The Austin Area Chamber of Commerce is looking for input on the 2012 legislative session.

The Chamber will host a regional meeting with the Minnesota Chamber, concerning priorities for the 2012 session, on noon Wednesday, Nov. 30, in the Town Center Conference Room (329 N Main St).

The meeting is open to all members and their employees. Box lunch will be served.

Bill Blazar, Senior Vice President, Public Affairs, will present an overview of priority areas under consideration by the Minnesota Chamber Board of Directors. Priorities and policies are developed based on members’ input, focus groups, polling and these chamber meetings. Local chambers, such as Austin, also consider adopting key priorities and lending their support to the Minnesota Chamber through the Chamber Federation.

Last year, Minnesota Chamber leadership paved the way for bipartisan support and passage of alternative teacher licensure legislation, along with a bill to accelerate the environmental review and permitting process.

“As we prepare for 2012, we will continue to advocate for an outcome based budgeting process, focusing on the redesign of public services so they provide more value for every dollar spent as well as the structure of public employee compensation and benefits,” said Blazar. “Additional work on K-12 education reform is aimed at building teacher quality, re-instituting math GRAD test requirements and a new look at the role of Minnesota’s higher education system. We will continue our leadership on expediting the permitting process and advocate for the formation of a Minnesota health insurance exchange. Energy costs remain a priority as we will continue to lobby for cost based rates and the inclusion of nuclear and coal based power as future sources of generation in Minnesota.”

The Chamber also wants input on tax reform, and how Minnesota can establish a more competitive, stable and certain source of revenue moving forward.

Chamber to offer student scholarships

Now in its 26th year, the Austin Chamber of Commerce Student Scholarship (ACCESS) program provides awards ranging from $400 to $1,000 for eighth grade students and $750-$1,500 for high school seniors enrolled in Austin schools.

Since its inception in 1986, more than $151,000 has been provided to 260 Austin students. Scholarships are not need based.

Printed applications are available at the Chamber office (329 N Main St.), and at Austin Public and Catholic schools. Applications are also available at www.austincoc.com. The deadline for applications is 4 p.m., Monday, Dec. 19.

Scholarship winners are selected through a three-step process that includes written applications, speech presentation and personal interview. To qualify, students must complete all three phases of the application process. Awards will be presented at the ACCESS scholarship banquet on March 26 at the Hormel Historic Home.

All scholarship funds are provided through business donations. For more information, call the Chamber office, 507-437-4561.