Market Studies for Central Minnesota Businesses and Downtowns 

Before you invest in a storefront, a district, or a development, you need to know who your customers are, where they come from, and how much they spend somewhere else. CPRCE answers those questions with trade-area analysis, retail demand estimates, and, when needed, primary research such as customer and business-owner surveys. The work uses public data from the Census Bureau and other federal and state sources, and GIS maps of the market. Each study is staffed by St. Cloud State faculty and graduate students, and every report documents its assumptions and data sources to support proposals before a council or a lender.

Understanding Our Terms and Conditions

We work closely with our community partners to define the project scope, deliverables, timelines, and goals. Once those details are established, we’ll outline the specifics of your project to support a successful collaboration.

To help streamline the process, we encourage community partners to review the outline below and share them with their legal or administrative teams while we work together to finalize the project scope.

  1. Effective Date
  2. Term and Termination: This Agreement is effective as of the Effective Date and ends on the agreed upon date, unless otherwise terminated or amended in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement or extended by mutual written agreement of the parties.
    1. Termination. Either party may terminate this Agreement upon thirty (30) days prior written notice to the other party. Termination of this Agreement by either party shall not affect the rights and obligations of the parties accrued prior to the effective date of the termination.
    2. If the Sponsor chooses to terminate the Agreement for any reason, the University will retain all funds already paid, and the Sponsor will also be responsible for paying the University for any work completed up to the effective date of termination.
  3. Economic Impact Study.
    1. University will use its own facilities and its reasonable efforts to conduct the study described in scope or work.
    2. Sponsor acknowledges the University does not guarantee any specific results or outcomes of the study.
    3. Sponsor further acknowledges that the University may engage in similar studies for other sponsors.
    4. During the Term of this Agreement, any changes in the direction or scope of the study must be agreed to by mutual consent of the Parties.
  4. Project Fees and Payment Terms
    1. Contact for and agree upon communication and reporting.
    2. Authorship, Publication and Academic Rights.
      1. Acknowledgement and Authorship: Requestor agrees not to edit the final report and acknowledge St. Cloud State University’s role and contributions to the project within public announcement or notices.
      2. Upon the prior written consent of Sponsor, the PI may publish or otherwise publicly disclose information gained in the course of conducting the Work. University will submit any prepublication materials to Requestor for review and comment at least sixty (60) days prior to planned submission for publication. Requestor shall respond to the University within thirty (30) days of receipt of such materials; provided, Requester shall have the final authority to determine the scope and content of any publications.
    3. Confidential Information. University is subject to the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act, Minn. Stat. Chapter 13. Any information marked "CONFIDENTIAL" shall be treated as confidential/proprietary to the extent permitted under Minn. Stat. 13.37.
    4. Liability. Each party agrees that it will be responsible for its own acts and the results thereof to the extent authorized by law and shall not be responsible for the acts of the other party and the results thereof. St. Cloud State University’s liability shall be governed by the provisions of the Minnesota Tort Claims Act, Minnesota Statutes sections 3.732 and 3.736, et seq., and other applicable law.
    5. Independent Contractor: For purposes of this Agreement, the parties shall be deemed independent contractors and not agents or employees of the other party.
    6. Applicable Law: Minnesota law applies to this Agreement without regard for choice-of-law rules. Jurisdiction and venue shall be in Minnesota state and federal courts located in the State of Minnesota.