Board Officers
Jeff Peterson
Gail Ruhland
MaryKay Pfannenstein
Penny White

Board Members
Brett Anderson
John Bestgen
Tami DeLand
Brad Goskowicz
Kate Hanson
Steve Laraway
Ryan Laudenbach
Rob Ruprecht
Mark Stafford

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Join Us in Celebrating 25 Years!
The Lofts Condominiums represent the first large-scale effort to add to the residential character of the city's Downtown in years.  Hopefully, we're just getting started!

On Tuesday, April 18th, you can be among the first to tour the new Lofts Condominiums that are part of the DTC spring meeting and open house.

Here is your chance to get a glimpse inside these open and modern spaces in our historic Downtown! 

Join us for some food, beverages, music, mingling, awards, prizes and tours.  This is a sneak peak of the newest redevelopment project in our vibrant Downtown.  Register today!  
2017 Urban Heroes
Urban Heroes are passionate about making St. Cloud's Downtown a more vibrant place to live, work and play.  They recognize the best of what is happening Downtown and celebrate excellence in Downtown revitalization.  The DTC proudly honors: 

ECONOMIC IMPACT - recognizing individuals who have stimulated revitalization efforts that strengthen and advance the community at large; whose efforts have made a positive and significant contribution in Downtown, and have applied personal commitment to revitalization.  

Several words come to mind when thinking about Shannon Wiger and Brian Schoenborn -- fierce, impassioned, spirited, eager, engaged supporters of Downtown.  They get satisfaction and purpose out of renovating old buildings and bringing them back to life, respecting and celebrating our heritage along the way.  Ms. Wiger and Mr. Schoenborn are employed by Stinson Leonard Street.

HEART OF DOWNTOWN - recognizing individuals with extraordinary passion, a vision of how increased vitality benefits our local economy and quality of life, and whose actions inspire others. 

A St. Cloud native, Penny White, the always-energetic community volunteer, believes in Downtown and all that it represents to the region.  She has been a integral part of moving Downtown forward.  She serves on the DTC Board of Directors, Friends of the Gardens, Mississippi Partners, Riverwalk Task Force along with a few others, and had also been a part of ArtWorks, United Arts Board.  She continually demonstrates tremendous dedication to the growth and success of our Downtown.

VISION - recognizing a project that showcases excellence in leadership as demonstrated by outstanding initiative, impact of work and inspiration to others in Downtown. 

We are finally to the point where investments in Downtown have people wanting to come here and live here.  Expanding the number of residents is sure to strengthen Downtown as the vital regional center and more desirable place to live, work and play.  Makenda, LLC and the The Lofts Condominiums project will be honored this year.  
In 1992 
The St. Cloud Downtown Council is the result of a merger between the Downtown Association and the Downtown Development Corporation in 1992.  

We have seen so much change in the past 25 years -- from the removal of the Mall Germain, US Bank building, Falcon bank building, Lake George, Beaver Island Trail expansion, River's Edge expansion, new parking ramps, Capital One -- along with our inherent strengths such as the River, tourism, arts, culture and historic buildings.  

It is critical to continue fostering growth in St. Cloud's Downtown. Cities are organisms.  They die from the inside out.  The Downtown is EVERYBODY'S neighborhood.  

Where do we want to be 25 years from now?  The answer to that question 25 years ago was "We want an extraordinary Downtown."
What Is It We Do?  Not Always Clear.
The DTC is committed to creating a vibrant, diverse and economically sustainable Downtown.  As a private, nonprofit organization, the DTC has over 160 members representing the St. Cloud Area's leading businesses, property owners, entrepreneurial companies, arts and cultural organizations and nonprofit organizations.

We have one full-time staff (an Int'l Downtown Association Fellow), a volunteer Board of 15 members, and hundreds of volunteers.  

Greater Downtown spreads across 70 blocks, over 620 businesses and approximately 10,000 employees.  

Membership Development
  Member workshops (Finance, Marketing, Retail Displays, etc.)
  Topical Open Houses (Riverwalk, Streetscape, Parking, etc.)
  Spring & Fall DTC Open Houses
  Advocacy
  Newsletters, Facebook
  Website (redesigning to provide better value; mobile app)
  Mailing Lists
  Information resource
  Liaison between businesses and special opportunities (Gov Fish Open)
  Referrals
  Help with building codes or permits
  etc.

Marketing & Events
  Hosting the Downtown Duck Drop, June 24 (partners: Rotary & City)
  Promote all things Downtown
  Hosting the Winter Nights & Light Festival (2017 will be 17th year)
  Monthly radio shows
  Involved in Governor's Fishing Opener
  Involved in Summertime by George
  Downtown Maps in annual Visitor Guide
  Advocate for wayfinding (to direct visitors and customers)
  etc.

Beautification
  Host Spring and Fall clean ups
  Host Adopt-a-Planter program (plant 52 pots in Downtown in Spring)
  Host Fall Adopt-a-Planter program
  Work with the City for trouble spots and special cleanup
  Promote public art projects

Parking & Streetscape
  Liaison between City and membership regarding parking policies & 
     issues
  Liaison between City and membership regarding streetscape design

Riverfront Development
  Connected Rotary, Mississippi Partners and City to pursue RiverWalk
    
Business Retention & Recruitment
  Site Seeker Program
  Gather data upon request and on annual basis
  Downtown Historic District design guidelines 
  Catalytic sites identified

Housing
  Work with and pursue developers seeking market-rate housing 
     investments in urban environment

Partnerships / Other
  Our members
  City of St. Cloud
  St. Cloud EDA
  Greater St. Cloud Development Corp.
  St. Cloud Area Convention & Visitors Bureau
  St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce
  Heritage Preservation Commission
  St. Cloud Rotary
  Commercial Brokers
  Mississippi Partners
  Riverwalk Task Force
  Brownfields Task Force
  Stearns County
  Streetscape Taskforce
  International Downtown Association
From 1992
Downtown is the heart and soul of every city.  It is the gathering place for its
people and the physical and aesthetic expression of its collective visions.  A 
downtown is the manifestation of the diversity of the intellectual, cultural, 
social, business and political consciousness of its people.