Business Assistance Resources

Whether you're an entrepreneurial start-up or an expanding manufacturer, several resources/services are available to help grow your business in St. Cloud.  The St. Cloud Economic Development Department is here to provide you with personalized services.  Programs are offered by local and state governments and other entities.  Generally, state and local incentives are tied to wage and job creation goals.
Simply contact us and we will connect you with the business assistance that is most suitable for your needs, including:
  • Grants for customized job training
  • Loans for land acquisition, building construction, machinery and equipment
  • Tax credit for job creation
  • Tax incentives for job creation and investments in targeted industry sectors
Grants Banner (1)

General Business Assistance

  1. Business Counseling
  2. Loans/Grants
  3. Tax Credits
  4. Worker Training

Anderson Center


The Anderson Center provides engaging management and leadership development forums for executives to facilitate economic progress in Greater Minnesota. Forums are facilitated by skilled discussion leaders that challenge participants to teach and learn from each other through real-world case studies. Each forum provides a peer network, case studies, application exercises and reference materials. Many forums offer an opportunity for professional and continuing education credits.

Export Counseling and Assistance - Minnesota Trade Office (MTO)


The MTO provides professional assistance from international trade representatives to guide small and midsized companies through the challenges and opportunities of conducting international business, including technical, regulatory and logistical information, market intelligence and research, conducting business across borders and cultures. The MTO also offers educational seminars, workshops and export events. Financial and technical assistance is available to qualifying MN small businesses through the STEP program. Eligible small businesses may apply for reimbursement up to $500 for export training that will result in the development of an export strategy or up to $7,500 for approved export-development activities.

Small Business Development Center (SBDC)


The SBDC provides one-on-one professional and confidential business consulting at no-cost. Pre-venture, start-up and established businesses can all obtain professional expertise and guidance to identify and secure financing and training programs for owning and operating a business.

SCORE of Central Minnesota

 
SCORE provides free and confidential business counseling to assist people in starting a new business and existing small and mid-sized business owners. SCORE volunteers are real-world professionals with expertise to help small businesses succeed. Counselors are experts in such areas as accounting, finance, operations, marketing management and business plan preparation.
Women's Business Alliance
The Women's Business Alliance is an initiative of the Entrepreneur Fund that provides expert support for the unique challenges facing women entrepreneurs.  They offer training, workshops, 1:1 counseling, business planning, and financing to female-led businesses for scalability and growth.