Mankato and North Mankato has experienced tremendous growth over the past decade, evolving into a regional center that provides services to a population of 1.6 million within a 60-mile radius. Greater Mankato’s strong, diverse economy is built around manufacturing, health care, services, agriculture, technology and retail.

The community is known for its exceptional quality of life, educated workforce and worker productivity. It offers jobs, higher education, top-notch health care, arts, recreation, and metropolitan amenities while sidestepping the traffic jams, high crime rates, and high property taxes often associated with heavily urbanized areas.

The mission of the City of Mankato’s economic development efforts and policies are four fold:

1. To ensure the long-term well-being of Mankato citizens and the community by ensuring the City’s ability to expand its diversified economy well into the future.
2. To create employment opportunities for its citizens by retaining and expanding the existing business base and attracting new businesses to the City.
3. To build a diverse tax base.
4. To sustain orderly growth and development in and around Mankato.