A small but growing group of people is working hard to foster a positive business atmosphere in Pequot Lakes and Breezy Point, and they want more people to join them.
"If you have a business in Pequot Lakes or Breezy Point, you're welcome (to join the group)," said Molly Ring of Seriously Fun Marketing in Pequot Lakes.
The group is called Pequot Lakes Business Connect. Ring's business partner, Kimberly Ziesemer, is chair of the group that meets at 8 a.m. the first Wednesday of each month at the Cole Memorial Building in Pequot Lakes.
Anyone is welcome to attend the free meetings, including Brainerd Lakes Chamber members and non-members, retailers, bankers, restaurant and insurance workers, industry employees - anyone.
The group's purpose is to promote the area as a whole. The purpose of meetings is to network, share concerns, advocate business and market Pequot Lakes-Breezy Point as a destination.
Meetings may touch on upcoming festivals and events, and they can be informative. For example, at one meeting the Pequot Lakes police chief talked about shoplifting.
The group is working with area businesses and Pequot Lakes School students on projects to beautify Pequot Lakes. They include providing planters of flowers outside businesses and benches around town.
At the group's most recent meeting, participants worked on a new weekly event that will start July 2 and run every Thursday. It will include store specials and sidewalk sales, people manning booths along the Paul Bunyan Trail with items for sale, and yoga, bobber bowling and a kids' find the bobber contest in Trailside Park.
Pequot Lakes Business Connect has adopted a logo and slogan: "Find the bobber ... You're there!" which is used to promote the group and events. The group also is partnering with Crosslake on promotions.
"The strength of the group is it's younger and enthusiastic," said Pequot Lakes Mayor Nancy Adams, who attends Business Connect meetings. "They have ideas and want to move forward with the town."
Adams also said a positive aspect of Business Connect is that it includes non-chamber members.
Sue Galligan of the Pequot Lakes office of the Brainerd Lakes Chamber said the reason Business Connect is open to everyone is that it's important for everyone - not just retailers - to be involved in the community.
"So if there's anything people want information on, we try to bring it to those meetings," Galligan said, noting the group invited city representatives to include city concerns.
For more information on Pequot Lakes Business Connect, attend a meeting or contact Ziesemer at (218) 851-2764 or kimberly@seriouslyfunmarketing.com.
