Month: December 2025

Main Street Grant Stories: Green + the Grain

General

When Tiffany Hauser first rolled her Green + the Grain food truck onto the streets of Minneapolis in 2014, she recognized an unmet need: fast, healthy food options in downtown business districts. What began as a simple idea quickly gained momentum.

That single food truck has since evolved into a thriving, Minnesota-based brand. Today, Green + the Grain operates seven locations, with its newest—and first outside the Twin Cities—opening soon in downtown Rochester’s Wells Fargo Building off Peace Plaza.

From food truck to franchise

Hauser’s entrepreneurial roots trace back to her childhood, growing up in her family’s small-town Wisconsin restaurant. Hands-on experience at an early age shaped her understanding of hospitality, teamwork, and the role food plays in building community.

After years of refining the Green + the Grain concept in Minneapolis, Rochester emerged as a natural next step for expansion. The downtown location will serve not only as the brand’s first Greater Minnesota site, but also as a pilot for its emerging franchise model—allowing the company to test new systems while staying closely connected to its headquarters.

A healthy addition to Peace Plaza

The Rochester restaurant will offer Green + the Grain’s signature salads, grain bowls, and wraps, along with ample seating for customers seeking a relaxed, welcoming space downtown. Located near major employers and civic spaces, the restaurant is designed to support busy schedules while encouraging people to linger.

The interior will reflect the brand’s clean, modern aesthetic, paired with warm energy and a community-oriented feel—an intentional complement to the activity of Peace Plaza and the surrounding downtown core.

Powered by partnership

The Main Street Economic Revitalization Grant played a key role in bringing Green + the Grain to Rochester. Restaurant build-outs require significant upfront investment, and the grant helped bridge the gap—supporting both the financial feasibility of the project and the decision to locate downtown.

Administered by Destination Medical Center in partnership with Minnesota DEED, the Main Street Grant program provided matching funds to help small businesses expand and reinvest—strengthening vital business corridor vibrancy while supporting local and regional entrepreneurs.

A people-first company

As a woman- and minority-owned business, Green + the Grain prioritizes inclusive leadership and team development. The company focuses on cultivating opportunities for growth, emphasizing long-term advancement and a supportive workplace culture.

That approach aligns well with Rochester’s values and the evolving downtown ecosystem, where businesses play an active role in shaping community experience as well as economic growth.

Looking ahead

As Green + the Grain prepares to open its doors in Rochester, the expansion represents more than a new restaurant—it reflects confidence in downtown’s momentum, its people, and its future. The addition brings fresh energy to Peace Plaza and reinforces Rochester’s growing reputation as a place where innovative, health-forward businesses can thrive.

DMCC Board Expresses Enthusiasm for UMR Expansion Plans

Press Releases

The Destination Medical Center Corporation (DMCC) Board of Directors advanced several key priorities at its December meeting, with actions and discussions focused on talent development, long-term planning, downtown stewardship, and board leadership transitions.

Talent as Infrastructure: University of Minnesota Rochester Update

The board received an update on plans to expand the University of Minnesota Rochester (UMR) campus to accommodate continued enrollment growth and meet pressing workforce needs in health and life sciences fields. UMR outlined a multi-phase facilities expansion strategy integrated into DMC subdistricts, reinforcing downtown Rochester as a walkable, innovation-centered community.

“In this time of growth for Rochester—spurred by the bold actions of DMC, the City, and Mayo Clinic—the University of Minnesota is ready to expand its impact, its downtown footprint, and its commitment to building the future health and life sciences workforce for Minnesota,” said University of Minnesota President Dr. Rebecca Cunningham.

The expansion builds on UMR’s “community campus” model, embedding academic, laboratory, and student-life spaces within existing downtown buildings near Mayo Clinic, Discovery Square, and employers. Since opening in 2009, UMR has grown from a first graduating class of 52 students in 2013 to more than 1,100 students today, many of whom live, learn, and work within DMC subdistricts. In 2025, UMR was designated an “Opportunity University” by Carnegie and the American Council on Education and generated an estimated $89.9 million in total economic impact, according to the University’s most recent economic impact study.

UMR’s long-term vision includes expanded labs and classrooms in Discovery Square, a future academic “heart of campus,” and new student residential and recreational facilities, each aligned with shared DMC priorities around talent pipeline development, experiential learning, sustainability, and community vibrancy.

5-Year Update to the 20-Year DMC Development Plan

The board reviewed progress on the statutory five-year update to the 20-year DMC Development Plan. The update documents measurable gains from DMC’s first decade, now exceeding $1.8 billion in private investment, while refining priorities for the next phase of growth.

The draft update reaffirms DMC’s mission and introduces three strategic lenses to guide future investment and policy decisions: Accelerating Health Innovation, Design for Well-Being, and Driving Purposeful Growth. Board members noted the importance of coordination with the City of Rochester, Olmsted County, Mayo Clinic, and community partners, as well as alignment with other long-range efforts, including the City’s Comprehensive Plan update and Mayo Clinic’s Bold. Forward. Unbound. in Rochester strategy.

“The Development Plan update is about sharpening our focus for the next decade,” said DMCC Board Chair Pam Wheelock. “It builds on real progress while giving our partners clarity and confidence that Rochester remains committed to coordinated, long-term investment as America’s City for Health.”

Downtown Property Preservation Program Amendment

The board approved minor amendments to the Downtown Property Preservation Program, reaffirming its commitment to maintaining and enhancing existing downtown buildings. The program supports reinvestment in Rochester’s urban core, helping preserve character, functionality, and long-term economic vitality.

Board Leadership Transitions

The DMCC Board welcomed Kristin Beckmann, who was sworn in as a new board member to complete a term vacated earlier this year. Beckmann brings extensive experience in public policy, nonprofit leadership, and community development, including prior service as Deputy Chief of Staff to Governor Tim Walz and Deputy Mayor of Saint Paul.

The board also formally recognized James Campbell for his distinguished service since 2013. Appointed during DMC’s earliest days, Campbell played a pivotal role in shaping the initiative’s strategy and governance. Board members thanked him for more than a decade of leadership that helped guide DMC through its formative years, supporting thousands of new jobs, nearly $1.8 billion in private investment, and Rochester’s growing global profile as a center for health and innovation.

The next DMCC Board meeting is set for Thursday, February 5, 2026, at 9:30. a.m.

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About DMC

Destination Medical Center (DMC) is the largest public-private economic initiative in Minnesota’s history. The 20-year plan to transform Rochester into a global destination for health and wellness will attract developers, investors, startups, and entrepreneurs to live, work, and play in America’s City for Health. For more information, visit dmc.mn.