ABOUT ROCHESTER READY
Rochester Ready is an initiative to ensure a safe and resilient recovery for Rochester, Minnesota.
The Rochester area is pleased to again welcome our local customers and visitors! We are committed to every visitor’s comfort, health and safety.
SHOP + DINE LOCAL | Your Local Purchases Make A Big Difference
Eat Local. HERE’S A LIST OF LOCAL ROCHESTER MN RESTAURANTS AND FOOD PRODUCERS, WITH ORDER LINKS AND WAYS TO SUPPORT THEM.
FREE parking in Downtown Rochester - find out how! FREE PARKING
Watch the Shop Local Safely video series highlighting the steps local businesses are taking to implement COVID-19 preparedness plans to keep everybody safe.
State of Minnesota Masking Requirement Info
The City of Rochester and Olmsted County have both announced plans for Federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding. The following are some of the programs now available for businesses:
City of Rochester | A utility assistance program administered by Rochester Public Utilities will offer 50-percent off of qualifying small businesses' utility bills up to $5,000. Due to limited funding, applications will be processed on a first-come, first-serve basis. Complete and submit the application, along with any documentation, on or before October 16, 2020.
The City of Rochester's License Grant Program will award funds to local businesses who are licensed through The City Clerk's Office. There are around 300 businesses of varying types that are licensed by the City Clerk’s Office. These business license types include: liquor businesses, massage therapy, taxi cab franchises, and trade and contractor businesses. Of the $500,000, approximately $420,000 is allocated to liquor license holders and $80,000 is allocated for other license types. The grant application closes on August 28, 2020 at 5:00 p.m.
The City of Rochester, in partnership with RNeighbors and the Southeastern Minnesota Poets, announces a call for a city-wide Chalk the Walk Festival. This is an opportunity for local artists and poets who are not fully employed due to COVID-19 to create poetry and sidewalk chalk murals for remuneration in Rochester, Minnesota, neighborhoods:
Olmsted County | Olmsted County has also outlined its plans for CARES Act funding.
// Applications open October 8 for round two of the Olmsted County Small Business Relief Grant Program.
As a community built on care, Rochester is prepared to help keep us safe. Rochester Ready’s safety program will guide our hospitality industry on how best support the safety of our guests and our workforce. The program – Rochester Ready Safe - includes a pledge that restaurants, retailers and lodging establishments are taking to ensure that every visitor will know measures are in place to lessen the risk of COVID-19 transmission. The pledge includes:
- Physical distancing
- Employees report COVID-19 symptoms and stay home when ill
- All employees are required to wear nonmedical (cloth) face coverings and use other hygiene and respiratory droplet controls
- Guests are required to wear nonmedical (cloth) face coverings while in any indoor public space
- Cleaning and sanitizing
- Building and ventilation controls
- Working with Olmsted County Public Health when guests or employees become ill
- Other controls specific to industry (lodging, restaurant, retail)
Rochester’s business community is ready to welcome guests into our City. We thank you, our fellow community partners, for your commitment to this initiative.
The pledge is an extension of our community’s commitment to care. Take the Rochester Ready pledge today!
FOUNDING PARTNERS
