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?

Play GREATER: St. Cloud Area Activities

In St. Cloud, we pride ourselves on being a great place to live, work, and play. One of the best things about St. Cloud is the plethora of activities that are available, making us one of the best areas to play year-round. Let’s take a look at the best activities available in Central Minnesota.

St. Cloud Arts

If you’re looking for a creative outlet in St. Cloud, there is an assortment of options for any art junkie. From galleries, shows, live theater, music, poetry, outdoor concerts, classes, and lessons, there is something available for every artist.


In 2016, St. Cloud was named a “Top 20 Most Vibrant Arts Community in America” by the National Center for Arts Research. This was based on the total number of arts providers and total nonprofit arts dollars in the community, and the level of local, state and federal government support given to the arts.

There is a large call for the Arts in St. Cloud. In 2015 alone, over 77,000 tickets were sold for performances at the Paramount Theatre. Other events in St. Cloud that encourage art, creativity, and an emphasis on community gathering include:

• The Downtown St. Cloud Art Crawl, which takes place multiple times throughout the year
• The Lemonade Fair at St. Cloud State every summer 
• Summertime by Lake George on Wednesday evenings 
• The Paramount Summer Art Classes
• Upcoming Paramount performances throughout the summer 

Area Athletics

St. Cloud is also home to an array of sports and recreation outlets with activities for all ages and interests. A few of the most popular options include:

• St. Cloud Rox baseball at Joe Faber Field 
• St. Cloud Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame at the River’s Edge Convention Center 
• Baseball at the St. Cloud MAC

As much as St. Cloud enjoys the spring and summer activities, we also love winter sports. In 2016, St. Cloud was named the “8th Best Hockey Town in the Country" by SmartAsset.com based on fan intensity, quality of life, and average attendance at hockey games. We are also playing host to the 2018 Hockey Day Minnesota, which will take place on Lake George next January.

St. Cloud YMCA

No matter the time of year, the St. Cloud YMCA is always the perfect place to get active and have some fun. The new building on Stockinger Drive is now open, and if you haven't had a chance to check it out yet, schedule some time! Racquetball courts, saunas, two heated pools, group exercise studios, and free wifi is just the beginning of the many amazing features the new facility has available for its members. You can schedule a tour or visit the website for more information.



Whether you’re an outdoor enthusiast, an indoor athlete, or a lover of the arts, there are tons of great activities to keep you occupied around the cloud!

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.

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!

Why St. Cloud has GREATER Business and Financial Services

The city of St. Cloud is in the business of growing business. We believe that St. Cloud is one of the best places to live and work - not only in Minnesota but in America. We make our case through resources and community involvement, and now we’d like to use yet another outlet: blogging. As part one of the series, this blog will focus on why your company should expand in St. Cloud and why the business and financial services in the area are second to none.

The Facts

First off, business and financial services make up 13.3% of all employment in St. Cloud. There are over 13,000 employed workers in the business or financial services industry in the St. Cloud area with a mean income over $40,000.

Some of the top St. Cloud employers include:

• Capital One (Savings Institution)
• Wolters Kluwer Financial Services (Computer Programming Services)
• Marco (Technology Services)
• Cetera Financial (Financial Investments)

St. Cloud was named a “2015 Best Performing City” by the Milken Institute for job and wage growth, high-tech GDP growth, and a number of high-tech industries. We are ranked 14th in the United States in Forbes’ Best Small Places for Business and Career and have had the fastest labor force growth in Minnesota since 2005.

Business and Financial Opportunities

We have a variety of financial resources available for businesses and financial institutions in the St. Cloud area. From investments and loans to gaining company capital and business development, you’ll find everything you need in St. Cloud. Among the financial institutions that have called St. Cloud home for decades are  American Heritage Bank, Bremer Bank, Granite Equity Partners, Minnwest Bank, Falcon National Bank, and many more.

Expanding Business and Financial Services in St. Cloud

If you are looking to change careers, move your business, or start something completely new, there is no area in Minnesota that is GREATER than St. Cloud. The city of St. Cloud offers resources in Educational, Financial, Housing, Transit, Tax Incentives, and Culture and Entertainment information for your business. Contact us and learn more about the opportunities available in St. Cloud.

Giving Back to the St. Cloud Community During the Holiday Season

In this season of joy and giving thanks, let’s all take a moment to think about what we can do to help out those less fortunate than ourselves.

Volunteering during the Holidays doesn’t take a great deal of effort–you can even participate right in your own community. Today, right now, you can go and give your time and/or money to these worthy institutions and know that you’re making a positive impact on your world:

Place of Hope Ministries

Place of Hope is one of the most well-known shelters in St. Cloud, and they’re always looking for volunteers to help them expand their ministry and donations to assist in the reintegration of their wards back into society. Razors, soap, coffee, men’s and women’s clothing, and children’s toys all are needed, and nothing will go unappreciated this Holiday season. View the full list of items needed on their website.

St. Cloud Catholic Charities Food Shelf

The St. Cloud Food Shelf is a great charity designed to help the disadvantaged feed their families. Whether homeless or just worrying where their next meal is coming from, Catholic Charities will help our disenfranchised see a better tomorrow. You can donate either your time, your money, or your non-perishable food items here.

St. Cloud VA Health Care

Thanks to programs like Heading Home: Minnesota’s Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness, the number of homeless Veterans in Minnesota has seen steady decreases in the last few years. As host to one of the largest VA Hospitals in Minnesota, St. Cloud sees an above average population of veterans, and the VA hospital offers many great ways to give back this Holiday season. Anyone over the age of 13 can donate time spending time with veterans playing games, visiting, cooking, going for walks, assisting with chapel services and much more. The VA is also looking for a variety of goods varying from personal hygiene items to bingo prizes. Learn more at stcloud.va.gov.

Tri-County Humane Society

It’s not just those who walk on two legs and have mastered fire that need your help this winter, our four-legged friends need love too! The Tri-County Humane Society is always looking for new volunteers, and they’ll accept help from anyone as young as ten years old (with an adult). Think of it: everyone loves puppies, right? So why not put your intrinsic human desire to cuddle puppies to use as a fun family bonding experience with your kids? If your kid is a teenager, they can volunteer on their own as soon as they’re 14, so come on in!

We all have a lot to be thankful for, even in such an objectively terrible year as 2016, but the Holiday season isn’t  merry and bright for everyone. Amid all the festivities, let’s not forget the hungry, the poor, and the huddled masses in our own community. While you prepare for the Holidays, make some time to give back to your community.

How do you give back during the Holidays? Comment below.

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!