GREATER Education in the St. Cloud Area

The City of St. Cloud boasts eclectic and advanced education options for anyone looking to learn. From private and charter schools to homeschooling and one of the largest public districts in the state, there are plenty of options!

GREATER Schools

St. Cloud is home to Minnesota's second-largest public university with around 15,000 students enrolled each year. According to the City of St. Cloud's website, “SCSU is ranked as an 'American's Top College' by Forbes magazine based on student satisfaction, post-graduate success, student debt, graduation rate and academic success and ranked as a 'Money's Best College' by Money magazine based on quality of education, affordability and outcomes.”

The St. Cloud metropolitan area serves 35,000 students at many different schools. Our St. Cloud Technical and Community College educates many students looking for local careers in advanced manufacturing, applied engineering, and health services. In 2016, SCTCC was ranked #13 in the top 50 Best Value Community Colleges. This ranking is based off graduation and transfer rates, cost of attendance, and mid-level salaries among graduates.

GREATER Opportunities

A unique opportunity given to elementary students in school district 742 are the Chinese/Spanish immersion programs. One of the great opportunities high school students are offered at Cathedral, a private Catholic high school located downtown, is the chance to serve in Africa. Students can opt to take a two-week mission trip and volunteer their time and talents to help 3rd world countries in Africa.

Another opportunity for unique education in the St. Cloud area is the plethora of post secondary enrollment options (PSEO) classes offered at local high schools. Both Tech and Apollo high school allow upperclassmen to heavily enroll in PSEO college courses at SCSU to earn college credits and advance learning.

GREATER Resources

For those who take education into their own hands, our Great River Regional Library has been recently remodeled and offers numerous branches throughout the metropolitan area. Many homeschooling groups meet and resource the library as well as countless high school and college kids. Another helpful resource we have for education is the Stearns County History Museum. The accredited museums provides guided tours and has an extensive research department as well as online archives.



These touch on just a few of the schools, opportunities, and resources St. Cloud has that make it a GREATER place to learn.

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!

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.

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.

Romantic Ideas for a Valentine’s Day Date in St. Cloud

Cupid’s favorite holiday is right around the corner. To celebrate with your loved one, look to these ideas to melt away the winter blues, and enjoy a Valentine’s Day in St. Cloud.

Explore one of the many delicious local restaurants and growing breweries in central Minnesota like The White Horse, Nick’s Third Floor, or Beaver Island Brewery. Surprise your partner with delicious and tantalizing baked treats and goodies from the Cold Spring Bakery.

To add a bit of culture and theater to your night, visit Songs in the Key of Love with the Andrew Walesch Big Band at the Paramount Theater to listen to some classic and romantic jazz and big band music. For a romantic show and delicious dinner, watch An Evening of Love Songs at D.B. Searle’s Second Floor. This show features Matt and Julie Velline, a husband and wife duo performing acoustic covers of timeless love songs.

For a more untraditional take on theater on Valentine’s Day, take a peek at Heartless: A Big Bad Anti-Valentine’s Day Show, a Twin Cities-based burlesque show at Pioneer Place on Fifth.

To get active, visit the Skatin’ Place, Airmaxx Trampoline Park or one of the bowling alleys in St. Cloud for a little dose of retro excitement.

For a couple that loves the great outdoors, visit one of central Minnesota’s many lakes and ponds for an ice skating adventure. Skate together and dare each other to perform flips and spins. With the abundance of snow on the ground, go cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, sledding or snowboarding for an adrenaline rush on Valentine’s Day.

For an extra treat that’s sure to be a Valentine’s Day hit, sign up for a relaxing couple’s massage or pampering spa treatment after a day of excitement and activity.

If you are homebodies or want to have a low-key Valentine’s Day date, “snow yourself in” for the night, and try one of the ideas below:

• Create a romantic dinner menu of your favorite foods
• Grab some new wines or beers and have an at-home tasting
• Have a movie marathon of your favorite movies or romantic classics
• Drink wine by the fire
• Engage or host a game with friends as a group date
• Venture out into your backyard and have a snow building contest or a snowball fight

There are plenty of unique ideas to choose from in central Minnesota. If you weren’t able to get reservations at the hottest restaurant in town, fear not. It’s still pretty easy to enjoy Valentine’s Day with your loved one and show them how much you care with a romantic date in St. Cloud.

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!