A major project for the viability of downtown St. Cloud has received a shot in the arm. In a unanimous vote Monday night, the St. Cloud City Council gave the go-ahead to expand the St. Cloud Civic Center. Construction costs for the $22 million dollar project will be paid off through food and beverage taxes over 25 years. In March, Governor Tim Pawlenty vetoed bonding money for the project when the city asked for an additional $13 million dollars. The design approved Monday night is a more modest version of the prior proposal (image provided by Hagemeister Mack Architects).