Chamber Links: news and updates | | March 30th, 2026 | Volume 8 Issue 3 | | This Newsletter is Powered by Catalyst Member | |
Things are Clicking
There are moments when everything just feels like it’s clicking—and March has been one of those moments. Coming off of our Annual Dinner, I’m still feeling the glow of such a fun and meaningful evening. It was truly our pleasure to recognize the outstanding businesses in our community. Celebrating their successes—and reflecting on all that we accomplished together in 2025—was a powerful reminder of just how special Lake City’s business community is.
Read more from Heather's blog here
| | Enjoy These Upcoming Area Events | | |
Easter Eggstravaganzas
Sat April 4, 10am-4pm
(Wild Wings Plaza and Frontenac Sportsman's Club)
Wild Wings Plaza and Frontenac Sportsman's Club are each holding easter events on April 4th!
At Wild Wings's kids can enjoy an egg hunt for candy and big prizes, face painting, bounce houses, a petting zoo, and even a magician!
Frontenac also offers a chance for photos with the elusive easter bunny!
Get more deets here
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Pancake Breakfast
Sun, April 19, 7am-12pm
(Bluff View Elementary)
The Kiwanis Club is having a pancake breakfast at Bluffview Elementary Cafeteria to raise funds for youth opportunities, local community projects, and scholarship programs!
Presale tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for kids. Tickets will also be available day of.
Contact any Kiwanis member or give John Lang a call at (651) 345-2525 to reserve your spot at this fun (and delicious!) community event.
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Jambalaya Live!
Sat April 4, 10am-4pm
(Wide Spot Performing Arts)
Looking for funky rock and soul music? Jambalaya delivers the goods with great players at every position. Think songs by Little Feat and the Allman Brothers with a mix of Muscle Shoals and Memphis added. Doors open at 6:30, showtime at 7 pm. The Wide Spot's bar will be open with beer, wine, cider, seltzer, sodas and water. Of course, their dance floor will also be open!
See more here
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Girls Day Out: The 2nd Annual Mrs. Roper Romp
Sat, April 25,9:30am-5pm
(The Shops of Lake City)
Mrs. Roper Romp and Shop!
Dress as Mrs. Roper from the iconic TV show, Three's Company! Kick off the event from 9:30am-10:30am with a mobile bar serving up mimosas and more on the corner of Center and Lakeshore! Walk to downtown Lake City, MN businesses dressed as Mrs. Roper! Shop our wonderful indie-local shops & boutiques. Of course, Stanley's are also welcome!
Learn more about the event here
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Career Fair
Wednesday, April 8, 12:00-3:00pm
(Lincoln High School)
This annual, student-focused event is held during the school day and is exclusively for Lake City students in grades 7–12. It connects them with local employers and organizations to explore career pathways, learn about different industries, and discover internship, apprenticeship, and summer employment opportunities. Contact us here for opportunities to be involved.
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American Dream Podcast
Q: What happens when a small town comes together to celebrate talent, support local businesses, and grow the community?
From Water Ski Days to chamber events and community advocacy, Heather shares how structured leadership, strategic partnerships, and consistent engagement can create exponential impact in a small-town environment.
See the full episode on the American Dream Pod YouTube channel here
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April's Business After Hours
Goodhue County Habitat for Humanity serves the entire county — from our river towns to our rural farmlands — helping families build strength, stability, and self-reliance through affordable homeownership.
Join Habitat and the Lake City Chamber at their Business After Hours in April, which just so happens to correspond to the ground breaking of a new Lake City residence build! Join us at 1251 Mounds Ct, in Lake City on Thursday, April 30th at 4:30pm
| | | Lake City Chamber businesses, organizations, and supporters packed the house at the Chamber's Annual Dinner and Awards Celebration on Friday, March 20th, 2026. There was standing room only at the Ballroom in City Hall as the Chamber recognized local individuals and organizations for the work that they do to make Lake City the amazing place it is today. Lake City's finest young actors brought the drama to life at this speakeasy/mystery themed celebration. | | |
Manufacturing Business of the Year: Ag Partners
Nominees: Legacy Skis, Hearth & Home Technologies, Acrotech Inc., and Pepin Manufacturing Inc
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Community Organization of the Year: Peters Memorial Fund
Nominees:
Greater Lake City Community Foundation, Destination Lake City, Goodhue Co. Habitat for Humanity, Wide Spot Performing Arts, First Lutheran Church, Lake City Area Arts, Market by the Lake
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Industrial Business of the Year: Majerus Electric, LLC
Nominees: Ed's Plumbing & Heating, Braun Plumbing, New Image Siding Windows and Roofing
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Retail Services Business of the Year: Lake City Fresh Market
Nominees: Twice Loved Resale & Consignment Boutique, Kennedy Drug by Sterling, Lake City Floral, John the Baptist Beverage Company, Huettl's Locker & Dressing Plant
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Hospitality and Tourism Business of the Year: Big Bear Pizzeria and Deli
Nominees: The Sunset Motel & Resort, Lake City Boat Club & Rentals, Heidi's Huggamug Cafe, Indigo Bowls LLC, Rebel Fire Que 'N Company, Fiesta Jalisco, Lake City Golf, Kelly's Lakehouse
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Professional Services Business of the Year: Eagle Valley Chiropractic
Nominees: Ackerman Total Eye Care, Lake Hits 95, Ryan Repair, First Alliance Credit Union, Lakeshore Real Estate Karge and Associates, LLC, Forward Bank, Lake Pepin Pet Clinic & Hospital
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Volunteer of the Year: Kevin Liffrig
Nominees: Justin Hawryluk, Mary Santelman, Dustin Hanson, Nancy Denzer
| Chamber Ambassador of the Year: Nancy Denzer | | Business After Hours at the Lake City Graphic | | |
We want to thank the Lake City Graphic and all who came out to attend March's Business After Hours! We had a great crowd and a real good time!
If your business or organization would like to host a Business After Hours event, send us an email or give us a call at (651) 345-4123 to connect about it!
| | Ribbon Cutting at Lake City Ford | | |
The Lake City Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony on March 23, 2026 to welcome new ownership at Lake City Ford, celebrating Daraius and Christina Mistry as they begin their journey in the community.
The Mistrys, who relocated from Florida, are excited to become part of Lake City and continue serving the community through the dealership. Community members, Chamber representatives, and local leaders gathered to mark the occasion and extend a warm welcome.
Daraius Mistry expressed his gratitude, sharing, “We just want the community to know how much we appreciate them.”
Heather Thomas, President/CEO of the Lake City Chamber of Commerce, welcomed the Mistrys, noting their commitment to maintaining the welcoming, small-town feel that makes Lake City special.
The Chamber encourages the community to stop by, meet the new owners, and continue supporting Lake City Ford.
Ribbon Cutting events bring together Chamber staff, board members, ambassadors, and local business leaders to celebrate new Chamber member establishments, showcase their offerings, and encourage the community to support them.
Pictured Left to Right: Allen Hsiang, Casey Waler-Garnhardt, Jacob Sanders, Christopher Seebeck, Heather Thomas (Lake City Chamber), Chad Duellman, Craig Kuberski, Ethan Mistry, Jon Orth, Catrina Dunleavy, Daraius Mistry (owner), Christina Mistry (owner), Noah Sanders, Allen Spear, Peter Klein, Byron Kopp, Brookly Heffernan, Jose Koehler, Mary Erickson, Gary Fritz, Cobey Trudell, Dominick Brittain, Bud Uphoff, Judy Glander, Anne Tabat (Ambassador), Rocky Copley, Sean Liebenow, John Wieck, Nancy Denzer (Lakeshore Real Estate), Vicki Krage (Lakeshore Real Estate), Angie Foss (Goodhue County Habitat for Humanity), Dave Breitenfield (Lake City Boat Club and Rentals)
| | Tour de Pepin Unveils New Logo and Jersey Design | | |
The Lake City Chamber of Commerce worked with Peleaz Creative to rework the Tour de Pepin logo into dynamic new imagery for our annual cycling event, and with Borah Teamwear to put it into action in a new 2026 jersey design. The new logo will also be featured on T-shirts for all riders and volunteers.
Registration is open for this awesome spring ride, which brings upwards of 1000 riders to our area. Sign up as an individual or a group and tour the villages of Lake Pepin on this supported ride with legendary rest and food stops!
Volunteers and sponsors are also still needed. Please contact Annie in our office to sign up.
The after ride party is also a great time as our community turns out to support the riders returning to Ohuta Park. This free and open to the public event features live music, beverages from Sociable Cider Werks and John the Baptist Kombucha, plus other mobile food and beverage vendors.
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There's Still Time to Sponsor our Annual Events | | |
The Lake City Chamber of Commerce offers all regional businesses a chance to sponsor our great annual events! Event sponsorship is a great way to get your message to the community, give back, and build teamwork and comradeship with your staff through volunteering. Check out Lakeshore Real Estate's testimonial in this video.
Don't delay! The deadline is rapidly approaching to make certain your business is represented in printed materials and merchandise related to summer events like Water Ski Days. Get a hold of our event coordinator, Annie, here to talk sponsorship packages.
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