They're the backbone of local business.

But what role do chambers of commerce really play in the economic engine of our region.

I'm Ken Ber and welcome to the very first episode of In Business with Almanac North.

This new direction for Almanac North was chosen to explore the stories surrounding the economic heartbeat of our region.

the ideas, the people, and the industries that keep Northern Minnesota and Wisconsin moving forward.

Each week, we'll have open conversation with members of our community about the past, present, and future of business in our region.

From smalltown entrepreneurs and family-owned companies to major employers and the policy decisions surrounding it all, we'll connect the dots between local effort and our regional, national, and global impact.

Our goal is to help you better understand what drives growth here at home, why it matters to you, and how it affects all of us.

Because when local businesses succeed, our communities thrive.

Again, welcome to In Business with Almanac North.

I'm Ken Beller.

Let's get going.

Welcome to In Business with Almanac North.

I'm Ken Beer.

Tonight, we're exploring the role chambers of commerce play in our communities.

We'll sit down with chamber directors from across the region to learn how they support local businesses and strengthen our local economies.

We'll also take a look back at the history of chambers of commerce, where they began, how they began, and how they've evolved over time and why they remain so very important today.

But first, we'll start with an explainer.

What exactly is a chamber of commerce and who are the people behind it?

of commerce is an association organization that is structured around advancing the economy uh business conditions and because of those two things we are advancing community development and community progress and so as new challenges come up and emerge locally at the state level at the national level we pivot to try to meet that challenge so that we can have a community that's best positioned for prosperity So if we see a group of underrepresented or undermployed people in our community, then we will try to launch a program or an initiative that gets them into the workforce.

Equally, if we see uh challenges for small businesses uh where they're being overrun by uh e-commerce, then we are going to try to do something to lift up local entrepreneurs to try to make it a great environment for them because we know we have great entrepreneurs here.

So bringing in access to capital and giving them an opportunity.

So, a chamber of commerce is here to support the vibrancy of our businesses, our economy, and our community.

Business affects all of us.

Whether you are a high schooler getting ready for your career field or potential higher ed or you've worked your whole life or you were a a a homemaker and you're retired now.

Business affects us all.

If we have a strong business community, we have a strong economy and all of the other wonderful things that go along with that are made possible when we invest in our business because our business then invests in community.

Uh I'm often asked what a chamber of commerce does and and I'd say we uh we are a voice of advocacy and a voice uh a voice of the community.

We represent the business community.

We promote the business community and we uh we have the honor of serving the business community regionally uh every day that we're in existence and since 1883 we've had that honor and we look forward to to serving in that capacity for many many more years to come.

Uh we we offer business guidance.

We offer resources to our members across all industries and across all forms of business and organizations uh to to grow and succeed for the next generation.

Joining us now to talk more about how chambers of commerce support their local business communities are chamber representatives from across our region in the Northland.

From Hermantown, we have President Kimberly Parmter.

From Superior Douglas County, we have President Taylor Peterson.

And from the DUTH, we have vice president of the board of directors, Tiffany Hughes, vice chair, I should say.

My apologies for that.

So, let's start talking about chambers of commerce and uh our day-to-day work and the day-to-day work that you do helping everybody.

So, we live in a world of change.

I mean, it's just always that way.

But lately, it seems that the pace of that change, especially in the business community, has been rapid and getting faster.

It seems like the road to the future, those telephone poles along it are looking like a picket fence.

How is it that in your chamber, what role do you play in your local community?

Well, I think that's exactly it.

Can uh connectivity?

I seem uh that role of connecting our community and businesses is incredibly important.

And um when we do surveys with the chamber and actually this is a trend with associations nationwide uh because that's what we are as a 501c6 nonprofit and association organization.

Um networking and advocacy continue to be the top two on a national level and here locally in within our our chamber when we survey our members.

If I'm a business person, I probably am a member of several organizations, but many of those are are national in scope or regional or just tailored to my particular industry.

What you do is more local.

Indeed.

So there's we're going to have members that are part of the retailers association or the hospitality association, whether that's local or national, statewide, etc.

But here we make sure that we give voice to our members that may not have access to an association like that.

And it takes all kinds.

We have members that are solo entrepreneurs up to the uh largest employers in the Northland.

And and that's important.

I like to think that this the larger uh businesses help support the smaller ones and give them their their shot right off the ground.

I'm going to go to Taylor next uh from Spir Douglas County Chamber.

Uh Taylor, I'll ask the same question.

Uh fastpac change coming rapid in all directions.

What role does your chamber play in your community?

Thanks, Ken.

Uh thanks all.

Thanks for having me as well.

Uh, I think change is inevitable and in our organization has been changing since its inception.

The the simple truth of it is, you know, I'll agree with with Kimberly in that connectivity is so important for our organization and the members that we represent.

Um, I would also add to that is is from a a storytelling standpoint.

You know, as we tell the stories of the business community, we we promote the business community and the good things that they're doing out in our communities.

And that's a fun part of the job to share with the community the the good that is out there and uh and the the fantastic businesses that invest in our organizations.

As the role of the chamber uh expanded, by that I mean territory.

Obviously at one time it was just the Superior Chamber of Commerce and now Superior Douglas County.

Same thing with uh Kimberly and the Hermantown Area Chamber of Commerce includes Rice Lake and Proctor.

Are you expanding your your reach?

Yeah, and I would actually say that we, you know, we're the Superior Douglas County Area Chamber of Commerce.

We have members uh from all over Douglas County.

We have members from all over the state of Wisconsin.

Of course, we have a number of members from Minnesota as well, but we've even had um we've even had members from as far away as North Carolina.

And uh you they I asked that question when they joined us and they said we take they have customers in Superior and we take care of their customers and they wanted to invest in us to make sure we continue to keep them the community running forward.

So that's a great story.

Uh Tiffany Hughes is vice chair of the uh Duth Area Chamber of Commerce.

Thank you for being here this evening.

Thank you for having me.

And the role that uh Duth Chamber plays in our local economy.

Yeah, we're also the Duth Area Chamber of Commerce.

So we support a wide area and region as well.

But I'm just going to talk a little bit about our mission which is to serve our members by providing b business advocacy, collaborative leadership and membership driven initiatives.

Um we do that also through our vision um trying to serve as our area's premier advocate under business by facilitating collaboration that engages leaders from businesses, government, education, labor and the greater community.

And we basically do that um under three pillars um that we try to serve business conditions, economic development, and community progress.

So you're all basically saying the same thing that by getting involved in the community, you actually serve the community.

Going back to you, Kimberly, um what would be one of your most recent successes and how did the chamber take an active role in that success?

Sure.

I think you know and it's interesting success is is is not just standalone it is collaborative and uh the city of Hermantown has done some amazing things lately.

I would say that one of the biggest successes of recent was the referendum that was passed to um include uh the increase in sales tax which nobody likes the increase in sales tax but what it has benefited is the the new Northstar Arena that is set to open in early January.

um the trail system connecting hopefully eventually it will connect through Proctor and down to the Munger Trail is the plan uh and also then the rebuild of the Centricity or the Centricity Field um off of Maple Grove Road.

So it's it's they're beautiful projects all of them and um that has been driven by the by the city and uh our role in that was to help uh foster communication about it.

you know, have lunchons and and share that information out with the community so they know what's going on so that they're not uh, you know, upset that there's a tax increase.

Understanding how that impacts um, our constituents because we're essentially spreading the cost out amongst all of the passers through, whether they're visitors or folks from our neighboring communities that are shopping in our community, the retail sales tax.

What you're saying, of course, is that it's transparency that you provide to projects.

Indeed.

Indeed.

Communication and communication.

Of course.

Uh Taylor, I'm going to ask you the same question.

Uh brag a little bit.

Uh tell us about some of the successes that you've had most recently and more importantly, how did the Superior Douglas County Area Chamber of Commerce participate?

Sure.

Absolutely.

Um, I think the one that I'll at least lead with is, uh, looking back at 2024, we had our first operational referendum in our Superior School District, um, that they've ever had.

And our organization stood up in support of it, uh, is is one of the few organizations that did.

Uh, I'd say the only business organization that stood up in support of it.

And it the messaging was clear, you know, and no different than Kimberly.

Um, is is communication is clear, transparency is is clear.

um and then making it that connection between why it's important for business.

And in that situation, great schools is great for the community, which is also great for business.

So, it was a no-brainer in our part and we uh it successfully passed.

So, we're proud to say that.

Uh Tiffany, I'll go to you.

The Luth area chamber um recent success and uh what the chamber organization helped to create that.

Sure.

I'm going to talk a little bit um about under our pillar of community progress.

In 2024, we were happy to have the Honor Flight return to the Northland.

Um that's now part of one of our chamber subsidiaries.

And last spring, we were able to host 104 veterans to go down to Washington DC.

Um and we had a large turnout of community members there to support them, not only with sending them off, but also bringing them home.

And then just our um continuing advocacy for the 148th um under our military affairs committee.

Um we're happy to support and try to be a voice for them to get them what they need and be continued support as one of our um major employers in Duth.

On behalf of uh veterans and um the good work that you do that's very much appreciated.

I think um you know we are having a new understanding of the roles that veterans played to get us here and then what we need to do to uh appreciate our veterans and take care of them going forward.

And of course your mention of the 148th has always been a major success uh for the work of the Duth area chamber.

So Taylor, I'm gonna start with you on this next one.

We just heard what the past successes were.

Tell us what the opportunities you see might be for a success in the future.

Absolutely.

I I'd say the reality of it is is we all are aware or most people are aware that the Blotnik Bridge reconstruction project or replacement project is coming up and I think that's going to be a challenge for uh a regional challenge for all of us and I I think that's an opportunity that that our chamber can shine and I think it's an opportunity that we can advocate for the business community help to be a communicator in the process and help to to navigate people through what could be a very challenging time and and that's not only for our residents, but that's for our business community and all, you know, everybody that it impacts.

Getting the chamber crystal ball out right now and turning over to you, Kimberly.

What is your opportunity for success?

Wow.

Well, I think what is in the news right now and could be an incredible business opportunity for the entire region is the proposed data center.

Now, I know that that is incredibly controversial and I know that there is a lot more communication that needs to come out about it and um and I think we'll see that here in the near future um through the developer.

Uh but what I think that people need to understand is that if this goes through the project wants to um or would connect the infrastructure from where it currently ends in the city of Hermantown all the way out to that far corner off of Maple Road, Maple, I'm sorry, Midway Road and Morris Thomas.

Now, that is a several hundred million dollar undertaking.

it is an area that would never see that kind of development because developers would go bankrupt if they um tried to um to to do that.

And um so I think that that is an incredible opportunity for that entire uh corner of Hermantown.

And I think that if it goes through, we could see a lot of uh development opportunity, more housing stock go in.

And we all need housing in all of our communities, the entire Northland.

And so there's opportunity with that.

I think we would see more business growth along that corridor as well connecting.

But it starts with a big idea, a big opportunity and something that not every uh community gets that opportunity to take on.

So we'll see how it plays out.

I you know there's a lot going on with that project right now.

Yes.

But it but I think people should understand what that means for the future.

Ken, the biggest thing we want to make sure that we have a community in the future.

We want to keep our children here in the Northland um and stop the brain drain that's been happening for decades and um and and really uh make our our our region continue to keep it and grow it into a wonderful place to live and raise a family.

We're all for that.

Thank you very much.

And real quickly, uh Tiffany, what uh big success do you look forward in the future?

Um I don't know if it's any one specific thing, but just continuing to collaborate and work on important issues with our um city, county, and regional partners uh to tackle the critical issues, some of which Kim mentioned relating to early childhood care, education, workforce development.

Um you know, we we need businesses to come here, but we know for that to happen that we need the housing um that's so desperately needed.

And um I just you know along with the veterans children are near and dear to my heart and we know how important it is to have them educated properly and in good systems.

So continue to support all very good thoughts and I thank you very very much and I thank you uh Tiffany Hughes the uh vice chair of the Duth Area Chamber of Commerce.

Uh Taylor Peterson is the president and CEO of the Superior Douglas County Chamber of Commerce.

And Kimberly Parmter is the president and CEO of the Hermantown Area Chamber of Commerce, which also includes Proctor and Rice Lake.

And I've got gifts for all three of you.

These are chamber related gifts.

Now, we all know a thing or two about what Chamber of Commercees do.

Uh we found out how they handle business and how they represent business and work on different areas, but they're also known for certain things and ribbon cutting is one of them.

So, I've got a roll of red ribbon and ceremonial scissors.

Do not run with them.

We will fight the temptation.

Do not run with those scissors.

And I hope you cut many ribbons for new businesses in Hermantown, Proctor, and in uh Rice Lake as well.

One of them may, depending upon how you feel, may or may not be a huge new data center.

Thank you, Ken.

When I joined the uh Pine City Chamber of Commerce many years ago uh as a new business owner, they uh gave me my first dollar bill which was framed and hung on the wall of the radio station there and it said uh this is your first dollar in business courtesy of the Chamber of Commerce.

So there you go, your first dollar.

Thank you, Ken.

Now, uh, Matt Bombgardner is the, uh, president of, CEO of the Duth Area Chamber of Commerce, and he is a pin fanatic.

That's why I'm wearing this this evening.

He gives pins to everybody that say Duth Chamber.

So, uh, for you, Tiffany, I have a pin as well.

I'm giving you this one here.

It says, "I know Ken Beller."

I'll wear it proudly.

Thank you.

I have a much bigger one, of course.

It says, "I am Ken Mer."

Oh, nice.

Well, I thank you all for being with us this evening.

This has certainly been uh a wonderful evening and a great way to start off a brand new program here on PBS North and I'm very honored to be a part of it and it was great to have friends uh like Tiffany Taylor and Kimberly to be a part of it.

It's clear the chambers of commerce are connected to the success of our local communities.

But how did this tradition begin?

The idea of chambers dates back hundreds of years and their evolution tells a very fascinating story.

Let's take a look.

We began our first in business with Almanac North with conversations featuring area chambers of commerce and business community leaders.

It's a logical place to start, but it's just the beginning.

Future programs will cover all aspects of the economy with stories about people and businesses that have an interest in the past or are shaping today's economic landscape.

I hope you'll continue to watch and please share your feedback with us.

And speaking of beginnings, the very first Chamber of Commerce in this country was formed in 1768, 8 years before we even had a country.

I don't know if this means anything to today's chamber members, but those original 20 merchants started their organization at a meeting held in Beltor and Seagull's Tavern.

I'll drink to that.

The historic watering hold in New York City's Battery Park is still open today.

It's called Frances after the original owner.

And then and still now, the organizers of the original chambers of commerce were the business leaders of their day back in the day.

They were just like the civic-minded leaders who make up chamber boards today.

Take for instance the Hibbing Chamber of Commerce.

Frank Hibbing found the iron ore and incorporated his own city in 1893.

Eight years later, 1905, the Hibbing Chamber was formed.

Today, it's part of a much larger area chamber called the Laurentian Chamber, combining several other cities across Minnesota's glorious iron range.

The Superior Douglas County Chamber of Commerce was established way back in 1883.

This is Taylor Peterson, Superior Douglas County Chamber of Commerce President and CEO, showing us the only remaining chamber artifact dating back to that summer of 1883 when the chamber was formed.

These are the original articles of incorporation.

Long faded with time, it's difficult to make out the names of the August individuals who signed off on this.

But one signature stands out larger than the others.

Sort of like John Hancock's on the Declaration of Independence.

It's WD Waldo.

Mr.

Waldo connection to the chamber is lost to history.

But at least we now know where's Waldo.

Not every chamber started out as a chamber.

Here's an example from 1908.

Eight years into the 20th century, Elely was booming.

All the mines on the eastern edge of the Vermillion Range were up and running when this Elely Businessman Association was formed.

That was in July of 1908.

Membership dues for that first year, just $2.

Today, they are the Ele Chamber and Visitors Bureau.

They welcome all new members, especially if you have a canoe.

But please note, the membership dues have gone up just a little bit over the last 98 years.

On the shore of Lake Superior, the two neighboring communities of Agot Bay and Burlington joined forces in 1907 and formed Two Harbors.

One of the first orders of business in ought 7 was to name the new city and then immediately start the Two Harbors Chamber of Commerce.

Today, with the addition of other communities, it's the Lake County Chamber of Commerce.

That brings us to Duth and the city's chamber.

The year is 1869, and the Zenith city is at the zenith of excitement.

Things couldn't be going any better.

On August 5th of that year, a group of business leaders met in the offices of the Northern National Bank, a four-story brick building at 8th Avenue East and Superior Street called Branches Hall.

It was the first brick building ever constructed in Duth when it was built in 1869.

William Branch was one of Jay Cook's men, as they were referred to, because well, they all came to Duth working for Philadelphia financier Jay Cook.

That was back when Duth was known euphemistically as Cookstown branch along with RS Munger as in Munger Terrace.

JC Hunter who had a thriving hardware store on Superior Street, WW Spalding and George Stone were among the men of destiny who signed off on the new chamber.

So let's go back to 1869.

As one of the earliest chambers to form in northern Minnesota or Wisconsin, what was the big deal?

Why the chamber?

Why now?

What was happening in Duth and Superior that got everyone so excited and so eager to form a chamber of commerce at that time?

Well, for a couple of years in the woods to the south of Duth and north of St.

Paul, crews had been clearing land, filling gullies, leveling hills, and laying rail for the arrival of the very first train to Duth, the Lake Superior and Mississippi Railway, financed by Jay Cook and run by Cook's men.

The LSNI was about to be completed and would arrive in Duth the very next year in 1870.

The folks knew they had to have a chamber of commerce because, well, if they didn't, who was going to cut the ribbon when the train arrived?

Which brings us to what you'll hear me say more than a few times on this program.

If you work it hard enough, it all comes back to the railroad.

Before we wrap up tonight's in business with Almanac North, let's take a quick look at some of the top business stories making headlines across the region this week.

First, the Northland Foundation is helping strengthen the region's workforce this week.

The Duthbased nonprofit awarded $585,000 in grants to a dozen area organizations, including programs aimed at expanding child care services.

Local businesses struggling to find and retain staff may see a direct benefit as these grants help fill gaps in workforce support and service capacity.

Next, Minnesota employers are getting a little extra time to comply with the state's new paid family and medical leave rules.

The Department of Employment and Economic Development has extended the deadline for businesses to submit self-insured or alternative plans to November 15th.

For local companies, especially manufacturing and service sectors, this means more time to prepare for new payroll and benefit requirements.

And on the national stage, Minnesota Senator Amy Clolobashar was in Washington DC on Wednesday meeting with small business owners ahead of a Supreme Court case challenging the president's tariff authority.

The case questions whether the president can impose broad tariffs without Congress, effectively costing the average American family an estimated $2,000 a year.

Clolobashar told reporters, quote, "What else will be on the line?"

This idea that the Constitution actually allows the president to take away the power from Congress, it is clear that it does not.

The senator has been actively working to repeal these tariffs, co-leading legislation to remove tariffs on Canada and joining a bipartisan amigas brief to the court arguing that the International Economic Emergency Powers Act does not allow blanket tariffs.

I'm Ken Beller.

Thanks for watching the first episode of In Business with Almanac North.

If you missed any parts of tonight's show, well, you can always catch it on pbsnorth.org org or listen on Mondays at 5:30 on the North 1033.

We'll see you next time.

Thank you for watching.