2025 Bonding Tour Invitation 

We invite you to view our latest video, which highlights the distinctive qualities of Cook County. The presentation also provides an overview of the current and upcoming initiatives from the Cook County Chamber of Commerce.

Legislative Policy & Advocacy

Overview: 

An important part of any Chamber of Commerce is governmental affairs and advocacy work that is done at the Capitol on behalf of local businesses, non-profits, and the community. From 2013-2024, Conservation Strategies, Inc., an independent lobbying firm, represented the Chamber for each legislative session. Beginning in July 2024, Carnival Berns PA was selected from a very competitive search effort to become the new lobbying firm for the Chamber.

Why is advocacy work important?  Advocacy at the Capitol is vital for securing essential funding and attention for Cook County's unique needs. Without a dedicated voice in the legislative process, critical resources would not flow to our community. While statewide initiatives impact both Cook County and greater Minnesota, targeted advocacy is essential for achieving localized goals. For instance, advancements to the Gitchi Gami State Trail rely on the focused efforts of the Cook County Chamber and our engaged members to ensure our priorities are understood and supported by legislators.

A conservative estimate would be that our efforts have played a large and critical role in securing over millions of dollars in projects and programming for Cook County. The average is $1.7 million per legislative session for the Chamber’s direct investment of less than $35,000  annually. That is $42.5 gained for each $1 spent, with total funding secured reaching over $13M.

Results of Advocacy Work at the Capitol: 

Gitchi-Gami State Trail - $5.4 million for Cutface Creek to Grand Marais, MN. $1.5 million to match existing funds, extending and connecting the existing trail from Ski Hill Road to the commercial center in Lutsen. Completion of this segment will also provide key connections to Tofte, Schroeder, and Temperance River State Park.

Workforce Housing - $446,000 from the Greater Minnesota Workforce Housing Program. We literally wrote the language that made Cook County eligible.

Lake Superior-Poplar River Pipeline Project -  $1.1 million in additional funding as the project evolved.   $450,000 for a revamped system to anchor the pipeline inlet in Lake Superior.

Britton Peak-Lutsen Mountains Connector Bike Trail -  $350,000 in bonding.

Cook County Higher Ed - $230,000 in annual base budget increases ($1.1 million cumulative received to date).  $40,000 in one-time funding for Higher Ed in 2017.

Grand Marais Public Water Access -  $3.1 million in bonding and leveraged funding from elsewhere.

Chik-Wauk Phase II, Gunflint Trail Historical Society -  $250,000 secured from the Minnesota Historical Society

Short-term rental -  New classification;  we succeeded in getting passed by the Legislature in 2020, which will mean at least $300,000 in savings for owners each year starting in 2023.

Renewal of 1% Lodging Tax - Successful in renewal of 1% lodging tax on top of the County’s 3% lodging tax. The 1% lodging tax supports local events and programming and was set to sunset in November 2023. The financial support is approximately $800,000 annually.

Current Initiatives: 

• City of Grand Marais- Wastewater Treatment Plant-The City of Grand Marais estimates that improvements to the county’s only WWTP will cost $10 million.  

• Gitchi-Gami Trail Association: Advocating for funding to be utilized for Lutsen trail construction from Arrowhead Electric to the Steam Engine Road. This is a vital trail segment that addresses safety and connects residents and visitors to important destinations. This 1/3 mile trail segment also includes an 80-foot span bridge.

• Cook County Higher Education: Ensuring funding for educational programming is top of mind for future years. 

• Lutsen Mountains Event Center: This is a proposed multi-use facility intended to support regional economic development, cultural programming, and year-round community use. 

While the Chamber and lobbyists work hard to secure funding and programs to benefit Cook County businesses and residents, we are not always successful. It might take years for the legislative work to come to fruition.

How to get an initiative included: 

The advocacy and policy initiatives of the Cook County Chamber of Commerce are determined by the board of directors on an annual basis. Initiatives that impact a larger portion of our community receive top priority. Any chamber member is eligible to submit a topic for review. 

To get an initiative in front of the board, reach out to Linda Jurek, Executive Director at director@cookcountychamber.org. 

In addition to the Chamber’s direct policy work with our lobbyist, the Chamber and Visit Cook County work closely with other statewide entities like MACVB, Explore Minnesota, Hospitality Minnesota, etc., on broader initiatives that impact the entire state. 

Resources: