Albert Lea City Manager Chad Adams was recognized by the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities Thursday during the Coalition’s three-day summer conference in Austin for his excellence in service to Greater Minnesota.

The Excellence in Service Award is given annually to a city leader who demonstrates knowledge, leadership and active participation in CGMC program areas over the past year.

Adams has been a passionate advocate for the need for a state investment in workforce housing in Greater Minnesota. This session, he testified at the Capitol and met with legislators to garner support for a workforce housing tax credit proposal initiated by the CGMC and its sister organization, the Greater Minnesota Partnership. Though the tax credit legislation did not pass this year, his efforts helped to bring attention to this important issue and set the stage for continued discussions about workforce housing the future.

“Chad demonstrates a progressive and forward-thinking management style,” said Robert Broeder, mayor of Le Sueur and president of the CGMC. “He does a great job of balancing immediate needs with those of the future on key issues affecting his community, such as the challenges of dealing with a lack of workforce housing. As a city administrator, he is always willing to speak up on behalf of his city and others in Greater Minnesota.”

CGMC is a nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy organization representing 88 cities outside of the Twin Cities metropolitan area. The Coalition educates legislators about issues important to Greater Minnesota.