The Pine City Area Chamber of Commerce would like to extend a sincere congratulations to Steve Hallan, recently named the 2026 Outstanding Citizen of the Year.  Through the nomination process each year, members of the community write letters to recommend individuals that they feel are deserving of this award.  At the close of the nomination period, a panel of community members are tasked with reviewing those letters to select the best candidate to receive the honor.  

Some letters are short yet powerful, others are a long and detailed accounting of all the reasons why their nominee is worthy of selection.  Some nominees are people that serve in the spotlight, while others are those that prefer to serve in the shadows.  Yet they all have common traits that are at the core of this award:  a spirit of service, dedication to their community, and willingness to do the work.  Choosing just one person to receive this award each year is truly one of the most difficult tasks because all of the nominees are deserving in their own way.  

“There are people who serve their community because it is their job, and then there are people who serve because they genuinely believe that the place they call home is worth investing in.”  These are words from just one of the nomination letters we received this year.  The writer continues, “Steve deserves this recognition because of the way he serves.  He is someone who shows up. He listens. He works to find common ground. He is willing to tackle difficult issues. And he keeps working, even when there is no recognition or applause waiting for him.”

The Pine City Area Chamber of Commerce invites the public to attend a reception honoring Steve Hallan as our 2026 Citizen of the Year.  The reception will be held on Sunday, November 1st from 3:00 – 4:30 PM at the Pine City Pizza Pub.  RSVP’s are appreciated by calling 320.322.4040 or emailing info@pinecitychamber.com.