Sustainability is an increasingly hot topic in community development and construction, but it’s hardly a new concept. One of DMC’s guiding principles is for the initiative to be a model for sustainability that will strive to implement ecological urban design and building practices to improve and enhance the environment and quality of life.
To help achieve this goal, DMC and the City of Rochester hired Kevin Bright as a shared Sustainability Director to support the community’s efforts to go green. The position is funded by a two-year McKnight Foundation grant.
Cities at any stage of development can benefit greatly from sharing ideas with and learning from other communities.
For the second year in a row, more than 40 leaders from organizations in and around Rochester traveled to the Twin Cities for a DMC-organized site visit. This year’s trip focused on topics of transportation and public spaces and included discussions and presentations from key experts in those fields. Attendees included staff from the DMC Economic Development Agency (EDA) staff, the City of Rochester, Mayo Clinic, Coen+Partners, RSP Architects, the University of Minnesota, the Rochester International Airport, and other local organizations.
At the heart of every destination city is a vibrant downtown, where signature spaces, diverse programming, and enticing events encourage residents and visitors to linger a little longer.
In downtown Rochester, the bold vision for the true Heart of the City is coming to life as designers unveil a new future for the Destination Medical Center (DMC) sub-district where residents and visitors come together to celebrate life, community, health, and wellness 365 days a year.
From Discover and Dream to Design and Do
The Heart of the City Design Team recently unveiled plans for the much-anticipated core of downtown. Their forward-thinking vision for this integral part of the DMC district was received with excitement and anticipation by the DMC Corporation Board of Directors, the Rochester City Council, and the community at-large as they learned of the new plans for the sub-district.
Rochester has been named one of the healthiest cities in the country by Forbes and U.S. News & World Report. And Minnesota has ranked as having the best health care in the United States. Together, DMC and Mayo Clinic will push Rochester forward as a global destination for health and wellness.
To help illustrate the many ways individuals are transforming Rochester, DMC has created a video series called “DMC Rochester, MN Storyteller Videos.” These snapshots of forward-thinking people and approaches showcase the opportunities that exist in Rochester as DMC sets in motion a new future for America’s City for Health.
In the Middle of Health
Each year, Mayo Clinic contributes millions to support local community needs and wellness initiatives. Amit Sood was training overseas when he first heard about Mayo Clinic. “I was taken by the Clinic’s mission and values,” Sood says. “I wanted to be a part of it.”
“There are 8,800 chambers in the United States,” says Rob Miller, the Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce president. “Any one of those could potentially submit nominees for the award. But Rochester was the only chamber – and Minnesota, the only state – who had more than one finalist.”
With the rapid population growth predicted for Rochester over the coming years, DMC and other community leaders appreciate the need to channel days gone by and rekindle the sense of fellowship that existed among neighbors before smartphones and Wi-Fi became the norm.
In 2007, a group of Ithaca, New York residents started a local festival to bring back a sense of unity to their community and celebrate local musicians. They launched the first “Porchfest,” an event that partnered local musical talent with area homeowners who provided porches, decks, and lawns where the artists could perform. Since that first event ten years ago, similar events have sprung up in cities all around the nation.
Rochester’s first Porchfest took place in the Kutzky Park neighborhood last fall when 12 hosts invited local musicians to perform outside their homes. More than 300 people attended the city’s inaugural event, and organizers are looking forward to an even greater turnout for Porchfest 2017, scheduled for Saturday, September 16.
Rochester offers a thriving arts community, including a nearly 100-year-old symphony orchestra and a number of historic sites. From stage productions to downtown galleries, museums, wineries, breweries, and festivals, Rochester delivers. Home-grown foods fill our plates. Local brews quench our thirst. DMC opens the doors for even more. Expanding the Downtown Waterfront district brings even more activity, entertainment, shopping, and nightlife to our exciting city.
To help illustrate the many ways individuals are transforming Rochester, DMC has created a video series called “DMC Rochester, MN Storyteller Videos.” These snapshots of forward-thinking people and approaches showcase the opportunities that exist in Rochester as DMC sets in motion a new future for America’s City for Health.
In the Middle of Culture
Nicole Nfonoyim-Hara
Arts, entertainment, and culture have been the heartbeat of Rochester for more than 150 years.
In 2017, Rochester was ranked by ZipRecruiter.com as “One of the 10 Easiest Cities to Find a Job,” proof that the city is not only attracting new investment – it’s also the ideal place to build your career.
DMC planning estimates indicate that more than 30,000 jobs could be created in Rochester by 2035. Supporting this job growth will require sustained efforts from education, business, labor, and civic leaders.
While health care will account for many of the jobs, hospitality and construction will be important components in supporting the growth of America’s City for Health.
Rochester is alive with activity. We keep residents moving with more than 85 miles of paved walking and biking trails, scenic Bluff Country, Blue Ribbon trout streams, more than 100 parks, immaculate golf courses, cross-country skiing, and so much more. Rochester is also a huge draw for sporting events, hosting major tournaments in soccer, hockey, softball, basketball, and volleyball.
To help illustrate the many ways individuals are transforming Rochester, DMC has created a video series called “DMC Rochester, MN Storyteller Videos.” These snapshots of forward-thinking people and approaches showcase the opportunities that exist in Rochester as DMC sets in motion a new future for America’s City for Health.
In the Middle of Recreation
Nicole Rawlings
Nicole Rawlings is a Worksite Wellness Coordinator for the Dan Abraham Healthy Living Center at Mayo Clinic who gets to live out her passion every day by empowering clinic employees to be healthier and happier.
“I took a chance on Rochester to pursue my dream job at Mayo Clinic,” Rawlings says. She thought packing up and moving away from family and familiar surroundings of St. Paul would be difficult, but it wasn’t long until she found her place in the community.
We love where we live. DMC will make sure of it. Small-town vibe. Big-city amenities. Rochester is a vibrant urban center for people to live, work, and play, full of entertainment, arts, and culture. Plus, it’s easy to get around with safe, walkable streets, a network of bike trails, and efficient public transportation. In fact, the average commute time to work is only 15 minutes. Add in the fresh, local foods, quaint neighborhoods, and job opportunities, and you’ve got an ideal place to call home.
Sunny Prabhakar
To help illustrate the many ways individuals are transforming Rochester, DMC has created a video series called “DMC Rochester, MN Storyteller Videos.” These snapshots of forward-thinking people and approaches showcase the opportunities that exist in Rochester as DMC sets in motion a new future for America’s City for Health.
To help achieve this goal, DMC and the City of Rochester hired Kevin Bright as a shared Sustainability Director to support the community’s efforts to go green. The position is funded by a two-year McKnight Foundation grant.
