Members of New Ulm Area Foundation give a certificate of thanks to 3M staff for sponsoring their 2025 membership in the New Ulm Area Chamber of Commerce. In photo (L to R): NUAF executive director John Illikman; Sara Berg 3M; Jennifer Hamelau 3M; New Ulm Chamber President Sarah Warmka; Samuel Miller 3M; Heidi Suess 3M; Shannon Hillesheim NUAF and NUAF President Kathy Van Roekel.

NEW ULM – The New Ulm Area Foundation (NUAF) presented 3M of New Ulm with a certificate of gratitude for sponsoring NUAF’s 2025 Chamber of Commerce membership.

New Ulm Area Chamber President Sarah Warmka said the 3M New Ulm Plant has a “Community Investor” level membership in the chamber. At this level, 3M is able to sponsor chamber membership for one nonprofit each year. This year 3M chose to sponsor NUAF.

This sponsorship is flipping the script on NUAF. Typically, NUAF is the organization donating to organizations. NUAF was established in 1987 to enhance the quality of life in our community. NUAF focuses its grants on four pillars: arts, education, economic development, and historic preservation.

NUAF director John Illikman said through 3M’s sponsorship, NUAF is able to take the fund they would have spent on a membership and reinvest it into the community.