As we close out 2025 and look ahead to 2026, I’m struck by both the progress we’ve made and the work still ahead of us. This past year reinforced a simple truth: Duluth thrives when we lead with focus, collaboration and a clear plan for economic, civic and business advancement. The Chamber’s mission is grounded in steady, practical leadership — and in 2025, your Chamber delivered.
We strengthened our role as one of the region’s most trusted voices in policy leadership and advocacy. Whether advancing major housing initiatives, supporting growth in our aviation and technology sectors, or engaging city, county, state and federal officials, our advocacy remained thoughtful, data-driven and grounded in member priorities. We also invested more than $100,000 in workforce development, child care, education, equity, aviation and veterans’ initiatives – direct investments that reflect our values and strengthen our region for the long term.
This was also the first full year of Honor Flight Northland operating under the Chamber Enterprise. Flying 104 veterans to Washington, D.C., hosting our regional reunion and building durable operational systems marked a profound milestone; not just for the Chamber, but for the thousands of families who have been impacted by this mission of gratitude and service.
At the same time, we must acknowledge the headwinds facing our region. Global geopolitics are shifting. Supply chains, trade flows and commodity markets remain volatile. National economic indicators have been uneven, with high borrowing costs and persistent inflation testing of employers, families and investors alike. And like many urban centers, Duluth continues to wrestle with public-safety concerns, workforce shortages, uneven population growth and the prolonged aftershocks of a disrupted retail and small-business landscape. These challenges are real, and they require leadership that is steady, forward-looking and grounded in both honesty and optimism.
That is exactly what the Chamber’s 2026 Strategic Action Plan is designed to provide. Built around three pillars — Economic Development, Improved Business Conditions and Community Progress — the plan outlines how we will continue advancing major development opportunities, strengthening our permitting and tax environment, expanding financial literacy training, supporting downtown redevelopment, and investing in our workforce, child care capacity and population-growth strategies.
A central part of that vision is our commitment to positioning Duluth (and northeastern Minnesota) as a national hub of aviation and technology. From natural resources to advanced manufacturing, aerospace to AI, our region is uniquely positioned across the entire value chain. The Chamber will continue to champion that identity locally, nationally and internationally.
We are also embracing a leadership role in business financial literacy. Strengthening balance sheets, helping employers better understand financial dynamics and equipping nonprofits with sustainable financial tools are among the most important contributions we can make to long-term regional economic resilience.
As we embark on this next chapter, I am especially excited to welcome Pat deGrood as our incoming Board Chair. Pat is a respected leader with deep business acumen, a steady hand, and a commitment to Duluth’s future that mirrors our own. His leadership will elevate our work in meaningful ways. And I would be remiss not to extend my sincere thanks to Dr. Chiamaka Enemuoh, whose historic and trailblazing service as our first Board Chair of color set a powerful example of courage, professionalism and community stewardship.
To all our members: thank you for your partnership, your trust and your belief in Duluth. Together, we will continue moving business forward — with clarity, conviction and a shared vision for what this region can become.
