PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The Main Street Economic Revitalization Grant program awards matching funds to help businesses improve their buildings. The goal is to help Rochester stay a lively, welcoming place for people to live, work, and visit. Grant recipients can use the funds for property repair or renovation, building construction, landscaping and street scaping, demolition and site preparation, predesign and design, engineering, non-publicly owned infrastructure, or related site amenities.
REVIEW & APPROVAL PROCESS
- Review: DMC EDA Staff
- Recommendation: DMC EDA Board
- Approval: MN DEED Staff
DISBURSEMENT OF FUNDS
Grantees will receive funding as a reimbursement once the work has been completed and proof of payment has been collected. The grant disbursement can be made in a single payment or multiple payments as the project progresses. Further details will be outlined in the grant agreement, executed after DEED formally approves the project. Only expenses incurred through June 30, 2026, are eligible for reimbursement.
CONTACT INFORMATION
For questions about eligibility, the application process, or technical assistance, please contact:
GRANT PROGRAM MANAGER
Wafa Elkhalifa
[email protected]
(507) 202-4074
dmc.mn
Featured Stories
To date, the Main Street Economic Revitalization Grant program has supported over 70 businesses and led to the creation of over 300 jobs and 22 vacant storefronts are now occupied. The grant awards ranged from $5,000 to $500,000, with an average award of around $59,000.
Green + the Grain
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.
Jack’s Bottle Shop
Because of its absolute uniqueness, Jack’s Bottle Shop, 909 6th St NW, is an established pillar of the Rochester beer (and by extension social) scene. That same uniqueness means the shop doesn’t often find itself fitting neatly into bullet points on an application.
The Landing
t’s hard to imagine a place in Rochester where a dollar’s impact can cause more positive ripples than The Landing, 426 3rd Ave SE. The organization was founded in 2018 to provide direct support to members of the Rochester community experiencing homelessness and has operated some iteration of a day center since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
Anderson Wheelchair
58 years. That’s how long Anderson Wheelchair, 1117 Second St SW, has provided mobility to residents and visitors to Med City. The shop sells, rents, customizes, and services mobility products.
Approved Grants
as of 2/2/26
| 5th St. Center, LLC | $36,000 |
| 1910 Fresh Mexican Kitchen | $15,000 |
| Abuhureira Islamic Center | $100,000 |
| Anderson Wheelchair | $88,547 |
| Andros, LLC | $14,152 |
| ANK Property (Parker) | $24,000 |
| ANK Property (Ida) | $132,000 |
| Art Heads Emporium | $55,500 |
| Baheya, LLC | $4,100 |
| BGD5 Mall DBA: Galleria at University Square | $52,900 |
| Bonana, LLC DBA: Uni Uni Tea | $38,812 |
| Cafe Aqui | $33,000 |
| Chabad of Southern Minnesota | $59,900 |
| City Walk, LLC | $500,000 |
| Diatom Books, LLC | $1,979 |
| DR 428, LLC | $87,500 |
| Eastwood Plaza | $9,000 |
| Enat Ethiopian Kitchen | $39,600 |
| Everyday 365 Clothing, LLC | $4,500 |
| Fermata Investments | $37,750 |
| Flowers by Jerry | $3,531 |
| Galleria at University Square | $23,797 |
| Gaming Bizaar, LLC | $3,000 |
| GarGaar Grocery | $36,900 |
| Green + The Grain | $87,500 |
| Griot Arts | $30,000 |
| Guerin Studio, LLC | $22,500 |
| Healing Touch Spa, LLC | $35,000 |
| Hiro | $187,500 |
| Interiors By J.Curry, LLC | $1,220 |
| Ironton, LLC | $85,000 |
| Jack’s Bottle Shop | $15,000 |
| Jersey Jo’s | $2,141 |
| Kahler Inn & Suites | $15,000 |
| Keller Tattoo, LLC | $8,496 |
| Kismet Consignment Boutique | $9,000 |
| Knight’s Chamber | $9,600 |
| La Michoacana Purepecha 3, LLC | $52,500 |
| Low Income Fam Apartments (1st Avenue Flats) | $1,700 |
| M & S of Rochester, LLC | $21,000 |
| Maro & Calal Boutique and Cafe | $20,000 |
| Marrow Restaurant | $133,919 |
| Masjed Abubakr Al-Seddeig, Inc. | $100,000 |
| Matik Real Estate Services, Inc. | $10,803 |
| Neighborly Group | $20,000 |
| New Spin Bicycle Shop | $32,090 |
| Nile Restaurant | $21,000 |
| Northgate Imports, Inc. | $60,000 |
| Nucleus RadioPharma | $150,000 |
| Old School Entertainment | $5,000 |
| Olmsted Bank Building Restoration | $300,000 |
| Orange Rose Distribution DBA: Popus Gourmet Popcorn | $25,500 |
| PAKS Properties III and Broadway Laundromat | $34,500 |
| Pasquale and Friends | $7,500 |
| People’s Food Cooperative | $22,500 |
| Race Automotive of Rochester, Inc. | $750 |
| Roasted Bliss, LLC | $181,500 |
| Rochester Art Center | $5,100 |
| Rossi Auto Body | $120,000 |
| Rowan International Grocery Store, LLC | $15,000 |
| Ryan Companies | $25,000 |
| Sargent’s on Second | $34,289 |
| Schmitt Automotive Repair | $4,000 |
| Second Street Hotels Group | $14,577 |
| Skiathos, LLC | $8,000 |
| Soliflo | $30,000 |
| Stack Downtown Investments, LLC | $14,296 |
| Struve Paint and Decorating Store | $6,866 |
| Tap House | $45,000 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theater | $4,500 |
| The Cobblers, LLC | $25,000 |
| The Landing MN | $200,000 |
| The Nordic Shops, Inc. | $23,400 |
| The Well | $186,000 |
| Thesis Beer Project | $9,000 |
| Tinos, LLC | $48,000 |
| TRCH Plaza, LLP | $11,000 |
| Treedome DBA Pop’s Art Theater | $17,100 |
| True Queens Boutique | $10,500 |
| Tyrol Ski Shop, Inc. | $3,000 |
| Well Living Lab, Inc. | $10,000 |
| Wendland Utz | $26,355 |
| West End Salon & Spa, LLC | $87,500 |
| Zastrow Photography | $15,000 |
| Zumbro Lutheran Church | $6,000 |
| Zumbro Valley Health Center | $200,000 |
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the Main Street Economic Revitalization Grant Program?
This is a state-funded initiative intended to provide grants for capital improvement projects in central business districts across the state.
Projects that result in improvements to any permanent structure or other asset added to a property that adds to its value are eligible. Business operations expenses are not eligible. Applicants need to have other sources of funding to match any funds given by this program.
- Who administers the grant program in Rochester?
The grant is administered by Destination Medical Center Economic Development Agency located in downtown Rochester. The DMC EDA applied for and secured the grant award with the support of the City of Rochester.
Eligible projects must be within the approved areas.
- Who can apply for funding?
Any person or company planning to invest in eligible capital projects in the approved areas may apply.
- What investments are funded by the grant?
Capital investments, such as:
- Repair or renovation of property, including expansions and additions
- Demolition, site preparation, and building construction
- Landscaping, streetscaping and related site amenities
- Engineering, pre-design and design work
- Infrastructure
- What investments can NOT be funded by the grant?
The purchase of real estate is not eligible, nor are business operations or business operating expenses, such as inventory, wages, or working capital.
- How much was the DMC EDA’s grant award?
In Round 3, DMC EDA was awarded $750,000 for distribution in the DMC District (with priority given to those organizations near the future Link Bus Rapid Transit corridor) and the Lowertown Neighborhood.
In the first two rounds, the DMC EDA distributed up to 3 million dollars in grants in the DMC District and approximately $950,000 in phase 2 (southeast Crossroads to Bear Creek, and the Northwest Design District and Northgate Area) with a minimum award of $3,000 and a maximum of $750,000 per award.
These grant awards could cover up to 30% of the project cost. The remaining funds must come from other sources. For example, a $100,000 capital project can be awarded up to $30,000 in Main Street Grant funds. The remaining balance must be funded through other sources.
- What can be used for the matching funds?
Loans, equity, and local government funding not derived from state or federal sources can be used for the match.
- Who provided the grant funding?
Funding was provided by the State of Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development.
- Why did the State of Minnesota initiate this program?
The grant program was intended to help central business districts physically rebuild and reposition themselves in the face of a substantially changing downtown economy.