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Community Profile of Saint Paul Minnesota’s state capital is recognized as one of the most livable cities in America. It is a national leader in education, safe streets, thriving local commerce, healthy living, state-of-the-art infrastructure and eclectic character. Host of the 2008 Republican Convention, this “21st Century river city” is known for its thriving downtown and cultural district, highly educated workforce, strong neighborhoods, and forward-thinking, vibrant business community.
Location & Access Saint Paul has the feel of an East Coast city and the flavor of a West Coast community. It offers businesses a smart location in the heart of the Midwest – with great real estate values. It’s not just a location for business and corporations. It’s a daily destination for more than 68,000 downtown workers. Commuting is easy with convenient highway access directly into downtown, reliable mass transit service (including light rail in the near future), and more than 15,000 affordable parking spaces. The capital of Minnesota is intersected by two major freeways (Interstate 94 and Interstate 35E) and encircled by two others (Interstate 494 and 694). Directly linked to a solid interstate freeway system, rail transportation, barges, and international airports, Saint Paul draws companies and workers from across the country. As the county seat of Ramsey County, Saint Paul anchors the eastern half of the 11-county Metro MSP region. It offers the business community a prime location on the Mississippi River – America’s Main Street. River trade flourishes. It is a major port city and transportation hub. Located just nine miles from the Minneapolis/Saint Paul International Airport, Saint Paul has an active downtown airport. It serves corporate jets and offers easy highway access from anywhere in the Metro MSP region.
Major Industries & Employers The Metro MSP region is home to 18 Fortune 500 corporations and highly rated for emerging and growing enterprises. With several Fortune 1000 companies and the world's second largest privately held corporation, the region is one of the country's major economic hubs. Corporate headquarters in Saint Paul include Ecolab, Gander Mountain, Lawson Software, Securian, Patterson Dental, Saint Jude Medical, and Synovis Life Technologies. The city prides itself on an increasing number of strong private companies like Warners’ Stellian, CorVal Group, Summit Brewery, and Harris Companies. Large healthcare employers include Regions, United, and Children’s hospitals. In the 1990s, civic pride sparked a dramatic renaissance in Saint Paul. The private sector joined forces with government to create a shared vision of a revitalized city. Bold initiatives have had a dynamic impact:
Downtown Saint Paul continues to be a smart location for value-conscious businesses needing easy access to a highly educated workforce and a knowledge-based business community. Environmentally responsible development is given the highest priority. The City and the Saint Paul Port Authority work closely to ensure that new business development is energy-efficient as well as environmentally friendly. To facilitate such development, the Port has reclaimed polluted and abandoned inner-city sites through its brownfield remediation program. The redeveloped sites – 19 to date – are home to expansion-minded businesses. The Port offers financing and workforce development programs to assist in this effort. The City and Port also actively recruit eco-friendly businesses to the East Metro. Together, they encourage existing manufacturers to expand into green market lines of business. The Port even pays for businesses to consult with a design team specializing in energy-saving architecture.
Population & Workforce Saint Paul is the second most populous city in Minnesota. Together, Saint Paul and Minneapolis form the core of the Twin Cities MSA – the 15th largest MSA in the U.S. with a population of 3.5 million. Saint Paul serves as the county seat of Ramsey County, the most densely populated county in Minnesota. Saint Paul is a smart city with a highly educated workforce. Based on a 2005 demographic survey, more than 60% of downtown employees have a Bachelor's degree or higher. This compares favorably to the national average of 24% and the citywide average of 32%. Almost 80% of the workforce is employed in private sector businesses. Another 15% works in state, county and city government. Saint Paul celebrates its wide ethnic diversity through dozens of local festivals – including the Minnesota State Fair, Saint Paul Winter Carnival, Festival of Nations, Minnesota Fringe Festival, Taste of Minnesota, Vietnamese New Year Celebration, Asian Pacific Heritage Festival, and Cinco de Mayo. Labor Force Profile of Saint Paul
Transportation Saint Paul stays connected to the rest of 11-county Metro MSP region via Interstates 94 and 35E. It links to an expansive transportation network that efficiently moves products and people across the country. Minneapolis/Saint Paul International Airport is nine miles southwest of Saint Paul along Interstates 494 and 35E. The airport serves three international, 12 domestic, seven charter and three regional carriers. Competitive freight air service and Foreign Trade Zone incentives also are available. Saint Paul’s planned Central Corridor Light Rail Transit (LRT) will connect downtown to the University of Minnesota and downtown Minneapolis. It is expected to be completed in 2014. The Hiawatha LRT already connects downtown Minneapolis to the airport and Mall of America. It serves an average of 34,000 riders per day. Saint Paul also has an extensive bus system featuring commuter and high-frequency routes. Daily rail freight service is provided by four railways: BNSF, -->Canadian Pacific -->, Twin Cities & Western, and Union Pacific. Amtrak's Empire Builder passenger train between Chicago and Seattle stops daily in each direction at Saint Paul’s Midway Station. The Saint Paul Skyway System is the largest in the world. Most of downtown is conveniently connected by five miles of award-wining enclosed, second-floor, climate-controlled pedestrian bridges, called “skyways.” Another mode of transportation gaining popularity in Saint Paul is biking, especially with the advent of new bike lanes throughout the city and Metro MSP region. Bike trails interconnect with those of Minneapolis and other neighboring cities. Metro Transit buses feature bike racks for combination commuters.
Quality of Life Saint Paul is the cultural capital of Minnesota. It supports a dynamic arts community defined by the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts (home to the world-renowned Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra), Science Museum of Minnesota, Minnesota Children’s Museum, Minnesota Historical Society and RiverCentre. Many smaller performance venues and organizations help to create one of the most concentrated urban arts corridors the country. The Twin Cities is second only to New York City in live theater per capita. Not to be overshadowed by the arts, Saint Paul is a destination for professional sports. The Minnesota Wild pro hockey team plays at Xcel Energy Center. The zany Saint Paul Saints minor league baseball team takes on all rivals at Midway Stadium. Saint Paul also loves its other minor league teams in basketball, lacrosse, and soccer. Saint Paul has earned the title of “Tree City USA” for 25 years, thanks to its remarkable city and neighborhood parks – including Como Park Conservatory and Zoo. The city also is a mecca for higher education, with 11 colleges and universities within its limits. Distinctive neighborhoods like Grand Avenue, Highland Park, West Seventh Street, Como Park and Cathedral Hill make it a thoroughly livable city. This metropolis has an identity all its own – marked by tight-knit neighborhoods, tree-lined avenues, and old-world architecture. Inviting words describe Saint Paul: green, livable, progressive, family-friendly, safe, vibrant, historic, welcoming and multi-cultural. To find out more about what makes Saint Paul such a livable city, visit The Line, a weekly web magazine that chronicles “the new urban spirit” in Saint Paul.
Demographics Demographic profile of Saint Paul
Consumer Spending Consumer Spending profile of Saint Paul
Colleges & Universities University of Minnesota, Saint Paul Campus
Economic Development Contact Cecile Bedor, Director of Planning & Economic Development
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