St Cloud’s downtown revival has stalled, leaving some business owners frustrated and doubtful about the area’s future. Former mayor Dave Kleis proposed a $100 million redevelopment package in 2023, including a skyway, hundreds of homes and a riverfront plaza, but it was not funded.

Minnesota lawmakers approved $6.4 million this year, which current mayor Jake Anderson says will support links between downtown, St Cloud State University and the Mississippi River. He says the city hopes these projects will encourage further development, though progress has been slow. Downtown has also been affected by a long-vacant retail building, Capital One staff shifting to remote work and county employees moving elsewhere; one local shop owner is considering leaving.