St. Cloud, Foley Businesses Receive $600,000 in State Grants for Downtown Projects

(KNSI) — The Greater St. Cloud Development Corporation has approved over $600,000 in state grants for five downtown improvement projects across St. Cloud and Foley.

NeTia Bauman, who leads the development corporation, said the projects will help create jobs and boost tax revenue while making downtown areas more attractive. The grants are currently working their way through final approval processes.

Thorsten Holdings of Foley will get $37,680 to renovate the building at 201 4th Avenue North, which houses financial planning and insurance businesses. The company plans to update the building’s exterior, improve accessibility, and make the space more welcoming for customers.

In St. Cloud, the Wirth Center for the Performing Arts received the largest grant at $199,000 to gut and rebuild parts of its facility at 11 North 7th Avenue. The center will install new electrical, plumbing, and heating systems, add an accessible entrance, and create updated studio spaces for students and performers.

Fitzharris Ski, Bike & Outdoor got $52,800 for major repairs at its location on 7th Avenue South. The outdoor gear shop will replace its roof and flooring, remove an old elevator, renovate bathrooms, add new shelving, and install a new heating and cooling system to make the building more energy efficient and improve the customer experience.

The property at 706 West St. Germain received $199,000 for a comprehensive overhaul that includes upgrading mechanical systems, fixing concrete problems, repairing the roof, adding accessible bathrooms, and restoring masonry work to make the building more attractive to potential business tenants.

The building at 300 East St. Germain got nearly $100,000 to replace its roof, update heating and cooling systems, install accessible bathrooms, fix the entrance, and refresh interior spaces with new carpet, ceiling tiles, and windows. The work will bring the building up to current codes and create a more modern environment for future tenants.

According to the GSDC, investments will leverage more than $1.9 million in private funding, boosting the local tax base and supporting the creation of over two dozen jobs in Central Minnesota.

Leslie Dingmann, who handles business development for the corporation, said each project “demonstrates the incredible impact public–private partnerships can have in transforming our downtowns. Every investment is more than a building upgrade—it’s a commitment to creating vibrant spaces where businesses can thrive and communities can connect.”

The funding comes through the Main Street Economic Revitalization Program, which gets its money from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development and covers 30% of project costs to encourage business investment and community development.

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