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Community Events/News

Start Date Title Tags Description
Aug 16, 2025 12:00 PM Back to School Block Party 2025 ('youth', 'education', 'community engagement') Community organizers are gearing up for Rochester’s annual Back to School Block Party, a beloved community event that supports local families and helps students start the school year with confidence.
Aug 13, 2025 11:00 AM Bullpen | Mayo Clinic Pitch Fest ('EDA', 'STEM', 'America City for Health', 'DMC', 'Health') This is an opportunity to introduce yourself to an elite ecosystem of Life Science Dealmakers to share your expertise and innovations:
Aug 14, 2025 05:30 PM Olmsted County M.O.V.E.: Multicultural Resource Community Center Presentation ('community engagement', 'CMRC', 'key', 'public sector work product') Presentation to Olmsted County M.O.V.E. Council Culture Center Proposal
Aug 13, 2025 10:00 AM Rochester Housing Alliance Aug 13, 2025 ('RAF', 'housing', 'governance', 'openbeam', 'key') Half Year Real Estate Stats; Presentation/Discussion: Maxfield 2025 Housing Needs Update
Jul 29, 2025 09:30 AM One Minnesota Listening Tour – Rochester Stop ('commerce', 'education', 'diversity', 'Diversity Council') This summer, we’re traveling across the state to listen, connect, and co-create. Join us in Rochester for a day designed to deepen community dialogue, foster regional partnerships, and surface insights that will shape how Minnesota engages across differences, distance, and more.
Jul 22, 2025 09:30 AM July 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
Jul 19, 2025 04:30 PM ICAM: Utsav 2025 (Festival of Colors) ('Culture', 'Diversity') 5K Run/Walk; DJ Music/Dance, Food Mela, Color Splash
Jul 17, 2025 04:30 PM Community Joins John Lewis Day of Action ('diversity', 'NAACP') We urge every person who believes in justice, dignity, and democracy to join us. Let’s honor the life of John Lewis not with words, but with action. Let’s create Good Trouble—together. Event Details – Thursday, July 17: ‘Good Trouble Lives On’ • Location: Soldiers Field • Time: 4:30 PM – 7:00 PM
Jul 16, 2025 05:30 PM Healing in Community: From Grieve to Grounding ('Diversity', 'Entrepreneurship', 'leadership', 'Asian', 'education') Come join us TOMORROW, Wednesday, July 16 at Open Book from 5:30PM–8:00PM for a gathering created with care, where we can come together to hold space for grief, reflection, and healing in community.
Jul 12, 2025 03:00 PM Pamoja Women: Somalia Independence Cultural Day ('youth', 'Education', 'diversity', 'CMRC') We’re excited to announce that the Pamoja Annual Independence Day Celebration has been rescheduled to Saturday July 12, 3-9pm and will still take place at Mayo High School! We can't wait to come back together and enjoy another amazing event filled with community, culture, music, food, and joy.
Jul 12, 2025 05:00 PM Bolder Options Tailgate 2025 ('mentoring', 'time-sensitive', 'community engagement', 'community') Don't miss out on any of the action! Mark your calendars for this free event and get ready for an unforgettable evening in support of Bolder Options Youth Mentoring - See you there!
Jul 09, 2025 12:00 PM Disability Rights ('city', 'rps', 'dmc', 'diversity', 'disability', 'key', 'community engagement', 'Education') Along with several other organizations in Rochester, The Arc Minnesota, Ability Building Community, the City of Rochester, and Workforce Development Inc. are hosting a Disability Summit this July in honor of Disability Pride Month. This will be Rochester's first-ever Disability Summit. The July Equity Series will serve as the first session, covering disability justice concepts and how disability rights and supports have evolved, both nationally and in Minnesota. This will include examining models of disability, relevant legislation on disability, and examining disability advocacy and history relevant to Rochester. OUR PRESENTERS
Jul 08, 2025 04:00 PM Village: Farm Fest ('food', 'welcoming', 'Diversity')
Jul 04, 2025 05:00 PM Celebrate Independence Day at Rochester’s 4th Fest 2025 () June 23, 2025 – ROCHESTER, MINN. – Mark your calendars and bring your lawn chairs. 4th Fest, Rochester’s official Independence Day celebration, returns to Soldiers Memorial Field on Thursday, July 4, 2025, from 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Presented by Rochester Public Music, this free and family-friendly event brings people together for an evening of music, food and fireworks.
Jun 24, 2025 09:30 AM Jun 2025 Mayor's International Relations Committee Meeting ('Diversity', 'governance', 'Culture', 'key', 'education') Coordinate the Sister Cities Program; support international affairs in the city; provide a welcoming and supportive climate for international residents
Jun 21, 2025 01:00 PM Certification Workshops ('city', 'DMC', 'workforce', 'Entrepreneurship') Destination Medical Center, City of Rochester, Equity in the Built Environment Program, and the State of MN Appex Accelerator are partnering to host a series of Free “Certification Workshops” to help Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs) and Targeted Group/Economically Disadvantaged/Veteran-Owned (TG/ED/VO) companies apply for certification.
Jun 19, 2025 09:30 AM 2025 Juneteenth Breakfast Jubilee ('community engagement', 'Diversity')
Jun 17, 2025 05:15 PM Vigil for those impacted by the One Big Bill ('diversity', 'living wage', 'sustainability', 'job', 'Civic Equity', 'poverty', 'community engagement', 'isaiah') Community members and faith leaders will hold the vigil immediately before the Olmsted County Board meeting to bear witness to the suffering this bill will unleash on our families and communities. We will ask local county, city, and school board leaders to use their power to speak up against the cuts that will harm their constituents and their budgets.
Jun 12, 2025 08:00 AM Coming to the Table 2025 National Gathering ('compassion', 'Diversity', 'civic engagement')
Jun 14, 2025 05:00 PM Journie Juneteenth Scholarship ('diversity', 'compassion', 'community health', 'Health/Wellness', 'Financial Stress') Freedom Ball Honoring Freedom Through Unity & Culture
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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