Innovation Awards
The deadline to nominate/submit applications for the 2023 Innovation Awards and Employer of Choice Awards has expired. Winners will be announced in late November 2023.
Next nomination/application cycle will open in July 2024.
2022 GSDC Innovation Award Winners
Impacks – For-profit (emerging) – Impacks is a tech-powered company that simplifies the way parents and educators access critical supplies for students. Impacks launched in 2020, and has successfully brought to market a customized, prepackaged school supply kit solution. These supply kits are teacher-approved and tailored to each specific grade within a school. They are offered at less than half the national average cost.
Arbor Hair Studio – For-profit (established) – Arbor Hair Studio is a salon that uses products that are PPD free, ammonia free and contain naturally derived ingredients. Arbor is also a Green Circle Salon, which means they collect, recycle and re-purpose hair clippings, papers, plastics, glass and spa waste. For example, hair clippings are bailed into coils that are used to contain oil spills.
Central Minnesota Habitat for Humanity – Non-profit – In 2015, Central MN Habitat for Humanity partnered with Tech High School to create the School Build Program. In Fall 2021, the program was expanded to Sartell and ROCORI High Schools. The program educates 30 high school students per year at each school under SCTCC supervision and instruction with hands-on learning experience in the home construction. The house will be Habitat house for a low income family in Central MN.
Central Minnesota Child Advocacy Center – Non-profit – CentraCare and community partners successfully created a “one-stop” approach that’s better for the children by creating the Central Minnesota Child Advocacy Center (CAC). The CAC brings together a multidisciplinary team so children don’t have to repeat their physical, sexual, or emotional abuse story to multiple agencies at multiple times.