- Engage Leaders: GSDC eBriefings recognized for excellence by International Economic Development Council
- Grow Business: Building on Broadband: Inspiring Progress Conference
- Expand Talent: Reskilling your Employees Supports Changing Business Needs
- Shape Tomorrow: TEDxStCloud – this Thursday!
- Insights & Inspirations: Indigenous Peoples Day
Engage Leaders
GSDC eBriefings recognized for excellence by International Economic Development Council
Many of you have said these eBriefings helped you identify resources and make critical adjustments at the start of the pandemic and beyond, and we’re honored to say that the International Economic Development Council also recognizes that value.
On Oct. 5, the organization announced that GSDC eBriefings had received a Bronze Rank in the category of Magazine and Newsletter.
The IEDC received over 500 submissions from four countries for a variety of award categories that recognize efforts to create positive change in urban, suburban and rural communities. We’re flattered to be included.
Connecting you to resources is one of the GSDC’s key strategies, and these eBriefings continue to be one of our most important tools. Read our full press release.
Learn more about the IEDC at iedconline.org.
Grow Business
Building on Broadband: Inspiring Progress Conference
With support from the Minnesota Office of Broadband Development, the Blandin Foundation is hosting a 3-day virtual conference, Building on Broadband: Inspiring Progress, October 12th-14th. Participants will have the opportunity to hear regional updates on what is being accomplished and what is still needed for further broadband investment throughout the Minnesota.
Feedback gathered during the Region 7W broadband session hosted by the Initiative Foundation on September 23th will be shared during the conference.
Register for the online conference HERE .
Expand Talent
Reskilling your Employees Supports Changing Business Needs
72% of Companies Prefer to Reskill Employees Over Hiring New Ones
Content provided by Express Employment Professionals
With a rapidly evolving workforce, businesses can see the benefits of reskilling. Many of our jobs today and looking forward will require a different skillset. Placing emphasis on reskilling and upskilling leads to improved retention of your workforce.
A majority of companies (72%) would rather take the time to reskill current employees for production needs than hire new ones from outside the organization, according to a new survey from The Harris Poll commissioned by Express Employment Professionals.
Three-in-five hiring decision-makers (60%) say their companies plan to reskill employees by the end of 2021 with larger companies the most likely to offer reskilling opportunities: 2-9 employees: 26%, 10-49: 45%, 50-99: 63%, 100-499: 76%, 500+: 79%. Among businesses planning to reskill employees, most commonly plan to do this by offering company-led training sessions or programs (67%), partnering with a third-party that offers training or courses (51%) and providing on-the-job training by other employees (50%).
By utilizing other employees for on-the-job training, the company gets immediate productivity from the newly hired employee. They also have the experienced, skilled employee provide full-shift support to the new employees that are being trained. This is an approach that creates faster, less expensive ways to move unskilled employees to a skilled position.
Shape Tomorrow
TEDxStCloud 2021 – Embrace
Please join us on Thursday evening, October 14th, from 6:30 to 9:00 at the Paramount Theater. Eight local speakers will surprise, delight and challenge you with short talks covering a broad and eclectic range of topics. This year we will hear from:
- James Alberts, founder and pastor of Higher Ground Church of Christ, a social justice leader and board member of ISAIAH MN.
- Annette Atkins, author and historian, teaches that our history and our lives stand in such a close relationship to each other that reflecting on either one helps illuminate the other.
- Mary Bruno, artist, community ambassador and owner of Bruno Press letterpress print shop in St. Joseph, MN.
- Charles Eisenreich, lifelong pre-K-12 educator and administrator, with a rich background in participating in and coaching sports.
- John Harlander, a physicist and designer of a NASA optical instrument that was deployed on the Ionospheric Connection Explorer, or ICON, mission.
- Niloufer Merchant, a psychologist who uses a holistic approach in addressing trauma, PTSD, depression and anxiety.
- Pete Rogers, a leader and expert in automation technology integration and robotics systems.
- Robbyn Wacker, leader in higher education and an academician in gerontology and sociology.
TEDxStCloud has enjoyed generous support from GSDC and its investors since the inaugural TEDxStCloud event in 2017. We are grateful to the many local community and business organizations who have supported us across our five-year journey.
TED, a nonprofit devoted to spreading ideas, usually in the form of short, powerful talks, created TEDX as a program of local and self-organized events to bring people together to share a TED-like experience. Our event is called TEDxStCloud, where x = independently organized TED event. TED provides general guidance for TEDx programs, but each individual TEDx event, like ours, is self-organized by a team of local volunteers.
Find additional information and a link to purchase tickets at www.TEDxStCloud.com.
Insights & Inspirations
Indigenous Peoples Day
Yesterday, October 11, was Indigenous Peoples Day. “Indigenous Peoples’ Day is a holiday that celebrates and honors Native American peoples and commemorates their histories and cultures.” In Minnesota, the second Monday in October is observed at Indigenous Peoples Days, a state that has 11 tribal nations.
Read more from the St. Cloud Times on What is Indigenous Peoples Day, and from NPR, Here’s what Indigenous Peoples’ Day means to Native Americans.
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