FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 9, 2026

MEDIA CONTACT: Ashley Aram
[email protected]
651-587-4737

SAINT PAUL PORT AUTHORITY RELEASES NEW INDUSTRIAL LAND STUDY

Report highlights industrial sector’s critical role in providing jobs, tax base and long-term financial stability for Saint Paul

SAINT PAUL, Minn. — The Saint Paul Port Authority today released a comprehensive Industrial Land Study examining the economic and fiscal impacts of industrially zoned land in Saint Paul. The study underscores industrial land’s essential role as both an economic engine and the fiscal backbone of the city, while warning that ongoing land-use pressures threaten this limited and irreplaceable resource.

Commissioned by the Port Authority and conducted by Northspan, the analysis evaluates zoning codes, tax revenues, public service costs and employment data to provide a data-driven view of industrial land in Saint Paul.

“This study confirms what we see every day in our work. Industrial land is not a legacy of the past, it is the financial engine of Saint Paul’s future,” said Todd Hurley, president of the Saint Paul Port Authority. “Protecting and maximizing productive industrial land is one of the most effective strategies we have to stabilize our tax base, support affordability and create high-quality jobs for residents.”

What is industrially zoned land?
Industrially zoned land refers to areas designated by local zoning regulations for businesses that manufacture, process, store, distribute or transport goods. Commercial and even residential uses are allowed on industrially zoned land, but industrial uses are not allowed on land zoned for commercial or residential use.

In the age of modern manufacturing, there are many outdated perceptions of what industrial means and looks like. In Saint Paul, most industrial development in recent years has been less heavy industry and more along the lines of medical device manufacturing, assembly and packaging of goods, commercial bakeries and food distribution, and businesses like largescale commercial printers.

Small footprint, outsized impact
The study found that industrial land accounts for roughly 12% of all acreage in Saint Paul, and only half of that is developable; the other half being properties such as the Saint Paul Downtown Airport and rail corridors. However, despite this limited footprint, Saint Paul’s industrial sector delivers significant returns, including:
• Over 31,000 jobs supported
• $2.8 billion in labor income
• More than $9 billion in direct economic output
• Over $1 billion in total tax impact across local, state and federal levels

The backbone of Saint Paul’s tax base
The analysis found industrial land dramatically outperforms other land uses from a fiscal perspective:
• While making up just 1.9% of city parcels, industrial land generates 9.3% of Saint Paul’s property tax revenue
• On a per-acre basis, industrial land generates $14,000 more in property tax revenue than residential land, making it 61% higher performing
• For every $1 of city services consumed, industrial land returns $1.80 in tax revenue
o By comparison, housing returns $0.87, and all non-industrial land uses combined return $0.96

High-quality jobs that stabilize the local economy
The study also examined the impact of industrial employment in an era of increased remote work. National data show that industrial jobs are among the most likely to be in person and among the highest-paying sectors with low remote-work rates.

Research cited in the study indicates that declines in in-person work reduce local spending by 5–10%, weaken commercial real estate markets and can negatively affect the surrounding tax base. By contrast, industrial jobs help anchor foot traffic, support commercial vitality and strengthen neighborhood economies.

A call to protect a critical asset
The study arrives at a pivotal moment as Saint Paul faces competing pressures: rising housing demand, a downtown in transition, growing financial strain on residential taxpayers and a limited supply of land for redevelopment.

“Every acre converted away from productive industrial use has lasting fiscal consequences,” said Hurley. “If we want Saint Paul to remain affordable and livable for the everyone, industrial land must be part of the solution.”

To read the full report, Click Here

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