ST. CLOUD -- St. Cloud has been named a finalist for one of the most livable cities in the world. The annual Livcom Awards will be handed out next week in Rome.

St. Cloud Mayor Dave Kleis says only about 120 cities across the globe were invited to submit an application to be considered, and from those, just 21 were selected as finalists.

We're the only city in the United States that is part of it. We've been there a few times in 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2012. Each time we've gone there's always been a number of cities from the U.S. This time St. Cloud will be representing not only our city but our nation at the competition in Rome.

Kleis says there are four finalists in our population category. St. Cloud is also nominated as a project finalist for its renewable energy initiatives.

The 2019 Livcom Awards are Wednesday through Friday.

Mayor Kleis along with Metro Bus Chief Executive Ryan Daniel will represent the city. They are paying their own way for the trip. St. Cloud has been a finalist for the most livable city award four other times since 2007.

St. Cloud finished in second place in 2007. We won a bronze medal in 2009.