Chamber President                             Apple Valley Mayor
Edward Kearney                                  Mary Hamann-Roland
       
We Welcome You To Apple Valley

"A Place For A Lifetime"

Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty

speaking with Apple Valley Police Officer

Picture Yourself, in Apple Valley

Equal distance to

Minneapolis and

St. Paul

A "Apple Bushel" of fun and enjoyment waiting in every season

Bountiful attractions surrounded by pristine natural preserves, trails and parks

Posted: 2/24/06
Photo by Ed Kearney

by Jeff Achen
Thisweek Newspapers

Apple Valley Chamber of Commerce has a lot to celebrate during its 35th anniversary. Over the past few months the chamber has moved to a new location in the Eagle Valley Bank building at 14800 Galaxie Ave. W., Suite 301, entirely revamped its Web site, and is in the final stages of a community friendly telephone directory called “the Red Pages.”

“In the last three years we’ve doubled the size of the chamber,” Chamber President Ed Kearney said. “Over 50 percent of the community’s businesses are members.”

That’s a high number, according to Kearney, and he attributes that to the Apple Valley Chamber’s approach. A chamber is really a business association. The goal of any chamber is to have a level playing field for all businesses with a focus on membership first,” Kearney said. “But, overall, if it’s good for the quality of life here, it’s probably good for business.”

That’s why the chamber’s new Red Pages includes businesses and organizations that aren’t necessarily affiliated with the chamber. Kearney hopes the community will grow to understand the chamber can be a place for information about the community through efforts such as the directory and the enhanced Web site.

“One thing that chambers are really lacking, coast to coast, is that chambers are not really in people’s homes,” Kearney said. “We’ve created a color phone book that’s going to 17,500 households (with 52,000 residents) and a lot of other chambers are watching to see how it turns out. We’ve already sold $75,000 in ads to support this piece. It’s a big hit.” Al Zahringer is with the publishing company for the new directory. Zahringer says the publishing of a full color, community and business profile directory is very unique for chambers across the country in general. “There’s very few communities that do this. Working with Ed we really stuck our neck out, but it’s going to pay off,” Zahringer said. Zahringer’s company, Village Profile, works mainly with chambers of commerce throughout the United States. He said now that the Apple Valley directory is a reality, he’ll be able to market it even more effectively to bolster his business.  “I look at this as a long-term new niche,” he said.

The new changes at the Apple Valley Chamber all fit in with Kearney’s over arching vision for what a chamber means to a community. He said a business environment is about reasonable growth that provides options for future generations. The value of things such as a directory is that it provides a source of businesses that are more connected to and invested in the community.  Community members can use the Web site to find information about recreation or business in Apple Valley and the surrounding cities.

The improved Web site is more interactive, and has more information and photos. The main Web page is ad-free and there are also links to other sites, including links to live video of animals at the zoo and current weather and traffic Web sites.     www.applevalleychamber.com   Kearney said the new Web site also allows businesses to build their own Web site through it with their own domain name at a relatively low cost. “Our members will have a password and can make changes that they want. They can go in there and post photos, coupons, and announcements.” Community members can post calendar events on their own too. “As this evolves, we’ll add things and improve things,” Kearney said.

The new Web site is up and running, though Kearney is still working on some aspects of it. The new directory hits doorsteps in mid-March.

Apple Valley turns 35 (Country to city in a blink of the eye)     Sun Current Newspaper, September 23, 2004
In 1974 Apple Valley became a statutory city, formerly known as Lebanon Township.  In the grand scheme of things, 35 years isn’t a long time.  But it was long enough for Apple Valley to transform from a humble farming community to what is now a bustling south suburban city.  “It’s just tremendous how things have changed,” Barb Linkert said.  “It seemed to be a very progressive city.”  Most of Apple Valley as it’s seen today did not exist before the 1960s.  The first settlers arrived I the area around 1855 as the soil appealed to farmers.  In 1856 the first religious service took place at local farms and in 1857 a school was built.  In the mid-to late ‘60s and by 1970 the population had grown to 8,502, after hundreds of homes were built.  Construction projects on interstates 35E and 35W made the area more accessible and the growth continued.  “The city became a convenient place to live.  “There were a lot of things that we had that a lot of places didn’t have.” 

The Apple Valley Medical Center, which opened in 1974, made history being one of the first medical centers and emergency facilities under one roof.  Gravel mining took off as a large Apple Valley industry during the past 35 years.  A commercial hub was developed at Cedar Avenue and County Road 42 for Apple Valley and neighboring communities.  Looking toward the future, in another 35 years, Apple Valley will be completely built up, technology will continue to advance.

Apple Valley Growing Up                                                                               Paul Pioneer Press, March 27, 2004

The newest developments – 500 to 600 new unites built each year – are following housing trends, with more town houses and a bit of urban flavor.  Central Village has multistory, multiuse buildings, built right up to the street.  Cobblestone Lake, built around a new public lake and parks area created from sand and gravel mining, features a modified take on the New Urbanist style, with traditionally styled homes on smaller lots, along with alleys and garages behind some homes.  Eventually, there will be a small retail area with the feel of a Main Street, rather than a strip mall.  “They represent a maturing of the city, to make sure we have as broad a base appeal as possible” says Rick Kelley, community development director.  “They’ll give an alternative flavor to some portions of the city.”

Businesses are contained within a ring route signified by red street lamps, railings and a broad sidewalk... 
...but recently smaller shops and restaurants have been popping up, including Enjoy!, which includes a huge dining patio with outdoor fireplaces and trellises.