By William Smith
Signs of business momentum
Savage has seen a steady increase in business activity. In 2024 alone, the city welcomed 326 new business filings spanning retail, service, wellness, and industrial sectors. Among the notable additions: FORCE America relocated a 123,000-square-foot facility here, and the MN MASH Baseball Training Facility opened a 64,000-square-foot indoor complex. These developments point not only to local demand but also to Savage’s growing ability to attract diverse investment.
Employment landscape and workforce trends
Currently, about 73.7% of residents age 16 and over are employed — higher than both Scott County’s 72.2% and Minnesota’s 65.3%. The overall unemployment rate in Savage is 5.3%. While more than four out of five workers are employed in private-sector roles, roughly 7.5% are self-employed. Key industries include health care and social assistance, manufacturing, and retail trade — each contributing significantly to Savage’s job mix.
What’s working, and what needs attention
For existing businesses, Savage offers several incentives: property tax abatement, tax increment financing, and SAC (sewer/water) deferral programs. Programs like these help ease the cost of expansion or new development. The city is also crafting a five-year Economic Development Strategic Plan. Its priorities include reinvesting in existing commercial areas, revitalizing Highway 13 and downtown, forging stronger workforce‐education partnerships, and diversifying the tax base to better balance residential versus commercial property taxes.
Challenges ahead
Even as Savage shows promising growth, there are challenges. The city is nearing full build-out, meaning undeveloped land is scarce. That puts pressure on redevelopment of existing properties — not just new parcels. Another concern: job growth is projected to continue being concentrated in Savage and nearby suburban cities, rather than in outlying townships, which may heighten traffic, infrastructure demands, and housing demand in those growing zones. Survey data also suggest declining resident perceptions regarding employment opportunities and economic development — a signal that while metrics look positive, not everyone feels the benefits yet.
What this means for entrepreneurs & job seekers
If you’re starting a business, there’s opportunity — especially in sectors like wellness, light industrial, or specialty retail where Savage has already seen recent activity. Be prepared to navigate zoning, redevelopment of existing structures, and infrastructure constraints. Working with the city’s development programs can help reduce startup costs. For job seekers, aligning skills with dominant local industries such as health care, manufacturing, or retail makes sense; and emerging opportunities may arise where business incentives or redevelopment are targeted.
Looking forward
Savage’s economic trajectory suggests a community in transition: from expansion into redevelopment, from land availability into maximizing parcel potential, and from broad growth into inclusive prosperity. Momentum is promising, but ensuring that benefits reach a wider base of residents will require continued focus on workforce development, affordable housing, and infrastructure. As the 5-year plan rolls out, keeping watch on how policies land will be key. In short, Savage’s economy looks strong — but real progress will depend on execution.