Recent Investments in our Community
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Mayo Clinic Health Systems St. James $24,000,000 Investment
Good Samaritan Society St. James $825,000 Investment
In the spring of 2016, Good Samaritan- St. James opened a new Post-Acute Rehabilitation Center that features:
- 8 short-stay private recovery suites with private bathrooms, showers, refrigerator and cable television
- A new therapy gym and private treatment room for in-patient and out-patient physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy
- Remodeled lounge, kitchen and dining area
In the summer of 2016 the campus also remodeled 23 long-term care resident rooms with new flooring.
First Lutheran Church $1,100,000 Investment

Krause Photography
In 2016, First Lutheran Church completed a $1,100,000 remodel project.
- Remodeled the kitchen
- Added bathrooms in the social hall
- Remodeled downstairs classrooms into two pastor’s offices and a new conference room
- Remodeled the downstairs bathrooms
- Turned the chapel into a social gathering
- Became ADA compliant
- Re-carpeted the downstairs and added a portico
Pioneer Bank $200,000 Investment

Krause Photography
In 2015, Pioneer Bank made a $200,000 investment by updating the interior and exterior of their facility with:
- A new teller line
- New furniture, flooring, and fixtures
- New breakroom facilities
- An expanded drive-thru
Super 8 Motel Major Remodel
In 2014, the St. James Super 8 completed a major remodel to include:
- Carpeting
- Lighting
- Lobby furniture
- Pool and spa lifts
Anytime Fitness $110,000 Investment
- New equipment
- Free-standing walls
- New workout space upstairs
- Aesthetic upgrades throughout the entire facility
DODA USA Expansion
- New 31,000 square-foot building
- New office space
- Expanded manufacturing and increased efficiency
Tri-County Seed New Facility
Subway Relocation
Smithfield Foods Expansion
Rod’s Repair Expansion
Edward Jones $40,000 Investment
Veteran’s Memorial $125,000 Investment
Toddler Town $75,000 Investment
Toddler Town is a public playground that is also used as an outdoor classroom for preschoolers. Toddler Town opened in 2011.
- A $25,000 Pepsi Refresh Grant was a major contributor to help make this a reality
- The remaining $50,000 came from businesses, service clubs, and private donations
Watonwan County $13,375,000 Investment
Watonwan County Fairgrounds $96,430 Investment
- Upgrades to the Dairy Barn
- Upgrades to the 4H Food Stand
- Floor repairs in the 4H Exhibit Building
- New perimeter fence, pattern tiling and reconditioning of arena surface at the Horse Arena
- New service doors at the Beef Barn
St. James School District 840 $24.9 Million Referendum
The St. James School District 840 implemented a 24.9 million dollar expansion and remodel of 3 buildings in 2017:
- High School Media Center improvements
- New Media Center for the Elementary School
- Security improvements
- Technology improvements
- Added classroom space
- New gym facilities
- Upgraded theatre facilities
- New office space
- Pool upgrades
Gun Range $55,000 Investment
Private Utilities $1,250,000 Investment
- In 2016, Century Link upgraded over 1 million dollars’ worth of fiber lines in the community.
- In 2016, CenterPoint Energy upgraded over $250,000 dollars’ worth of gas lines in the community.
- Both of these projects were initiated by City street and State Highway projects in the community.
Community Building / Princess Theater $331,000 Investment
Recent investments to the City-owned Community Building and Princess Theater include:
- New equipment and kitchen appliances, including convection oven (2011)
- Digital Movie Equipment upgrade (2012)
- New Access Ramp (2014)
- Flooring and Paint (2016)
Parks and Recreation $368,157 Investment
The City has made many investments in Parks and Recreation in recent years, including:
- Swimming Pool- remodeled the building’s interior in 2013
- Built a new picnic shelter in the Campground in 2013
- In 2014 re-shingled the south shelter and in 2016 built a new north shelter and remodeled the south side complex shelter
- In 2016 built a fish cleaning station by St. James Lake
- Seal coating and overlays on the St. James Area Bike Trail 2014-2017
Fire Department $88,685 Investment
Municipal Airport $447,000 Investment
City of St. James Municipal Airport
- Comprehensive planning in 2015-2016 for FAA regulations
- LED Lighting on Runway and Taxiway in 2015
Highway 4 Reconstruction $8,000,000+ Investment
State Highway 4 reconstruction 2016-2019, improvements include:
- Replacing water and stormwater infrastructure
- Replacing sanitary sewer lines
- Upgrading storm sewer
- Replacing sidewalks and bringing them into ADA compliance
- Planting 300 new trees
- Construction of two mini-roundabouts
- Street replacement
- Aesthetic Upgrades
- New LED street lighting
Stormwater Project $4,500,000 Investment
City Utilities $14,257,000 Investment
Many improvements have been recently made to City Utilities:
- Wastewater Department- General improvements including change to biological treatment system to address and eliminate phosphorus (2013)
- Water Department- Raw water lines (2012), new meters (2014), new storage shed (2015)
- Light Department- New electric meters (2014) and a new storage facility (2012)