Staying Connected: May's Developing News is Here!

This month, we’re covering:

• Meet Our New Board Members
• Sharing Accomplishments - Q1 Spotlight
• Celebrating One Year of Thrive MN
• Congratulations Lily Goyah - FastLane94 Pitch Competition Winner
• Revitalizing Downtown St. Cloud & Foley - Grant Applications Open
• Welcome to Our Newest Investors - One Community Alliance & Doherty Staffing Solutions

We are pleased to announce the addition of three new members to its Board of Directors in 2025:

• Paul Radeke, Radeke Consulting
• Greta Stark-Kraker, Central Minnesota Community Foundation
• Mary Swingle, Boys & Girls Club of Central Minnesota

Their diverse experiences and deep commitment to the Greater St. Cloud community will continue to help strengthen GSDC’s work and drive its mission forward.

It’s been one year since the launch of Thrive MN, and we’re proud to celebrate the impact it’s had across the Greater St. Cloud region! Whether you're kickstarting a new business, scaling your operations, or planning an exit strategy, Thrive MN offers up to 10 hours of FREE one-on-one coaching with experienced growth strategists. From financial planning to commercial real estate to food and beverage operations, our industry-agnostic support is tailored to meet you where you are.

To date, over 75 entrepreneurs, small businesses, and startups have signed up—and 45 are actively receiving support right now. If you or someone you know could benefit from this free programming, please visit here to learn more.

Congratulations to Lily Goyah, founder of A.N.P. Streaming, who won the FastLane94 Trailblazer Pitch Competition on April 3 for her personalized Christian music and podcast platform! The event, held at Bad Habit Brewery in St. Joseph, brought together top entrepreneurs from West Central Minnesota for a free, action-packed day of innovation, networking, and competition.  We wish her continued success as she advances as a semifinalist in MN Cup—Minnesota’s largest statewide startup competition—taking place in October 2025.

Commercial property owners, businesses, and developers in Downtown St. Cloud and Foley can now apply for an up to 30% matching grant through the Main Street Economic Revitalization Grant Program to support development, repair, and renovation projects. Eligible projects must align with goals of economic revitalization, job creation, and community enhancement within each respective designated downtown area.

Downtown St. Cloud Grant Program

Application Period: April 15-June 17, 2025
Details and application link

Downtown Foley Grant Program
Application Period: April 15 - May 23, 2025
Details and application link 

We're excited to welcome One Community Alliance and Doherty Staffing Solutions as our newest advocate-level investors!  

• OneCommunity Alliance is dedicated to eliminating disparities in housing, education, health, and employment. They offer programs such as homebuyer advising, credit counseling, and workshops to promote inclusivity and empower individuals. Their mission is to foster an equitable community where everyone has the opportunity to succeed.
• Doherty Staffing Solutions connects job seekers with temp, temp-to-hire, and direct hire jobs in light industrial, office, and professional roles. They also offer custom staffing solutions for employers.

• St. Cloud Area QBR Report - April 2025

• May 14 | 11:30 AM - 1 PM – Elevate Your Workplace Webinar Series (Part 5) Unlocking Potential: Employee Growth and Development – Led by Coborn's | Register

• May 18 I Apple Multisport Festival I Register

• Sept. 23 I 4 PM - 7 PM –- DisruptHR St. Cloud I Registration coming soon