Economic Development

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Be Part of Something Greater 

in St. Cloud, MN


Not only does St. Cloud attract innovation, employment opportunities, and shoppers from throughout the region, it’s also a place people genuinely enjoy quality Midwestern living. From jumping feet first into the quarry pond in the summer to living year-round in one of the many reimagined historic downtown sites, St. Cloud becomes even greater every year. 

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But more than just anecdotes and our latest developments in the works, the numbers reflect why St. Cloud is greater:

  • Fastest growing labor force in Minnesota (MN Dept. of Employment and Economic Development)
  • #1 Top Performing City in Minnesota based on job growth, wages, and the amount of high-tech industries (Milken Institute)
  • Top Performing U.S. City based on job growth, wages, and the amount of high-tech industries    (Milken Institute - #26 of 179 U.S. cities)
  • Best Place for Business and Careers based on low cost of living, job growth, and competitive business costs (Forbes - #24 of 184 U.S. cities)

Our 5 Key Advantages – Why St. Cloud?


1.  State's fastest growing labor force

  • 112,000 people in the surrounding MSA with continued expansion year after year
  • 23,000+ college and technical training students are currently enrolled locally
  • Low housing costs and high quality of life continue to attract employees to St. Cloud

2.  High-tech Haven

  • St. Cloud is considered one of the nation's most-wired markets
  • Local universities, high schools, and training programs offer specialized curricula for advanced manufacturing 
  • Shovel-ready sites are widely available

3.  Central location and access to major Midwest markets

  • 34,343 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 connect us to the region, country, and beyond

4.  Sectors of Strength - Health Care, Manufacturing, Retail Trade, and Business/Financial Services

5.  Regional hub for education and health services

  • 3 high achieving, award winning school districts with 16,000 K-12 students
  • 23,000+ enrolled students across a multitude of higher education institutions
  • CentraCare Health Systems recognized nationally:
    • 9 times as a Truven 100 Top Hospital
    • U.S. News and World Report "America's Best Hospital" for orthopedics and gastroenterology

Most Notable Awards

  • "Top Ten Mississippi River Corridor Metro" - Site Selection Magazine (2023)
  • “Most Liveable City in the World” ( 75,000 - 150,000 population) - 2019 LiveCom
  • “Top City for Working Parents” - SmartAsset.com
  • “ 12th Healthiest City in Nation” - 24/7 Wall Street
  • “ Best Place for Teachers to Live and Work” - Goodcall.com
  • “ Top 20 Most Vibrant Arts Community in America” - National Center for Arts Research
  • “ America’s Best 2018 Hockey Town” - SmartAsset.com

Click here to see the 40+ awards the City has received in recent years.