Council meets interns from the Nex-Gen Program

President Jason Ortman called the July meeting of the Mankato Chamber of Commerce to order. Nine members and four guests were present.

Haley Nelson gave an update on the 2023 Birthday Calendars. Invoices from last year have been sent in the mail and an order form will be sent in every city bill. Every business who advertised last year has been contacted and 33 of the 36 businesses would like to advertise again. There have been several pictures entered in the photo contest. The deadline for photos, calendar preorders, listings and businesses to pay their advertisement fee is Aug. 5. 

It’s time to start working on the Highway 36 Travel guides again. Jason Ortman is going to get in touch with the city to see if they are willing to sponsor pages again. 

The Community Garden plots are looking good for this season. There were eight plots rented this year. 

The threshing bee took place July 16. The chamber worked the west gate. The list of volunteers to work the gate included 7 to 9:30 Trevor Elkins, 9:30 to 12 Underwood Family, 12 to 2:30 Kathy Freeman. Brian Shulda provided bands and bowls for the watermelon contest. The chamber purchased 15 watermelons for the event. First place received chamber bucks as the prize. 

A $100 check will be made out for the chamber’s donation to the blood mobile.

Three of the guests were three interns from the Nex-Gen Program. The interns are Karrigan Dunstan,Carolina Barazza and Grant Meyers. Karrigan Dunstan is in her first year with the program and is working at the Sweden Creme where she has worked 3 1⁄2 years before she was in the program. She is attending Manhattan Christian College to pursue ministry. She has learned time management, working under pressure, and has watched the Sweden Crème grow.

Carolina Barazza is in her third year with the program. She has worked all three years at Possibilities. She will attend the University of Nebraska to pursue finance and accounting.She has been getting management and business experience through working at Possibilities which is helpful to her because after college she hopes to open her own business.

Grant Meyers is in his first year with the program and working for Mankato Plumbing. He will attend NCK Tech for HVAC half days starting in the fall.

Jamie Potts from Nuthin’ Fancy Bakery was also present. They are hoping for a grand opening Labor Day weekend, possible soft opening through August if they don’t have any hiccups in finalizing everything.

Katie Sawyer GOP candidate for lieutenant governor will be at Possibilities from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., today (Thursday).

The next regular monthly meeting will take place Aug. 10, at the Buffalo Roam.