03-03-2025
New grant for St. Cloud downtown revitalization
St. Cloud's downtown businesses will get a boost from new state funding, which was announced Thursday.
The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development awarded a $624,000 grant to the Greater St. Cloud Development Corporation as part of its Main Street Economic Revitalization programming.
The award, which provides 30% matching grants up to $750,000, was part of the third and final round of the program's funding.
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St. Cloud's grant will go toward construction, property renovations, designs and other infrastructure improvements, according to a DEED press release about the funding.
"Main Street businesses are essential to local and regional economic growth," DEED Commissioner Matt Varilek said in a release. "Through these grants, DEED is helping support economic revitalization that generates excitement among residents, community leaders and businesses around Minnesota."
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The Main Street Economic Revitalization Grant Program started in 2021 and has provided $80 million in funding across all three rounds, with St. Cloud previously receiving $1.5 million in 2022.
Since the program launched, the grants have helped maintain or create more than 8,700 jobs and increased local tax bases by nearly $369 million, DEED said in the release.
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St. Cloud's newest grant is part of almost $6.2 million awarded to nine organizations throughout the state. Greater Bemidji, Greater Mankato Growth and Little Falls' Initiative Foundation are among the other organizations that received funding.
Applications will open soon for St. Cloud businesses to apply for funding from the grant.
This article originally appeared on St. Cloud Times: St. Cloud gets Main Street Economic Revitalization grant
