Chamber Links: news and updates | | May 28th, 2026 | Volume 8 Issue 5 | | This Newsletter is Powered by Catalyst Member | |
From St. Paul to Lake City, the Chamber Works for You
As the legislative session wrapped up at the State Capitol this week, the Lake City Chamber spent part of the week doing something many people probably don’t picture when they think about a local chamber of commerce — contacting legislators about tax policy.
... At the same time, summer season is arriving quickly here at home.
Read more from Heather's blog here
| | Enjoy These Upcoming Area Events | | |
Tour de Pepin
June 6th, All Day
(Ohuta Beach Park)
Tour de Pepin offers bicyclists from amateur to expert an opportunity to experience LaPepin from the saddle. This supported ride features manned rest areas with food and water and your choice of routes.
Choose between 32, 40 or 50 mile rides between Lake City and Stockholm and get transported via boat or bus. Or, you can enjoy the 72 or 100 mile full loops all the way around the lake!
Whether you ride or not, join us for a free after-ride party at Ohuta, with live music, food, and beverages!
More here
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Water Ski Days!
June 25th thru 28th
(Across Lake City)
The 54th Annual Water Ski Days is going to be another big celebration. Lake City will be abuzz for our annual summer party, June 25th-28th. Be treated to live concerts, a vendor fair, gravity-defying water-ski shows and competitions, a grand parade, a classic car show, and much, much, much more!
In 2026 expect even more programming, with expanded water ski entertainment and boat demonstrations!
Look for our annual Water Ski Days edition newsletter in June for a full line up, and visit waterskidays.com for all updates in real time!
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Rotary Circle of Life Run
Sat June 27, 11am-3pm
(Underwood Park)
The Lake City Rotary Club Circle of Life Run returns in 2025.
Enjoy a Half-Marathon, 10K or 5K in beautiful Lake City, MN on Saturday, June 27th!
This incredible route truly features some breathtaking views. The course is measured and timed and is great for runners of all ages.
Runners and walkers will take off from Underwood Park.
Proceeds from this community event will support a Rotary exchange student program as well as other community focused initiatives!
Register here
| | Market by the Lake Returns on June 11th | | |
From June through September on Thursdays from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Ohuta Beach Park, you can bet on fantastic local produce, baked goods, jams, honey, food vendors, kids activities and information tables from local organizations. The market accepts SNAP/EBT/Market Buck, offer the Power of Produce Club, a veggie and fruit incentive program for kids and PoP Plus for Seniors/Elders! A down-home community gathering place every summer at Ohuta Beach, the Lake City Market by the Lake is the place to be. See you there!
The market also hosts live music. This year's schedule is as follows:
June 11--Shawn Ogden
June 18--Bill Cagley
July 2--David Brian
July 9--Tom Pavlowich
July 16--Tim Kriese
July 23--Eragon or Chance Meetings
July 30--Ryan Sullivan
Aug 6--Lenard McCracken
Aug 13--Wandarlie -Wanda Miller
Aug 20--folk forum
Aug 27--Duogringo with Paul Schmidt and Kevin
Sept 3 --Tony Cucchetti
Sept 10--Joel Cannon and Friends
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Lake City's New Mobile Food Unit Policy
The City of Lake City is asking Mobile Food Unit owners to register their units with the City annually, beginning June 1st. There is no fee to this registration. The new policy was created to track who has food trucks and to make sure that they have the proper insurance and health license from the State. The policy also goes over where units can park and things of that nature.
Registration forms are available at City Hall and on our website. When owners come in to register, they will need to provide proof of insurance and their State health license.The city will then print a certificate of registration that should be kept on-site with the food truck.
Food vendors who will be working with the Chamber on our summer events like Water Ski Days, Tour De Pepin, and the Y Knot Tri must register before the events.
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Great River Road Named USA Today's "Best Scenic Drive"
USA TODAY's 10BEST assembled a panel of travel experts to nominate gorgeous scenic routes. Then, readers voted to decide the winners, all of which have been designated scenic byways on a state or national level. Online voting ran in April through early May, and thanks to an incredible effort from fans of the scenic byway, the Great River Road took the top spot for an incredible second year in a row!
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Workforce Development Inc. Resource for Employers & Employees
Workforce Development, Inc. provides tailored workforce solutions to help businesses across Southeast Minnesota attract, train, and retain top talent. Their employer services are designed to support your business at every stage of growth.
Likewise, Workforce Development offers a myriad of resources for employees and those looking for work.
View this week's job board and other opportunities here
Questions about posting to their job board or about any of their resources? Reach out directly to Stephanie Holland here
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The Minnesota Business Podcast
Episode 128: Target reports its strongest sales growth in four years. The Minnesota Vikings are selected to host the 2028 NFL Draft. Later, what passed this legislative session, what didn't and what it means for your business.
In an increasingly busy world, stay ahead of the curve with The Minnesota Business Podcast, your essential weekly digest of Minnesota business and public affairs news. Whether you’re a professional, entrepreneur or policymaker, this podcast, provided by the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, is designed to efficiently get you all the vital Minnesota business news you need.
Listen to this pod and see their archive here
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SMIF/Otto Bremer Trust Grant Deadline Nears
Through a partnership with the Otto Bremer Trust (OBT) and its Community Responsive Fund, Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF) will award $1,125,000 in grants to organizations that directly respond to immediate challenges and opportunities in southern Minnesota.
Grants of up to $75,000 will be awarded to organizations whose work aligns with one or more of the OBT Community Responsive Fund focus areas, including: food, shelter, low-income healthcare clinics, disability services and school-based mental health.
See the details and organizational requirements here.
| | | Join us at Pelican Point on June 2nd | | |
Date: Monday, June 2nd
Time: 12:00 pm
Location: 35853 US HWY 61, Lake City, Minnesota
Join us for a special Ribbon Cutting Celebration at Pelican Point Yacht Club and Resort as we celebrate both Pelican Point and Midwest Marine & Mechanical!
Come help us welcome and celebrate this new businesses with networking and community connections along the beautiful Lake Pepin waterfront. Chamber members, community members, and guests are all invited to attend.
We look forward to celebrating this exciting partnership and continued investment in the Lake City community!
See the Facebook event here
| | The Chamber Team About Town | | The Lake City Chamber joined Johnson Jewelers for a ribbon cutting at their 50th anniversary celebration. We also welcomed the Goodhue County Habitat for Humanity to the Chamber with a Ribbon Cutting at their groundbreaking for a new house build right here in Lake City. We would also like to thank Forward Bank for an awesome time at their rooftop Business After Hours last week. | | Chamber Community Pride Scholarship Winners | | |
At the Chamber, we believe that the strength of a community lies in the hearts of those who choose to give back. We created the Community Pride Scholarship to honor students who demonstrate a spirit of service, leadership, and pride in Lake City. This scholarship isn’t about GPAs or test scores, it’s about initiative. And it’s about the belief that giving your time and energy can help shape a better future, not just for yourself, but for the entire community.
This year, we are proud to award two $500 scholarships to two brilliant young women who penned amazing essays that embody the spirit of community pride: Alayna Atkinson and Faith Bonde
| | Water Ski Days Button Design Winner | | Each year the Chamber collaborates with the art departments at our local schools to find the best designs for our annual Water Ski Days button. While we wish every entry could win, one design took home the prize and will be The 54th Annual Water Ski Days official button design! That design belongs to none other than Arley Krier. Arley will also take home $100 in Chamber Bucks to spend in local businesses. 2nd Place went to Margaret Rol – Awarded $50 in Chamber Bucks, and 3rd Place went to Skylee Mehrkens – Awarded $25 in Chamber Bucks. We'd like to also thank the Lake City Chamber Board of Directors and Chamber Ambassadors, who had the impossible job of choosing the winners, and were impressed by the creativity and community spirit captured in each submission. | | | | |
