
The Fergus Inn Celebrates New Ownership
Congratulations to Maya Goldstein and Imran Khan on their recent purchase of the Fergus Inn (610 Western Ave). The Fergus Falls Chamber did a ribbon-cutting ceremony on April 3 to celebrate their business’ grand opening. Maya and Imran purchased Hotel 8 (formerly Super 8) in 2023 and are about halfway finished remodeling it. When they discovered the Fergus Inn was for sale and their property lines bordered each other, they felt inclined to continue expanding their business by purchasing the Fergus Inn
Fergus Falls High School Senior Signing Day
Fergus Falls High School seniors at Kennedy and the Alternative Learning Center (ALC) Schools will have an opportunity to declare and ‘commit’ to their future plans on Monday, May 6. It’s Senior Signing Day - a collaborative effort between the high school and the Fergus Falls Chamber of Commerce. The hope is to recognize that all plans following high school are equally important - whether a graduate is going directly into the workforce or attending a post-secondary school. Early congratulations to all
Amplify Your Business: Mastering Public Speaking for Small Business Growth
Harnessing the power of public speaking can significantly elevate your small business's profile and reach within the market. This invaluable skill is crucial for entrepreneurs striving to assert their authority, forge meaningful connections with potential clients, and differentiate their enterprises from competitors. By articulately sharing your passion, expertise, and the distinctive benefits your business provides, you can captivate a broader audience, creating a fertile ground for growth and new
Community Grant Program
The Foundation for Rural Services awards grants through the Community Grant Program up to $5,000 for nonprofit organizations in our communities doing great work. These grants are an opportunity for NTCA members to amplify the ways we are supporting our communities. These grants are designed to provide support to a variety of local efforts to build and sustain a high-quality life in rural America. The grants awarded each November support a variety of projects concentrated in four major
Employees Transition To New Roles at Park Region
At Park Region, we are committed to fostering a culture of growth, development, and adaptability. We constantly strive to optimize our operations, ensuring that we deliver the best possible service to you. We are excited to announce some significant changes within our organization that will not only enhance our efficiency but also enrich our service offerings. As part of our ongoing evolution, we celebrated Lew Obright's retirement from our engineering department after 37 years of service. His dedication
Fergus Falls Chamber Leadership Pilot Program Starting Soon
The Fergus Falls Area Chamber is launching a brand-new Leadership Program: “Ignite Community Leadership.” Later this month, a pilot program will roll out with a limited number of participants. The program will feature half-day sessions providing technical skills in leadership combined with community connections to education, government, tourism, local history, health/wellness, and business. Participants will graduate in May. Feedback from the pilot program will be used to fine-tune a complete program
How to Get Your Internships Paid
We have GREAT news! The Fergus Falls Chamber is offering a WAGE REIMBURSEMENT for paid student interns in high-demand career areas (listed below). We understand the workforce shortage challenge and are providing creative solutions to fill your talent pipeline. Businesses that provide a high-quality paid internship in a high-demand growing career area such as healthcare, social services, transportation, trades, manufacturing, education, childcare, public service and general business may apply for up to $500