6 GREATER Locations for the 2018 Photo Contest

The 2018 St. Cloud GREATER Photo/Video Contest is on! Submit photos and/or videos that show us what you think makes St. Cloud a great place to live, work, and play.

There are several categories for types of subjects and submissions, so feel free to let your camera and our city be your guide. You may win $250 in cash!

If you’re looking for places to shoot your photos, here are some of the top spots in St. Cloud to find inspiration, picturesque scenery, and moving moments of St. Cloud residents at work and play.

Veterans Plaza

The Minnesota Veterans’ Plaza is a touching tribute, dedicated to those who have served to protect the United States of America.

Munsinger Clemens Gardens

From the blooming flowers to the winding paths and brick walkways, these gardens are full of picturesque views of nature. Get up close and zoom in on plant and animal life or zoom out to capture the views in the twilight or morning light; it’s a great place for scenic shots.

Summertime by George

Wednesdays through the summer you’ll find St. Cloud residents and families at Summertime by George taking advantage of summer fun—with kids’ activities, arts & crafts, the beer garden, or middle town market food and retail vendors.

Restaurants in St. Cloud

When it comes to dining, the St. Cloud area is full of yummy platefuls and quaint locations. Try any of these local restaurants, or more that aren’t on this list, and capture the offerings that one can find in St. Cloud.

Municipal Athletic Complex (MAC)

The Municipal Athletic Complex is home to two ice sheets, two baseball stadiums, and an executive par-3 public golf course. The arenas are busy nearly year-round, and host several local sports and school teams—a great opportunity to show teamwork, school spirit, and athletic enthusiasm!

St. Cloud Downtown

For the Business or Community Life categories of the photo contest, try looking downtown! With an ever-changing downtown area and plenty of people on the move, capture the spirit of our city here.


Submissions for our photo and video contest are due by 4:30 pm on July 27, 2018. Please note that any entries featuring people with identifiable faces must submit a completed Authorization of Use of Photo/Video form with entry. Failure to do so will disqualify your entry. Click here to open a blank form. Please click here to see the full rules and list of categories, or to submit an entry.

More Awards that Prove St. Cloud is Something GREATER!

We don’t usually toot our own horn, but St. Cloud just keeps racking up the awards and top rankings!

We have recently received recognition for even more ways that make St. Cloud a great place to live and work. But don’t just take our word for it…

One of the Best Performing Small Cities - 2017

Milken Institute named St. Cloud a “2017 Best Performing Small City” (#57 of 201 U.S. small cities), based on metrics associated with job creation, wage gains, and technology developments. These rankings take a look at how underlying factors and unique characteristics of a metro area lead to economic growth and prosperity.

One of America’s Best Hockey Towns

SmartAsset.com named St. Cloud an “America’s Best Hockey Town in 2018” (#14 of 114 U.S. cities). We all knew this to be true, and now the rest of Hockey Nation knows it too! This ranking was based on factors like fan intensity, “hockey” related online searches, and quality of life overall – not to mention that St. Cloud’s Lake George hosted Hockey Day Minnesota in January of 2018! So let’s keep playing and cheering on our great hockey teams!

Greenest City in Minnesota

Saint Cloud has been recognized as the Greenest City in Minnesota by Insurify, an award that recognizes our city’s contributions to minimizing our carbon footprint, specifically in responsible car ownership and driving habits. Insurify looked at metrics such as average fuel efficiency, engine type, annual miles driven, and cars per household. Congrats St. Cloud residents!


St. Cloud has also received these awards worth crowing about:

• Best City for K-12 Teachers to Live and Work, by Goodcall.com
• 12th Healthiest City in the Nation, by 24/7 Wall Street
• Healthiest Hometown by AARP
• Best Old House Neighborhood – Midwest, by This Old House
• Best Small City in America, by Nerdwallet.com
• Best Place to Raise a Family, by Reader's Digest

Check out this video on our YouTube page to learn more about our awards and recognitions:

GREATER Living in St. Cloud

The City of St. Cloud has seen many changes over the last several years, but as the population continues to grow, it remains the kind and welcoming community it has been for decades.

The City has built a wider variety of cultural centers, restaurants, and so much more to accommodate new people from all walks of life. We cultivate a GREATER sense of community.

GREATER Activities

The feeling of community in St. Cloud is fostered primarily by the events and activities that bring people together. Whether it’s music, theater, art, sports, or recreation, you’ll find exactly what your looking for. visit aroundthecould.org for more.



Riverside Park is a hot spot year-round! During the winter months, you’ll find families sledding and playing in the snow or skating on neighborhood rinks. During the warmer months, you’ll see people playing frisbee golf, walking, having picnics, and generally enjoying the outdoors.

Downtown St. Cloud offers a thriving art, music, and theater scene. It hosts spring, summer, and fall art crawls every year – which are not to be missed! Also in the summer, you can take part in one of St. Cloud’s largest and most popular activities; Summertime by George. This is a free summer concert series accompanied by countless local food, drink, and art vendors and takes place each Wednesday night June through August at Lake George.

St. Cloud offers all of these activities and so much more for all age groups and interests.

GREATER Affordability

One of the reasons that St. Cloud is such a vibrant and diverse community is the affordability. The average cost of living here is far below that of the Twin Cities. In fact, the yearly cost of living here is 30% less than in the Twin Cities and St. Cloud was named a “Top 15 Metro Area You Can Afford A Home on $50,000 Income” by Nerdwallet.com.


GREATER living is simple in the St. Cloud community. Our calendar is full of activities, artists exhibitions, shows, and educational events. The affordability of the area makes this city-with-a-small-town-feel a fantastic place to live.

The Affordability and Convenience of Living in St. Cloud

St. Cloud is not only a nice place to visit, but also a GREAT place to live. Many people choose to call St. Cloud home because it has the accommodations of a city and the neighborly familiarity of a small town community. It’s not just the people who choose to live here that believe it is a great place to settle down; statistics show that St. Cloud has many aspects and perks that attribute to GREATER living.

GREATER Affordability

The cost of living is more affordable in St. Cloud than towards the Twin Cities. When trying to buy a house, a homeowner can get a lot more bang for their buck in St. Cloud. You also don’t have to be making six figures to afford to buy a home. The St. Cloud housing market is not only reasonably priced but is also a continually growing market.

• St. Cloud’s yearly cost of living is 30% less than in the Twin Cities. ($63,500 in St. Cloud versus $91,000 in the 7 County Metro area).
• St. Cloud’s home values are more affordable than in the Twin Cities ($151,466 in St. Cloud versus $226,094 in Greater MSP).
• In 2015, St. Cloud was named a “Top 15 Metro Areas You Can Afford a Home on $50,000 Income” by Nerdwallet.com.

GREATER Location

St. Cloud is also known for their location. Many different arts, entertainment sporting events and other city attractions are not only available locally but also only about an hour and a half drive away. St. Cloud is very centrally located which is a huge advantage to anyone who travels for work or leisure. St. Cloud is also a hub for Central Minnesota. Many people commute to St. Cloud not only for work but for shopping, movies and much more!

• 32,866 commuters come into St. Cloud from the region to work every day.
• Minneapolis, Fargo, and Chicago are all less than 500 miles away.
• St. Cloud has an airport, rail lines, and highways connecting us to the region, country, and beyond.

St. Cloud is where you can get the best of both worlds for city and rural living. In St. Cloud, we pride ourselves on having something for everyone and being a safe and friendly place for families to work, live and raise children.


What is your favorite part about St. Cloud living?

Innovation is Thriving in St. Cloud!

Steve Jobs once said that innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower. Innovation and the city of St. Cloud go hand in hand. In our community, we strive to thrive and flourish, not stay stagnant. We are constantly moving toward a new goal to improve our community for businesses and citizens.

Let’s take the time to look at the some of the GREATER innovative things that are going on in St. Cloud.

ISELF at St. Cloud State University

St. Cloud State University is always on the cutting edge of technology and research. SCSU is home to the Integrated Science and Engineering Laboratory Facility (ISELF). This facility aligns faculty and their students on partnered research projects that can help a company or business excel at driving its vision for innovation.

The focus of ISELF projects is to be interdisciplinary with all students and faculty. The focus is on small to mid-sized companies, especially ones that employ small research and development budgets. Some of the companies involved include Medtronic and The Mayo Clinic. Locally, Microbiologics, Geo-Comm, and C4 Welding are also involved in ISELF.

The building has also become a great recruiting tool for faculty and students that come to St. Cloud State University. Businesses that partner with SCSU benefit from a strong connection with students and the possibility of hiring top talent when they graduate.

Employment Through CMMA and DEED

Even more exciting for the future of St. Cloud is that more than a dozen Central Minnesota high schools are active members of the Central Minnesota Manufacturing Association. All of these high schools are located within a 60-mile radius of St. Cloud. This bodes well for future manufacturing business employees in the area.

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) also aids in strengthening the future of innovation in St. Cloud. Back in 2014, DEED granted $147,739 to the Minnesota Job Skills Partnership Program to SCSU to train 84 employees of Netgain – an IT provider for the healthcare industry. These employees improved their technical and leadership skills, advanced their careers, and kept the company competitive in the ever-changing healthcare industry.

Clean Energy in St. Cloud

Last year, St. Cloud received a very high honor from the Minnesota Department of Commerce when it was awarded a “Clean Energy Community Award.” This award is given to communities that increase energy efficiency or renewable energy opportunities and drive innovation to advance the state’s clean energy goals. The city’s renewable energy and efficiency initiative includes a solar power initiative, wastewater energy efficiency and biofuel project, street light improvements and an action plan with Xcel Energy’s Partners in Energy.

These St. Cloud projects are making the community GREATER than ever! To learn more about community and business initiatives in St. Cloud, visit www.ci.stcloud.mn.us.

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!

St. Cloud Hotspots for Pokémon Go! Players

Ever since the release of the first Pokémon games 1996, Pokémon has become a cultural phenomenon. In the last few years, the game has taken a bit of a popularity dip— that is until the recent release of Pokémon Go this July. The mobile app has become the fastest growing iOS and Android game to reach No. 1 in terms of revenue, achieving the feat less than a week after its July 6th release date.

The game works by using your phone’s GPS system. Instead of moving a virtual person across a map, you move yourself around an actual map and use GPS to meet your goals. You can visit virtual gyms to battle other players, or PokéStops to retrieve more Pokéballs, eggs, potions and more. The real fun comes from finding actual Pokémon to catch for yourself— all as you travel in real-time!

There are multiple ways to locate Pokémon in the game. Using the “nearby” button in the bottom right corner of your screen will tell you the top nine Pokémon in your current location. By walking about, they will eventually pop up on your screen and you can catch them with Pokéballs.

You can attract Pokémon by locating a PokéStop and placing a “Lure Module” on it. While you’re at it, you could throw down a lucky egg for good measure, doubling your experience points while you catch the dozens of Pokémon that come to you.

Many players, however, don’t want to walk around for long periods of time to find their favorite Pokémon without some sort of a plan. As the game is growing in popularity, many players look for local hot-spots around to find the best characters, training facilities, game extras, and more. Here are the top six Pokémon Go hot-spots in the St. Cloud area:

Lake George - Hundreds of people flock here every day, knowing that its location is by far the best to play Pokémon Go. Lake George is a beautiful place to walk around and hatch your eggs. It is also a good idea to hunt for rare characters here, as it is usually flooded with multiple Lure Modules from other players.

St. Cloud State University - With over 30 PokéStops throughout campus, SCSU has been jam-packed with poké-players as they keep an eye out for rare sightings. With Fall semester starting up again, you will likely see many students catching Pokémon on their way to class.

Munsinger Clemens Gardens - With nearly two dozen PokéStops to swipe through and three of its own gyms, it’s no wonder why this location makes the list. Gather some friends and take a trip to the beautiful gardens; you’re bound to find more than picturesque sights.

Downtown St. Cloud - While strolling around Downtown, don’t forget to pull out your phone and check for wandering Pokémon! With the dozens of Pokéstops and pools, you’ll find plenty of Pokémon to catch.

Buffalo Wild Wings Parking Lot - After catching numerous Drowzee’s, you will be amazed at how many rare Pokémon there are in this single parking lot. You’re sure to grab some great finds, just watch out for cars!

Beaver Island Trail - While you take a stroll or hit the trail for your run next to the Mississippi River, leave your app open to find some new Pokémon, as well as gaining distance for your eggs to hatch.

These are just a few of the hidden gems that lay within St. Cloud’s borders and dozens of others are out there just waiting to be found. If you want to stay connected with other Pokémon Go players in St. Cloud, check out the Pokémon Go - St. Cloud, MN Facebook group.

Always remember that with playing Pokémon Go, please do not trespass to find new hot-spots of your own. Always be aware of your surroundings, and turn off the app when you are driving. Stay safe, have fun and go catch em’ all!

Did any of your favorite locations miss the list? Comment them below!

St. Cloud Summer Fun on the Cheap

In a community where the weather can change faster than a road can close for construction, Summer is a cherished season. As we find ourselves halfway through the summer, many are scrambling to fit in some last-minute fun, though don’t want to drain their bank account in the process. As the last few Summertime by George Concerts come closer, check out our list of inexpensive summer activities around St. Cloud:

Outdoor Endeavors at St. Cloud State

The sports facilities and recreation department at St. Cloud State University is a great resource for inexpensive activities in the area. The department is not limited to SCSU students; many of their programs are open to the public:

• Climbing Wall - during the summer, the climbing wall is only open to group reservations. If you are looking for a new group activity, this can be the perfect option.
• Canoeing/Kayaking - SCSU offers rentals, shuttle service, tours, and lessons to the community. Pricing varies by group size and rentals.
• Lake George Boathouse - The SCSU Center for Paddlesports Instruction, Education, and Safety offers canoeing and stand up paddleboarding (SUP) instructional programs on Lake George. An hour rental is only $8!

Music in the Gardens / Release of the Butterflies

If you love music and butterflies, there is one event this summer that is perfect for you: the Music in the Gardens Concert & Memorial Release of Butterflies. This event is sponsored by the Central Minnesota Arts Board and presented by Munsinger Clemens Botanical Society and the St. Cloud Symphony Orchestra. It takes place at Munsinger Clemens gardens July 24th. Butterflies will be distributed at 2 PM with a short program and the release to follow. At 3 PM, the Music in the Gardens Concert will begin, featuring Dennis Warner. The event is free to the public. Butterflies may be purchased at www.quietoakshospicehouse.org for $25 and root beer floats will be served by the Munsinger Clemens Botanical Society for just $1.

Sizzlin’ Summer Art Crawl

For the eleventh year, the St. Cloud Art Crawl will be presenting it’s Sizzlin’ Summer Crawl on August 12th. As always, this event is free to the public and will feature hoopers, fire breathers, musicians, artist demonstrations, and a ton of local artists. Stop by Saint Germain Street in Downtown St. Cloud to check out this local favorite.

Activities at the Great River Regional Library

Looking to take up a new hobby? Or maybe you want to fine-tune your skills or join a new club. Either way, the Great River Regional Library offers many fantastic activities throughout the summer to keep you and your family busy. Activities are available for all age groups - from toddlers to seniors. Whether you’re looking for gardening advice, a storytime activity for your kids, or somewhere to find fun game night or movie night activities, your local library is all the further you need to look.

The St. Cloud Community: GREATER For Work, Play, and Family

Central Minnesota offers plenty in academic and business connections, excellence in family values, and a community rich in variety and opportunities. Find out why St. Cloud is GREATER for work, play, and family.

The St. Cloud community offers numerous career opportunities for workers of every range of experience, trade, and skill. With a community rooted in hard work, economic growth and upward mobility, St. Cloud is a welcoming community to fresh graduates, independent business owners, and those looking for a new start or further growth.

Employment

The CentraCare Health System—including the St. Cloud Hospital, St. Benedict's Center, and CentraCare Clinics— is the top employer of St. Cloud, employing over 6,000 of the approximately 193,000 population of central Minnesota. Other top employers include the State of Minnesota, the St. Cloud VA Medical Center, Electrolux Home Products, Capital One, and the St. Cloud Area School District #742.

Diversity

As the fourth largest metropolitan area in Minnesota, St. Cloud has a rich history of German and Scandinavian immigrants as well as growing and diverse populations of Southeast Asian and East African immigrant populations.

Education

With two public high schools, one major private high school, eight elementary schools, and more, the St. Cloud Area School District #742 is a diverse academic school system that offers students with access and opportunity to higher education institutions via Advanced Placement courses and post-secondary curriculums.

Central Minnesota offers a variety of academic opportunities and institutions that include the College of St. Benedict and St. John's University, St. Cloud Technical and Community College, Rasmussen College, and Globe University/Minnesota School of Business. Minnesota’s third largest university, St. Cloud State University, has students representing over 80 nations across the world. The school offers more than 200 undergraduate and over 60 graduate opportunities to students.

Lifestyle

The greater St. Cloud area offers nearly 100 parks including the quarries, Munsinger & Clemens Gardens, and Lake George. The St. Cloud area also boasts great arts and entertainment by way of the Paramount Theater of Visual Arts, River’s Edge Convention Center, and the nighttime scene of Downtown St. Cloud.

By living in the St. Cloud area, you can benefit from the best of both the great outdoors and urban dwelling. To the north, you can get great access to the beautiful and expansive wilderness of the great outdoors, numerous national parks including the Boundary Waters, North Shore, Lake Superior, and more. Less than two hours south of St. Cloud, you can get access to the urban culture, art, diversity, and history of the Twin Cities.

With all of its access to diversity, entertainment, and academics, as well as its proximity to nearby communities, St. Cloud is an excellent community in which to live your dreams!

Start Your Spring off Right

Start your spring on the right foot by getting active now. St. Cloud has much to offer in the way of entertainment and activity. Check out our ideas for enjoying spring in St. Cloud, and get out and enjoy the fleeting, but satisfying warm weather and sunshine this spring.

Start the adventure at home. Spring cleaning is a great way to transition into the spring and summer seasons. Clean, organize, and refresh your home, and get rid of excess clutter by selling gently-used goods to Clothes Mentor, Threads, Plato’s Closet, Once Upon a Child, Books Revisited, and LGS Electronics, or donate items you no longer need to Central Minnesota Habitat for Humanity, ReStore, Treasure Chest, Goodwill,  or Catholic Charities.

Explore the Greater St. Cloud area. Pull your bike down from the rafters and dust it off! Central Minnesota is full of bike trails perfect for any active family. Explore the Beaver Island Trail along the Mississippi River. For a short trip, visit Plum Creek, a trail built and maintained by the Mid-Minnesota Cycling Club. Explore the sights with the extensive Lake Wobegon Trail in St. Joseph. This trail will lead you through many small and charming towns with a number of retail shops and Mom-and-Pop snack spots. If you are looking for a more intense workout, the Lake Wobegon Trail is excellent for rollerblades, as well.

Canoe the Sauk River. Reconnect with the warmer side of nature and canoe the 18-mile stretch of the Sauk River. Travel past the area’s landscape past farmland, green pastures, and wooded riverbeds. With an easy current, this stretch of river is excellent for beginners and canoers wishing for a relaxing morning or afternoon.

Check out the Food and Beer Scene in St. Cloud. Central Minnesota has many diverse options for meals and drinks. Visit The White Horse, Star of India, Mexican Village, The Pickled Loon, or St. Cloud’s beloved Val’s for a tasty meal. The craft beer scene has hit central Minnesota in a big way. Visit Cold Spring’s successful Third Street Brewhouse, Lupine Brewing at the site of the old O’Hara’s Brewpub and Restaurant, or St. Cloud’s new Beaver Island Brewing Co. In fact, Beaver Island Brewing is partnering with Pioneer Place to bring St. Cloud its first Mai Bock Festival, an event in which people can enjoy German food, games, beer, and live music.

Engage in Culture. Get out of the indoor rut of winter and revitalize your mind by engaging in art and culture in St. Cloud. Visit the Stearns History Museum, Minnesota Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame Museum, or the historic homes of downtown St. Cloud for a glimpse into the past. Enjoy the St. Cloud Symphony’s upcoming show, “The Next 40 Years,” for a taste of Mozart and Brahms. Check out special Spring exhibits and events like the Minnesota Art Educations: Local Experience, Global Connections at Paramount Theater & Visual Arts, author visits and spotlights at the Great River Regional Library, and JD Jorgenson: Time and Place at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University Fine Arts Series.

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.