Vitali's Bistro and Steel Toe Taproom: SLP Business Roundup

A roundup of local business news.

Survey Finds Broad Support for Transit, Southwest LRT

Metro chambers commissioned the study to find out voters’ opinions about public transportation.

Support for the Southwest Light Rail Transit project has grown significantly over the past year and a majority of Minnesotans support a sales tax increase for transit, according to survey results announced Thursday. The memo that the bipartisan survey team produced on behalf of the TwinWest Chamber of Commerce, St. Paul Area Chamber of Commerce and Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce paints a picture of widespread support for transit in both the Twin Cities and greater Minnesota. “Minnesotans understand that planning for economic growth and improving our region’s transportation system is just common sense,” a news release quoted Minneapolis Regional Chamber President Todd Klingel. “This survey shows there is strong support for …

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TwinWest Chamber of Commerce Appoints Brad Meier President

Former TwinWest Chamber of Commerce President Bruce Nustad stepped down in August 2012 after four years.

The TwinWest Chamber of Commerce recently announced that it has selected Brad Meier to serve as its next president. Former TwinWest Chamber of Commerce President Bruce Nustad stepped down in August 2012 after four years to become president of the Minnesota Retailers Association, the statewide trade group representing Minnesota’s retail industry.     “On behalf of the Board of Directors, I am very excited to announce that Brad Meier will join TwinWest Chamber of Commerce on February 11, 2013 as President/CEO. I am especially excited that Brad is bringing his strong member-driven leadership abilities and extensive chamber experience to TwinWest.” TwinWest Board Chair Mike Sowada said. The announcement came after a multi-stage selection …

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TwinWest Chamber President Steps Down

Bruce Nustad's last day is Aug. 31 and he will be the new president of the Minnesota Retailers Association.

After four and a half years at the the helm of the TwinWest Chamber of Commerce, Bruce Nustad is stepping down as president. Nustad is leaving the position to become president of the Minnesota Retailers Association, the statewide trade group representing Minnesota’s retail industry. Nustad has seen the chamber through a tough few years of the economy. With around 900 businesses and 3,000 business leaders, the chamber continues to grow and be part of the west metro community that is "the economic engine of the state," he said. "The decision to leave TwinWest after four and a half years was not a simple one," Nustad said. "At the height of the poor economy, TwinWest knew our focus needed to be on helping businesses and communities grow, not …

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Local Chambers Back SW LRT Grant Request

Met Council is currently applying for funding from the state Department of Employment and Economic Development.

Editor's Note: The following letter was sent to Mark Phillips, commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, by the Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce, Eden Prairie Chamber of Commerce, Edina Chamber of Commerce, Saint Paul Area Chamber of Commerce and TwinWest Chamber of Commerce. Met Council is currently applying for a DEED grant for the Southwest Light Rail Transit project, which the chambers all support. Dear Commissioner Phillips: On behalf of the five largest local Chambers of Commerce in Minnesota and thousands of employers, we write today regarding the $47.5 million Business Development through Capital Project Grants Program to be administered by the Department of Employment and Economic …

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SLP Attorney Named TwinWest's 'Entrepreneur of the Year'

Scott Seiler was recognized for helping build a successful firm.

Scott Seiler of the SeilerSchindel law firm in St. Louis Park was named the TwinWest Chamber of Commerce "Entrepreneur of the Year" on Thursday. The award recognizes a TwinWest member who has established and maintained a successful business with $100 million or less in annual revenue, and is five or more years old. Seiler, along with Jon Schindel, employ six attorneys at the firm, which provides services from "start up consulting to mergers and acquisitions, and everything in between," according to its website. “As a successful business owner, Scott exemplifies true entrepreneurial leadership as demonstrated through his passion, commitment to community, risk-taking, technical skills, and creativity," TwinWest President Bruce Nustad said in…

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Poll Shows Support for Southwest LRT

Three area chambers of commerce commissioned the poll.

A poll commissioned by three area chambers of commerce shows support for a proposed Southwest Light Rail line. The poll shows 61 percent of Minnesotans in favor of committing $25 million worth of state bonding funds to the project. The TwinWest Chamber of Commerce, whose area includes St. Louis Park and Hopkins, as well as the Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Saint Paul Area Chamber of Commerce—the state's three largest chambers—funded the poll. Seven hundred Minnesota voters, including 400 in the metro area, were questioned. The same three chambers last month issued a statement showing their own support for bonding dollars going toward the project. Other findings from the poll include: Click here to see full poll results …

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Hennepin County Jobless Rate Holds Fairly Steady

The state's rate was 'distorted' by the government shutdown.

About 2,900 more Hennepin County residents were working in July than were in June. The county's unemployment rate was 6.9 percent last month, the latest figure available, according to the state's Department of Employment and Economic Development. That's a 0.1 percent drop from the 7 percent rate in July 2010. The updated rate in June of this year also was 7 percent. The county labor force in July was 666,784 people. The local unemployment rate was 0.5 percent lower than the state unemployment rate of 7.4 percent, and 2.4 percent lower than the national rate of 9.3 percent. None of these figures are seasonally adjusted. "It was interesting to see the June and July rate stay somewhat stable from month to month," said Bruce Nustad, president …

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