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Dunwoody, Ecolab, womenventure, and more are 2026's Community Impact Award winners. Ten organizations exemplify how to help immigrant communities, offer housing and jobs support, and create economic empowerment. October 08, 2026 Twin Cities Business' 2026 Community Impact Award winners bring to life the concepts of neighboring and caring communities. After Operation Metro Surge began in December, individuals, nonprofits, and businesses chose to help immigrants, including three of the 10 Community Impact Award winners. The Fredrikson law firm offered pro bono legal assistance to immigrants. Centro Tyrone Guzman, in Minneapolis, and Neighborhood House, in St. Paul, provided food, transportation, and other critical needs. The firms winning deals today are using AI to move faster and see more. Discover how AI sharpens analysis, reduces risk, and uncovers value early. Four honorees were selected for their efforts to address housing needs and to help people land and keep good jobs. Andersen Corp. and Ecolab are providing financial and leadership assistance to tackle the affordable housing issue. Dunwoody College of Technology is awarding scholarships as a pathway to family-sustaining jobs, while nonprofit Small Sums is supplying work clothing, tools, and other essentials to help workers succeed in new jobs. Meanwhile, three veteran organizations are delivering high-quality programs to produce financial security. Project Success helps students discover their career potential. WomenVenture offers resources women need to pursue their career dreams. While the Metropolitan Economic Development Association (MEDA) provides financing and wrap-around services that BIPOC entrepreneurs need to succeed. - Liz Fedor Nov. 17, 3:00-5:30 p.m. Metropolitan Ballroom

Ecolab plans major Eagan campus expansion and renovation. The blueprint. * Ecolab plans to add 104,888 square feet of new building space at its Eagan campus. * The project includes additions to buildings D, E and F and renovations to 228,119 square feet of existing space. * Plans call for solar panels, photovoltaic canopies, geothermal wells and landscaping upgrades. * The Eagan Planning Commission recommended approval; the City Council is scheduled to consider the land use amendment Oct. 20. Ecolab is nearing construction of an ambitious expansion and renovation project that will bring new labs, upgraded infrastructure and other improvements to the company's campus in Eagan. An Ecolab representative told the Eagan Planning Commission on Tuesday that construction could begin early next year on the project, which would create 104,888 square feet of new building space on the 89-acre campus at 655 Lone Oak Road. Specifically, the project includes additions to buildings D, E and F. Ecolab also plans to renovate 228,119 square feet of space on the campus, according to a narrative from Alliiance, the project's designer. Planned renovations include "exterior building material modifications, a new solar panel area, and new geothermal building," Sarah Thomas, Eagan city planner, said at Tuesday's meeting. But before the project team can start pushing dirt, the Eagan City Council needs to sign off on a land use change for the campus, which was originally developed as a headquarters for Cray Research. Tuesday night, the Eagan Planning Commission recommended approval of the change, known as a "planned development amendment." The amendment will be up for city council approval on Oct. 20. City documents reveal that the amendment is necessary because the existing plan allows no more than 695,000 square feet of building space on the site. The expansion would push the total square footage to 724,224. Ecolab, which purchased the campus from Cray Research in 2004, currently operates a 619,343-square-foot building on the property. The campus houses global research, development and engineering centers. Bill Todd, senior director of global real estate for Ecolab, told the planning commission that the project will turn the campus into a "world-class destination" for innovation, research, and collaboration. "This investment is going to create an environment where our customers can travel from all across the globe to tour this facility, see our research and development in action, collaborate with our scientists in real time, and see the full power of EcoLab's products and services and capabilities," he said. "And it will help address and continue to address some of the world's most critical challenges that we are faced with, with water and food safety and infection prevention." Ecolab employs about 3,000 people in Minnesota, including 800 at the Eagan campus, Todd said. The company, he added, expects to retain those jobs during construction and "certainly at the completion of the project, as well." The upcoming project goes beyond building improvements. Ecolab also plans to "refresh the landscaping in the courtyard, dining terrace, and lake areas on the west side of campus, add photovoltaic canopies and panels, and add a geothermal building," according to city documents. Todd said Ecolab has nine geothermal wells on campus, "so we've already started that investment path. And as part of this transformation, we are looking to add more geothermal wells to continue to enhance the sustainability efforts." Planning commissioners gave the project a favorable review. "It looks like a beautiful addition and revision of your campus," said Christos Jensen, chair of the planning body. "We're very happy to have you here and thank you for your investment in our community."

Ecolab's commitment to growing the next generation of talent. September 18, 2026 Ecolab has been part of the Genesys Works story from the beginning. In 2008, Ecolab became the first Twin Cities company to commit to hosting Genesys Works interns, taking four of the 11 students placed that inaugural summer. That early commitment reflects Ecolab's investment in local talent, helping create career pathways for students while strengthening its future workforce and engaging employees as mentors. Eighteen years later, that investment continues to pay off: Juan Puentes, one of those original Class One interns, still works at Ecolab today after first starting his IT career there while in high school. Ecolab doesn't just host interns - it invests in their development while building its future workforce through a strong talent pipeline. The company continues to excel in the number of interns it supports, its commitment to providing impactful experiences, and its willingness to hire Genesys Works students into full-time roles. This past year, Ecolab hired two Genesys Works interns into full-time positions, a powerful example of how early career experiences through the program can create pathways to long-term careers. That long-term commitment is exactly why Ecolab was recognized with two awards at this year's Draft Day, where more than 200 students were launched into year-long internships with 35 outstanding corporate technology and business partner companies. The Best Internship Experience Award is presented to an organization that has gone above and beyond to innovate its internship experience over the past year. Ecolab earned this recognition by consistently empowering interns to develop their leadership and self-advocacy skills, while involving them in shaping professional development and team-building activities. Ecolab's dedicated Steering Committee, led by Chairperson Maggie Humsey, played a key role in the program's success. "Together, we are building an experience that helps interns grow in a professional environment while giving them meaningful opportunities to network, connect, and have fun," shared Maggie Humsey, Sr. Field Engagement Analyst at Ecolab. "The structure, expectations, and challenge of a professional role can shape how young professionals show up not only at work, but in their daily lives. Through this program, we have the opportunity to help them build confidence, develop professional habits, and understand what it means to show up as the best version of themselves." The Ever Upward Award is given to an organization with the most year-over-year growth in internships. This year, Ecolab grew its internship program from 17 interns to 20, with 15 high school and five alumni interns drafted to support Ecolab's digital teams, demonstrating the company's continued investment in creating opportunities for emerging talent. Interns are contributing in roles such as Associate IT Operations Analyst and Associate Business Process Analyst and on teams including Engineering, DevOps, and Data Management, gaining hands-on experience in areas critical to the future workforce. "This year's cohort will have meaningful opportunities to learn, contribute, and build connections across Ecolab," said Humsey. "Interns will gain hands-on experience supporting Ecolab Digital and IT through work such as technical support, software testing, data analysis, documentation, incident management, process improvement, and business operations. These real project experiences will help them strengthen technical, analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills while gaining exposure to how a global technology organization operates."Genesys Works is grateful to Ecolab for its investment in early-career talent. With support from an Ecolab Foundation grant, the program advances one of the Foundation's key focus areas: delivering the future workforce by creating meaningful experiences that help young professionals imagine and plan their futures. "I would strongly encourage other companies to consider partnering with Genesys Works. The experience is rewarding for both interns and employers, and the impact is significant. Personally, leading this program has strengthened my confidence as a leader and reinforced how much can be accomplished through a committed team. Investing in young talent is an important way to support the future of the workforce. This program creates space for knowledge sharing, fresh perspectives, and meaningful growth on both sides." A special thank you to Karine Semmer, Senior VP Digital Connected Devices and Genesys Works Twin Cities Board Member, and David Bingenheimer, EVP & GM - Digital Growth, for continuing to champion and invest in the Genesys Works mission. Genesys Works is again so appreciative of Ecolab's incredible Steering Committee, including: * Maggie Humsey - Chairperson * Mercedes Parker-Newell - Vice Chairperson * Emily Ollig - Chief of Staff * Richard Benton - Talent Lead * Colin Roberts - Advisor * Sarah Mosher - Advisor * Randall Batz - Advisor