Brainerd Lakes Area Economic Development Corporation

09/03/2026

Mark your calendars!

💜 SAVE THE DATE: Choose Kindness is back! 💜

After a wonderful first year, the 2nd Annual Choose Kindness Community Event is returning to Forestview Middle School this October!

😊 Thursday, October 8 | 5:30-7:30 pm

This free community event is all about bringing people together, spreading a little kindness and celebrating the things that make the Brainerd Lakes Area such a great place to call home.

✨ Food
✨ Prizes
✨ Community vendors
✨ Inspiration
✨ And plenty of reasons to smile!

Bring your family. Bring a friend. Bring a neighbor. 💜

Mark your calendar now and stay tuned! We’ll be sharing more details as we get closer to the big night.

08/26/2026

Start here. Grow here. Lead here.

Brainerd-based companies are growing, and they're looking for the right people to grow with them. Five roles are open right now:

Director of Human Resources
Maintenance Technician III
Plant Manager
Production Manager
Senior Sales Manager

Competitive pay, strong benefits, and real room to build a career in a community that's rooting for you. If one of these sounds like your next move, reach out to Mike Bjerkness at [email protected] or 218-454-2698.

08/06/2026

What's your favorite fair food??

08/04/2026

Can you believe August is already here?

Summer always seems to fly by in the Brainerd Lakes Area. It's one of the busiest—and best—times of year, reminding us what makes our community such a special place to live, work, and grow a business.

Let's spread a little local positivity. 🌞

Tag a local business that has made your summer a little brighter—whether it's your favorite coffee shop, restaurant, retailer, attraction, or service provider. We'd love to celebrate the businesses that help make our community thrive. 👇

07/29/2026

Road construction is making steady progress! 🚧

Take a look at the latest drone footage for a unique bird's-eye view of the work happening along one of our community's main corridors. It's a great perspective on the progress being made and the investment in our region's future.

07/08/2026

05/15/2026

https://conta.cc/4dbhYeS

Email from BLAEDC Brainerd Exterior Grants: Apply Now! BRAINERD EXTERIOR GRANTS Grant Applications Are Open! Property owners and business owners are encouraged to consider improvements incorporating a

05/08/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us yesterday for the BLAEDC Annual Meeting! We appreciate the incredible support from our members, partners, and community leaders who continue to help move the Brainerd Lakes Area forward.

A special thank you to our presenting sponsor, Deerwood Bank, for helping make this event possible. We’d also like to thank our Board President, Sandy Zutz-Wiczek, for her leadership and remarks, Brad Pieper for sharing insights on Fans of MN Hockey Day 2027 – Brainerd Lakes Area, and our keynote speaker, Andy Rangen, for an engaging presentation on AI in the real world.

We are grateful for the continued collaboration and energy that make our region such a great place to live, work, and do business!

05/05/2026

Join us tomorrow! 🍻

Our final Entrepreneurs on Tap of the spring is happening Wednesday, May 6 from 5:00–6:30 PM at Up North Social in Crosslake.

Don’t miss this last chance this season to connect with fellow entrepreneurs, business owners, and community members in a relaxed, informal setting. It’s a great opportunity to network, share ideas, and gear up for the busy months ahead.

No registration needed—just show up and join the conversation.

See you tomorrow! 👏

04/30/2026

🚨 Apply Now: Brainerd Exterior Improvement Grants 🚨

Looking to upgrade your building or signage? You may be eligible:

🏢 Façade Improvement Grant
Businesses adjacent to Washington St / Hwy 210 may qualify for a 50% matching grant up to $5,000 for exterior building improvements.

🪧 Sign Improvement Grant
Businesses within Brainerd city limits may qualify for a 50% matching grant up to $1,000 for signage improvements.

Funding is limited and first-come, first-served.

👉 Learn more and apply:
https://growbrainerdlakes.org/brainerd-exterior-improvement-grant/