On Thursday, May 14th, the St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce will celebrate the graduation of the 2026 class of the St. Cloud Area Leadership Program, continuing a tradition of developing informed, connected leaders in Central Minnesota. Over the course of nine months, participants gain a deeper understanding of the region’s businesses, challenges, and opportunities, while building meaningful relationships and growing both personally and professionally.
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Congratulations to the 2026 class! You now join a strong network of alumni who are making an impact across our community.Â
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PLUS: Applications are now open for the 2026-2027 class. Learn more and apply now.Â
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Business After Hours is hosted by Alliance Imaging on Tuesday, May 5th! Join us anytime between 5 and 7 p.m. at their location for Cinco de Mayo themed networking and refreshments.Â
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Register now to attend Lunchtime Learning on May 13th as we talk about going from burnout to balance. It takes place from 12 - 1 p.m. at the Chamber office - and lunch is included!
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Here are a few more important dates to put on your calendar, but don't forget to check out our full events calendar for even more.
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With the goal of keeping you informed and up to date, these news bites feature local, regional and national news items that relate to the business community in Central Minnesota.
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LOCAL
The Future of Downtown: The City of St. Cloud is working on its comprehensive plan. Learn more about the process and view a current update here.
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Minnesota Jobs Skills Partnership awards 7 grants. Locally, St. Cloud State University receivd $41,476 for a partnership with American Solutions for Business to develop a training that builds digital proficiency supporting automation and data-driven decision-making, strengthens conflict-resolution skills, enhances customer service and encourages collaboration. Learn more
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MNDOT Summer 2026 updates: This map details Central Minnesota State highway and bridge projects. Learn more
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On good terms. Stearns County received an AA+ bond rating from S&P Global Ratings, placing the County among the top‑rated local governments in Minnesota. Learn more
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STATE & NATIONAL
State of the State:Â Governor Tim Walz gave his final State of the State address on Tuesday. Learn more
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TODAY IS THE DEADLINE: The first Paid Leave premiums are due April 30, 2026. Log in to your Employer Account at ui.mn.gov to pay your premiums. Learn more
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Apply for a Tarrif Refund: The U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision to strike down certain tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) has created an opportunity for many small businesses to seek refunds. Learn how
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Unemployment dips nationally. Weekly US jobless claims fall to 189,000, the lowest in more than 5 decades. Read more
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The success of Minnesota’s economy is inherently linked to the manufacturing sector. Manufacturing is Minnesota’s second largest sector, making up 12% of the state’s total economy. This report highlights key facts about manufacturing’s role, performance and challenges in Minnesota’s economy.
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Happy Chamber Anniversary!
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Thank you to these members who celebrated their Chamber Anniversaries in April! We are so thankful for your continued partnership.
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St. Cloud Area Leadership Program
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St. Cloud Area Leadership is designed to help current and emerging leaders understand the dynamics of the community and the role leadership has in building healthy communities. Since 1992, this program has been bringing together men and women of diverse backgrounds who share a common commitment to the future of the St. Cloud area.
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The program begins in September 2026 and meets for one full day per month (second Thursday) through May 2027. The cost of the Leadership Program for 2026-27 is $850 for Chamber members.
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Whether you have lived in the area for a short time or for decades, St. Cloud Area Leadership will open your eyes to new challenges and opportunities and the role you can play in shaping the future of Central MN.Â
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Chamber Open Golf Tournament
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Celebrate 80 years of connection at the Chamber Open Golf Tournament. Since 1946, this event has brought the business community together for networking, relationship-building, and a great day on the course.
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Help us celebrate this 80 year milestone!
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Team Registration
Individual player: $180
Team of four: $680
(includes 2 carts and dinner)
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Sponsorship Opportunities
There are over 13 different ways to support the Chamber Open through sponsorship - learn more and get signed up now!
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We look forward to celebrating the 39th annual Business Awards Luncheon on Wednesday, May 6th at the Park Event Center! Thank you to all of our sponsors for making this event possible.
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Featured Committee: St. Cloud Area Leadership Program
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St. Cloud Area Leadership is designed to help current and emerging leaders understand the dynamics of the community and the role leadership has in building healthy communities. This program brings together men and women of diverse backgrounds who share a common commitment to the future of the St. Cloud area.
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The program begins in September and meets for one full day per month through May the following year. Each day is organized by a Day Chair and Vice-Chair, with help from the steering committee.
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2026 Leadership Steering Committee
- Brittney Goebel, North Creative Co., Chair
- Mike Brower, American Family Insurance - Michael Brower Agency, Inc., Vice-Chair
- Jason Primus, Creative Planning
- Debbie Clausen, Thrivent - St. Cloud Area Associates
- Larry Logeman, Executive Express
- Aimee Asp, Coborn's, Inc.
- Sarah Putnam, Coborn's, Inc.
- Lance Barthel, Batteries Plus
- Adam Vee, American Heritage National Bank
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2025-2026 Day Chairs & Vice-Chairs
- Lacey Solheid, Great River Children's Museum
- Casaundra Pfeiffer, Junior Achievement North - St. Cloud Area
- Brandon Anderson, Coborn's, Inc.
- Emily Davis, EPIC
- Robin Caufman, Bolton & Menk, Inc.
- Kimberly Shoberg, Blattner Company
- Stacy Lund, Catholic Charities
- Tom Conyers, Indigo Signs
- Emmitt Edwards, Catholic Charities
- Jenna Storms, American Heritage National Bank
- Sydney Meyer, AIS Planning
- Adolfo Chavez, Gate City Bank
- Guy Magno, Switchboard
- Amy Petersen, Coborn's, Inc.
- Jason Bloch, CWMF Corp
- Shauna Massmann, WACOSA
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St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce
1411 West Saint Germain Street, ste. 101
St. Cloud, Minnesota, 56301
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320-251-2940
StCloudAreaChamber.com
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