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CNG History

Community Networking Group has been sunset. Its mission--to co-create a community where opportunities and responsibilities are broadly shared--is being carried on by other community efforts.

 

This site has been repurposed to facilitate the operation of Community Mobilization Resouce Coalition (CMRC). 

 

The following information preserves the knowledge, insights and work products generated by CNG from 2013 to 2019.

 

 

 

Activities Log
CNG History

 

Working together to build a healthy and inclusive community where opportunity and responsibility are broadly shared.

 

2020/2019 News

January

CNG Closing Meeting

December

CNG 2.0 launch prep.

May

CNG Steering Committee Meeting

March Complete Count 2020 Kick-off
Jan Future of CNG

 

2018 Announcements/Meetings

November

December

Complete Count 2020, Rochester Area Non-profit Coalition , Race Exhibit Returns

October

Cradle to Career, Kids Count Data (Rescheduled), Community Dental Care Open House

September

Livable City

June

Complete Count 2020, Compass Points and Village Updates

March

Social Determinants of Health & Relationship with P2S

February

Newsletter (Cradle to Career, Complete Count)

CNG Survey Results

January

Olmsted County Administration Updates & CNG Survey

2017 Announcements/Meetings

December

Conversation with new Rochester City Administrator

October

Mental Health

July/August/September

Housing Message Reframing Workgroup

June

Housing Round 2

May

Focus on youth

April

Workforce Context: Housing, Transit and Childcare

March

Immigration

February

Transit

January

Compass Points Drill Down

 

2016 Meetings/Announcements

October

2016 Compass Points, City of Rochester and Olmsted County

September

Future Format of CNG

July/August

A call for agencies support for multi-node transit

June

Workforce concerns and resources

May

Housing

April

Healthy Community Design

Feb

Community Dashboard Gains/Pains

Jan

Healthy Community Design

 

2014 Meetings/Announcements

November

CNG Determination of Purpose

October

Rethinking CNG Approach

May

DMC Beam and Health Improvement

March

Opportunity Alliance

Collective Impact

Jan

Planscape

 

2013 Meetings/Announcements

December

Scoping of Group - Document of Understanding

October

Planning of CNG

 

What brought about the CNG network?

 

The following June 13, 2013 by the Post Bulletin provides some background information for this network.

While promoters of Mayo Clinic's Destination Medical Center initiative has focused largely on the economic benefits of the proposed 20-year expansion plan, a community group is meeting to focus on the societal impacts the growth will bring.


While promoters of Mayo Clinic's Destination Medical Center initiative has focused largely on the economic benefits of the proposed 20-year expansion plan, a community group is meeting to focus on the societal impacts the growth will bring.

 

"There's so many things that growth will produce that are positive; there's also challenges that growth produces," said Olmsted County Commissioner Sheila Kiscaden, who attended last week's meeting.

Mayor Ardell Brede also joined the group last week, and he said he plans to reconvene it sometime in July. It includes representatives from local nonprofits, city and county government, Mayo Clinic and business organizations and the University of Minnesota Rochester.

 

The school district and many other organizations that support the community are going to have to make adjustments to how they operate, Kiscaden said.

 

"It's everything from do we need more schools? Do we need more law enforcement personnel? Do we need more housing? How are we going to deal with all of these various challenges and demands for service that come with an expanding population," she said.

 

Also, as Brede pointed out, not all of the 35,000 new jobs projected for Rochester over the next 20 years are high-paying positions. In fact, a large portion will be in the hotel and restaurant industry, paying lower wages, and that means more people in Rochester struggling to get by.

 

Also, as Brede pointed out, not all of the 35,000 new jobs projected for Rochester over the next 20 years are high-paying positions. In fact, a large portion will be in the hotel and restaurant industry, paying lower wages, and that means more people in Rochester struggling to get by.

"So, that will put some pressures on the community" and county's social services, Brede said.

 

Brede and Kiscaden said some of the other people involved in the group are: Dave Beal of the United Way of Olmsted County; Jay Hesley of the University of Minnesota Rochester; former Olmsted County Sheriff Steve Borchardt, who is with the Rochester Area Foundation; John Wade, president of the Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce; and Rochester-Olmsted Planning Director Phil Wheeler.

 

The group has discussed ways it might share information and coordinate planning, Kiscaden said.

 

"I think rather than having every group go off and work on their own, it's really helpful to be able to share what's being learned along the way ... and look for opportunities for synergy, not only in the planning process but in the future for service delivery," she said.

 

Brede said two members of group will be talking with the Humphrey School of Public Affairs, which is part of the University of Minnesota, to inquire about possible consulting services.

Purpose and Goal

Purpose

Change power dynamics to create a pluralistic and intercultural community where all people benefit equitably. 

Goal

Create equitable access to community resources and civic involvement. 

 

Community Status/News

This panel displays the latest community news. For a standalone view please click this LINK.



DMC 2025 5 Year Plan Update

DMC 2025 5 Year Plan Draft Dec 2025 DMC Board Meeting

  • Request for Action
  • 2025 5-year plan draft

Last Updated December 07, 2025



City of Rochester, MN Mayor's Medal of Honor Recipients

Mayor Norton Honors 2025 Mayor's Medal of Honor Recipients

Mayor Norton Honors 2024 Mayor's Medal of Honor Recipients

Mayor Norton Honors 2023 Mayor's Medal of Honor Recipients; Mayor Norton Honors 2022 Mayor's Medal of Honor Recipients

Last Updated December 06, 2025



Looking Back Equity Alliance Series Topics

Collection of Topics from alliance start to Dec 2025 to offer "a grounded reflection on our collective progress and the work still ahead to strengthen equity across our community."

Last Updated December 06, 2025



City of Rochester Internship Program

2026 Summer Paid Internship Positions: City Clerk, community Development, Communications & Engagement, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Legislative Affairs, Library Communications, Office of the Mayor, Parks & Recreation , Public Music, Rochester Public Utilities Safety, and Transit & Parking.

 

Last Updated December 05, 2025



RPS Balanced Budget Model

2026 Review and 2027 Enhancements: 

 Phase I of the Balanced Budget Model (BBM), launched across all learning sites and select special education programs, served as both a starting point and a critical learning stage.

AI Summary of PB ePaper Article

Last Updated December 04, 2025



Rochester International Relations Committee

2026 Sister City Visits Germany Visit

2025 Sister City Trips: Japan

Rochester Sister City Application (Roles and Responsibilities)

Sister Cities Relationship Logs

IRC Meeting Logs

Last Updated December 03, 2025



2026 Property Tax Levy and Other Budget Items

Dec 1, 2025 City Council Meeting Materials

  • Background
  • Video Recording
  • Presentation

PB Reporting

 

Last Updated December 02, 2025



RPS Strategic Plan Review

Dec 2 2025: Strategic Plan Review Part 1

  • Background
  • Presentation Slides
  • Part 1 Goals

Last Updated December 01, 2025



Downtown Building Energy Transition Initiative

City of Rochester Launches Minnesota’s First Operational Thermal Energy Network Through Downtown Building Energy Transition Initiative

Last Updated December 01, 2025



RPS 5 Year Budget Reduction Strategy

2025-11-21 RPS Reducing 2026 budget cut

RPS Board Presentation July 15, 2025 

AI generated summary of budget reduction strategy 

Last Updated November 21, 2025



Cradle to Career 4Q/3Q 2025 News

2025-11-20 C2C Connection StriveTogether 

2025-10-29  C2C 2025 Summit 

2025-6-2014 2025 Summer Financial Aid Sessions: Locations: RCTC, Rochester Public Library; Information for CBO hosting Financial Aid Sessions

Last Updated November 20, 2025



Comprehensive Achievement and Civic Readiness

Fall (November) 2025:

  • Background Information
  • Video Recording
  • Presentation Slides

Last Updated November 18, 2025



Senior Housing Transition Mentorship

2025-11-14 Post Bulletin ePaper Abstract - "Assist older adults navigate all aspects of housing transitions,”

2025-11-14 AI summary of PB ePaper reporting

Last Updated November 14, 2025



UMR Expansion Plan

 PB ePaper Reporting: 2 new campus buildings are planned to accommodate student growth

AI Summary of PB Reporting

Last Updated November 13, 2025



About Rochester Community Initiative (RCI)

Oct 2025 C2C Summit: Cross-Sector Collaboration: Civic Engagement

Oct 2024 C2C Summit: Students Decoded: The Mental Health Database

Aug 2025 Equity Alliance Series RCI Introduction

 

Last Updated November 11, 2025



Rochester Public Library - Master Plan

Master Plan Approval 11/3/2025

Rochester City Council Study Session 4/14/2025 

Post Bulletin Reporting

References: 2024 Usage Data, Community Survey Request

Last Updated November 08, 2025



National Small Business Initiative & National 311 Day

November 6, 2025 - Rochester Selected as One of Six Cities for National Small Business Initiative

March 11, 2025 – ROCHESTER, MINN. – The City of Rochester is excited to celebrate National 311 Day. 

Last Updated November 07, 2025



Opioid Settlement-Funded Initiatives

November 4, 2025 Olmsted County Board of Commissioners Meeting; 

- Video Recording; Credible Mind Tool

PB ePaper Reporting
Last Updated November 06, 2025



Rochester Public Utilities

2026 Rate Increase

2019 Residential Rate Structure Survey 

Last Updated November 05, 2025



Rochester-Olmsted County 4(d) Affordable Housing Incentive Program

Application Open

Background: The current Rochester-Olmsted County 4(d) Affordable Housing Incentive Program application is for the Tax Assessment Year 2025 - Tax Payable Year 2026, the tax savings for this application will not be realized until the Tax Payable Year 2026.

 

Last Updated November 03, 2025