Tag: dmc

Introducing: The Assistive Tech Challenge

The Assistive Tech Challenge is a pitch competition presented by Destination Medical Center’s Discovery Square in collaboration with The Arc Minnesota Southeast Region, and the disABILITY Mayo Clinic Employee Resource Group to facilitate greater independence for individuals with disabilities and the daily challenges they face. The Challenge is also intended to strengthen their ability to live more independently and help reduce the direct support workforce crisis confronting communities in the region and across the United States.

State Legislative Leaders Applaud DMC

Lisa Clarke

A Message from DMC EDA Executive Director Lisa Clarke:

Destination Medical Center (DMC) was a topic at a recent 2018 State legislative preview hosted by the Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce. In attendance were Republican and Democratic leaders from the House and Senate, including Speaker of the House Kurt Daudt, House Minority Representative Rick Hansen, Deputy Senate Majority Leader Jeremy Miller, and Assistant Senate Minority Leader Susan Kent.

As part of the discussion, the leaders were asked for their thoughts on DMC. There is strong support. All legislators agreed DMC is a model for economic development and job growth for communities throughout Minnesota.

Be a part of the Heart of the City at the Community Workshop_02

There are six unique sub-districts being developed as part of the DMC initiative, including the much-anticipated Heart of the City.

Flanked by Mayo Clinic and the University of Minnesota-Rochester, this sub-district will serve as the true heart and soul of the city: a thriving, walkable oasis that pairs inviting, open spaces with health, retail, hospitality, and leisure.

On Tuesday, June 27, you can be a part of the future of this critical sub-district.

Introducing: The DMC Rochester, MN Storyteller Videos

Rochester is its own special place. It spawned the world-renowned Mayo Clinic, home to those leading the way in life science discoveries and health care innovations. It’s the place people go to get better. Where developers are building an epicenter fueled by economic boom and dramatic growth. Where entrepreneur comes to find their place and discover the next big thing. Destination Medical Center puts Rochester in the middle of it all.

Celebrating entrepreneurs and inspiring innovation

There isn’t a blueprint for becoming an entrepreneur. There also isn’t a universally agreed-upon definition. In the simplest sense, an entrepreneur is an individual who identifies a need or a problem and finds a way to fill it or a solution to fix it. An entrepreneur can be an inventor, an artist, or an organizer. In the end, it’s not so much the definition but the impact of entrepreneurship that matters. That impact is so powerful that, every November, 165 countries around the world dedicate an entire week to celebrating it.

gewGEW Rochester kicks off on Monday, November 14 and runs through Friday, November 18. Events throughout the week provide opportunities to learn from those involved in new and existing startups, to support the evolving entrepreneurial ecosystem in Rochester, and to connect with kindred spirits.

Maintaining a diverse workforce as DMC evolves

Rochester is growing – and that means there’s no shortage of work to go around.

DMC, the Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce, Mayo Clinic, the Diversity Council, the City of SupplierDiversity_markRochester, and others want to make sure businesses owned by minorities, women, and veterans have access to that work.

That’s why the Chamber will be hosting a Supplier Diversity Summit & Business Expo on August 3rd at the Mayo Civic Center to connect small and diverse firms with companies and organizations with contract opportunities.

Growing an ecosystem of entrepreneurs

A diverse economic landscape is paramount to a community’s growth and long-term success. It is also integral to the DMC mission.

Troy Henikoff
Troy Henikoff

Troy Henikoff is the managing director of Techstars Chicago, a global ecosystem that helps entrepreneurs build great businesses. But Troy’s entrepreneurial involvement doesn’t stop there. Henikoff is a force in Chicago’s startup community and widely recognized as an expert in entrepreneurship – both from an academic and an industry perspective.

Live Blog | City’s Update: Chateau, Transportation, and Standards

bg-transportation
This shot of U.S. Highway 52 highlights Rochester’s transportation artery and it’s fastest route to the Twin Cities and Minneapolis-St Paul Airport.

Transportation

Rochester City Administrator Stevan Kvenvold said the City shares the Board’s emphasis on early transportation planning as essential to long-term development of Destination Medical Center.

Part of that will mean working to define specific plans and work with the Federal Department of Transportation to secure grants and funding for the projects, something the City intends to undertake in partnership with the Rochester-Olmsted Planning Department.

Chateau Theatre

While the transportation piece will be critical to setting the stage for resident and visitor movement into and throughout Rochester, Kvenvold’s updates on the Chateau Theatre will perhaps be of more import to local residents who have championed preservation and re-opening of the historical landmark.

The city’s bid to purchase the Chateau from its current owner is tentatively set to finalize within the next “couple of weeks,” Kvenvold said.

Live Blog | 2016: “Our Year of Building Momentum”

HeartOfTheCity-1024x523

Heart of the City, seen above, represents the heart of downtown. This district creates a true center of Rochester, a crossroads where Mayo Clinic, commercial, retail, and residential meet.

DMC Corporation Board member and Mayo Clinic Trustee Bill George called 2016 “our year of building momentum.”

As he has done at several previous DMC Corporation Board meetings, George continued to emphasize a strong focus on the Heart of the City sub-district.

“All the citizens, all the visitors to Rochster need to see improvements,” George said. “It’s incumbent upon us to get that moving quickly.”

George also suggested the DMC Economic Development Agency begin detailing plans for development of Heart of the City.

“We need to back this and get it moving,” George said. “We need to have specific milestones by which we can measure progress.”

Live Blog | Public Comment at DMC Corporation Board Meeting

Historic preservation remains top of mind for some of those following DMC and the DMC Corporation Board of Governors. At this morning’s public comment period, one person implored the board to watch closely the “power brokers” in Rochester and Minnesota, who are looking to profit from downtown development.

“Be aware of the motivations of the power brokers,” she said. “We feel that we are being rolled over.”

Citing the Connolly Building on Fourth Ave, the visitor admonished that public officials should take a more vigilant and proactive role in preserving Rochester’s historical buildings and landmarks.

“I believe that this board is sincere about historical preservation,” she said.

Board members, including Rochester Mayor Ardell Brede, affirmed the visitor’s desire to preserve local history, but challenged her assertion that not enough is being done in this regard.

Brede called attention to efforts currently underway to preserve and enhance buildings throughout downtown Rochester, including:

  • Former Senior Center – “the castle building”
  • Chateau Theatre
  • Connolly Building

DMC Corporation Board Chair Tina Smith, also affirmed the desire to preserve local history. January’s DMC Corporation Board meeting is slated to have a full discussion about historic preservation and how the DMC Corporation can help, she said.

“I’m very much looking forward to that discussion,” Smith said.