Albert Lea-Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce

09/11/2026

The Chamber will be closed this Monday, September 14, 2026.

Unfortunately we will be closed on Monday, September 14th, due to a scheduled power outage, we will be open again Tuesday, September 15th!

09/10/2026

🍂👟 STEPtember is happening! 👟🍂
The Chamber of Commerce’s Worksite Wellness Committee's STEPtember Walking Challenge is underway. We are excited to see local businesses stepping up! 🚶‍♀️🚶‍♂️
It’s not too late to join the fun! Area businesses are invited to participate and encourage their staff to get moving this month.
📧 Each Wednesday, email your business’s weekly miles walked to [email protected].
📊 Every Thursday, the Chamber will share a progress report so we can follow along, celebrate accomplishments, and cheer each other on!
As of today, area businesses have reported that their staff have walked a total of 3,808 miles. Albert Lea Area Schools reported their staff walked a whopping 1,680 miles from September 1st through September 9th!
What fun it is to step into an active autumn together! 🍁💪

09/10/2026

So much fun getting to know the CEO students more this morning. Like speed dating, but so much freakin’ better! 😂

09/10/2026

Today is the day!

Fueling Freeborn County’s Future! 🌽⛽

Mark your calendar for September 10, 2026, and join us at Kwik Trip, 1210 East Main Street in Albert Lea for a special renewable fuels' promotion event, sponsored by the Freeborn County Corn & Soybean Growers.

Renewable fuels play an important role in supporting local farmers, strengthening our agricultural economy, and giving Minnesota drivers more fuel choices. We’re proud to support an event that highlights the connection between local agriculture and renewable energy.

Stop by and take advantage of the cost savings!

09/10/2026

Nominations for the 2026 Small, Medium, and Large Business of the Year are officially open!

https://www.albertlea.org/annual-meeting/

We're testing a new format for nominations this year, so if you have any trouble, please reach out to the Chamber offices. 🙌

09/09/2026

Tomorrow is the day!

Fueling Freeborn County’s Future! 🌽⛽

Mark your calendar for September 10, 2026, and join us at Kwik Trip, 1210 East Main Street in Albert Lea for a special renewable fuels' promotion event, sponsored by the Freeborn County Corn & Soybean Growers.

Renewable fuels play an important role in supporting local farmers, strengthening our agricultural economy, and giving Minnesota drivers more fuel choices. We’re proud to support an event that highlights the connection between local agriculture and renewable energy.

Stop by and take advantage of the cost savings!

09/08/2026

We already know the challenges. Let’s talk about what we can DO.
Housing. Workforce. Economic development. Community growth.

We know these issues are connected, and we hear the challenges all the time: employers need workers, workers need housing, and communities need the infrastructure and opportunities that allow people to build a life here.

But the Future of Freeborn discussion on September 15 isn’t meant to be another hour spent simply listing what isn’t working.
We’re going to focus on solutions.

I’ll be joined by Megan Boeck from the City of Albert Lea, Dr. Deborah Mitchell from the HRA, and Mary Athey from Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation to talk about:

- What is actually creating our housing and workforce bottlenecks
- What communities elsewhere are doing successfully
- What local government can — and can’t — do
- What role employers can play in housing solutions
- Where stronger partnerships could make a difference
- And what Freeborn County could realistically accomplish in the next two or three years

Most importantly, we’ll ask:
What do we need to start doing now if we want Freeborn County to be stronger, more vibrant and ready for growth in the years ahead?

This conversation needs more than people who work in housing or economic development. It needs employers. Residents. Community leaders. Young professionals. Elected officials. Educators. Entrepreneurs. And people who simply care about what comes next.

Come be part of the conversation.

📅 September 15
📍 Wedgewood Cove Golf Course
🕡 Networking at 6:30 p.m. | Discussion at 7 p.m.

Register here:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1991014933262

09/05/2026

09/05/2026

❤️ be sure to stay tuned for the episode! ❤️

09/04/2026

We thought we'd put together a little video of our ambassadors' visit to the Shell Rock River Watershed District's Confined Disposal Facility. So cool to see the incredible work they're doing to clean up our waterways! 😍

The Albert Lea–Freeborn County Chamber Ambassadors recently got a b...