NEW ULM — The New Ulm Area Chamber of Commerce and Ameriprise Financial, with promotional support from the Heart of New Ulm, have again teamed up to promote health and wellness in sponsoring the poker walk event this spring, and are inviting local businesses to participate.

Organizers are seeking 20 New Ulm businesses (five each week) to participate in the walk in June. Each business will be included on a walking route for a single slot on a Friday. There is no charge for businesses to participate and the slots will be filled on a first-come basis.

Last year the walk was not held due to COVID-19, but in 2019 it attracted 175 walkers over five weeks, and organizers are hoping to build on that number this year.

“The poker walk promotes wellness in our community, but also gives businesses an opportunity to introduce new people to their products and services,” said Melissa Lueth, a financial advisor with Ameriprise Financial. “Especially after such an unusual year, residents are eager to get out and about in the community again and businesses are ready to welcome people back and showcase their offerings. Although we understand some precautionary steps still need to be taken, we encourage businesses to have fun with their participation. In the past, many businesses did activities like conducting raffles, handing out healthy snacks and encouraging their employees to participate.”

During the walk, participants stop at each business on the week’s one-mile route to pick up a playing card, assemble their poker hand, and then stop at the chamber office to drop off and register their hand. On the week a business is selected to participate, walkers will visit the business between 10 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on Friday to pick up a playing card. Playing cards will be delivered to each business one week prior to the week they are participating. Businesses interested in participating should contact Abby Heimer at Abigail.Heimer@ampf.com.