Austin Area Chamber of Commerce

Austin Area Chamber of Commerce We build, promote, and advocate for our community through business The Chamber works to promote and connect its members and Advocate for their interests.

We represent nearly 400 business and organizational members in the Austin, MN area. Collectively, they employ more than 10,000 people. This page is intended to promote the activities of the Chamber as well as the products and services offered by our members.

Fire, Safety, and... Tasers? Leadership Austin Goes 10-8!Yesterday, our Leadership Austin 2025-2026 cohort took a deep d...
03/20/2026

Fire, Safety, and... Tasers? Leadership Austin Goes 10-8!

Yesterday, our Leadership Austin 2025-2026 cohort took a deep dive into the heart of our community for Public Safety Day! It was an eye-opening experience designed to show us exactly how our local agencies function and keep Austin safe every single day.

🌟 A Massive Thank You: We are so grateful to the teams at the Mower County Government Center and the Austin Fire Department for giving us their invaluable time. We walked away with a profound respect for the men and women who protect our community. Austin is truly in great hands!

⚡ The "Shocking" Highlights: Things got real during our Use of Force session! We want to give a huge shoutout to the four brave cohort members who volunteered to experience a taser deployment firsthand. Talk about commitment to the learning process!

🚒 Hands-On at the Fire Station: We wrapped up our "shift" with Chief Jim McCoy and the Austin Fire Department. From touring the station to getting a feel for the gear, it was a powerful reminder of the skill and dedication it takes to serve as a first responder in our area.

📸 There were way too many great moments to count, browse the gallery below to see our cohort in action (including the taser volunteers!) and get a behind-the-scenes look at Austin Public Safety! 👇

03/19/2026

The energy at the 100 Club for our 52nd Annual event was truly unmatched! 🎥

From Dave Thompson’s hilarious hosting to Tim Whitson’s incredible winning streak, the night was a perfect celebration of our vibrant Austin business community. We owe a massive thank you to the hardworking volunteers and ticket sellers who made this tradition possible. Press play to relive the best moments and see the connections that make our Chamber so special.

Did you spot yourself in the video? 👇

🌟 Ambassador Spotlight: Jacob Smith 🌟Meet Jacob Smith, a Chamber Ambassador, real estate developer, and real estate agen...
03/18/2026

🌟 Ambassador Spotlight: Jacob Smith 🌟

Meet Jacob Smith, a Chamber Ambassador, real estate developer, and real estate agent with Dwell Realty Group.

Jacob became an Ambassador because he saw it as a great opportunity to meet people and learn from others in the community. What he enjoys most about the role is the Ambassador team itself. As he puts it, they are a constantly evolving, motley crew of personalities where laughter, good-natured ribbing, and fun are always part of the experience. At the same time, the group shares a genuine commitment to supporting local businesses and helping the community succeed.

A fun fact about Jacob: he plays a lot of softball (more than 120 games a year across 8+ states). You could say the softball field is his second home.

Jacob’s perspective on the community:
“Austin, like many small cities, has its challenges, but with those challenges comes a tremendous amount of opportunity. These are opportunities for business success and personal growth. If we’re lucky, we’ll get to watch our own investments in this community help redefine and improve the future for those who come after us.”

Thank you, Jacob, for bringing your energy, perspective, and sense of humor to the Ambassador team and the Austin business community! 💙

🌟 Building Connections and Making Austin Feel Like Home! 🌟It was an incredible evening of history and science at The Hor...
03/18/2026

🌟 Building Connections and Making Austin Feel Like Home! 🌟

It was an incredible evening of history and science at The Hormel Institute! From WWII history to cutting-edge microscopy, our newest professionals got a front-row seat to the world-class innovation happening right here in our backyard.

🤝 Our Professional Newcomers service is a vital part of the Chamber’s mission to grow our community. By providing networking opportunities, local resources, and social events, we help new residents find their "village" and see why we are all so proud to call Austin home. Thank you to everyone who joined us for this fascinating deep dive!

Check out the original post below to see the highlights! 👇

Surprise lunch delivery! 🌯✨​Shoutout to Taco John's for making our day with an unexpected office treat. There’s nothing ...
03/12/2026

Surprise lunch delivery! 🌯✨

​Shoutout to Taco John's for making our day with an unexpected office treat. There’s nothing like a "Taco Thursday" (or any day, really) to bring the team together.

🕹️ Leveling Up Our Community at Business After Hours! 🕹️We had an absolute blast last night at Main Street Pinball for o...
03/11/2026

🕹️ Leveling Up Our Community at Business After Hours! 🕹️

We had an absolute blast last night at Main Street Pinball for our latest Business After Hours! It was the perfect backdrop for an evening of networking, nostalgia, and a little friendly competition.

A huge thank you to the team at Main Street Pinball for hosting the Austin business community in such a vibrant space. Seeing our members come together to support a local favorite while building professional relationships is exactly what these events are all about.

🤝 Whether you were a pinball wizard or just there for the great company, thank you for joining us and making the night a "winner"! We love seeing our members connect and grow together.

📸 Swipe through the gallery below to see some of the action! What was your favorite game of the night? Tag your favorite networking partner in the comments and let’s keep the conversation going! 👇

It was an informative morning at our Voice of Business meeting as we dove into the details of the Austin Whitewater on t...
03/10/2026

It was an informative morning at our Voice of Business meeting as we dove into the details of the Austin Whitewater on the Cedar project. A big thank you to Nathan Smit, project lead, and Andy Sorenson, City of Austin Assistant City Engineer, for presenting the vision and answering questions for our attendees.

This project aims to transform our riverfront by creating the Austin River District and the first whitewater park in Minnesota. Beyond providing free outdoor recreation to help attract and retain residents, the initiative focuses on:

• Economic Growth: Stimulating new riverfront developments, including businesses and housing, with an estimated $2M+ annual tourism impact from the Twin Cities and Rochester markets.
• Environmental & Safety Improvements: Enhancing water quality and fish migration while removing the dangerous low-head dam and mill remnants.
• Historical Preservation: Ensuring the long-term preservation of the Austin Mill Pond.

With feasibility and preliminary designs complete, the project moves into permitting and final design through 2027, with construction projected to begin in late 2027 or 2028.

We are excited to see how this "Vision 2020" inspired project continues to take shape for our community!

🌟 Ambassador Spotlight: Crystal Kittridge 🌟 Crystal Kittridge may have lived in Austin her entire life, but after spendi...
03/04/2026

🌟 Ambassador Spotlight: Crystal Kittridge 🌟

Crystal Kittridge may have lived in Austin her entire life, but after spending much of her career working in Rochester, joining the Chamber felt like the perfect way to reconnect when her company opened an Austin office. Becoming involved with the Chamber was one of the first things on her list, and after meeting several Ambassadors, she knew she wanted to be part of the group that supports, promotes, and engages with the local business community. She’s loved every minute of it.

What Crystal enjoys most is being part of such a welcoming group of local business professionals who share common goals. She also appreciates that there’s always something new to learn about Austin and its Chamber members.

At Minnesota Secured Title, Crystal serves as a Branch Manager and Closer. She works closely with homeowners purchasing, selling, or refinancing homes across Minnesota. Alongside Ashley Anderson, she coordinates and conducts real estate closings, reviews and explains legal documents, manages funds, and ensures each transaction is completed accurately, legally, and on time. Crystal especially enjoys the energy and connections that come with working alongside local real estate partners to help make homeownership dreams a reality.

Outside of work, Crystal has been married to her husband Bill for nearly 32 years. Together, they’ve raised two wonderful children and now enjoy spending time with their two grandchildren. Family and friends mean everything to her, and she and Bill are also on a mission to adventure their way through all 50 states.

Crystal’s message to fellow Ambassadors and Chamber members:
✨ “We are all busy and its hard to do it all, but if you challenge yourself to join, engage or attend something new, usually it will benefit you in the long run and you will be thankful😊”

Thank you, Crystal, for your continued involvement and dedication to supporting our Chamber community! 💙

🎟️ Celebrating 52 Years of Tradition and Community Fun! 🎟️The energy at the Austin Country Club was unmatched for our 52...
03/02/2026

🎟️ Celebrating 52 Years of Tradition and Community Fun! 🎟️

The energy at the Austin Country Club was unmatched for our 52nd Annual 100 Club event! It was a spectacular evening celebrating the vibrant spirit and pride that defines our Austin business community.

🌟 We want to extend a massive thank you to our incredible volunteers and ticket sellers; your hard work and commitment made this night possible. And a huge shoutout to our master of ceremonies, Dave Thompson. With 10 raffle games on the line, he kept the excitement in the room consistent throughout the entire night.

Here at the Chamber, we are proud to support a community that knows how to work hard and celebrate even harder. Thank you to everyone who made Year 52 one for the books! 🎉

📸 Browse the gallery below to see some of the highlights! Did you join us for the fun? Tag a friend you see in the photos and share your favorite memory in the comments! 👇

The Office will be closed today at NOON 🕛
02/27/2026

The Office will be closed today at NOON 🕛

On Thursday, we officially welcomed Neighborhood Writing Consultants LLC to Austin with a ribbon-cutting ceremony! 🙌It’s...
02/23/2026

On Thursday, we officially welcomed Neighborhood Writing Consultants LLC to Austin with a ribbon-cutting ceremony! 🙌

It’s not every day you have a university-level lecturer with an MA in English Literature ready to help you with your corporate communications or tutoring needs. Maurice and his wife have been Austin locals for three years now, and we are thrilled to see their business officially take flight within the Chamber.

Need a hand with your next project? They offer both on-site and remote appointments tailored to you.

Help us congratulate them in the comments below! 👇

Address

329 N Main St, Ste 102
Austin, MN
55912

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 4pm
Tuesday 9am - 4pm
Wednesday 9am - 4pm
Thursday 9am - 4pm
Friday 9am - 4pm

Telephone

(507) 437-4561

Website

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“The Austin Area Chamber of Commerce supports our members by promoting local commerce, advocating business perspectives and establishing relationships for business and community success.”

We represent nearly 400 business and organizational members in the Austin, MN area. Collectively, they employ more than 10,000 people. This page is intended to promote the activities of the Chamber, as well as promote our members.