Excellence in Economic Development Awards

The awards recognize projects and professionals in the economic development industry who have gone above and beyond or faced significant challenges in the last year. Nominations are open each fall and recipients are honored at the Winter Conference in January.

Previous Recipients 
 

2026 Award Ceremony Photos 
 

Economic Developer of the Year

2026 Recipient
Leslie Dingmann, Greater St. Cloud Development Corporation

The Economic Developer of the Year recognizes a true leader in the industry from the past year.  This person exemplifies excellence in economic development and leadership. This award is intended for a professional who utilizes best practices, collaborative thinking, creativity and a spirit of innovation.

Emerging Professional of the Year

2026 Recipient
Brian Fleming, Sherburne County Economic Development Authority

The Emerging Professional Award acknowledges outstanding achievement by an emerging leader in the economic development industry. This individual shows promising leadership skills and positively impacts their organization, community, and/or region through economic development. This person should have less than 10 years of experience in the industry.

Project of the Year * Greater Minnesota

2026 Recipient
The House Food and Tap * St. Joseph, MN

The Project of the Year Award recognizes a community, organization, or team of individuals who have worked to complete a project that has had a positive impact in the State of Minnesota in the past year. This project will demonstrate collaboration, creativity, and complexity. The project will have created or retained employment and capital investment and should be in at least the beginning phase of construction.

Project of the Year * Twin Cities Metro

2026 Recipient
African Economic Development Solutions * St. Paul, MN

The Project of the Year Award recognizes a community, organization, or team of individuals who have worked to complete a project that has had a positive impact in the State of Minnesota in the past year. This project will demonstrate collaboration, creativity, and complexity. The project will have created or retained employment and capital investment and should be in at least the beginning phase of construction.

Innovation Award * Greater Minnesota

2026 Recipient
City of Luverne & Kids Rock! Child Care Center

The Innovation Award recognizes a creative solution to an economic development challenge, in at least the beginning phase of implementation, awarded to a community, county, organization, or a collaborative team. It could include any or all of the following:

• Programs or initiatives that focus on business attraction, talent attraction or retention, business retention and expansion, financing, entrepreneurship, technology or other economic development initiatives.
• Successful partnerships that demonstrate the strength of working together as a collective whole.
• Creativity, effective communication and impeccable execution of an economic development marketing initiative.

Innovation Award * Twin Cities Metro

2026 Recipient
EXCITE 2025

The Innovation Award recognizes a creative solution to an economic development challenge, in at least the beginning phase of implementation, awarded to a community, county, organization, or a collaborative team. It could include any or all of the following:

• Programs or initiatives that focus on business attraction, talent attraction or retention, business retention and expansion, financing, entrepreneurship, technology or other economic development initiatives.
• Successful partnerships that demonstrate the strength of working together as a collective whole.
• Creativity, effective communication and impeccable execution of an economic development marketing initiative.