Greater St. Cloud

Waite Park is full of incredible local businesses that make our community special!

Show some love to these great local spots:
* Anton's Restaurant
* Arbor Hair + Spa
* GREAT Theatre
* Munch Munch Mochi Donut Waite Park
* Rejuv Medical

Every dollar you spend locally stays in our community. Tag your favorite business below and let's celebrate what makes them great!

Happy 4th of July from the team at Greater St. Cloud!

Today, we aren't just celebrating Independence Day. We are honoring America's landmark 250th Anniversary!

We are so proud to celebrate two and a half centuries of freedom alongside the incredible organizations and leaders that shape our Greater St. Cloud region.

Wishing everyone a safe, historic, and fun-filled celebration!

Congratulations to Ross Olson, City Administrator of the City of Sauk Rapids, on receiving the 2026 James F. Miller Leadership Award from the League of Minnesota Cities!

With more than 25 years of dedicated service to Sauk Rapids, Ross has helped shape the community in many meaningful ways.

This recognition is well-deserved, and Greater St. Cloud is proud to work with leaders like Ross who invest in the future of our region. Congratulations Ross!

Sauk Rapids City Administrator Ross Olson receives leadership award from League of Minnesota Cities Official has served the city for more than 25 years and was recognized with top honor from the organization representing community governments all across the state.

We’re halfway to the deadline for the 2026 GSC Innovation Awards! Since 2011, 67 organizations have been honored for creative, impactful solutions—locally and globally.

Are you solving problems in a new way? Let’s celebrate your work. Apply by July 24 at https://hubs.la/Q04mCGKd0

A big thank you to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) for awarding the St. Cloud Area School District 742 a Youth Skills Training (YST) Grant.

The YST program encourages, promotes and supports the development of local partnerships between schools, employers and community organizations in the industries of advanced manufacturing, agriculture, automotive, health care and information technology.

We’re grateful for the partnership and the commitment to creating real opportunity right here in Central Minnesota.

Get your tickets for the Taste of Benton County on Wednesday, July 22 at the Sauk Rapids Sports Arena. This 21+ evening will celebrate the best of Benton County. Local restaurants, caterers, breweries, and specialty vendors coming together for a night of great food, great drinks, and great connections.

We are proud to support the Benton Economic Partnership, a valued Greater St. Cloud investor, and celebrate everything they are doing for this region.

Tickets are limited. Grab yours today at https://hubs.la/Q04mCZHV0

Benton Economic Partnership

Taste Of Benton County Benton Economic Partnership, Inc. is excited to bring a brand new event to the community! Taste of Benton County is a fundraiser designed to showcase and promote businesses within the region. The first annual event will be held on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, from 5:00 to 8:00 PM at the Sauk Rapids Spo...

Reminder! There will be no Start.up Connect tomorrow, July 1, as we take a break for the holiday week.

We hope you have a safe and enjoyable holiday, and we'll see you back at Start.up Connect on Tuesday, July 15, for another morning of networking, inspiration, and entrepreneurial connections!
See you then!

Every three months, King Banaian and Mana Komai Molle, two St. Cloud State University economists, analyze the latest business and worker data, as well as the results from a survey of local business leaders. The result is the St. Cloud Area Quarterly Business Report.

Check out the June report at https://hubs.la/Q04mCGfG0

We are proud to sponsor the QBR Review with St. Cloud State University, Creative Planning, Magnifi Financial, and St. Cloud Live

St. Cloud Area Quarterly Business Report A regular look into the business climate of the St. Cloud area.