FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
2nd Annual Cook County Chamber Legislative Luncheon
Key Officials and Community Leaders Engage in Direct Dialogue on County’s Current & Future Legislative Needs.
November 7, 2025 – Lutsen, Minn.– The Cook County Chamber of Commerce successfully hosted its 2nd Annual Legislative Luncheon on November 6th, 2025, bringing together key community leaders and state legislators to discuss and solidify the legislative path forward for Cook County, Minnesota. The event, held at Charlie’s Alpine Bistro at Lutsen Mountains, served as a powerful and positive forum to advance the Chamber’s ongoing advocacy efforts.
The Luncheon concluded an extremely successful legislative year for the Chamber, highlighted by a major achievement secured earlier this Fall, a stop on the recent Senate and House Capital Investment Committee bonding tours. This was an unprecedented and significant victory for the county. The Chamber and community members effectively presented the legislative needs in Cook County to state officials during these tours. This achievement marks the first time a bonding tour has come to Cook County, MN, providing a crucial opportunity to build rapport among legislators and significantly boosting the county’s efforts to secure funding for major initiatives, such as the Grand Marais Wastewater Treatment Plant.
The Legislative Luncheon itself provided a unique and valuable opportunity for Chamber members to engage in direct dialogue with state leaders. The discussions centered around crucial issues impacting Cook County’s future legislative initiatives. Leaders included Senator Grant Hauschild, Representative Roger Skraba, IRRR Executive Director of Development Ryan Malich, and the Chamber’s Lobbyist, John Berns. The success of the 2025 Legislative Luncheon was made possible by our generous sponsors: Lutsen Mountains, North Shore Health, North Shore Waste, and WTIP.
“The Chamber will continue to maintain a strong focus on advocating for our small community and ensuring that Cook County is heard at the Minnesota State Legislative Level”, said Linda Jurek, Executive Director of the Cook County Chamber of Commerce. “The Legislative Luncheon provides an opportunity unlike any other for members to engage in direct dialogue with our state leaders. The Chamber is incredibly grateful to our state leaders who made the time to attend this important event.”
The 2nd Annual Legislative Luncheon marks a significant milestone in the Chamber’s ongoing efforts to advocate for a thriving business community in Cook County, demonstrating a clear focus on collaboration, building partnerships, and effectively expressing the needs of our region.
The Chamber would also like to announce an upcoming visit by Secretary of State Steve Simon on Thursday, November 20th, from 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm. Join us at the Johnson Heritage Post. Secretary Simon will present information related to elections and business services, followed by an open session for dialogue, questions, and answers.
