Mankato Awards

City of Mankato Awards

Achievements that put Mankato, Minnesota on the map.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation Office of Aeronautics and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have recognized the city of Mankato's regional airport with the FAA/Governor's award. This award recognizes excellence in the areas of airport planning, airport development, airport maintenance and public relations.

The League of American Bicyclists have designated the cities of Mankato and North Mankato a "bronze" Bicycle Friendly Community.  The Bicycle Friendly Community program revolutionizes the way communities evaluate their quality of life, sustainability and transportation networks, while benchmarking progress toward improving bicycle-friendliness.  There are 214 Bicycle Friendly Community designations in 47 states across America, including the greater Mankato area.

Mankato has earned GreenStep Cities Program recognition through their efforts to achieve sustainability goals through implementation of best practices that focus on cost savings and energy use reduction, and encourage innovation.  Mankato was the first city in southern Minnesota, and one of the first in outstate Minnesota to commit to the program.  GreenStep Cities is a program of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.

On a recent list released by Forbes.com, Mankato ranked 25th in the nation as one of "The Best Small Places for Business and Careers,"  In an online slide show, cost of doing business, net migration, educational attainment and being a metropolitan statistical area were all sited as criteria used to earn the ranking.  

Median household income and home price, unemployment and job growth were also criteria listed within the ranking and information about Mankato.  Mankato was described as being home to several academic institutions and as being a popular destination for outoor recreational activities.

View the complete Forbes story online which designates "The Best Places for Business" in  America.

100 Best Places for Youth

The Mankato community was named as one of the nation’s top 100 Best Communities for Young People by America’s Promise for four consecutive years. Meeting the needs of children in the community was identified as one of the main reasons the Mankato community earned this honor. More information is available at America's Promise Alliance.

Bizjournals

As featured on MSNBC,  Bizjournals ranked Mankato #7 in its 2008 list of 10 dreamtowns nationwide. Focusing on a variety of livability factors, Bizjournals studied 140 micropolitan areas and gave the best marks to well-rounded communities with light traffic, a healthy economy, moderate cost of living, impressive housing stocks, strong educational systems and easy access to big-city amenities. 

Bond ratings benefit citizens

The stability of Mankato's tax base and the overall sales and housing growth has bucked trends for regional centers across the country. Mankato’s bond ratings were upgraded twice in six months, a remarkable achievement that benefits citizens. What the city levies for property taxes will decrease, having a direct impact on residents.

Cities to Watch

Mankato made "AARP The Magazine's" national list for what makes a community livable: new urbanism, smart growth, mixed-use development and easy-living standards. A complete list of the "Cities to Watch" and the "Best Places to Live" is available online.

Forbes

According to Forbes.com, the city of Mankato, Minn. ranks as one of the best small cities to raise a family.

Out of 100 cities in the nation, Mankato, Minn. ranked 15th.Cities were scored on commute times, educational attainment, median household income, the rate of home ownership, and the cost of living, for which median housing costs were used as a percentage of income as a proxy.

  • Metropolitan Statistical Area: Mankato-North Mankato, MN
  • Commute time rank: 28
  • High school graduation rate rank: 8
  • Median household income rank: 14
  • Home ownership rate rank: 75
  • Cost of living rank: 64