Final Downtown Rochester Task Force work session held virtually Tuesday

(ABC 6 News) – The final Downtown Rochester Task Force work session was held on Tuesday and will be an online format only.

A task force is being assembled to identify and address priority issues in response to the long-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on downtown Rochester.

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The Downtown Rochester Task Force invites the community and downtown businesses to participate and share specific challenges they are experiencing related to downtown. Together, attendees will identify both priority concerns and solutions. Once key priorities are identified, an action plan will be created to address each concern.

“The pandemic was a disrupter to many aspects of our national, state, and local economies. How and where people work, shop, and participate in activities has changed,” states Kim Norton, mayor of the City of Rochester. “While downtown Rochester has and will change, there are several opportunities in how we can strengthen and become a more resilient downtown. And we must do this work together.”

The goal is to present an action plan by May 2023 to guide the Downtown Rochester Task Force moving forward.

The Downtown Rochester Task Force includes members from the City of Rochester, Destination Medical Center, Diversity Council, Experience Rochester, Mayo Clinic, Rochester Area Economic Development Agency, Inc., Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce, and Rochester Downtown Alliance.