Quick Glance

Getting back into the Swing.

Look for our newsletter at the beginning of each month.

Your Chamber News

Your Chamber is Ready to Engage with You.

Hard to believe it's October! While it has been a challenging spring and summer, it is a good feeling to switch to a new season and get "back into the swing."

Here at the Granite Falls Area Chamber, we are excited to reconnect with our members and lead the community by conducting business and hosting safe, COVID-sensitive events. In October, we have three events we invite you to join:

Business Over Breakfast, October 13 at the KCC. Gather at 7:30 a.m. Program at 8 a.m. Freewill offering at door.
Lunch N Learn Marketing Webinar, October 20, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Trunk N Treat with Costume Contest, October 31, 2 - 5 p.m.

See details for each below.

Your Chamber Board wishes our business community the very best this fall season. Thank you for all you do! We are here to serve you!

Welcome to New Chamber Faces!

Announcing New Board Members and Leadership

Meet your new Chamber Board Members:

Harold Goedgedrag, financial advisor, Thrivent Financial, 751 Prentice Street, Granite Falls
Kevin TeBeest, owner, Anderson-TeBeest Funeral Home, 845 Hwy 212 W, Granite Falls

Meet your Chamber office volunteer and ex-officio associate:

Avis Freitag, volunteer. She is working in the Chamber office on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Linda Mathiasen, executive director, Granite Falls EDA, 641 Prentice Street. She is an ex-officio member of the Chamber Board working through a Memorandum of Understanding between the EDA and Chamber.

Thank you to Holly Johnson, NIICA and Anna Snyder, Countryside Public Health for their service and leadership on the Chamber Board. Holly's "can-do" attitude and Anna's guidance during COVID-19 were wonderful assets to the Chamber and community. We wish them well!

Chamber Renewals (July - September)

Granite Hardware, 150 9th Ave, Granite Falls. Like them on Facebook
Heather's Book Nook, 682 Prentice St, Granite Falls. Visit them at heathersnook.com
Heidi's Care for Cubs, 715 11th St, Granite Falls. Call her at 320-564-3991
Hughes Real Estate, 165 8th Ave #1, Granite Falls. Visit them at hughes-real-estate
Living at Home Block Nurse, 752 Prentice St, Granite Falls. Visit them lahgranitefalls.org
Pioneer PBS, 1 Pioneer Drive, Granite Falls. Visit them at pioneer.org
The Rock: Dining & Events, 1940 11th Ave, Granite Falls. Like them on Facebook
YME Schools, 450 9th Avenue, Granite Falls. Visit them at isd2190.org

Individual Members:

Carol Gerlach, Granite Falls

Thank you for your investment! You are contributing to the vibrancy and vitality of our area's business environment and community.

WANTED: PLANNING COMMITTEE MEMBERS
We are looking for members who are interested in forming a short-term event planning committee for the Chamber's Mid-Winter Festival - "Frozen Falls Festival" on Saturday, January 30, 2021. Send us an email at granitefallschamberofcommerce@gmail.com

Front Line Workers - Time to Redeem

We raised $6,000!

We would like to remind our businesses that collected Front Line Worker $20 Certificates issued this spring to turn them into the Chamber office for reimbursement. These certificates were given to front line medical staff at Granite Falls Hospital and Clinic as a "Thank You" for their dedication to our community.

You can redeem the cards at the Chamber by supplying a copy of the receipt of the purchase stapled to it. We would like to have them redeemed and paid by the end of the year. The Chamber office is staffed Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. You may also make arrangements by calling 320-321-3202 or emailing granitefallschamberofcommerce.org.

Thank you to our businesses who support our Front Line Worker Appreciation Program:
Almich's Market | Casualty Assurance Insurance | Citizens Alliance Bank | Danielowski PA | Granite Falls Bank | Granite Hardware | Granite Run Golf Course | H & H Construction | Scenic Valley Real Estate | The Sawmill | Thrivent Financial

Join us at one or all of this month's Events.

October Calendar

Business Over Breakfast is Back! Start your morning right with business networking and learning what's happening in our community. This month's program is Sherry Mathiowetz from Hughes Real Estate. Did you know that our Days on Market is down 13% over last year with the average number at 65 days? This has been one of the busiest real estate market seasons. Come hear the latest and community happenings. For physical distancing, we are meeting at the KCC. RSVP on Facebook. Gathering with light breakfast starts at 7:30 a.m. Announcements and Program begin at 8 a.m. A freewill offering will be collected at the door. Bring your business cards!

By popular demand! At our August Business Over Breakfast, we hosted Lisa Drafall, LOCALiQ Vice President of Sales for Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. She will be leading this session on search engine optimization and maximizing your online ads. LOCALiQ simplifies local marketing and provides businesses a partner powered by insights, data and best practices from the USA TODAY NETWORK. Free to Chamber Members! Community Fee: $5. RSVP on Facebook or email granitefallschamberofcommerce@gmail.com for login details.

We are looking for Trunks! This will be a one-way Trick-n-Treating along 8th Avenue with entrance at Prentice Street. Registration fee is $5. We are collecting donations for candy and costume prizes. Show your support for our community in a festive, safe environment. Print the form on Facebook or email us at granitefallschamberofcommerce@gmail.com.

Looking ahead to future events

November Calendar

Small Business Saturday is November 28
Ask us for marketing materials provided by Shop Small: American Express

Granite Area Arts Council is planning for Artists Sunday, an exciting nationwide alliance encouraging consumers to shop with artists on the first Sunday after Thanksgiving -- November 29. It follows Black Friday and Small Business Saturday, the day before Cyber Monday, the largest shopping weekend of the year. Participation is free to artists. To sign up and receive a comprehensive marketing toolkit to help generate buzz and awareness at https://artistssunday.com/artists/

LIGHT UP GRANITE FALLS!
Start planning for the Holidays! Have your holiday lights up no later than November 21. We encourage every business to show their Granite Falls spirit. Awards for Best Lights on Prentice Street Plus and US Hwy 212.

August & September events

Photo Gallery

Chamber Treasurer Sherry Mathiowetz accepts the $500 donation from Granite Falls Kiwanis Club Members Brian Barber and Avis Freitag. Kiwanis is partnering with the Chamber
for this year's Trunk N Treat on Saturday, October 31, 2 - 5 p.m.
Thank you, Kiwanis, for your investment in our children and families!

September Business Over Breakfast: State Senator Andrew Lang shares details about the Special Sessions, important issues including the Bonding Bill and the upcoming election. Also attending were staff members from Michelle Fischbach's and Collin Peterson's campaign.

August Business Over Breakfast: This was the first one held since February. Thanks to everyone for coming and following physical distancing guidelines. Our guest speaker was Lisa Drafall, LOCALiQ from Granite Falls Advocate Tribune.