Rochester City Council Approves $7.7 Million Funding Request for University of Minnesota Rochester Expansion

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- The Rochester City Council has approved a funding request for the University of Minnesota Rochester (UMR). 

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UMR asked the city for $7.7 million in funding as part of a $10.4 million project regarding the university’s presence in the Discovery Square district in downtown Rochester. 

UMR intends to use the funds to develop approximately 12,000 square feet of teaching laboratories, classrooms, and collaboration space in Two Discovery Square. 

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The university’s plans also call for the conversion of 1,400 square feet of classroom space in One Discovery Square into expanded laboratory space. 

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The University of Minnesota Rochester is pursuing the project to address its growing enrollment. 

The city council agenda item says the campus's enrollment grew by 20% from fall 2024 through last fall, and the higher education institution is projecting enrollment will exceed 2,500 students by 2030.

Rochester City Council Grants UMR's $7.7 Million Funding Request for Expansion

The funding request, unanimously approved by council members Monday night, involves up to $3 million in state funding allocated to the Destination Medical Center initiative and just under $4.7 million from Rochester sales tax revenues. 

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Rochester voters approved an extension of the sales tax in 2012 that directed $14 million be made available to the University of Minnesota Rochester for capital improvements. 

The $4.7 million request represents the remaining balance of that account.