🌟 Watertown Chamber Weekly Update: Big Wins, Wine Walks & Building Our Future! 🍷🏙️

Are you a "Silver Tsunami" business owner ready to retire, or thinking about what's next for your company? 🌊

Are you a "Silver Tsunami" business owner ready to retire, or thinking about what's next for your company? 🌊 On the latest episode of The Entrepreneur's Edge, Dr. Melissa Meidinger joined Steve to talk about a critical topic for our local economy: Succession and Exit Planning for Small Businesses. Small business owners are the superheroes of our communities—they sponsor local sports teams, drive our economy, and keep our main streets vibrant! But what happens when those superheroes are ready to hang up their capes? Here are a few key takeaways from Dr. Meidinger: * Plan Ahead: Succession planning isn't something you do overnight when you're ready to retire. It should be a strategic process that takes 2 to 5 years! * Look Within: The best person to take over your business might already be working for you. Training key employees on the business side of operations (not just the day-to-day tasks) is a great succession strategy. * Know Your Value: Understand what makes your business valuable—whether it's cash flow, physical assets, or income potential—so you can set yourself up for a successful exit. * Free Resources Are Available: You don't have to figure this out alone! The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is a free resource available to help you navigate succession planning, business valuation, and connecting with the right tools. Don't let your hard-earned legacy close its doors. Whether you're looking to retire, sell, or pass the torch to a family member or employee, start planning your strategy today! 👉 Need help getting started? Reach out to the Small Business Development Center or check out the entrepreneurship programs at Mitchell Technical College! #SmallBusiness #Entrepreneurship #SuccessionPlanning #SupportLocal #BusinessStrategy #SilverTsunami #NortheastRadioSD

🎉 TONIGHT: Free Family Block Party & "Win Something Wild" Jeep Drawing! 🚙🎈7/22/26

🎉 TONIGHT: Free Family Block Party & "Win Something Wild" Jeep Drawing! 🚙🎈 Join us tonight as the Boys & Girls Club of Watertown, South Dakota celebrates 53 years of community impact with our 17th Annual "Support a Child, Win Something Wild" Block Party and Raffle Drawing! Whether you bought a raffle ticket or just want to enjoy a fun summer evening with the family, everyone is invited! 🍔 What to Expect at the Block Party When & Where: Tonight, Wednesday, July 22nd starting at 5:30 PM at the main Boys & Girls Club site (Drawing at 6:00 PM!). Free Food & Fun: We’re serving up FREE grilled burgers and hot dogs (huge thanks to Reliabank!), along with candy tosses, scooters, the playground, and hilarious games like the "Granny Pants" hoop-toss! Celebrate Community: This annual mid-summer get-together is our way of saying THANK YOU to the families, supporters, and staff who help us serve over 350 local kids every single day! 🚙 Less Than 20 Raffle Tickets Left! 🎟️ We are this close to completely selling out! If you want a shot at our incredible prizes while supporting local youth programs, grab your tickets right now: Grand Prize: 2026 Jeep Compass Limited 2nd Prize: "Living Room Furniture" Package from Slumberland Ticket Cost: $100 each (You do not need to be present to win, but we'd love to see your live reaction!) How to Buy: Call the Club at 605-886-6666, visit our website/social media pages, or stop by the front desk in person! 🏆 Club Highlights & Fall Enrollment News Hall of Fame Honors: Huge congratulations to our retiring Director of Finance of 33 years, Cindy Williamson, who was just inducted into the Greater Midwest Area Council Hall of Fame! We also celebrate longtime board member Jason Hutt for being selected as Best Liaison! Field Trips Ahead: Some of our hard-working Club kids with great attendance and attitudes are heading to a Minnesota Twins game next week and the Washington Pavilion in Sioux Falls! Back to School: The summer program wraps up in late August, and our Fall/School Year program officially kicks off on August 25th. Keep an eye out for membership orientation and sign-up details coming soon! 📲 See you tonight at the Club! Let's drink some "blue Kool-Aid," play some games, and see who drives home in a brand-new Jeep! #BoysAndGirlsClub #WatertownSD #SupportLocalYouth #WinSomethingWild #BlockParty #GreatFuturesStartHere

🌟 Watertown Chamber Weekly Update: Big Wins, Wine Walks & Building Our Future! 🍷🏙️

🌟 Watertown Chamber Weekly Update: Big Wins, Wine Walks & Building Our Future! 🍷🏙️ We’ve had a whirlwind of excitement in Watertown, and we aren't slowing down anytime soon! Chamber President Tim Sheehan stopped by Northeast Radio SD for our weekly update to share what’s happening in our community. Here is everything you need to know: 🎓 Tonight: Leadership Watertown Graduation! When & Where: Join us today at 4:00 PM at Second Street Station as we celebrate our newest Leadership Watertown graduates! The Journey: This dedicated group just completed 8 intensive courses—touring the city, networking, and learning leadership curriculum provided by Kim Bellum at Mount Marty. Get Involved: Program graduates gain firsthand exposure to how local government works, preparing them to step up on local boards, commissions, and city councils. 🍷 The Downtown Wine Walk is Almost Here! Over Halfway Sold Out: Tickets are going faster than ever before, with record pre-sales! Event Details: The walk kicks off at 5:00 PM, featuring 20 different downtown businesses offering wine samples. It’s the perfect opportunity to explore brand-new shops and revisit your local favorites! Beautiful Weather: The forecast is looking like a gorgeous 85 degrees—perfect for a relaxing stroll downtown! Get Your Tickets: Tickets are $40 and can be purchased online at watertownsd.com or by stopping into the Chamber office (no physical ticket needed—we'll check you in at the door!). 🍔 Cookin' on Kampeska Wrap-Up A Massive Community Effort: Thank you to everyone who made this incredible weekend possible! It takes 4 semi-trailers of equipment, foam machines, PA systems, bingo gear, and countless volunteers to bring this event to life. Special Shoutout: A huge nod to the Nygaards for organizing the fantastic pig roast cook-off, along with Search and Rescue and our amazing setup/cleanup crews. 🤝 Behind the Scenes & What's Ahead Workforce & Community Development: We are collaborating closely with SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management), the Watertown Development Company, and the SD Manufacturing Technology Group. Together, we are tackling key local challenges like housing, daycare, and workforce recruitment to help Watertown thrive. New Teachers Lunch: Coming up in August at the Country Road Barn, where we will welcome and celebrate all new teachers and faculty joining our school district! Leadership Lab: Mark your calendars for September! Registration is now open online for our next Leadership Lab, moderated by Angie Sies and Melissa Meidinger. 📲 Stay Connected: Visit www.watertownsd.com [https://www.watertownsd.com] to grab your Wine Walk tickets, register for upcoming labs, and get involved in our growing community! #WatertownSD #WatertownChamber #SupportLocal #WineWalk #LeadershipWatertown #CommunityGrowth #SouthDakota LIVE w/ Watertown Area Chamber of Commerce - President Tim Sheehan - Weekly Update - 7/21/26 - www.watertownsd.com [https://www.watertownsd.com]

🎙️ LIVE from the Studio: The Future of Healthcare in Watertown! 🏥 - John Allen w/ Prairie Lakes Healthcare System

🎙️ LIVE from the Studio: The Future of Healthcare in Watertown! 🏥 We recently sat down with John Allen, President & CEO of Prairie Lakes Healthcare System, to get the latest updates on the exciting transition to Sanford Health. If you’ve been wondering how this merger will impact your care, we’ve got the answers! Here are the key takeaways from our conversation: 📈 Elevated Care: The partnership brings Sanford’s deep resources and leading medical practices to our community. You can expect the same personal, compassionate touch Prairie Lakes is known for, now backed by expanded access to top-tier specialties. 🎗️ Cancer Center Upgrades: The newly rebranded Sanford Watertown Cancer Center is already live on the Epic electronic health record system! They’ve also installed a brand-new Varian linear accelerator, bringing industry-leading radiation oncology technology right to our backyard. 💻 Unified Medical Records: Say goodbye to scattered medical files! The entire Prairie Lakes footprint will go live on the Epic system in late February of next year, allowing for seamless communication between all your healthcare providers. 📍 Regional Healthcare Hub: The ultimate goal is to establish Watertown as a premier regional healthcare hub. Sanford is committed to investing in the people, technology, and infrastructure needed to keep high-quality care close to home. 🩺 Familiar Faces: Don’t worry—the amazing doctors, nurses, and staff you know and trust are still here and ready to care for you! Over the next 60 days, you will start seeing exterior signage changing across the campus. The future is bright, and the focus remains entirely on improving patient access and care. Got questions? Visit 💻 www.prairielakes.com [https://www.prairielakes.com] or call 📞 (605) 882-7000. #PrairieWatertown #SanfordHealth #HealthcareTransition #WatertownSD #CommunityHealth #EpicEHR #PatientCare

🌊 Get Ready to Make Waves in Watertown! 🛶 🚣‍♀️ Kayak Around Kampeska, Watertown, SD Rotary

🌊 Get Ready to Make Waves in Watertown! 🛶 Whether you're looking to hit the lake, level up your local network, or both, we’ve got some exciting news from the Watertown Rotary Club! 🚣‍♀️ Kayak Around Kampeska, Watertown, SD Rotary Grab your paddles and join us for an epic morning on the water! When: Saturday, July 25th @ 8:00 AM Where: Stokes-Thomas City Park (Meet at the beach by the north side parking lot) Cost: 100% Free-will donation! No formal registration required—just show up ready to paddle. The Perks: We’re fueling you up with a free breakfast (muffins & fruit cups) before the launch, plus bottled water and granola bars at various stops around the lake. Safety First: Bring your own life jacket, sunblock, and bug spray! Codington County Search & Rescue will be on the water keeping everyone safe, and volunteers with trucks are on standby to give you a lift if your arms need a break. 🤝 CALLING ALL YOUNG PROFESSIONALS! Looking to connect, socialize, and give back to the community? Say hello to the brand-new Watertown Rotaract Club, sponsored by the Rotary Club and led by new President Laura Moore! Who it's for: Young professionals ages 18 to 40. The Vibe: Affordable, flexible, and focused on building friendships, networking, and making a community impact. The Cost: Just $40/year (That’s only $10 a quarter!). Get Involved: Search "Watertown Rotaract" on Facebook or shoot an email to watertownrotaract@gmail.com. You can also reach out to board members Andrea Spilde, Tucker Hermans, Nicole Hanson, or Dalton Wagner to get started. See you on the water and out in the community! ☀️🤝 Kayak Around Kampeska ON July 25! - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61590353870228 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61590353870228]