Check out what’s happening and how you can get involved: 

• Nominate/Apply Now: 2026 Minnesota Young American Leaders Program

• Sparking Positive Change With Disrupt St. Cloud 1.0

• Announcing the Winners of the Greater St. Cloud Snapshot Challenge
• Breaking Ground With Niron Magnetics 

• Cheer on Impacks at MN Cup

• Strengthening Trust With David Horsager
• Welcome New GSDC Investors

Young professionals in Greater St. Cloud with a passion for community leadership are invited to apply for MYALP, taking place May 17–20, 2026 at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities.

Part of Harvard Business School’s national initiative, MYALP develops leaders through cross-sector collaboration, case studies, and insights from national and Minnesota leaders. Since 2019, GSDC has partnered with the University of Minnesota, GREATER MSP, and the Itasca Project to select 6–10 local emerging leaders each year.

Applicants should have 7+ years of work experience, demonstrated leadership, and an interest in advancing initiatives for the public good.

Greater MN Info Session: Tuesday, Oct 7 | 12:30–1:00 PM – Register here

Deadlines: Nominations: Oct 30  I  Self-nominations: Nov 20

Learn more and nominate/apply

We are excited to announce the winners of this year’s Greater St. Cloud Snapshot Challenge!  With over 130 submissions, choosing the winners was tough:

• 1st Place: Amy Hanfler – University Bridge

• 2nd Place: Beth Ringsmuth-Stolpman – Milk & Honey Ciders Trivia Night

• 3rd Place: Bethany Domm – When Imagination Ascends

Vote for the People’s Choice Award on GSDC’s Facebook from Oct. 13–20! The photo with the most likes and loves will take the title—and bragging rights.

GSDC celebrates Niron Magnetics breaking ground on its first full-scale production facility in Sartell—a 190,000 sq. ft., $400M rare-earth-free magnet plant. The project will create 175 high-tech jobs and generate $60M annually in economic impact.

Local, state, and federal leaders joined the ceremony, underscoring broad support for this clean-tech anchor. “This facility is more than a single plant—it’s a catalyst for workforce growth, supply-chain expansion, and long-term prosperity and its ripple effects will echo for decades, positioning Greater St. Cloud as a national leader in permanent magnet innovation and clean-tech manufacturing.,” said NeTia Bauman, GSDC President & CEO.

Learn more about the groundbreaking

The GSDC, with Launch MN, supported twelve local female founders at the Women’s Venture Summit in San Diego, sparked by Clare Richards—Impacks co-founder, GSDC board member, and Midwest representative in the Women’s Fast Pitch. The group gained insights on venture capital, connected with investors, and brought back knowledge to strengthen our regional startup ecosystem.

“We’re proud of Clare for boldly representing female founders, Minnesota, and Greater St. Cloud,” said NeTia Bauman. “Her leadership will open doors for future founders in our region.”

Clare competed with top founders while forging nationwide connections—putting Minnesota on the map and boosting momentum for our regional economy. Join us Monday, October 6, as she takes the stage in the MN Cup Grand Finale, the nation’s largest statewide startup competition.

Get tickets for the 2025 MN Cup Grand Finale

PCI presents David Horsager, CEO of the Trust Edge Leadership Institute and bestselling author of The Trust Edge. David will share practical strategies to build trust—the key to clarity, alignment, and results.

📅 Monday, October 6
🍷 Social Hour – 5:00 PM
🎤 Show Starts – 6:30 PM
📍 The Paramount Center for the Arts, 913 St. Germain St. W., St. Cloud

We’d love to see you there, and encourage you to bring a guest!

A heartfelt thank-you to our generous sponsors—CentraCare, Granite Partners, and Central McGowan—all champion GSDC investors—for making this event possible.

Get tickets for David Horsager

We’re pleased to welcome our newest investors—Brookline Consulting and Wheeler Degraaf Financial. Together with our 173 other investors, their support strengthens economic growth, fuels innovation, and expands opportunity across Greater St. Cloud.

• Wellbeing at Work - Beyond the Financials  I  Oct. 2  I  8 - 9:30AM  Register
• Minnesota Manufacturing Month Statewide Tour 2025  Learn more