Le Sueur Chamber shifts to all-volunteer, community-driven model

The non-profit organization is moving away from a membership-based structure to focus on supporting the city as a whole.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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The Le Sueur Chamber of Commerce has announced a major shift in its operating model, transitioning from a traditional membership-based structure to an all-volunteer, community-driven framework. The new 'Healthy Community Framework' aims to bring together businesses, local government, schools, volunteer groups, and citizens to collaborate on projects and initiatives that benefit the entire city of Le Sueur.

Why it matters

This change represents a significant departure from the Chamber's previous focus on serving its business members. The new model seeks to position the organization as a hub for the entire Le Sueur community, fostering greater collaboration and addressing the needs of the city as a whole rather than just local businesses.

The details

Under the new structure, the Le Sueur Chamber will no longer employ a paid director, instead operating with a fully volunteer board and participation from a wide range of community stakeholders. The group plans to shift away from traditional chamber events like the Business and Retail Expo, and instead focus its time and resources on initiatives that can have a greater impact on the community. Over the next several months, the Chamber will conduct a community assessment to identify areas that need to be preserved as well as those requiring attention or growth.

  • The Le Sueur Chamber introduced the new 'Healthy Community Framework' model at their first meeting of the year on January 22, 2026.
  • The next Chamber meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. on February 19, 2026 at the Le Sueur-Henderson High School media center.

The players

Nate Warden

The president of the Le Sueur Chamber of Commerce, who stated that the transition to a new model was needed to better serve local businesses and the community.

Adam Koble

A member of the Le Sueur Chamber of Commerce Executive Board, who said the group wants to build the organization as large as possible to represent as many voices in the community as they can.

Le Sueur Chamber of Commerce

The non-profit organization that has shifted from a traditional membership-based structure to an all-volunteer, community-driven framework called the 'Healthy Community Framework'.

Henderson Area Chamber

The Chamber that the Le Sueur Chamber's new model is loosely based on.

Le Sueur City Council

The local government body that is participating in the Le Sueur Chamber's new community-driven model.

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What they’re saying

“The Chamber has been around for over 20 years and the model we had been using just wasn't meeting the needs of local businesses or the community, so we looked at some other options for what we wanted to do.”

— Nate Warden, Chamber President (southernminn.com)

“We want to build this group as big as possible so we can represent as many voices in the community as we can. Those folks will essentially decide what our future projects will be.”

— Adam Koble, Chamber Executive Board member (southernminn.com)

What’s next

Over the next three to six months, the Le Sueur Chamber will be putting together a community assessment that seeks to define which areas and aspects of the community need to be preserved and which require attention or growth. That assessment is expected to be repeated every few years to track progress and adapt goals as the community changes.

The takeaway

The Le Sueur Chamber's shift to a more inclusive, community-driven model represents a significant departure from the traditional chamber of commerce structure. By engaging a wider range of stakeholders, the organization aims to better address the needs of the entire Le Sueur community, rather than just serving its business members. This transition highlights the evolving role of chambers of commerce in supporting local communities.