This warm weather makes me hope for an early spring.  Spring is the season to start thinking of visitors and developing our tourism economy.  We have a great start here with our Volstead history, river recreation and the plans for the whitewater park on the Minnesota River,  Meander and the K.K.Berge gallery full of local artists, Prairie's Edge Casino, plans for improving Memorial Park, Upper Sioux State Park and Dakota history and Yellow Medicine County and area museums.  If we have a great destination for the new type of tourist who is looking for a unique and different experience, we also have a reason for new employees to move to our town with more to offer a resident as well.  
Riverside Market and Muse builds on last year's Riverside Market, we had some great vendors but not enough attendance.  The idea is to bring new people as well as residents to our beautiful riverside location and give an opportunity for local artists, vendors and musicians to perform and sell their items.  Another purpose is to draw customers to our local shops and restaurants and we encourage them to hold sidewalk sales and specials on these dates.  A grant from the Southwest Minnesota Arts Council is funding musicians and some of the advertising.  The chamber would like to see this become a great community event and we invite local fundraisers, vendors, artists and musicians to participate every second Saturday of the month from May through September.

Minnesota West is a great asset to our community.  The chamber is working with the school to increase enrollment and raise awareness of the great educational opportunities right here in Granite Falls.  An exciting new scholarship opportunity is available this year.  The 2015 MN legislature created a pilot program to offer tuition assistance to students entering high-demand vocational programs.  This scholarship is for students entering college in the fall of 2016.  It is a first-come, first-served scholarship and the only application is applying for financial aid.  The key is having students complete their FAFSA early.  Dream Act students may also apply.  The link below gives more details about the program and a link listing all the high-demand programs for each two-year school in Minnesota.  www.ohe.state.mn.us/MnSCUOccupGrant.  If you know of a young person looking to start or further their education, ask them to consider Minnesota West.  It can be a complete vocational education or the beginning of a four year college degree.  March 30 offers an opportunity to learn more about this new program.

It may still be early in the New Year but exciting changes are already taking place with the Granite Falls Area Chamber of Commerce. Each year we (Chamber Director & Board Members) work hard to encourage members within our communities to join the Granite Falls Area Chamber Board of Directors. This year we have been very fortunate to vote in four new Board Members.

On behalf of the Board of Directors I would like to welcome our new Granite Falls Area Chamber of Commerce Board Members.

Also with a new year comes new terms and new elected officers. The Chamber Board of Directors is honored to recognize your new Granite Falls Area Chamber Board Officers.

A huge THANK YOU to all of the Chamber Board Members for their hard work and ongoing effort.

Granite Falls Area Chamber
Granite Falls Area Chamber of Commerce Facebook