Chamber Celebrates A Landmark Year of Growth & Advocacy

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Chamber Celebrates A Landmark Year of Growth & Advocacy
From ribbon cuttings to legislative advocacy, the Chamber celebrates a year of strengthening the North Shore business community.

January 22, 2026 –Cook County, Minn.– The Cook County Chamber of Commerce is wrapping up 2025 by sharing a look back at the year's milestones. From helping new businesses open their doors to lobbying for local interests at the State Capitol, the Chamber has remained focused on making Cook County a better place to live and work. 

It was a strong year for membership, with 20 new businesses joining the Chamber. Since 2021, the Chamber has welcomed 27 new members and maintained a 81% retention rate, showing the long- term commitment of our local business owners. Our current membership is diverse, representing Hospitality (29.5%), Non-Profits (17.9%), Retail (15.3%), Professional Services (11.1%), Dining (7.4%), Real Estate (3.7%), Trades (3.7%), Health (3.7%), Utilities (3.2%), Media (2.1%), Banking (1.6%), and Manufacturing (1.1%).

The Chamber is also proud to announce that we gave out $5,250 in Great Place Project grants this year. These funds help local organizations and businesses enhance the welcoming feel of our community. The 2025 recipients included: Gun Flint Tavern; Cook County Higher Education; Historic Cook County; Gunflint Lodge; Grand Marais Art Colony; Chik-Wauk Museum and Nature Center; and World’s Best Donuts. 

The Chamber has been actively ensuring that Cook County’s voice is heard in St. Paul, and 2025 was a historic year for advocacy. For the first time, Cook County was a featured stop on state bonding tours– and we weren’t visited just once. We successfully hosted both the Senate Capital Investment Committee and the House Capital Investment Committee. This was a significant win for the county, providing state leaders with a direct view of our local infrastructure and project needs. 

We are making waves in the state, and we’d like to extend a huge thank you to John Berns of Carnival Berns for his hard work lobbying at the Capitol for our local initiatives. This year, the Chamber also wrote nine letters of support for member businesses and community projects, including: Cook County Higher Education, Cook County Historical Society, The Letteracy Deck, Gunflint Trail Historical Society, Superior Creamery, ISD 166, Cook County Highway Department, Sisu + Loyly, and the Minnesota DNR. Finally, we successfully hosted the 2025 Legislative Luncheon at Charlie’s Alpine  Bistro. We thank everyone who attended and our event sponsors: North Shore Waste, North Shore Health, WTIP, and Lutsen Mountains. 

Our educational programming remained a cornerstone of the year through our six Chamber Exchanges. These sessions provided information on topics ranging from shoplifting and restorative justice to customer service and age-friendly business training. We focused on complex state regulations, hosting a PFMLA session with both Minnesota DEED and the McClure Insurance Agency, as well as providing a platform for discussion regarding the ISD 166 Bond Referendum. Additionally, we were honored to host an educational roundtable with Secretary of State Steve Simon to help educate our members on voting and business services. 

Beyond education, we boosted community connections through 10 Chamber Connect social networking events. These gatherings were made possible by the support of our sponsors: Johnson’s Foods, The Title Team, The Lofty Gondola, MN Children’s Press, Superior Creamery, Timber & Tide Cabins, Hungry Jack Lodge, Do North Marketing, Solabkken on Superior, and Java Moose. 

One of the best parts of 2025 was celebrating our members' success at ribbon-cutting ceremonies. We were honored to stand with Scruffy Dog Vintage Emporium, Care Partners, Northern Lights Lodge Wedding & Event Center, The Lofty Gondola, Northern Goods, The Letteracy Deck, Cook County YMCA Playground and Gymnassium, Grand Marais Barbell, and The Heights Apartments.

“At the end of the day, the Chamber is a reflection of the people who show up for this community every single day,” said Linda Jurek, Executive Director of the Cook County Chamber of Commerce. “Whether it was welcoming the state committees to our corner of Minnesota for the first time, or celebrating a neighbor’s new shop opening, 2025 was about showing what we can accomplish when we work together. We’re incredibly grateful for everyone who played a part in this year’s success, and we can’t wait to see what our members achieve in 2026.”

About the Cook County Chamber of Commerce 
The Cook County Chamber of Commerce, established in 2016, is the leading voice for businesses in Cook County, Minnesota. We serve as a powerful advocate for over 160 members, representing a diverse range of for-profit and non-profit businesses. Our mission is to foster a thriving economic environment by championing collaboration, promoting our members, and supporting the overall prosperity of Cook County. We believe that strong businesses are the backbone of a vibrant community, and we're dedicated to ensuring our community remains a welcoming destination for visitors and residents alike. Connect with us on social media using Facebook. Learn more at  https://cookcountychamber.org/.

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