DMC Announces First Recipients of Main Street Grant Funding

Destination Medical Center (DMC) Economic Development Agency is pleased to announce the first recipients of grants from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) Main Street Economic Revitalization Program.

"There is an excellent partnership between DEED, DMC and the City of Rochester, and thanks to that close collaboration these grants are focused on supporting local businesses hit hardest by the pandemic," said DEED Commissioner Steve Grove. "These grants will help revitalize areas with the greatest economic development and redevelopment needs that have arisen since the pandemic began."

To date, 30 businesses within the DMC District have been recommended for funding totaling over $1.6 million. These funds will help to leverage over $48 million in private investment into Rochester's downtown.

"The City of Rochester would like to thank DEED and DMC for their partnership in this important grant program. Our local businesses play such a vital role in the vibrancy and character of our community. I have heard from many businesses how impactful the COVID-19 pandemic has been and I hope that these grant dollars will help with both recovery and their ability to thrive in the future," shared Mayor Kim Norton.

A community-based team comprised of downtown stakeholders was assembled to review applications and provide feedback on each grant application based on the following criteria:<_u53a_p>

• Revitalization of properties or organizations operating within or contiguous to the DMC district harmed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. <_u53a_p>
• Elevating opportunities for BIPOC, veteran, disabled business and property owners, and disadvantaged business entities.<_u53a_p>
• Creating and retaining permanent jobs.<_u53a_p>
• Enabling businesses to strengthen and diversify their products and services. <_u53a_p>

DMC Executive Director Patrick Seeb said, "We are grateful to our team of staff and community co-designers for their assistance in bringing this project to fruition. We wanted to make this process as fair and equitable as possible and to help those organizations in greatest need."

This community-based team provided their recommendations to the DMC EDA Board for review and approval. Each entity agreed on the following recommendations:

• 100 1st Ave. Commercial Condo Association: $2,250
  Repaving the parking lot with asphalt.
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• 1AF, LP - $1,700
  Replace lobby flooring.
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• BGD5 Development, LLC - $52,900
  Demolition of existing blighted structure, with intent of removing for future planning and development
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• BGD5 Mall DBA: Galleria at University Square - $23,797
  Broadway and Peace Plaza facing: Exterior entrance repair & repaint, exterior lighting replacement, exterior door replacement.
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• Capital Ventures, LLC - $200,000
  Restoration of the building for new restaurant concept
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• Chabad of Southern Minnesota - $59,900
  Renovation of hospitality house operator suite into patient/guest quarters.
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• City Walk, LLC - $200,000
  Development and construction of 142 unit apartment building with 142 parking stalls
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• Everyday 365 Clothing, LLC - $4,500
  Renovations to outside of storefront, shelving space to be built into walls, new paint job, new signage, door for back room, new flooring, signage/lighting inside of store.
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• Guerin Studio, LLC - $22,500
  Remodel storefront
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• Healing Touch Spa, LLC - $35,000
  Construct two couples massage rooms and a meditation room and a dispensary for staff.
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• Interiors by J. Curry, LLC - $1,220
  Purchase and installation of a new sign
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• Ironton, LLC: $85,800
  Building out the main floor to accommodate office space.
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• James Krom Natural Images - $1,750
  Replace flooring
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• Kahler Inn and Suites: $15,000
  Improvements to the façade of the east facing wall of the building.
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• Knight's Chamber: $9,600
  Remodeling the front entry of the business, as well as adding a dressing room, lighting and repainting.
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• La Michoacana Purepecha 3, LLC - $52,500
  Remodeling of the entire site, with dry storage, employee break room, kitchen preparation, sinks, hand-wash stations, and new flooring
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• The Landing MN - $200,000
  Property is being renovated to house a commercial kitchen, day room, restrooms, showers, and laundry as well as offices for leadership, staff, and volunteer medical providers.<_u53a_p>
• Marrow Restaurant - $133,919
  Demolition, site preparation, build-out of restaurant and installation of equipment - including engineering, pre-design and design work
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• Masjed Abubakr A-Seddeig, Inc. - $100,000
  Renovating two floors of the building with classroom space to support new job training programs. An elevator will also be installed to support access to the classrooms.
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• Neighborly Group - $58,700
  Remodel of Neighborly Creative and Neighborly Gifts stores
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• Nordic Shop: $23,400
  Expanding their footprint to an adjacent vacant storefront to accommodate growth of in-store and web-based sales.
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• Rochester Art Center - $5,100
  Exterior window bird collision mitigation
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• Rowan International Grocery Store, LLC - $15,000
  Installation of a walk-in cooler and remodeling of the building<_u53a_p>
• Skiathos, LLC - $8,000
  Repairing and restriping the parking lot of the Queen City Center Strip Mall
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• Thesis Beer Project: $9000
  Construction of a new 30-40 seat patio on 2^nd Street<_u53a_p>
• TRCH Plaza, LLP: $11,000
  New roof on the building.
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• True Queens Boutique: $4,500
  New downtown business will use funds to assist with purchasing signage, flooring, furniture, lighting, tables, and shelves.<_u53a_p>
• The Well: $200,000
  Renovation of the former Dooley's Pub site into a new family restaurant.
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• Well Living Lab, Inc - $10,000
  Energy efficiency and technology upgrades<_u53a_p>
• Zumbro Lutheran Church - $6,000
  Purchase and installation of an exterior digital sign

All grant awards are subject to final approval from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development.

About the Main Street Grant Program<_u53a_p>

The Main Street Grant program provides grants for capital improvement projects that result in improvements to any permanent structure or other asset added to a property that adds to its value. The grant awards can cover up to 30% of the project costs with applicants securing other sources of funding to match any funds granted by this program. Funding for the $3 million grant was awarded on October 14, 2021, from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development's Main Street Economic Revitalization Program.

For more information on the Main Street Grant program and to apply, visit dmc.mn/ms.<_u53a_p>

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