Economic Development

Be Part of Something Greater in St. Cloud, Minnesota


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

  • 26th 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)
  • #1 Top Performing City in Minnesota based on job growth, wages, and the amount of high-tech industries (Milken Institute)
  • 24th 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)
  • Fastest growing labor force in Minnesota (MN Dept. of Employment and Economic Development)

Our 5 Key Advantages – Why St. Cloud?


1.  Central location and access to major Midwest markets

  • 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 connect us to the region, country, and beyond

2.  Regional hub for education and health services

  • 3 high achieving, award winning school districts with 16,000 K-12 students
  • 35,000+ 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 gastroenterolgy 

3.  High-tech and advanced manufacturing

  • 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

4.  State's fastest growing labor force

  • 111,086 people in the surrounding MSA with continued expansion year after year
  • 35,000+ college and technical training students are currently enrolled locally
  • Low housing costs and high quality of life continue to attract employees to St. Cloud
5.  Sectors of Strength include Health Care, Manufacturing, Business/Financial Services, and Retail Trade

  • Health Care - 18% of all employment
  • Manufacturing - 15% of all employment
  • Business/Financial Services - 13% of all employment
  • Retail Trade - 13% of all employment