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Community Events/News

Start Date Title Tags Description
Sep 27, 2025 12:30 PM Chalk the Block ('community',) This free event celebrates art and positive community-building by inviting local artists to create incredible chalk murals and the public to attend and enjoy, while making connections.
Sep 25, 2025 06:00 PM Get Amped: The Basics of Electrifying Your Home By Electrify Everything MN ('sustainability', 'community') Learn about the steps to electrifying your home and the resources available to help at this City of Rochester-sponsored workshop.
Sep 25, 2025 09:30 AM Sep 2025 DMCC Board Meeting ('DMC', 'key', 'community') 2026-2027 DMC Work Plan and Budget: 1. 2026-2027 Capital Improvement Plan, 2. 2026-2027 DMC EDA & City Staff Workplan and Budget, 3. 2026 DMCC Budget, 4. Working Capital Loan; Action: Discovery Square Infrastructure: Shared Lab; LINK BRT Contingency Funding Criteria;
Sep 23, 2025 06:00 PM (Spanish) How to Start a Business from Scratch ('networking', 'diversity', 'Entrepreneurship') Training Topics: Accounting/Budget, Business Plan, Business Start-up/Preplanning, Legal Issues, Managing a Business, Marketing/Sales, Tax Planning Description: How to Start a Business from Scratch - Part 1: In the first two classes, you will learn the fundamentals of starting a business from scratch, including conceptualizing viable business ideas and initial strategic planning. The focus will be on generating innovative ideas and evaluating their market potential using tools like the Business Model Canvas and SWOT analysis.
Sep 23, 2025 10:30 AM German Delegation Visits Rochester ('culture', 'global', 'key', 'governance') The City of Rochester and Olmsted County will host a delegation from Germany, led by the Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Transport of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, Oliver Krischer, on Tuesday,
Sep 23, 2025 09:30 AM Sep 2025 Mayor's International Relations Committee Meeting ('Diversity', 'global', 'governance', 'culture', 'key', 'education') Coordinate the Sister Cities Program; support international affairs in the city; provide a welcoming and supportive climate for international residents
Sep 20, 2025 12:00 PM Latino Fest 2025 ('ACHLA', 'culture', 'Diversity', 'key') This vibrant celebration will take place both inside the Historic Chateau Theater and outdoors at the Peace Plaza, promising an unforgettable experience for all! Last year, Latino Fest brought over 3,000 people together in celebration. Please join us again in 2025
Sep 20, 2025 08:00 AM Nuss Collection Museum 2025 Open House – Dedicated to Building America ('Culture',) The Nuss Collection Annual Open House features an extensive collection of restored + preserved historical trucks that helped build America.
Sep 20, 2025 10:00 AM Barbershop Talk and Social Services () Join Olmsted County to talk about the Minnesota African American Family Preservation and Child Welfare Disproportional Act
Sep 19, 2025 06:00 PM Latino Fest Gala ('Culture', 'diversity') ELEVATE YOUR LATIN EXPERIENCE Join us for an unforgettable evening of Glamour, fine dining, delightful entertainment, and support our Latino Community.
Sep 18, 2025 04:00 PM 2025 Destination Medical Center Annual Meeting ('DMC', 'key') The 2025 DMC Annual Meeting: A Development Plan Update and Community Conversation marks a milestone moment, the 10-year midpoint of the Destination Medical Center initiative. Earlier this year, we launched the process of updating the DMC Development Plan with a deep dive into understanding the progress we’ve made together. Now, our sights are set firmly on the future.
Sep 17, 2025 05:00 PM Hispanic Business Resource & Networking Event ('diversity', 'Entrepreneurship') Join us for an evening of networking and resources designed to support Hispanic small business owners.
Sep 16, 2025 06:00 PM SBDC - Financial Literacy ('diversity', 'Entrepreneurship') Learn key financial skills to start and grow your small business
Sep 13, 2025 01:00 PM Ethiopian New Year 2018 ('Diversity',) Family friendly event - food, Music, kid activities and more ... bring your family, invite your friends and join us!
Sep 11, 2025 07:30 AM 3Q 2025 County Health Assessment and Planning Partnership (HAPP) ('CHNA', 'transportation', 'food', 'mental health', 'STEM', 'Health', 'key') 2025 Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) Update, New Priorities Preview, and Discussion
Sep 10, 2025 12:00 PM America's City for Health - DMC Development Plan 2025 Update ('city', 'rps', 'dmc', 'community engagement', 'ACH', 'key', 'diversity', 'Education') The update intends to build on all the great work already underway in Rochester, the learnings we have made to-date, and an understanding of changes impacting our community. Most importantly, it will lean into what is unique about Rochester, home to the #1 hospital in the world, centering on our brand as America’s City for Health.
Sep 10, 2025 10:00 AM Rochester Housing Alliance September, 2025 ('RAF', 'housing', 'governance', 'openbeam', 'key') This month’s agenda: Welcome, introductions & updates — JoMarie Morris DMC 10-Year Progress Update — Catherine Malmberg (Destination Medical Center) Trailside Senior Apartments: Redevelopment Timeline — Mark Engel (Olmsted County)
Sep 09, 2025 10:00 AM RPS Family Engagement Back to School ('RPS', 'Education', 'diversity', 'key') Welcome new partners and fresh energy: • Share updates on current initiatives • Learn from your ideas and perspectives
Sep 09, 2025 09:00 AM Virtual Event – Local and Statewide Affordable Housing Aid: Case Studies ('housing', 'governance') In 2023, the Minnesota Legislature approved the Local Affordable Housing Aid (LAHA) program, funded by a 0.25% Metro sales tax for use in the 7-county Twin Cities Metropolitan area, and a Statewide Affordable Housing Aid (SAHA) program funded through appropriations. Cities and counties have discretion to spend funds on a broad range of eligible affordable housing projects, including for emergency rental assistance.
Sep 08, 2025 06:00 PM Public Hearing 2 - Rochester 2040 Comprehensive Plan ('city', 'governance', 'community') Recognizing that cities are dynamic places shaped by shifting economic, social and technological trends, the Comprehensive Plan is designed to be a living document. To remain relevant and actionable, it is updated every five years.
Document Actions
October 2021 Activities

FORUM  WITH INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT DR. KENT PEKEL- October 21, 6:30 to 8:00:

In the City for Good will be presenting an online forum to give all in the community an opportuniy to hear from Rochester Public Schools Interim Superintendent Kent Pekel. Dr. Pekel will give an overview of his time so far in the district, along with more information on the strategic plan he will be proposing. Interested Rochester residents may submit questions ahead of time or during the meeting to be used in a Q&A time period after his primary presentation. The October 21 forum will be from 6:30 to 8.

 

Steering Committee- Tuesday, October 5, 4:00 p.m.

Topic: In the City for Good Steering Committee

Time: Oct 5, 2021 04:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)

 Join Zoom Meeting

Contact [email protected] for Zoom info. 

 

Housing Team- Monday, October 11 7:00 p.m.

Our next In the City for Good Housing Team meeting will be on October 11 at 7 pm. We will be discussing the proposed Unified Development Code with Ryan Yetzer, Interim Deputy Director, Community Development for the City of Rochester leading the discussion along with others in the Community Development area. We will especially focus on what some of the proposed changes could mean related to Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and the role of ADUs in addressing the concerns around the affordability of workforce and senior housing. This will be an online meeting, with the link to be sent out later this week.

 

Age-Friendly- Oct 12th and 26th 2:30 to 4:00

Meeting Information:

Age-Friendly Olmsted County Planning Group

Tues. Oct 12 and 26

2:30pm - 4pm

 

Contact [email protected] for Zoom info

 

Social Services/Social Justice- Watch for info of upcoming November meeting

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Purpose of the site
A sub-site of Community Beam, the City4Good website is being prototyped by openBEAM.net  to help the "In the City For Good initiative" to better collaborate.
Community Status/News

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



Housing Program DevCo Rochester

Adopting a Resolution adopting the Housing Program, the issuance of Conduit Multifamily Housing Revenue Bonds and the execution of related documents relating to the DevCo Rochester Apartments Project.

Last Updated June 14, 2026



Economic Development News

2026: Health tech firms status

2023 Highlights: 1. 2Q 2023  Economic Report ;  2. Tawonda Burks has joined the RAEDI staff full-time as Director of Operations. In addition to managing the RAEDI Economic Development Center; 3, SBDC 1H 2023 performance report

Last Updated June 13, 2026



Healthy Brain Workshop Series

 2026 Summer Workshop Series 

 

Last Updated June 08, 2026



University of Minnesota Expansion Funding Considerations

Jun 2026: City Council Voted to Approve the funding

May 2026: UMR DMC: Funding Request to contribute to Talent Development Infrastructure

Apr 27, 2026: UMR discussion at City Council Study Session Sales Tax Request

Last Updated June 05, 2026



RPS Proposed Budget Reductions

Jun 2, 2026: School Board 2026 budget

April 21, 2026: School Board Meeting Revised Proposed Leadership Changes 

April 7, 2026: Budget Reduction Impact

Sep 12, 2023 RPS Board Study Session video recording; Proposed Equity Policy; PB Reporting

Last Updated June 04, 2026



1Q 2026 Announcements

Jun 2, 2026: #RochMNTogether Yard Sign Campaign

Jan 5, 2026: Resolution: Reaffirming Rochester’s Support for its Somali Community and Commitment to Inclusion.

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 June 02, 2026



Sports Complex Phase Two Indoor Recreation Option and Next Steps

Jun 1, 2026 City Council Meeting: PB reporting

Apr 27,  2026 City Council Study Session

Last Updated May 31, 2026



Home Innovation Lab - Aging in Place

May 2026: Home Innovation Lab Open House

Dec 2025 DMCC Board Meeting: The Home Innovation Lab will combine research, technology, and design to create and evaluate “tech-enabled age-in-place” living environments that improve health, comfort, and independence for older adults.

Apr 2025 DMC Real Estate Summit: Aging in place talk

Last Updated May 31, 2026



Sherman Mixed Housing Mayo Civic Center Parking Lot

May 2026 DMCC Board Meeting: Status Update

June 3, 2024 City Council Meeting 

Council action is requested to continue development negotiations with Sherman Associates and conditionally approve development assistance of up to $13,000,000 in Tax Increment Financing (TIF) assistance and up to $3,000,000 in DMC General State Infrastructure Aid.  

Last Updated May 24, 2026



Mayflower mixed housing project

May 2026:DMCC Board Meeting, Mayflower Project Update

Jul 2025 Mayflower mixed housing project summary; North side of Second Street Southwest across the street from Ronald McDonald House.

Feb 2025 DMCC Board Meeting 2nd Street Public Realm and Mayflower

Last Updated May 24, 2026



United Way Studies of Financial Hardship

2025 ALICE Info: United Way 2025 Study

2024 ALICE Info: Post Bulletin Reporting; United Way 2024 ALICE  (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) Report 

Last Updated May 24, 2026



West Transit Village Housing Development

May 2026 DMCC Board Update

April 1 2026 AEON Affordable Housing Townhall

May 2025 DMCC Board Meeting Report

Feb 2025 DMCC Board Meeting Memo

PB reporting re Jan 6 City Council Meeting

"A final plan for dividing a 14.1-acre Mayo Clinic parking lot into developable sections is expected to be reviewed Monday by the Rochester City Council. The site, being dubbed “West Transit Village,” sits between Second Street Southwest and Cascade Lake. It is currently used as a Mayo Clinic employee shuttle lot, and Mayo Clinic plans to construct a 2,500-stall parking structure."

Last Updated May 24, 2026



Loom Apartments (Onward)

May 2026 DMCC Board Meeting: Status Update

Dec 2025 DMCC Board Meeting: Request for Extension Authorize an extension of the $4 million GSIA allocation to this project until August 15, 2026.

May 2025 DMCC Board Meeting

Last Updated May 24, 2026



DMC Interim Wayfinding

May 2026 DMCC Board Meeting

Last Updated May 23, 2026



Discovery Square Biolbab In Rochester

May 2026 DMCC Board Meeting: Biolabs Status

December 2025 DMCC Board Meeting:

  • Request for Action Memo
  • Business Development Quarterly Review about Biolabs

Last Updated May 22, 2026



Discovery Walk

May 2026 DMCC Board Meeting Discovery Walk Update - Completion

March 2021 DMCC approval for Bid

Last Updated May 22, 2026



DMC STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL

May 2026: Consider a recommendation to approve up to $3 million in DMC General State Infrastructure Aid (GSIA)

Last Updated May 22, 2026



Healthy Home Helpers

City of Rochester Launches “Healthy Home Helpers” Program to Support Healthier, More Efficient Homes

Last Updated May 22, 2026



RPS 2030 Strategic Plan Reviews

May 19. 2026 RPS Board Voting

Apr 12, 2026 RPS Board Meeting: High School 

Mar 17, 2026 RPS Board Meeting: Middle School

Mar 3, 2026 RPS Board Meeting: Elementary School & Early Childhood 

Last Updated May 20, 2026



Does Rochester need a new entertainment venue?

A feasibility study is underway for a performing arts center, but what does the city already have?

Last Updated May 18, 2026