St. Cloud EDA Weighs Extension of TIF District at Division St. and Cooper Ave.

(KNSI) – The St. Cloud Economic Development Authority will vote Tuesday to extend the Cooper Avenue Redevelopment Tax Increment Financing District until 2031.

The provision was included in the final Tax Bill approved by the state legislature during the 2025 session and signed into law by Governor Tim Walz. The measure went before the St. Cloud City Council on July 7th, and the EDA is the final step in the process.

The zone exists between Division Street and West St. Germain for one block from Cooper Avenue to 19 1/2 Avenue South. While the property includes prime frontage on one of St. Cloud’s busiest roads, there is no access off of Division or Cooper. That has kept developers away, for now.

A TIF district tries to encourage building by using the extra property tax revenue that comes from enhancing a lot or renovation of an existing building to finance the development itself. The county auditor certifies an original tax rate of the zone and compares it to what will be brought in from an enhancement of the blighted or underdeveloped land. That difference can be used to finance public infrastructure like streets, sewers, or sidewalks that will be needed to make the new building a success.

The EDA meets in the board room inside the chambers at City Hall beginning at 4:00 p.m.

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