City on the Move

Rochester campus. Approximately 2,400 are physicians and scientists.

The opening of Mayo’s Gonda Building in 2001 created the largest interconnected medical facility in the world. Opened in 2015, a $188 million, 100,000-square-foot proton beam therapy center offers innovative cancer treatments.

IBM, like Mayo Clinic, is an “anchor” company in Rochester. “Big Blue” broke ground in 1956. Employees number around 2,790 (2013), two times more than the number of employees in the 1950s. The main campus has grown to 3.1 million square feet, more than half the size of the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia.

Other major employers include Charter Communications, City of Rochester, Federal Medical Center, Kahler Hotels, McNeilus Truck & Manufacturing, Olmsted County, Olmsted Medical Center, and Seneca Foods.

INNOVATION, GROWTH, INVESTMENT

Destination Medical Center (DMC) is the biggest and boldest expansion plan in Rochester’s 164-year history. With the world-renowned Mayo Clinic in the city’s backyard, DMC is a $5.6 billion economic development initia- tive promoting Rochester as a premier global destination for health and wellness over the next 20 years.

Three million people a year visit Rochester, primarily for Mayo Clinic. The goal of DMC is to double the number of visitors to 6 to 7 million.

Downtown development has been a topic of conversation since the famous Chateau Theater opened its doors in 1927. DMC plans include additional downtown Mayo facilities, office space, biotech and pharmaceutical firms. Housing, restaurants, hotels, and retail establishments will be needed to accommodate visitors and the employees required to fill over 30,000 new jobs.

DMC, according to plan, will have a positive affect not only Rochester, but also Olmsted County and the state of Minnesota. In addition to the $585 million in state money, Mayo Clinic, private investors and the City of Rochester will invest nearly $6 billion.

With changes on its horizon, Rochester must continue fine-tuning its goals to meet the inevitable challenges ahead: aging and retiring Baby Boomers, diversity, affordable housing for students and job seekers, transportation, crime and population increases.

If history is an indicator, Rochester’s growth will continue on a positive, upward trend.