HOW THE GSDC IS RECOGNIZING NATIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WEEK
May 8-12 is National Economic Development Week, an awareness program created by the International Economic Development Council in 2016 to highlight people and efforts that create jobs, advance career development opportunities and improve the quality of life in communities.
This week, the GSDC is recognizing our region’s economic development organization partners on Facebook and LinkedIn – and here. Listed alphabetically, they are:
Jessica Barthel, Sherburne County; Neil Fortier, Stearns County HRA; Nate Keller, City of St. Joseph; Bill McCabe, City of St. Augusta; Cathy Mehelich, City of St. Cloud; Jon Noerenberg, City of Waite Park; Amanda Othoudt, Benton Economic Partnership; Renee Regel, City of Becker; Todd Schultz, City of Sauk Rapids; Kari Theisen, City of Sartell; and our own Leslie Dingmann, Greater St. Cloud Development Corp.
These 11 professionals do a great job of making our region stronger, and we appreciate our partnership with them all!
GSDC’S MAY 4 EXECUTIVE ROUNDTABLE FOCUSED ON SOLVING CHILD CARE CRISIS
“Finding Solutions to our Region’s Current Child Care Crisis” was the topic of the GSDC’s second Executive Roundtable Session in 2023. Twenty-seven corporate-level GSDC investors gained valuable information about addressing this serious matter during a 90-minute session on May 4, hosted by BCI Construction in Sauk Rapids.
Stephanie Sanvig of First Children’s Finance shared data that show licensed child care options meet just 55% of local child care need for ages birth to five. Sara Hagen of the United Way of Central Minnesota described the Central Minnesota Child Care Response Fund and other local support that is available. In between, Initiative Foundation President Matt Varilek moderated a lively and informative discussion.
We thank BCI, Matt, Sara, Stephanie and all attendees for another enlightening GSDC Executive Roundtable Session. If you’d like to participate in the future, please contact Gail Cruikshank, gcruikshank@greaterstcloud.com or Leslie Dingmann, ldingmann@greaterstcloud.com.
ENTREPRENEURS TACKLING A SOCIAL CHALLENGE INVITED TO APPLY FOR INITIATORS FELLOWSHIP
The Initiative Foundation and its Minnesota Initiative Foundation partners are now recruiting for the 2024-2025 cohort of the Initiators Fellowship.
Current and aspiring business owners who are working to create positive community or environmental change and who reside and operate in the 53 counties and six Native nations of the Initiative Foundation, Northwest Minnesota Foundation, Southwest Initiative Foundation and West Central Initiative are eligible to apply.
Know someone who would be a good fit? Invite them to visit the Fellowship website or contact Christine Metzo, Initiators Fellowship program manager, to learn more.
An eligibility quiz and application for the two-year Fellowship remain open through June 15. Up to eight social entrepreneurs will be selected. The program provides a $30,000 annual stipend, a hand-selected, executive-level mentor, and wrap-around training and support for up-and-coming social entrepreneurs.
NEWS FROM THE METROPOLITAN AIRPORTS COMMISSION
The Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC), for which GSDC President Patti Gartland is Vice Chair, provides quarterly updates on one of the nation’s largest airport systems, including Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport and six general aviation airports within 35 miles of the Twin Cities.
The latest update from MAC Chair Rick King is here.
SHARED MOBILITY CONTINUES TO GROW
Shared mobility, or when vehicles are shared among individuals over time or together among multiple passengers, appears to be here to stay. A recent article by McKinsey & Company, a global management consulting firm founded in 1926, has some interesting statistics and predictions here.
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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
Tammy Campion, Communications & Program Specialist
tcampion@greaterstcloud.com | 320.252.5185
Michelo Muleya, EPIC Coordinator
mmuleya@greaterstcloud.com I 320.252.5203