Tag: Innovation

Rochester innovators find support in community

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Vyriad’s co-founders, Drs. Kah-Whye Peng and Stephen Russell

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.

Rochester City Council approves next phase of design for Discovery Walk in downtown Rochester

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The Rochester City Council has approved plans to move forward with design development, engineering work and construction bidding for Destination Medical Center’s (DMC) Discovery Walk, a five-block linear parkway along 2nd Avenue SW in downtown Rochester that will serve pedestrians as well as vehicle access.  The design process is led by Coen+Partners.

Destination Medical Center and City of Rochester provide $100,000 in “Keep It Local” grant funding to 55 Rochester small businesses

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Destination Medical Center (DMC) and the City of Rochester announced the distribution of $100,000 in funding to 55 Rochester businesses through the Keep It Local, COVID-19 Innovators Grant Program. The grant program assists small businesses that were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and are working with other small business to respond to those challenges.

Destination Medical Center and City of Rochester provide $100,000 in grant funding for Rochester small businesses

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Small Business phrases

Destination Medical Center (DMC) and the City of Rochester announced a new grant program to assist Rochester small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Keep It Local, COVID-19 Innovators Grant Program will reward businesses who are exemplifying innovation and collaboration by working together in response to the challenges posed by COVID-19. The city is offering $50,000 in grant funds with DMC contributing $50,000 to businesses located in the DMC District.

Rochester entrepreneurs create website to inspire new adventures in Southeast Minnesota

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Andy Vig (left) and Chris Lukenbill

Endless adventures await throughout Southeast Minnesota. You just need to be able to find them.

That’s where Shrpa comes in. Rochester residents Chris Lukenbill and Andy Vig created the online resource to share ideas for local activities.

“There were so many things to do that we were finding out about in Rochester through other people’s adventures and expeditions,” said Lukenbill. “They were discovering new things that we had never known about.”

“You can usually do the research by looking up Yelp, Google, talking to people, trying to aggregate all this yourself, but that’s so much work,” Vig said. “I’ve got two young kids, Chris has two slightly older kids, and there’s just no time in the day for that.”

DMCC Board Doubles Down on Discovery Square in Rochester, Minnesota

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Approves Next Phase of Life Science and Technology Campus

The Destination Medical Center Corporation (DMCC) Board today approved $7.3 million in public infrastructure funding for Mortenson Development Inc’s construction of Discovery Square Two in the DMC Discovery Square subdistrict.

The $45 million project will be a five-story,124,000 square foot, LEED-certified medical office and lab building with outdoor space, connectivity to One Discovery Square, tenant and public programming and potential 5G connectivity. The building will support approximately 500 long-term jobs while its construction will create approximately 800 short-term jobs.

Mortenson Plans a Sequel to One Discovery Square

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Artist’s rendering of the proposed Two Discovery Square (left) with One Discovery Square (right).

Mortenson has submitted plans with the City of Rochester for a new development – Two Discovery Square – adjacent to its One Discovery Square life science building in downtown Rochester, MN. This news comes as global tenants continue to be announced in One Discovery Square, including most recently, Philips and Boston Scientific.

The proposed five-story, 124,000 square foot building furthers Mortenson’s bioscience, research and collaboration vision within the Destination Medical Center (DMC) Discovery Square subdistrict.

“One Discovery Square, highlighted by a number of recently communicated tenant announcements, has been a terrific success,” said Brent Webb, Mortenson Development Manager. “For that reason, we remain bullish on the future of the Discovery Square subdistrict. The Site Development Plan we submitted is evidence of that optimism and confidence, and it will be a positive step toward advancing the project once approved.”

“One Discovery Square is a great example of the DMC plan playing out in a very successful way – as a catalyst and economic generator to attract new businesses and jobs,” said Lisa Clarke, DMC Economic Development Agency executive director.  “This success compels new developments in the Discovery Square subdistrict. We look forward to these discussions as Discovery Square continues to grow.”

Mortenson will share its vision for Two Discovery Square with the DMC Corporation board of directors at its September 26 meeting.

Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Foundation’s $32 Million Gift Advances Mayo Clinic Research

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By permission of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. All rights reserved.

A generous $32 million gift from the New York-based Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Foundation will enable Mayo Clinic to expand its research mission with the construction of a four-story, 64,000-square-foot research building in Rochester.

Planning for the Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Building is underway, with groundbreaking expected in 2020 and occupancy in 2022. The building will be located just north of Mayo Clinic’s Opus Building, which is on the corner of Fourth Street Southwest and Fourth Avenue Southwest in Rochester.

“We cannot overstate our gratitude to the Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Foundation,” says Gianrico Farrugia, M.D., Mayo Clinic’s president and CEO. “Research is critical to infusing new knowledge into patient care. It paves the way to solve serious or complex medical challenges for our patients at Mayo as well as patients around the world. This remarkable gift will allow us to meet a critical need for research space on our Rochester campus.”

The gift was directed to Mayo Clinic by Michael M. Kellen, foundation president, and Marina Kellen French, vice president. Their parents, Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen, now deceased, received care at Mayo Clinic for decades, and that trust and care have continued into the next three generations. Stephen M. Kellen was president and CEO of Arnhold and S. Bleichroeder Inc., an international investment firm based in New York, now known as First Eagle Investment Management LLC.

“Our family’s history with Mayo Clinic spans more than four decades, and the physicians and staff at Mayo have become like family to us,” says Marina Kellen French. “We are thrilled to be able to support Mayo and be part of advancing medical research that will help patients for decades to come.”

The Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Foundation has been a significant contributor to Mayo Clinic over many years, funding various initiatives and projects in support of Mayo Clinic’s highest priorities. The foundation also has supported the Dr. Richard F. Emslander Professorship at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science in recognition of the care that Richard Emslander, M.D., provided to the family over many years.

“Medical research has always been a strong interest of our family,” says Michael M. Kellen. “We are pleased that this gift will address a high-priority need at Mayo while honoring our parents’ legacy in a visible and meaningful way.”

The Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Building will add to the Discovery Square sub-district in downtown Rochester. Discovery Square is the research, innovation and development hub of the $5.6 billion Destination Medical Center (DMC) initiative.

“The new Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Building will bring more Mayo Clinic expertise to DMC’s Discovery Square and complements the unique entrepreneurial environment of the subdistrict,” adds Lisa Clarke, executive director, DMC Economic Development Agency.

Decisions regarding specific use and occupancy of the new building will be made as part of the planning process this year.