Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - An event is planned in downtown Rochester later this morning to mark the 10-year anniversary of the Destination Medical Center initiative.

Former Governor Mark Dayton is among the speakers scheduled to participate in the 10-Year Milestone Event at the Hilton Hotel, marking the midpoint of the 20-year initiative to transform Rochester into a worldwide destination for medical care. The list of speakers also includes former Mayo Clinic CEO Dr. John Noseworthy and Rochester Mayor Kim Norton.

Private Investment in Rochester Exceeded $1.8 Billion in the First Decade of the DMC Initiative

Dayton was the governor who signed the legislation creating the Destination Medical Center a decade ago, when Dr. Noseworthy was CEO of the healthcare giant. Mayor Norton was a state representative for Rochester and co-authored the DMC legislation.

A news release says the program will highlight the “DMC’s substantial economic impact on Rochester and Minnesota, showcase its emergence as a national model for community transformation, and celebrate the collaborative efforts that have driven a decade of progress.”

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The Destination Medical Center legislation created a $5.6 billion public-private partnership and was billed as the largest economic development initiative in state history. The legislation authorized $585 million in state funding over 20 years to leverage $3.5 billion in Mayo Clinic investments in Rochester and an additional $2.1 billion in private investment.

The most recent DMC Private Investment Report submitted to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development indicated there has been more than $1.8 billion in private investment in the DMC district in Rochester since the initiative’s inception. That includes approximately $1.24 billion in Mayo Clinic investments. The report indicates Mayo’s 2024 investments totaled more than $176 million.

The news release on the 10-Year Milestone Event states that the success of the DMC initiative has laid the groundwork for Mayo Clinic’s $5 billion Bold. Forward. Unbound. expansion project, which is just getting underway in downtown Rochester.

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