Rochester, Minnesota is being nationally recognized by a PBS television program for its collaborative efforts to reach a more sustainable future. A crew from This American Land, a conservation newsmagazine series, spent time in Rochester in July 2020 to record the segment, titled “Urban Renewable Energy.”
Month: January 2021
Launch Minnesota: Helping Startups Take Off
What does ‘futureproofing’ a state’s economic prospects look like? In Minnesota, it looks like the statewide Launch Minnesota initiative, aimed at nourishing the state’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Launch Minnesota is a collaborative effort spearheaded by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development to accelerate the growth of startups and amplify Minnesota as a national leader in innovation.
“This is definitely a way to keep Minnesota competitive, nationally and globally, especially now with COVID-19” says Neela Mollgaard, Executive Director of Launch Minnesota.
The initiative launched in 2019 and marks the first time the State of Minnesota has allocated dollars focused on growing the state’s innovation economy system.
Rochester innovators find support in community
Mayo Clinic is an economic engine for its hometown of Rochester, Minnesota. The health care research leader is the city’s largest employer and the largest driver of visitors to the region, with an estimated 1.2 million patients and their families traveling annually to the region to receive care. But Mayo Clinic’s economic reach extends beyond these direct impacts, sparking the development of businesses in multiple industries.
Mayo Clinic has spun out a number of health-related businesses. More than 170 startups have used intellectual property developed at Mayo Clinic, and more than 2,000 technologies are available for licensing, according to Mayo Clinic Ventures, the organization that manages this commercialization.
A Message from Patrick Seeb: A New Beginning
I enthusiastically take on a new role as executive director at Destination Medical Center (DMC). While I have been with DMC for five years, it definitely feels like a new beginning as I join new leadership at Rochester’s City Council, City administration, chamber of commerce, and others.
The opportunities before us are very different than just a few years ago, beyond the most obvious disruption caused by COVID-19. Fortunately, these past five years have provided us with incredible learning and great building blocks for a prosperous future.
We are proud of the progress of DMC’s first five years, humbled by lessons learned, and inspired by opportunities before us.
Olde Brick House Irish Pub and Restaurant brings authentic experience to downtown Rochester’s Heart of the City
Even with a great location in downtown Rochester, opening a restaurant during a pandemic comes with plenty of challenges. For the staff at Olde Brick House, 19 1st Ave SW, those challenges happened to include advanced furniture assembly and metric conversions.
Inside the newly opened restaurant, “Everything that a customer sees was built over in Dublin, Ireland,” says Paula Rathman, director of operations and general manager of Olde Brick House.