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Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - The recently formed Downtown Rochester Task Force is sharing some initial findings from a series of working sessions that were held earlier this month.

Participants in the four work sessions were asked to share specific challenges they're facing related to downtown Rochester, along with concerns and ideas that could be used in developing a "community-based action plan". The organizers of the effort say the feedback gathered during the sessions fit into four major themes.

  • Promotions, Activation, and Programming
  • Access to Downtown
  • Barriers to Doing Business
  • Growing Downtown
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Destination Medical Center Executive Director Patrick Seeb says the themes will help the community prioritize the next steps in the process.

“The model we are using to create the action plan is different from others. Our seven organizations are working collectively with the community to build a recovery plan,” says Seeb. “The challenges that the pandemic caused downtowns can be complex and takes more than one organization to solve.”

A news release says the next phase will involve community members reviewing the initial findings and providing additional feedback by participating in a short survey. Additional working sessions, which will be open to the public, will be scheduled in April around the four themes "to identify immediate and short-term action recommendations."  The final report could be released in mid-May.

Townsquare Media
Townsquare Media
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The Downtown Rochester Task Force includes representatives from the city, Destination Medical Center, Experience Rochester, Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce, Rochester Area Economic Development Agency, Rochester Downtown Alliance, and Mayo Clinic.

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