Look for our newsletter at the beginning of each month.

Your Chamber News

Let's give a Warm Welcome to Granite Falls Area Chamber New Members:

Dustin Upgren - State Farm: The mission of State Farm is to help people manage the risks of everyday life, recover from the unexpected, and realize their dreams. Dustin Upgren and his team are located in Granite Falls and Cold Spring. Being a valuable business to the community is very important to their business, including being a longtime member of the Cold Spring Chamber of Commerce. Dustin Upgren and his family hosted one of the Trunks at Granite Falls Area' Trunk N Treat this year. The office is located at 761 Prentice Street, Granite Falls. Visit them online at dustinupgren.com.

Southwest Initiative Foundation: Did you know SWIF started in Granite Falls? Formed over 30 years ago with the help of the McKnight Foundation, SWIF works hard to make southwest Minnesota a great place by being a trusted partner and a regional leader. It is one of 700+ across the U.S. SWIF's “community” is 18 counties and two Native Nations, managing 30 local community foundations, known as affiliates, and more than 120 donor-advised, school, and other funds. Their headquarters are located at 15 3rd Avenue, Hutchinson with many staff working around the region. View their website at swifoundation.org.

Your Chamber is feeling Grateful for You.

Here at the Granite Falls Area Chamber, we have moved our clocks back and are counting our bounty. This Thanksgiving, we encourage you to shop local, give generously, and enjoy others around you. This month, we have several events for you:

Business Over Breakfast, November 10 at the Anderson-TeBeest Funeral Home. Gather at 7:30 a.m. Program at 8 a.m. Breakfast by The Rock. Freewill offering at door.
Lunch N Learn Cybersecurity at KCC, November 17, Noon - 1 p.m. Bring your bag lunch.
Small Business Saturday, November 28
Artist Sunday, November 29

See details for each below.

Your Chamber Board wishes you a wonderful Thanksgiving. Thank you for all you do! We are here to serve you!

Chamber Board to hold Elections

New Executive Committee for 2021

Per the Chamber's bylaws, the Board of Directors have nominated the below members for the following positions:

Sherry Mathiowetz, Hughes Real Estate, President
Carolyn Lindquist, Vice President
Larissa Schwenk, Secretary
Nancy Beasley, Treasurer

The official election will be at November 24 Board Meeting. Chamber Board Members at large are Scott DeMuth, Harold Goedgedrag and Kevin TeBeest.

New Board Member: Larissa Schwenk, Head Librarian for Clara City, Granite Falls, Milan and Montevideo Public Libraries has joined the Board. She brings previous Board experience along with planning and leading many events.

Chamber Renewals (October-November)

Granite Falls Public Library, 155 7th Ave, Granite Falls. Visit them at granitefalls.ib.mn.us
Picht's Auto Body, 1470 US-212, Granite Falls. Visit them at pichts.com
Minnesota West Community & Technical College, 1593 11th Ave, Granite Falls. Visit them at mnwest.edu
Sons of Norway, 600 Kilowatt Dr, Granite Falls. Learn more sofn.com and local lodge

Individual Members:

Diane Ladner, Granite Falls

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

SAVE THE DATE: Mid-Winter Festival
Saturday, January 30, 2021
If you would like to volunteer with planning, entertainment, silent auction and/or decorating,
send us an email at granitefallschamberofcommerce@gmail.com

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

November Calendar

Start your morning right with business networking and learning what's happening in our community. This month's program is Kevin TeBeest with Anderson-TeBeest Funeral Home.
Did you know that pre-planning is on the rise? Come tour the newly remodeled Anderson-TeBeest Funeral Home's gathering space and hear the latest and community happenings from fellow Chamber Members. 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!

This is a session you will not want to miss! Pam Roseau will be presenting this session. You will learn best practices for protecting your personal identity and company information. This will be held in-person at the KCC. Virtual attendance is also an option. Free to Chamber Members! Community Fee: $5. RSVP on Facebook or email granitefallschamberofcommerce@gmail.com.

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/

REMINDER: Front Line Workers - Time to Redeem

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

LIGHT UP GRANITE FALLS!
Who will win this year? 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.

Looking ahead to future events

December Calendar

Share Holiday Cheer. Join us along with Chamber Member Rock Haven's Pastor John McCosh. We will be meeting at the KCC. RSVP on Facebook . Gathering with light breakfast starts at 7:30 a.m. Announcements and Program at 8 a.m. A freewill offering will be collected at the door. Bring your business cards!

October events

Photo Gallery

Congratulations to our 2020 Trunk N Treat Costume Contest Winners!
Thank you to Kiwanis Club for their financial support along with the many businesses and organizations that hosted a Trunk and donated prizes and candy. This team effort helped bring the joy of Halloween to our children and attracted many to this one-way parade. See Avis Freitag's Letter to the Editor below. Thank you, Avis, for volunteering and your commitment to Granite Falls!

Avis Freitag, Chamber Volunteer, submitted a Letter to the Editor describing this year's Trunk N Treat. Published November 5, 2020 in the Advocate Tribune.

October Business Over Breakfast: Held at the KCC, Sherry Mathiowetz of Hughes Real Estate provided a housing market analysis. It has been a very busy 2020 with people buying new homes and refinancing current home loans due to low interest rates.