There’s GREATER Shopping in Downtown St. Cloud

St. Cloud is a GREAT place to call home. Not only are there ample work opportunities and an affordable cost of living, but when it comes to play, there are hundreds of options right outside your door.

GREATER Shopping

Downtown St. Cloud features more than 60 retail shops – many of which are locally owned businesses. Whether you’re looking for a trendy local shop to browse unique children’s wear, a trusted place to find outdoor sports equipment, a relaxing atmosphere to unwind and get a GREAT new do, or even a generations-old local business that can help you build or remodel your home, you can find all this and more in Downtown St. Cloud. And did we mention the antique stores, game shops, and art galleries? There are tons of options! For a complete list, click here.

GREATER Eats and Treats

Not only does Downtown St. Cloud offer a wide array of shops, but it also boasts a huge variety of eating establishments – more than 55, just to give you an idea. Whether you’re in the mood for some Irish fare, something sweet, classic pizza, delicious Indian food, or simply burgers and beers,  you’ll find it all Downtown. For a full list of Downtown dining options, click here.


Beyond food and shopping, Downtown St. Cloud offers even more. Over 500 businesses and more than 70 historic buildings call Downtown St. Cloud home and they’re all within walking distance. Thanks to these wonderful businesses and many more, St. Cloud enjoys a healthy economy.

No matter what your interests, you’ll find something to love about St. Cloud, which is just one of many reasons that we think it’s a GREATER place to live!

Awards and Recognition for the City of St. Cloud in 2016

The City of St. Cloud is GREATER for many reasons. We often boast that our community is a fantastic place to live, work, and play. In 2016, we were lucky enough to be awarded several prestigious achievements from several different organizations.

St. Cloud received the following list of livability recognitions and awards in 2016:

• Best City For Women in the Workforce 2016 (#39 of 529 U.S. cities) based on wages, unemployment, rent, and participation rate – Nerdwallet.com
• 2016 Innovation in Planning - Comprehensive Plan – MN American Planning Association
• 2016 Clean Energy Community Award, for the City of St. Cloud’s Renewable Energy and Efficiency Initiative (REEI) – MN Dept. of Commerce
• Best Tasting Tap Water In MN – American Water Works Association
• Top Small Town for Eco-Friendly Apartment Living, with help from the Minnesota GreenStep program – ApartmentAdvisor.com
• 12th Healthiest City in the Nation (#12 of 24 U.S. cities) – 24/7WallStreet.com
• St. Cloud Fireworks – Best Fourth of July 2016 Fireworks Displays in Minnesota
• Best Place for Teachers (#4 of 917 MSA's) based on affordability, school ratings, job completion, and amenities – Goodcall.com
• Munsinger Gardens named Minnesota's Top Outdoor Attraction – OnlyInMinnesota.com
• St. Cloud to Host 2017 Minnesota Governor's Fishing Opener
• Top 20 Most Vibrant Arts Communities in America (#16 of 900 cities) – National Center for Arts Research
• Best City for Young Entrepreneurs (#28 of 181 MSA's) – NerdWallet.com
• 2015 Best-Performing Small City (#47 of 201 U.S. cities) - #1 small city in MN) – Milken Institute
• 5th Best City For Singles (Who Like Being Single) – SmartAsset.com
• 8th Best Hockey Town In Country (#8 of 123 U.S. cities) – SmartAsset.com
• Top 100 Smartest City (#42 of 100 U.S. cities) – Venturebeat.com
• Smartest City in MN To Live In (#3 of 11 MN cities) – OnlyInMinnesota.com

There you have it; from the best tasting drinking water to one of the best cities to work in for women, to the 8th best hockey city in the country, there are many reasons that St. Cloud is Greater year after year!

Explore the Sculpture Walk in St. Cloud

Whether you have been attending Summertime by Lake George, visited downtown hotspots, or went on the search for some new PokeStops, it’s very likely that you have seen some of the beautiful sculptures on your strolls around the community. These wonderful sculptures are a part of Sculpture Walk St. Cloud going on over the next year.

Crazy Dog Dance by Keith Raivo

The Sculpture Walk is a year-long exhibit featuring 12 temporary and large-scale sculptures on loan to the St. Cloud community from regional artists. In addition to the 12 sculptures on loan, the Sculpture Walk also features two permanent sculptures downtown. These beautiful pieces come from local hometown artists as well as artists from across Minnesota, Iowa, and South Dakota.

Hey Mary Lou by Lee Leuning and Sherri Treeby

Look for the nostalgic Hey Mary Lou! on Lake George, the thought-provoking Yosemite across from Waldo’s Pizza, and the vibrant Metamorphosis outside the Black Box. Check out the whimsical Butterfly Dress on the corner of 1st Street South and 6th Avenue South. Discover the sculptures that you are drawn to and the pieces that inspire your creative journey. Explore how these artistic creations change the urban landscape of downtown St. Cloud and your view of your community.

Yosemite by Aiden Demarais and Tim James

Sculpture Walk St. Cloud is co-sponsored by United Arts of Central MN and the St. Cloud Arts Commission. It was made possible by funding from the Minnesota State Arts Board and the Central Minnesota Arts Board through the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Seed by Sam Spiczka

Visit the Sculpture Walk website for an interactive story map of the entire route. St. Cloud community members can also vote to select a sculpture for the People’s Choice Award. The winning artist will receive a $500 stipend. Voting closes on September 30. Take advantage of our crisp end of Summer / beginning of Fall weather and explore the community to see what inspires you!

The 2016 St. Cloud Real Estate Development Opportunities Summit

The St. Cloud Real Estate Development Opportunities Summit is taking place May 24th at the Golden Valley Country Club in Golden Valley.  The Summit runs from 8 AM until Noon and is planned in sponsorship with the Minnesota Real Estate Journal. If you are interested in commercial real estate in the St. Cloud area, this is the event to attend. Feature properties will include the Lady Slipper site downtown and the I-94 Business Park, among others.

The Summit will include presentations by leading community officials, analysts, directors, and St. Cloud Mayor Dave Kleis. Following the welcome, introduction, and opening remarks, the schedule for the day is as follows:

8:15 A Growing Economy: The St. Cloud Metropolitan Area - Luke Greiner, Regional Analyst, MN DEED

• Current economic situation of the State and MSA   
• Population and labor force trends
• Employment trends
• Cost of living and household income
• Regional wages

9:15  Creating Connections to Engage Our Talent - Gail Cruikshank, Talent Director, Greater St. Cloud Development Corporation    

• Identifying community workforce needs and gaps
• Key partnerships
• Awareness of opportunities
• Connection resource tools
• Engaging diverse workforce

10:15 - Here’s Your Opportunity - Matt Glaesman, Community Development Director

• Learn about specific development opportunities in America’s 8th Best Hockey Town  
• Working Spaces – retail and office sites in the core and on the fringe
• Learning Spaces – historic schools and reuse opportunities
• Recreating Spaces – projects that fuel adjacent development
• Downtown Spaces – infilling the downtown framework
• Entertaining Spaces – a new face for downtown investment
• Living Spaces – urban living in the heart of Central Minnesota

11:15 St. Cloud Company Highlight - David Larson, Director of Facilities Management, CentraCare Health

• Greater MN Healthcare
• CentraCare’s Future Strategy
• CentraCare’s growth and the impact on Real Estate
• Lease vs. Ownership Strategy
• Healthcare Future Delivery Trends – Impact on Real Estate

For more information, visit the St. Cloud Real Estate Development Opportunity Summit website to register, or email Minnesota Real Estate Journal here.

The Biggest Small Town in Minnesota

When Minnesotans are thinking of relocating, it seems like the  go-to areas are Minneapolis, St. Paul, and the surrounding suburbs. People automatically think these areas offer the most in career and social opportunities, but they’re not exactly correct. Sure, you might find what you are looking for in the Twin Cities, but you won’t get the small-town feel like you do in St. Cloud.

There are many opportunities awaiting you in St. Cloud. When it comes to advancing your career, St. Cloud has opportunities in a variety of fields - from retail to banking to the headquarters of a major corporation. There are also tons of resources for entry-level job seekers, entrepreneurs, and everyone in between.

St. Cloud was named one of the 2015 Top 75 Small Cities to Work in America by the Milken Institute. This study identifies factors that drive economic momentum and identifies trends powering regional growth. They include job creation, economic strategies, growth in high-tech business, wage gains and patterns for growth. To be named in this study shows that St. Cloud not only has areas of opportunity now but has the potential for growth in advancement and wages.

Whether you are looking for something fun to do on the weekends or a nice place to eat on your lunch break, we have plenty of great dining options. Just like any other city, you’ll find the typical fast-food places and old favorites, but you will also find numerous small specialty restaurants:

• The Pickled Loon
• The White Horse
• Jules’ Bistro
• Dolsie’s Lunch Box Grille
• DB’s Searles
• Greek Cravings
• Kohinoor Bar & Grill
• Sawatdee

These are great for a quick lunch or to blow off some steam on the weekends, and that’s just Downtown! That's another advantage to working in a small city, though - you get the variety of a large city, but everything is typically within walking distance. 

These are just a few reasons why working in St. Cloud is great. So, take a look at what job opportunities there are here, come try one of our local restaurants and we’re sure you’ll see why working in St. Cloud can be the perfect fit for you. Check out our website for more information.

Spending Spring Break in St. Cloud

If Spring is (as the saying goes)  just around the corner, then spring break in St. Cloud is just up the block! Many students are flocking to warmer climates for the break or just want to get out of town. However, that can be expensive and many students can’t afford to go on a trip and will be staying in St. Cloud over the break. While it might not look quite like spring outside, we have come up with a few ideas to help you make your hometown vacation just as fun as traveling somewhere else:

“Happiness is a State of Mind”

First off, treat staying in St. Cloud as if you were on vacation in a new town. Go exploring. Use this as an opportunity to try that new restaurant or bar down the street. St. Cloud has many amazing restaurants so there are plenty to try out. Go with your friends and just have a good time trying new food.

“When Was The Last Time You Did Something For The First Time?”

Another way to explore is by going into areas that you might not have even known existed. Check out the Paramount Art District, explore Downtown, learn more about the city's history at the Stearns History Museum. Just take this time to really connect with the city that many of us call home

Be sure to take a look at what events are going on around you. Try and catch a show by The GREAT Theater or see if any restaurants or venues are having live music. If you do a little digging, you can find some really cool events and activities in St. Cloud.

Students, ask if any of these events offer student discounts. You work hard at school and you should take advantage of any reward you can get! Check out coupon sites to see if there are any restaurant or event deals going on around you.

“You Take Out What You Put In”

Another great way to spend your spring break is by giving back. There are always volunteer opportunities going on all you have to do is look for them. Volunteering is a rewarding way to spend your time. Not only are you helping others, but you can build your resume and it makes you feel good about yourself. Plus, it’s free.

If you are still having trouble figuring out what to do, please check out the visitors bureau for even more information on activities in St. Cloud and to help you maximise your hometown vacation. You can always check out the visitors tab of the city's website to learn more about the happenings in good ol’ Granite City. From all of us at St. Cloud Greater, have a happy and safe Spring Break!

A Year in Review: New St. Cloud Appearances, Businesses and Events in 2015

With an array of new businesses, projects, renovations, and expansions completed in the greater St. Cloud area in 2015 and many more underway, it has been an excellent year for businesses in Central Minnesota. Let’s take a look back on the year with a review of the biggest 2015 construction and development projects in the St. Cloud area:

Coborn’s

Coborn’s unveiled new corporate offices entitled Coborn’s Support Center along Heatherwood road near Interstate Highway 94 for $6.5 million. In 2013, the St. Cloud City Council also approved a $3 million road project in the area that would aid the development of the new support center.

Grede Holdings, LLC

Grede Holdings broke ground at the St. Cloud foundry in January 2015 to add a 32,000 square-foot expansion to an existing 320,000 square-foot facility. The $17.5 million project increased the Grede foundry workforce of 330 to 360 employees.

Dubow Textile Inc.

Dubow Textile has expanded for the third time in five years to meet a growing local demand for customized, screen-printed, and embroidered clothing. The project has added 21,000 square feet to the existing site at Lincoln Avenue, and it has also provided over 20 new positions.

Anderson Trucking

Anderson Trucking is currently going under construction for a new maintenance facility at 300 74th Street South. The $11.6 million project celebrated its 60th year anniversary in business as a transportation provider in 2015.

St. Cloud Hospital

The St. Cloud Hospital has been undergoing renovations and remodels of the Cancer Center, Heart and Vascular Center, pharmacy, CCHP Urgency Center, and construction of a new emergency trauma center, as well as upgrades to the behavioral units.

Athlos Academy

In October 2015, construction broke ground at 3701 33rd Street South for Athlos Academy, a charter school with branches operating in Arizona, Texas, and as nearby as Brooklyn Park. The St. Cloud area school district is currently still planning to build a new school to replace Technical High School.

Take a peek at what’s to come in 2016:

Arctic Cat Inc

An expansion and interior buildout of the Arctic Cat Inc. manufacturing plant will provide at least 10 new jobs to St. Cloud this year. The $400,000 private investment will include an expanded assembly line for the burgeoning company.

St. Cloud Lofts

Pending construction, the city of St. Cloud is looking to transform a vacant lot at 523 St. Germain Street into a condominium project named The Lofts. The six-story building will include 46 units—two studios, 37 one-bedrooms, and seven two-bedrooms.

For a more comprehensive list, visit the year-end development activity map.

Congratulations to all the businesses of St. Cloud for expanding and developing through the New Year!