St. Cloud is The Best Small City to Start a Business in Minnesota - Multiple Resources Available to Entrepreneurs

The St. Cloud Economic Development Authority (EDA) links entrepreneurs to resources throughout the area and serves as a gateway to additional services. Many of these valuable resources can be found through the Greater St. Cloud Development Corporation (GSDC), which supports St. Cloud entrepreneurs and business owners in the surrounding counties. This promotes economic development on a regional level, helping all of West Central Minnesota thrive.  

“Entrepreneurship is one of our core strategies,” says Leslie Dingmann, Business Development Director with GSDC. “These programs are very intentional and designed to support business owners at all stages of their journeys.”  

St. Cloud was recently named the Best Small City to Start a Business in Minnesota because of the access to resources that entrepreneurs have. Read more about the ecosystem in St. Cloud and how you can join it. 

FastLane94 Promotes Education and Networking

FastLane94 is part of Launch Minnesota, a state initiative designed to promote entrepreneurial growth and position Minnesota as a leader in innovation. Each region has its own program name, and FastLane94 recognizes the value of I-94 in this part of the state. GSDC was asked to serve as the hub for FastLane94 five years ago and continues to develop programs and events for entrepreneurs. 

The two main focus areas that GSDC is currently investing in for FastLane 94 are education and networking. They host regular webinars that reach business owners regionally and run Start.up Connect – St. Cloud on the first and third Wednesday mornings of each month. During each session, two entrepreneurs tell their stories for five minutes each. One entrepreneur is local and the other is from outside the region, giving attendees fresh perspectives and insights. Between 20 to 30 entrepreneurs attend each Start.up Connect – St. Cloud event.  

“It’s an atmosphere where entrepreneurs grow their contacts,” says Dingman. “We are intentionally attracting different industries and business models, and this variety keeps people coming back.” 

GSDC Also Offers One-on-One Coaching Services

GSDC works with entrepreneurs to find the resources they need. Each business is unique, and every business owner has learning needs and problems to overcome. One entrepreneur might need help with accounting and tax filing, while another wants marketing insights to develop digital campaigns.  

GSDC works closely with the Thrive Minnesota program, which offers up to 10 free hours of one-on-one coaching to business owners. Participants start their journey with an intake meeting with Jennie Weber, the operations and program coordinator for GSDC. They are then paired with growth strategists based on their needs. Some strategists are generalists who help entrepreneurs with various problems, while others are experts in specific areas. 

The strategists and GSDC can also connect entrepreneurs with local, state, and national resources like the St. Cloud EDA, the Small Business Development Center (SBDC), SCORE St. Cloud, and DEED.  The St. Cloud EDA also assists many businesses with connections to the appropriate city departments for licensing and permits, such as Health & Inspections for food and massage licensing, City Clerk for liquor licenses, and Building Department for inspections and permitting.

Various Entrepreneurial Resources Form an Ecosystem

There are also internal resources at GSDC to help entrepreneurs. GSDC assisted around 60 startups last year, and 36 are still actively involved in the community. New resources are always being developed and shared, which means entrepreneurs can find what they need in the future if there isn’t something for them now.   

“If you land in St. Cloud, you have a support system through various organizations to get the help you need, from ideation to exit strategy,” says Dingman. “The entrepreneur who engages early in their journey, even if they only have an idea, has a place in our ecosystem. This isn’t just for people who already have a product or app in development.” 

For example, GSDC recently debuted a coworking space called StageWorks, located in the historic Davidson Opera House. The space offers daily and monthly desk memberships, event space rentals, and even a pop-up storefront where companies can test the viability of their products. It also has a resource library that gives entrepreneurs free access to laptops, tablets, and other tech equipment that could be expensive to buy upfront. Follow them on Instagram at @stageworksgsdc for updates and events.

“Even some of our more established businesses use this program to help with specific needs,” says Dingman.

Becoming part of the entrepreneurial ecosystems allows companies to support each other and create a stronger, more diverse St. Cloud economy. 

Entrepreneurial Investment Supports Economic Development

Supporting new businesses as they develop and grow is an essential part of economic development programs. Dingman highlights how all legacy businesses were startups run by entrepreneurs at some point – even if they have been around for 100 years. Investing in today’s St. Cloud startups means there will be strong businesses here in the future. 

“The foundation of our mission is to help businesses grow and thrive,” says Dingman. “While economic development often focuses on attraction and expansion, we realize that entrepreneurial support is important. We have a responsibility to help entrepreneurs because they are a significant part of our economy.” 

Be Part of Something Greater in St. Cloud

Entrepreneurs don’t have to grow alone in St. Cloud. Several organizations cheer new business owners on and offer support where they need it. Along with GSDC, the City of St. Cloud EDA supports entrepreneurs and any business in the area. By sharing community data and building a resource library, the EDA gives companies the information they need to make strategic decisions for growth. 

Keep up with other EDA news to see how it makes a difference in St. Cloud. We can all work together to help West Central Minnesota grow.