DMC Board Approves $500K in Assistance for Rochester Business Along Link Bus Construction Corridor

Rochester, MN (RochesterNow)- The Destination Medical Center Board (DMC) has approved assistance for businesses stationed along the under-construction Link Bus Rapid Transit (LinkBRT) corridor. 

See Also: Rochester City Council Votes to Cap Property Tax Levy Increase at 5.6% 

Construction of the 2.8 mile fare free bus route has been ongoing since June of last year. Crews reached the 50% completion mark last month. 

Closures mainly along 2nd St. SW have come with the construction work, which is expected to continue until the late Summer of 2027, a DMC news release indicates. 

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DMC Board Provides City of Rochester With $500k to Help Business Impacted by Link BRT Construction

Board members authorized $500,000 in contingency funding for the City of Rochester to continue its support efforts for businesses being impacted by the construction. 

City of Rochester

DMC says the funding will support the city’s efforts to implement construction mitigation efforts. Those efforts include outreach, visibility and access strategies,  targeted marketing and promotions and customer traffic initiatives. 

The news release states the funding uses are intended to be flexible to allow the city to respond to the specific needs of the impacted businesses. 

“Major construction creates real challenges for businesses that need to remain visible, accessible and connected to their customers,” said DMCC board chair Pam Wheelock. “This investment gives the City and project team additional resources to respond as conditions change and provide support where it is needed most. Helping businesses successfully navigate construction is essential to the long-term success of Link and the corridor it will serve.”