I believe Bill Gates hit the nail on the head when he said, “The PC has improved the world in just about every area you can think of.”  We’ve seen evidence of this with rapid developments in communications, collaboration, and yes, social media.

People, and businesses, now have access to information like never before.  But that’s not all, technology has helped to give a voice to those who may otherwise not have been heard, or seen. 

As a previous Chamber of Commerce Director I understand that the most successful local economies are those that strike a balance between micro and macro. 

But as a granddaughter of a small business owner I’ve grown to understand the countless ways that local businesses invest in and give to their communities.

I believe this helped to trigger my passion for Main Street and the “ma and pa” shop.  Both seem to represent the character and flavor of any community. And, despite the challenges of recent decades, Main Street has held on.

Thankfully, there’s a resurgence of support for Main Street.  Awareness about the importance of supporting all things local is spreading far and wide.  In fact, it’s become a growing movement – made up of folks in search of authentic experiences, a connection to place or something that only a “ma and pa” can offer.  

Ease of access to information has been key in this growing movement of support.  Examples are found with the likes of The 3/50 Project, Independent We Stand, and Local Flavor to name only a few.

Along with ease of access to information via the internet, the utilization of social media has helped to level the playing field for our beloved “ma and pa” shops.

As a Community Relations Representative for Pioneer Public Television I’m given the opportunity to travel into many small communities. It has been a privilege and a pleasure meeting with small and large business owners, Chamber of Commerce Directors, Economic Development Authorities, etc.

I’ve learned much from these visits about what communities and/or businesses do that works and also of importance, what’s learned from the things that haven’t.  I’ve also learned that these challenges and successes are shared – neither is unique to any single community.  

I’ve seen the greatest examples of success exist where technology is embraced and the powers of social media are utilized. 

Every “ma and pa” shop offers an experience all their own. All have a unique story and specialty that no one else has.  And herein lies part of the beauty and value of social media.  Shop owners can easily communicate their story and niche far and wide to reach greater numbers of folks.

Some of the great businesses I’ve come across combine the best of what social media has to offer, with online sales as well as creating that authentic experience for folks when they walk through the door.

Some great examples, not to mention great stories, exist at the River City Eatery in Windom, MN,   Cocoa Avenue in Marshall, MN, and HGS Gallery in Luverne, MN.

This sort of thing, admittedly, may come easier to the newer generations of “ma and pa” shop owners, but it is something that all business owners should learn to embrace and utilize because it helps to create a culture of awareness and support, not to mention some great collaborative efforts amongst business owners and community organizations.

This is why outreach efforts are so important.  And, the Granite Falls Area Chamber of Commerce is a great example of this.  Businesses who need a little help in the social media or online sales department can simply stop in and visit with Mary.  This is a great service to the business community. 

Beyond that, outreach amongst individuals is so important.  If you happen to have a knack for social media reach out and offer to help a business owner. 

Such was the case for my Grandpa, who now in his eighties, has been in the jewelry business since 1958.  Grandpa remains an integral part of that authentic experience when folks walk through the door of Korthuis Jewelry & Gifts, but his children and grandchildren are helping him in the technology department. 

As an example, Vern’s collection of antique, vintage and estate pieces that make up Vern's Vintage was formerly a hidden gem - discovered only by those who walked in the door.  

But by utilizing online sales and various forms of social media folks near and far are able to know his collection exists and shop from where ever they are at. 

Social media has helped to level the playing field for Main Street. Now, it’s up to the rest of us to think and support local.

It was a beautiful weekend to be on the Minnesota River for Wild River Academy and their lucky paddlers who signed up to travel with them into Granite Falls. From their website www.wildriveracademy.com - "Wild River Academy provides educational canoe trips for schools and organizations. Trips stop along the route to interact with environmental organizations, community members, farmers, and naturalists. This experiential learning opportunity not only enhances outdoor skills, it exposes participants to the social and natural environment in their watershed, encouraging a sense of peace and place.  Every fall, Wild River Academy organizes a group of young adults to paddle a major river in the U.S. to engage K-12 students in watershed education through an online interface. This educational model is called Adventure Learning: students learn about a local watershed alongside expeditioners even though they are not physically present on the expedition." Thanks to Kiwanis, Granite Falls Riverfront Revitalization and Willie's Korner Store for their donations that helped the chamber host them the weekend of Sept. 12 and 13th and Sunday's picnic in Memorial Park.  This group will be back again to help us plan a great relationship with the river on October 2, Meander Friday Night.  We have a great opportunity to make more of our unique location along the Minnesota River!

The group will continue their trip along the entire Minnesota River, stopping to learn and teach in each town and location along the way. 

The Granite Falls Chamber is governed by a board of directors. This volunteer board is elected every year by its members. Currently we have openings for new board members, it's a great opportunity to make a difference in our community!

The board meets the second Wednesday of every month at noon in the K.K. Berge Building.  From left to right, Brad Peterson, John Schultz, John Berends, Pam Rosenau, Dave Smiglewski and Greg Holmstrom.  (Nancy Fiegen not in attendance.)  If you're interested in serving on the chamber board of directors, please contact any of the board members or the chamber office at 320-564-4039.

 Some of the board members explained why they volunteered to serve:

President, Brad Peterson, is a loan officer at Citizen's Alliance Bank, "I joined the board to find out more about the Chamber and how it affects the local business community.  I enjoy learning about how the Chamber helps local businesses and also helping the community in general by the miscellaneous projects the Chamber becomes involved in."   

Vice President, Pam Rosenau, works for MVTV Wireless.  She explains, "I joined the board because I believe in helping out the small communities and working together as a team to get all the businesses on the same page, working together as a group. Without the chamber, everyone is running in totally different directions.  Nobody is working together, they're all working against each other more or less trying to get business and not helping anyone else out.  So having the Chamber of Commerce here in Granite Falls definitely pulls the businesses in a direction that we need to go in order to build Granite Falls bigger and better in the hopes that one day one day our kids can grow up in a wealthy, well educated community."

Greg Holmstrom, Past President, is an attorney and also serves as the City Attorney.  "I'm on the board because I think it's an important thing to do. The existence of the community requires people working together in a collaborative fashion to promote the community, rather than everybody running off in different directions and not trying to cooperate with each other.  It's tough for small towns to stay alive in this day and age without people who are willing to try to promote the community.  I've always felt the chamber of commerce is an important function and I'm more than happy to try to provide a little bit of help. "

John Berends is a restaurant owner and Yellow Medicine County commissioner.  "For me being on the board means being more closely connected to the community, staying in touch with all that is going on and giving back to the community some of the experience life has given me."

Thanks to our great community volunteer board members for their service!

Andrew Volstead was born on Halloween.  For the past few years the Granite Falls Historical Society  has decorated the porch and front yard and invited trick or treaters to visit.  Plans are to do this again this year.  The celebration of his birthday coinciding with a fun holiday will be expanded upon this year with a retail event that weekend. 

This will be a great opportunity to celebrate history in a fun way as well as a retail opportunity during the holiday shopping season. Creating a heritage tourism destination around the story of one man or historical event isn't a new idea.  Sauk Centre does it with Sinclair Lewis, US presidential hometowns do it, sites of battlefields and other historic events do it.  We have a national story and important historic house in a great location right next to downtown!  Prohibition Story plaques are in place in downtown locations with the corresponding Prohibition Story Walking Tour guides available at the chamber office.  We have the Fagen Fighter's WWII Museum and the Yellow Medicine County Historical Society Museum as additional historic destinations.  Creating a heritage tourism destination would bring business and visitors to Granite Falls!