The Lanesboro Area Chamber of Commerce (LACC) Annual Meeting is an event that many area residents and businesses look forward to each year. Not only to look back at the past year and point out highlights and recognize where there could be improvements, but also to look ahead to the coming year with renewed enthusiasm.
The meeting was held on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, in the Rustic Hearth Event Center at Cedar Valley Resort in Whalan, Minn. The venue is not only impressive but set up perfectly for events such as this one.
As attendees began arriving, they were greeted by the executive director of LACC, Joe Goetzke and Jonathon Levine with Visitor and Member Services, along with several board members. Also waiting for guests were flavorful snacks and treats provided by Clara’s Eatery of Lanesboro, which everyone enjoyed.
LACC Board of Directors President Jeremy van Meter called the meeting to order and welcomed those in attendance. He also thanked the staff and the volunteers of the LACC for their dedication to the vitality of the towns of Lanesboro and Whalan, as well as the surrounding area.
The Agenda was approved with one addition and the Minutes from the 2025 Annual Meeting were also approved by the board and LACC members.
“Lanesboro, it’s a special place. We are known not only for our beautiful surroundings and vibrant tourism economy but for the people behind our businesses. People who take risks, work hard, support one another and invest in our town year after year. That spirit is what makes this chamber strong,” stated van Meter.
Levine looked at the year in review saying “In 2025 our visitor guides were flying off the shelves like they never have in the recent past. We had to actually go through a second printing,” he noted. Another exciting event in Lanesboro was John McGivern’s Main Streets television show coming to town to film an episode which will be aired in early April. LACC is working with the producers to send an advanced copy and there is a premiere party being planned. Levine also highlighted the launching of the Lanesboro Talking Trail in 2025 that proved to be very popular.
Goetzke showed graphics and charts explaining the website analytics for 2025. There were 94,000 active users and 278,000 views, while LACC social media experienced 4.5 million content views and added 4,300 new followers. The visitor center itself had 7,300 in-person interactions with visitors.
Membership numbers continue to grow with 18 new or returning members, 141 business members, 22 individual members and 22 spotlights members. LACC memberships are not limited to Lanesboro and Whalan residents and businesses, as many members live or work in area communities. LACC was happy to host eight ribbon cuttings in 2025, showing an expanding business sector.
According to Cobalt Community Research, the total visits to the city of Lanesboro in 2025 was approximately 968,000.
Looking ahead to 2026, Goetzke said, “We have a lot to be looking forward to,” and he emphasized that marketing, as always, is a priority for LACC.
New visitor guides are out, and each attendee received a copy to take home with them. Sarah Peterson with Peterson Creative Photography & Design worked on the visitor guide and spoke about how it came together. The guide is also available to view online.
Economic Development Authority (EDA) Director Michelle Marotzke spoke to the crowd. “The Lanesboro EDA has three main goals; those are to create retention opportunities for existing businesses and encourage new business development and expansion, increase housing availability for existing and new residents and preserve the city’s historic downtown and riverfront amenities,” explaining that those are the guidelines that she goes by.
Keynote Speaker Lori Bakke gave an honest, inspirational, funny and heartwarming speech titled “Courage, Consistency, and Confetti: What Small Town Business Taught Me About Community.” Bakke has owned two businesses in Lanesboro over the years, Grandma’s Garden and Granny’s Liquor.
“Let’s be honest for a moment, owning a business, especially in a small town, is not for the faint of heart,” she noted. The fact that Bakke has such a big heart has surely helped her along the way.
Three candidates for the LACC board were approved, namely Lucas Johnson, Brian McConnell and Kara Maloney.
Sheryl Johnson presented the 2025 Financial Report and the 2026 Operating Budget.
Mitchell Walbridge, Lanesboro City Administrator, requested support from LACC in the form of letters sent to legislators, to show support for the Highway 250 project and the Root River Habitat Improvement Project. Both motions were approved.
Sheila Craig with the Fillmore County Fair Board addressed those in attendance to give an update on the 2026 fair. There will be a patriotic theme this year to honor the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
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