New AWG facility up for 2 real estate awards
The $75 million, 330,000 square foot facility under construction by Associated Wholesale Grocers (AWG) is garnering accolades even before it opens in St. Cloud. The project is a finalist for two Minnesota Real Estate Journal Awards to be presented on April 21, in the Industrial/Manufacturing/Science and Greater Minnesota categories.
It wasn’t always a certainty that AWG would even be in Minnesota, but the GSDC worked closely with Rice Companies and Coborn’s last year to convince them to locate their major fresh and frozen warehouse here.
Other organizations that helped bring this development to fruition include the St. Cloud EDA, Stearns Electric Association, Great River Energy, the Minnesota Dept. of Employment & Economic Development, Tippmann Construction and others.
Scheduled to open this fall, AWG’s new facility will eventually employ 400 while enhancing the food industry supply chain for our region. We’re pleased to have AWG has a corporate-level investor in the GSDC.
WEST CENTRAL TRAILBLAZER CHALLENGE
On Wednesday, April 13, the Launch MN West Central Hub held their first pitch competition – the West Central Trailblazer Challenge. Finalists who took part in the competition represented high-potential startups from across the West Central region and came from industries ranging from lawn care technology to cybersecurity.
The West Central Trailblazer Challenge was organized by the Greater St. Cloud Development Corporation, in partnership with Greater Fergus Falls, the Greater Fargo/Moorhead Economic Development Corporation and St. Cloud’s ILT Studios, as part of their combined efforts to build a stronger entrepreneur ecosystem in the region.
Adult division finalists and winners include:
- Trimyxs (first place winner), the first-ever universal push lawnmower attachment, allowing consumers to both mow their lawn but also trim and edge all at the same time.
- Impacts (second place winner), a platform designed to improve the back-to-school shopping experience for parents, while also supporting educators and classrooms.
- Hummingbird Golf (third place winner), a pioneering luxury gold brand that aims to revolutionize the gold luxury product industry by bringing thoughtful product engineering to the hand of every golfer.
- Mezclada, an online learning platform for beginning framers – whether from a farm family or are first-generation farmers- that provides training and solutions to accessing land and capital for historically marginalized farmers.
- Piivately, a cyber security company built for mid-sized companies that are stewards of customers’ personal information and are currently dissatisfied with the fragmented landscape that lacks standards when it comes to securing personal data.
Youth division winners include:
- Bobo’s Music Café (first place winner), Brynn Germo
- Pay Rate (second place winner), Krya Knock / Hannah Storm
- Fledgling (third place winner), Gwenna Germo
Thank you to the following business leaders who judged the Youth and Adult Division:
Ryan Tungseth (4t Creative), Chad Landmann (Bremer Bank), Brandi Nelson (Bremer Bank), Derrick Fountain (Backhouse Brands) , Ryan Weber (Great North Ventures) , Donniel Robinson (Intiaitve Foundation), Scott Warzecha (Netgain), Eric Newell (Stoneridge Software) , Kate Mudge (West Central Initiative).
EV Expo April 30 at Lake George Park
If you’ve thought about an electric vehicle for your company, you can get your questions asked and take an EV for a test drive during the Recharge St. Cloud EV Expo from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 30, at Lake George Park.
The GSDC is pleased to co-sponsor the free event, in partnership with the City of St. Cloud, Initiative Foundation, St. Cloud Technical Community College, VEX Robotics, Gilleland Motors, Eich Motors, Connexus Energy and Xcel Energy.
EV experts will be on site to answer questions regarding vehicle specs and range, charging processes, and local, state and federal rebates. Attendees will also get the opportunity to discover the current and near-future plans for public charging in St. Cloud. The EV expo is free and open to the public. For more information visit https://www.recharge-minnesota.org/recharge-st-cloud-expo/.
Riders from Minnesota’s own ATV Big Air Tour will be showcasing hourly demos of fully electric off-road recreational equipment. Check out an amazing array of incredible stunts, music and more. In addition, VEX Robotics and St. Cloud Technical Community College will have a robot demo that guests can try out. The EV Expo will also include food for purchase on-site from StevenD’s Food Truck, Chevy’s Pit, Lily’s Wings, Adventure Coffee and Blondies Lemonade.
Our mission at the GSDC is to help make Greater St. Cloud one of the best places to live and work in America. We aim to support technological innovation, including EVs and charging solutions that will help boost visitation and strengthen workforce recruitment and retention for our community.
PURSUING SUSTAINABLE AND INCLUSIVE ECONOMIC GROWTH
As our economy and businesses look to grow, even during a lingering pandemic, this McKinsey & Company article highlights the opportunities for sustainable and inclusive growth. Click to read more about the challenges confronting the process but also the strengths our businesses and economy possess to grow even stronger.
BLATTNER COMPANY GIVES BACK
Blattner Company, headquartered in Avon, Minnesota, is part of the Quanta Services family of companies and is the parent company of Blattner Energy and D.H. Blattner and Sons, which are renewable energy construction leaders delivering wind, solar and energy storage projects across the country. Blattner is committed to building a sustainable world and a better tomorrow for the communities where employees live and work through its renewable energy projects, but also through its community giveback.
Blattner takes pride in being able to give intentionally to various organizations in Central Minn., but also to communities nationwide near its construction projects. One opportunity that leaves a lasting mark on local communities is Blattner’s annual Food Drive. For the last 24 years, Blattner employees nationwide have participated in the annual Food Drive by hosting internal events to raise money and purchase food items for local food shelves. Employees are filled with comradery, a passion for giving back and friendly competition. This year, Blattner employees raised over $158,000 cash along with household items for local food shelves in Central Minn. and across the country.
The generosity of Blattner’s employees is rooted deep within the company culture. Blattner employees collaborate for the success of others and communities to help create opportunities so future generations can flourish, whether through renewable energy or giving back. Blattner’s work in renewable energy is creating a cleaner world for the future, and its employee’s dedication to giving back to our communities through charitable donations can change lives. “Changing one life can change a family, that can change a community, that can change the world” said Christine Huston, director – marketing & communications.
As Blattner continues to deliver renewable energy projects across the country, they have the opportunity to make a bigger impact and create a better world – a commitment that will always remain rooted in their culture. Giving back is what powers them forward.
UPCOMING EVENTS
- You’re Invited: A golf day remembering Norm Skalicky
- Summertime by George lineup
- Central MN Career Fair on April 28th from 5-7pm
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Contact Our Staff Team
Patti Gartland, President
pgartland@greaterstcloud.com | 320-260-2442
Leslie Dingmann, Business Development Director
ldingmann@greaterstcloud.com | 320-493-9003
Gail Cruikshank, Talent Director
gcruikshank@greaterstcloud.com | 320-260-6775
Amelia Barkley, Communications & Program Specialist
abarkley@greaterstcloud.com | 320-292-9296