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We celebrated The Study Station’s move to their new location, off County Road 70, this week! The larger space will allow them to add more students. Parents of elementary and middle school students – if help is needed after these first couple of weeks, reach out to Brittany! Shout out to Roz Peterson at CERRON for helping them with the space rental! If you are looking for a new space, or you have a space to rent, make sure you post it FOR FREE on our marketplace – you can do that through your member portal!

Charged is moving into a new space too – next door to Lakeville Liquors in Heritage Commons! Come check it out with us!

The annual Fall Gala is just one month away. You can be part of our signature social event of the year in two ways!....

1. Purchase tickets, or sponsor the event. This is a great way to meet some new people and enjoy a nice fall evening of music, food, fun…and a blackjack tournament! Remember – September 16 is the deadline for the VIP ticket drawing!
2. Donate an item to our online auction. This is great marketing as the auction goes for a week, and it is shared on our social media – so your reach goes into the community as well! If you are interested in donating a single stand-alone item (minimum $100 value) or a smaller item that can be grouped with other items, email Shanen.

If you are still needing information or guidance on the MN Paid Leave program that goes into effect January 1, there are still several public webinars being held this fall. The next one is September 11. There will be two others this fall: October 9 and November 13.

Some key dates:

1. December 1, 2025 – Employers need to notify employees about their benefits
2. January 1, 2026 – Payroll deduction starts, benefits and leave are available to Minnesotans, small business assistance funding will be available
3. April 30, 2026 – First quarterly premium is due

You can see the dates, register for the webinars and see the slide deck HERE. You can sign up to receive email notifications and updates for both leadership and employees, as well as submit questions and comments, HERE.  

State of the County 2025

Monday, Sept. 22, 4–5:30 p.m.

Schaar’s Bluff Gathering Center, 8395 127th St. E., Hastings

• 4–5 p.m. Welcome, State of the County program
• 5–5:30 p.m. Q&A session

Dakota County leaders will share an interactive presentation highlighting how the county and local governments, businesses and nonprofit partners are meeting community needs. Event will include a Q&A session on current issues in Dakota County. Space is limited.

RSVP@co.dakota.mn.us by Wednesday, Sept. 17.

Next week is our monthly Access & Issues meeting. It is from 8-9:15am and all members are welcome to sign on. This month our guest speaker will be Superintendent Michael Baumann. We will do a Q&A with Michael – topics to include cell phone policy, levy renewal, reading/math, good news items. You can register here to receive the Zoom link.

Announcing your Leadership Lakeville Class of 2025-2026! We are so excited to get this year rolling on September 17! Watch for program updates throughout the year (September-May).

Adam Forsberg Aloft Aviation

Jin Fang

BeeHive Homes

John Sather

Brackett's Crossing Country Club

Abbie Torbert BTD Manufacturing

Carly Kirk Cornerstone Copy

Jake Omodt Dakota Electric Association

Paul Bakalich Hobo/Chemquest/

Triton Chemical

Brianne Skogmo Hypointe Childcare

Breanna Koury Hy-Vee

Anne Aronson Johnson

Johnson Companies

Brandon Smieja Lakeview Bank

Amanda Kettelhut

Lakeville Area Schools

Alex Yohnke Lakeville Police Department

Vince Johnson

Loeffler Construction

& Consulting

Dave Kass

QA1 Precision Products Inc

Katie McHugh, Schmitty & Sons / Gray Line Minnesota

Keith Boisner, Speed Pro Great.Big.Graphics.

Crystal Swoboda Springs at Lakeville

Brandi Fitch

The Fountains at Hosanna

Nathan O'Keefe

US Bank

This could be YOU in 2026-2027!

Application opens in spring 2026.

Know anyone looking? We have some great companies hiring! If you are currently hiring for any positions, email Kim so we highlight you!

Lakeville Art Festival

Saturday, September 20 (10 a.m. – 5 p.m.) &

Sunday, September 21 (10 a.m. – 4 p.m.)

Lakeville Area Arts Center

Celebrate creativity at this free, award-winning festival—recognized as one of the finest art festivals south of the river. Enjoy over 100 juried artists showcasing diverse works—from paintings and ceramics to jewelry, glass, fiber, photography, sculpture, and mixed media—all arranged in an elegant circular layout for an intimate, leisurely experience.

What's in store:

• Live music on the outdoor Rotary stage
• Artist demonstrations across the grounds
• Food & drink vendors serving up delicious local fare
• Community art project
• Kid-friendly “Young at Art” area sponsored by the Lakeville Lions Club

Whether you're shopping for unique art, enjoying music and food, or getting creative with the whole family, this festival offers something for everyone.

Thank you for your support!