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?

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!

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 GREATER Photo/Video Contest

Looking for a new creative and adventurous project for the summer? Consider entering the 2016 St. Cloud GREATER’s Photo/Video Contest! Explore all that the community has to offer, and show us your perspective of St. Cloud. What makes St. Cloud your choice community to live, work, and play in? Remember that creating a photo or video portfolio is like telling a story: pick a theme, develop characters, set a tone, and make it cohesive and complete.

Need some ideas to get you started? Find a theme to focus your contest portfolio. Pick a theme of composition, subject matter, or emotion. You can also think about focusing on nature, an urban landscape, or on people. For more ideas, brainstorm with some of the questions below:

• What does family time mean to you?
• Why do you love your community?
• What stands out to you about the community?
• What emotions do you want to convey this summer?
• What are your favorite St. Cloud celebrations, and why?
• What do you find satisfying about your neighborhood, business, or school life?
• What pictures flash across your mind when you think of community?

To enter the contest, submit up to nine photos by 4:30 p.m. on July 29, 2016. Winners will be announced on September 12 at the St. Cloud City Council meeting. Winning photos and videos will be featured across the community at the St. Cloud Public Library, St. Cloud River’s Edge Convention Center, St. Cloud City Hall, the official city website, and the St. Cloud Area Visitor’s Guide.

For a comprehensive list of details and guidelines, check out 2016 St. Cloud GREATER Photo and Video contest. Grab your camera, and show us what you think makes St. Cloud a great place to Live, Work, and Play!

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!