by TaLeiza Calloway – news@thenewsleaders.com
The St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce will host its first annual community showcase this weekend at Kennedy Community School. The free event is slated for 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, April 20 and promises to offer something for all ages.
Randy Schmitz, a chamber board member, said plans for a showcase have been on the radar for a while.
“We’ve been talking about it for the last year-and-a-half,” Schmitz said. “We decided we wanted to take a year to plan it. The goal is to bring new businesses who might be in the nooks and crannies of the community into one place.”
Schmitz, of Scenic Specialties in St. Joseph, said the chamber modeled it after similar area showcases such as those held in the cities of Sartell and Cold Spring. Exhibitors will not be selling items at the event but the idea is to make community connections.
About 30 exhibitors are expected to participate in the event that will include refreshments and product samples. The Kennedy Booster Club will be on hand selling refreshments and providing entertainment. Schmitz said there will also be games for children and prizes.
With the first-time event being held days before Earth Day, the showcase boasts that theme. With a theme that promotes environmental awareness, Kennedy Community School is a fitting site. The K-8 school was among more than 70 schools last year to be named as U.S. Department of Education’s Green Ribbon Schools, which is a federal recognition program that opened in September 2011. Honored schools exercise a comprehensive approach to creating “green” environments through reducing environmental impact, promoting health and ensuring a high-quality environmental and outdoor education to prepare students with the 21st-century skills and sustainability concepts needed in the growing global economy.
During the showcase, tours of the school will be available, Schmitz said.
For more information about the community showcase, visit www.stjosephchamber.com.