March 2014 Vol 6 Issue 3 Chamber Connection Inside this issue: Minnesota Chamber of Commerce 2 Recap of Chamber Events 3-4 Upcoming Chamber Events 5 News Briefs 6-8 Ribbon Cuttings 9 Membership Renewals & New Members 10-11 UPCOMING EVENTS Workplace Negativity (It’s Contagious!) Tuesday, April 15 12:00 PM Binster’s Wellness Expo Tuesday, April 29 12:00 PM—7:00 PM Memorial Building Includes: Wellness Market Place, Healthy Lunch Club, Break-out Sessions, and Men’s Health Night RYP Twins Game Wednesday, April 30 Bus leaves at 3:00 PM RSVP required Must have 30 signed up by April 7th
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Vol 6 Issue 3 March 2014 Chamber Connectioncloud.chambermaster.com/userfiles/UserFiles/chambers/... · 2014-04-02 · The Minnesota Chamber welcomes the repeal of the B2B taxes—and
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March 2014
Vol 6 Issue 3
Chamber Connection
Inside this issue:
Minnesota Chamber of Commerce
2
Recap of Chamber Events 3-4
Upcoming Chamber Events
5
News Briefs 6-8
Ribbon Cuttings 9
Membership Renewals & New Members
10-11
UPCOMING EVENTS
Workplace Negativity
(It’s Contagious!)
Tuesday, April 15
12:00 PM
Binster’s
Wellness Expo
Tuesday, April 29
12:00 PM—7:00 PM
Memorial Building
Includes: Wellness Market
Place, Healthy Lunch Club,
Break-out Sessions, and
Men’s Health Night
RYP Twins Game
Wednesday, April 30
Bus leaves at 3:00 PM
RSVP required
Must have 30 signed up by
April 7th
Business voice fuels repeal of business taxes
Page 2 Chamber Connection Minnesota Chamber of Commerce
By William Blazar
Minnesota businesses, take a collective bow: The onerous sales taxes enacted last year on business-to-
business transactions are history. Elected officials clearly heard the message from our United for Jobs
Coalition: Enough is enough. Don’t make it any more expensive to do business in Minnesota.
The Legislature and Gov. Mark Dayton repealed the taxes in one of the first major actions of the session.
The swift action is a testimonial to the messages delivered by companies of all types and sizes across the
state. Your voices were heard as the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce partnered with local chambers,
trade associations and hundreds of individual businesses to apply a full-court press at the Capitol.
The 2013 Legislature extended the sales tax to three B2B services: repairs of business equipment and
machines; purchases of telecommunications equipment by telecommunications providers; warehouse
and storage services. The negative impact of these taxes was underscored in media across the state.
The TwinWest Chamber of Commerce and Minnesota Precision Manufacturers Association invited legisla-
tors to a tour of Cass Screw Machine Products in Brooklyn Center. “We don’t want this to be held up as a
bargaining chip,” said Steve Wise, company president. “I have five buildings full of machines. This (tax) is
going to cost me at least $12,000 more a year.”
The Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce, along with representatives of Hallett Dock Co. and ME Global
Inc., met with the Duluth News Tribune. ME Elecmetal, which owns the Duluth foundry, spent $24 million
to expand the facility, noted President Andy Fulton. “These laws weren’t in effect. If I were to do it today,
I couldn’t do as much.”
The Marshall Area Chamber of Commerce and Ralco, a local manufacturer, advanced the message. Ralco
is committed to Marshall, said Brian Knochemus, company vice president. But, he added, “It (the tax)
really impacts our appetite for investment.”
The Brainerd Lakes Chamber and CTC Telecommunications told their story. “The sales tax works against
the governor’s own plan to improve download speeds for all Minnesota residents and businesses by
2015,” said Kristi Westbrock, chief operating officer.
The Dakota County Regional Chamber of Commerce and Strategic Warehousing in Eagan quantified the
impact of the taxes: jobs lost to Iowa. “A repeal can’t come soon enough,” said Kathy Forester, company
general manager. “It won’t undo what’s been done, but it can stop the bleeding.”
The Minnesota Chamber welcomes the repeal of the B2B taxes—and we view it as just the first step.
Minnesotans are just beginning to feel the impact of the more than $2 billion in new taxes passed last
year, which fell disproportionately on small and medium-sized businesses. The state’s projected budget
surplus of $2.3 billion affords additional opportunity to pass tax relief that will keep Minnesota
businesses competitive with our peers.
William Blazar is senior vice president of public affairs and business development at the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce—www.mnchamber.com
Chair of the Board Camille Nasi Liquor Cabinet First Vice Chair Rachel Sullivan Prebich Law Office Second Vice Chair Wayne Kangas Thrivent Financial Treasurer Bill Lowry Max Gray Construction Past Chair of the Board Roberta Collins Advantage Billing Concepts Chris Bergum Triumph Twist Drill Deb Boardman Fairview Range Aaron Bonelli Range Credit Bureau Rian Burkes Nelson Roofing/KBC Aaron Clusiau Security State Bank Joan Cotton 1st Realty Rangewide Gary Flesland MDI Shaun Germolus Range Regional Airport Krystle Glad Range Center Brian Gryzbowski 1st Realty Rangewide Jason Janisch Jasper Engineering Troy Loeb Edward Jones Jared Lubben Hibbing Taconite D’Arcie Malsam US Bank Jeannie Nobens Minnesota Twist Drill Kathy Salmi Delta Air Lines Bill Thurman Mesaba Heating Marvin Vuicich American Bank
PROFESSIONAL STAFF President, CEO Lory Fedo Manager of Operations Jennie Damjanovich Administrative Assistant Melissa Koschak Student Assistant Tahnee Trenberth
2014 Board of Directors
Upcoming Events & Meetings: April 2014
Page 12 Chamber Connection
Board’s Executive Committee 7th 12 PM US Bank Board Room