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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025 Building Community Grant Report Building Community Grant 2025 Report Page 1 of 21 Overview The Building Community Grant (formerly known as the Community Building Fund) was established in 2024 using funds from the dissolution of the Diversity Council. This program supports projects, programs, and events within the City that actively promote Social Equity. By providing financial support to these initiatives, the Community Building Fund aims to foster a more inclusive and equitable community for all residents. This report details the program’s progress and impact to date, including an overview of approved applications. Fund Progress The Building Community Grant Program received a total of $100,000 for Fiscal Year 2025:  Base Allocation: $50,000 for small grants (awards under $5,000)  One-Time Allocation: $50,000 for large grants ($5,001-$20,000); this one-time allocation for the large grant program was approved through a Council-initiated Action (CIA) on August 19, 2024. All 2025 funding has been allocated to projects. Metric Large Applications Small Applications Total Amount Awarded $50,000 $50,000 Number of Approved Applications 4 14 Total Amount requested by approved applications $72,250 $75,000 Note: Approved applications do not always receive the full amount of funding requested. In total, $147,250 was requested by the approved applications, and $100,000 was awarded. Application Review Process Applications for the Building Community Grants are reviewed by a cross-departmental team of City Teammates. This review team represents a range of perspectives and expertise from across the organization, helping ensure a thoughtful and equitable evaluation process. All applications are assessed using the standardized rubric available on the City’s website, which outlines criteria aligned with the program’s focus on Social Equity and the City Council’s Strategic Priorities. Program Website More information, including the program’s eligibility requirements, rubrics, an application, are available on the City’s website at www.rochestermn.gov/bcg (located under the Building Community Grant dropdown). Approved Applications The following pages provide summaries of approved applications. Page 2 of 21 Large Grant Applications (One-Year Pilot Program) Large Grant Applications support larger projects, programs, or events that require more extensive planning, funding, and community impact. These applications request funding up to $20,000 and involve a detailed proposal including budget, schedule, and success metrics. Large projects require formal agreements and mandatory reporting to ensure accountability and transparency. The City encourages applicants to submit Large Applications at least three months before the planned start date to allow for thorough review and support. Funding for 2025 Large Grant Applications was made possible through a one-time allocation approved by City Council via Council Initiated Action on August 19, 2024. This temporary funding was in addition to the program’s annual $50,000 base allocation and was only available for the 2025 grant cycle. Approved 2025 Large Grant Applications The approved applications are listed in alphabetical order: Application Name Amount Awarded Page Number Equity Eats Kiosk Hub $9,500 3 Minority Business Academy $8,250 4 Sound of Gospel $20,000 5 Startup Spotlight: Elevating Rochester Entrepreneurship $12,250 6 Page 3 of 21 Equity Eats Kiosk Organization: Southeast Minnesota Food Rescue & Redistribution (SEMNFRR) Funding Amount: $9,500 Project Timeline: Launched May 2025, ongoing Description: The Equity Eats Food Kiosk Hub is designed to address food insecurity by providing year-round access to fresh produce in areas of concentrated poverty in Rochester. Through partnerships with local producers and community groups, SEMNFRR will install and operate outdoor food kiosks stocked with culturally appropriate fresh fruits and vegetables. The project builds on the success of SEMNFRR’s 2024 Equity Eats pilot, using kiosks to meet community needs for accessible, dignified, and consistent food access, as well as eliminating food waste by utilizing fresh overflow produce from local farmers. Impact & Goals:  Primary Impact: The kiosks will help address systemic gaps in Rochester’s food system by offering reliable access to healthy food, supporting local growers, and reducing stigma associated with food insecurity.  Target Audience: Primarily BIPOC and immigrant households residing in food-insecure neighborhoods of Rochester.  Future Plans: Sustain the kiosks through ongoing partnerships with farmers and community stakeholders, with long-term goals of expanding the program to additional neighborhoods and integrating it with regional food security efforts. Page 4 of 21 Minority Business Academy Organization: Minority Owned Business Foundation Funding Amount: $8,250 Project Timeline: Ongoing Description: The Minority Business Academy provides business education and mentorship to underserved and minority entrepreneurs in Rochester. Participants engage in hands-on training, covering topics such as business planning, financial literacy, legal compliance, and marketing strategies. The program is designed to close economic gaps by equipping participants with the tools needed to start and sustain successful businesses. Impact & Goals:  Primary Impact: Build a more equitable and inclusive economy by supporting the development of minority- owned businesses and increasing access to generational wealth.  Target Audience: Underserved individuals and minority entrepreneurs in the Rochester area, with potential to expand throughout Southeast Minnesota.  Future Plans: Implement a certification process for graduates, track the long-term success of participants, and seek additional funding to scale the program across the region. Page 5 of 21 Sound of Gospel Applicant: Jackie Trotter Funding Amount: $20,000 Project Timeline: February 2025 Description: Sound of Gospel is a cultural and artistic initiative that centers Rochester’s Black community through a gospel music experience. The event features local and regional talent performing traditional and contemporary gospel music, interwoven with storytelling that highlights the historical and spiritual significance of the genre. Sound of Gospel serves as a platform for community healing, celebration, and cultural expression. Impact & Goals:  Primary Impact: Strengthen community bonds and cultural pride through music rooted in Black history, offering a space for shared celebration and healing.  Target Audience: Residents of Rochester and surrounding areas, particularly the Black community, and those interested in learning more about gospel music and Black cultural traditions.  Future Plans: Gather community feedback to inform future events and explore partnerships for an expanded annual series that incorporates additional art forms and community engagement elements. Post-event Feedback: “We had an audience who responded joyously and enthusiastically to a professionally excellent performance and each other. It was a diverse audience of about 840. We had the maximum number of organizations our facility could accommodate for the Fair. Positive response from organizations of reaching folks that had not reached in the past.” “Our survey results were very positive. We got feedback through surveys, community interactions, sponsor feedback and thank you notes. One person wrote, ‘I was really caught up into the power and energy of the singers and the audience.’ Another wrote, ‘It was a gift of stepping emotionally into the history and rich culture.’” Page 6 of 21 Startup Spotlight: Elevating Rochester Entrepreneurship Organization: Collider Foundation Funding Amount: $12,250 Project Timeline: January 2025 – June 2025 Description: Startup Spotlight is a storytelling and networking event series that highlights Rochester-based entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds. Through in-person and virtual events, the series shares the journeys of local founders, showcasing their challenges, successes, and the impact of their ventures. The events are designed to inspire future entrepreneurs, build community support, and increase visibility for underrepresented business owners in Rochester. Impact & Goals:  Primary Impact: Elevate diverse entrepreneurial voices and foster a stronger, more inclusive startup ecosystem in Rochester.  Target Audience: Emerging and established entrepreneurs, community members interested in entrepreneurship, and local business supporters.  Future Plans: Use insights from this series to guide future programming, build stronger community partnerships, and continue uplifting stories that reflect the diversity of Rochester’s entrepreneurial landscape. Post-event Feedback: “Through the provision of a community expo, professional photo services, and storytelling the Collider team was able to serve 41 entrepreneurs across 93 hours in fulfillment of the City of Rochester Community Building Funds Grant. Each of these services were provided at zero cost to the entrepreneur, lowering a significant barrier to costly marketing materials and promotion. In addition, the stories shared have allowed more people to see themselves being represented in local media, providing inspiration capital and showing that entrepreneurship is a viable pathway to a diverse range of people.” Page 7 of 21 Small Grant Applications Small Grant Applications provide accessible funding opportunities of up to $5,000 for community-driven ideas, programs, and events. These applications have a low-barrier submission process focused on basic budget details, timelines, and intended outcomes. Small Applications are designed to quickly support initiatives that promote inclusion, equity, and connection within Rochester’s diverse communities. Applicants are encouraged to apply at least six weeks before their event or program to ensure timely consideration. Approved 2025 Small Applications The approved applications are listed in alphabetical order: Application Name Amount Awarded Page Number Black History Interactive Kiosk $5,000 8 Breaking Generational Cycles $4,500 9 Cashmere Connection: The Power of H.A.I.R. $2,500 10 Center for Integration and Mediation Services $1,555.30 11 JM Identity Mural $944.70 12 Juneteenth Community Celebration 2025 $5,000 13 Latino Fest 2025 $5,000 14 Rochester Disability Pride Summit and Celebration $3,000 15 Rochester Pride 2025 $2,500 16 Soccer League $2,500 17 Sports Mentorship Academy Rec Center $5,000 18 The Pitch! $5,000 19 The Village Global Farmers Market $5,000 20 Water Lantern Fest $2,500 21 Page 8 of 21 Black History Interactive Kiosk Organization: Barbershop and Social Services Funding Amount: $5,000 Project Timeline: February 2025 - December 2025 Description: Barbershop and Social Services developed Minnesota’s first-ever Black History Interactive Kiosk. This innovative exhibit highlights Rochester-based African American history makers, artists, and entrepreneurs, preserving their legacies and showcasing their contributions to the community. Through a blend of technology and storytelling, the kiosk aims to educate, inspire, and foster pride among residents and visitors alike. The kiosk is an iteration of the Rochester Black history travelling exhibit that launched in 2024. Impact & Goals:  Primary Impact: Promote cultural inclusivity and historical awareness by celebrating the achievements of Rochester’s Black community in a permanent, interactive format.  Target Audience: Community members of all races, students, educators, and researchers seeking to learn more about the local Black historical experience.  Future Plans: Sustain the exhibit through partnerships with schools, cultural institutions, and local government; update content annually; and incorporate community feedback to ensure continued relevance and impact. Post-event Feedback: “This project exceeded all expectations; people were engaged and eager to learn more about local Black History and its impact on the community. Page 9 of 21 Breaking Generational Cycles Applicant: Sierra Verdin Funding Amount: $4,500 Project Timeline: Capstone Gallery Event in August 2025 (Rochester-specific) Description: Breaking Generational Cycles is a storytelling and art project highlighting the lived experiences of women and gender-expansive individuals who are actively working to break cycles of intergenerational harm— such as abuse, neglect, and poverty. Through in-depth interviews, photography, and narrative documentation, the project aims to destigmatize mental health conversations, foster understanding of systemic barriers, and promote healing and resilience. The final work will be shared through a printed collection and an interactive gallery event. Impact & Goals:  Primary Impact: Elevate the voices of marginalized women and gender-expansive individuals while promoting dialogue around trauma, resilience, and mental health in a culturally relevant and community- based context.  Target Audience: Women and gender-expansive people, especially those from communities impacted by systemic barriers, including women of color, queer women, immigrant women, disabled women, and others historically excluded from mainstream narratives.  Future Plans: Leverage participation in the Women’s Foundation Innovator Program to scale the work into a sustainable service model that promotes healing through narrative, informs community understanding, and supports long-term systems change. Post-event Feedback: “Interviewees shared they appreciated the opportunity to share their story of mental health in order to lessen the stigma for other womxn to feel less alone. Some shared their stories before and felt empowered. Others were telling their story for the first time and valued the space to process and share with others.” Page 10 of 21 Cashmere Connection: The Power of H.A.I.R. Organization: Cashmere Connection: The Power of H.A.I.R. (Heritage, Art, Identity, Presentation) Funding Amount: $2,500 Project Timeline: June 29, 2025 Description: The Power of H.A.I.R. is a free, hands-on event for parents and children of all ages to learn essential hair care skills that support healthy routines and build confidence. Participants will gain practical knowledge in detangling, natural braiding techniques, and product usage—connecting hair care to mental wellness, identity, and daily self-esteem. The event includes instruction, community connection, and access to hair and skin care resources, focusing on multicultural and cross-cultural families. Impact & Goals:  Primary Impact: Promote mental well-being, confidence, and cultural pride through hands-on hair care education for families.  Target Audience: Multicultural and Cross-cultural families, with participation open to all community members.  Future Plans: Host this event quarterly, using feedback and grant support to expand reach and refine programming based on community needs. Page 11 of 21 Center for Integration and Mediation Services Organization: Center for Integration and Mediation Services Funding Amount: $1,555.30 Project Timeline: July 2025 – October 2025 Description: This community awareness and mediation training initiative by the Center for Integration and Mediation Services (CIMS) addresses the cultural disconnects faced by immigrant families, particularly generational conflicts between parents and children. The program focuses on the impact of these disconnects on issues such as youth violence, drug use, and family instability. Through culturally responsive training and dialogue, the program promotes mediation, understanding, and integration—strengthening families as a defense against harmful societal pressures. Impact & Goals:  Primary Impact: Foster stronger relationships between immigrant parents and their children, helping families navigate cultural transitions and resolve conflict in healthy, solution-focused ways.  Target Audience: Immigrant communities in Rochester and surrounding areas, with participation also extended to non-immigrant residents to foster broader understanding.  Future Plans: Sustain the program through ongoing community engagement, collaboration with local institutions, and phased implementation. The approach emphasizes cultural integration, youth support, and trust-building within families to reduce risks such as gang involvement and substance abuse. Post-event Feedback: “The project successfully engaged immigrant and refugee families through culturally responsive outreach and community listening sessions. Participation was strong, trust was built, and community members felt comfortable sharing their experiences. Partnerships with local organizations and the use of language access supports worked especially well, maximizing the project’s impact.” “This support made it possible for a grassroots, community-based organization like ours to implement a meaningful project with real impact.” Page 12 of 21 JM Identity Mural Organization: John Marshall High School Funding Amount: $2,500 Project Timeline: October 2023 – March 2025 Description: The JM Identity Mural is a collaborative public art project designed to capture and celebrate the diversity and community spirit of John Marshall High School. Created in partnership with GoodSpace Murals, this 2,000-square-foot mural at the school's main entrance includes mosaic tile stars and rich imagery representing the school’s values, student engagement, and Rochester’s community. The design involved 950 students, 75 staff, 35 alumni, and 60 families, with over 600 students and 300 community members contributing to its creation. Impact & Goals:  Primary Impact: Build a welcoming, inclusive space that visually represents the identity and values of the JM community, fostering a sense of belonging and pride for students, staff, families, and alumni.  Target Audience: The diverse JM student body, their families, alumni, Rochester residents, and visitors.  Future Plans: The mural will feature in school orientations, be shared with alumni, and serve as an educational resource in classrooms, ensuring its legacy as a symbol of school pride and community inclusion. Post-event Feedback: “Over 1000 people from JM community provided insight in the design phase, and similarly, over 1000 in the creation of the mural and mosaics.” “We got a large amount of engagement and ended up with a project that we are very proud of, and will be here for a long time.” Video Link: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/kxxvpeubkrq5fstosxpgn/The-JM-Identity- MURAL.mp4?rlkey=xqlzcmwlxgxj4hpiwamkvlp31&st=dw10nwev&dl=0 Page 13 of 21 Juneteenth Community Celebration 2025 Organization: NAACP (Rochester Branch) Funding Amount: $5,000 Project Timeline: June 14, 2025 Description: The 2025 Juneteenth Community Celebration marks the 20th anniversary of Rochester’s NAACP Branch. This year’s milestone celebration will include live music, cultural performances, games, a basketball competition, food, and a dedicated health fair offering community testing and wellness resources. As a free, family-friendly event, Juneteenth commemorates African American freedom and resilience while promoting cross-cultural unity, education, and celebration. Impact & Goals:  Primary Impact: Foster community unity and cultural understanding through a celebratory and educational experience that highlights the historical and contemporary significance of Juneteenth.  Target Audience: Rochester residents of all backgrounds, with a focus on uplifting the Black/African American community and ensuring access across generational and socioeconomic lines.  Future Plans: Continue to grow the event as a cornerstone cultural tradition in Rochester, strengthen partnerships, evaluate outcomes, and expand health equity efforts through the Love Wins: Health & Wellness Initiative. Page 14 of 21 Latino Fest 2025 Organization: Alliance of Chicanos, Hispanics, and Latin Americans (ACHLA) Funding Amount: $5,000 Project Timeline: September 20, 2025 Description: Latino Fest is ACHLA’s signature cultural celebration, bringing together more than 3,000 attendees annually to honor and uplift the Latino community in Rochester and southeastern Minnesota. The free, public event showcases Latin American cultures through music, dance, food, and art while also connecting families to critical resources through partnerships with local organizations, schools, government entities, and businesses. Latino Fest is designed to be festive, educational, empowering, and inclusive, serving as a vital point of cultural exchange and civic engagement. Impact & Goals:  Primary Impact: Empower Latino individuals and families while advancing equity, inclusion, and cross- cultural understanding through a large-scale, community-wide celebration.  Target Audience: Primarily Latino families in Rochester and surrounding areas, with strong cross-cultural participation from BIPOC communities, newcomers, and the general public.  Future Plans: Sustain and grow Latino Fest through continued collaboration with partners, expanded sponsorships, and strategic outreach. Long-term plans include developing recurring funding streams and strengthening ACHLA’s organizational capacity to deliver culturally responsive programs and events year- round. Post-event Feedback: “The event was a significant success, with attendance increasing from 2,500 in 2024 to 3,900 in 2025—demonstrating strong community interest and growth. The atmosphere remained peaceful and joyful throughout the day, and all activities began and concluded on schedule, reflecting careful planning and coordination.” Page 15 of 21 Rochester Disability Pride Summit and Celebration Organization: The Arc Minnesota Funding Amount: $3,000 Project Timeline: July 9, 16, and 23, 2025 (Summit Series); July 26, 2025 (Disability Pride Celebration) Description: The Arc Minnesota, in collaboration with accessibility community partners, is hosting a Disability Pride Summit and Celebration in July 2025. The event series includes three lunchtime summit sessions— offered in a hybrid format—focused on the history, lived experiences, and access challenges faced by people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). The series will culminate in a Disability Pride Day celebration at Boundless Playspace. Funding will ensure access through American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation and Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) services, making these events fully inclusive for Deaf and Hard of Hearing community members. Impact & Goals:  Primary Impact: Raise awareness of disability rights and inclusion, celebrate the lives and contributions of disabled people, and normalize access accommodations like ASL and CART.  Target Audience: People with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals, and the broader Rochester community.  Future Plans: Establish the summit and celebration as an annual tradition in Rochester, setting a citywide standard for accessible and inclusive events and increasing understanding and celebration of the disability community. Post-event Feedback: “The community collaboration was great. We had many partner organizations that wanted to contribute and participate. We had about 150 people at the celebration and had between 30-75 at each of the Lunch and Learns, mostly via Zoom. All events had ASL interpretation.” Page 16 of 21 Rochester Pride 2025 Organization: Rochester Pride Funding Amount: $2,500 Project Timeline: May 17, 2025 Description: Rochester Pride hosts an annual celebration of LGBTQ identities and community in Southeastern Minnesota. The 2025 Pride event will feature performances, vendors, food, and family-friendly programming, with over 5,000 attendees expected. The event promotes visibility, community, and economic impact through cross-sector partnerships and satellite events throughout the city. Impact & Goals:  Primary Impact: Fosters community, belonging, and visibility for LGBTQ individuals; supports local artists and small businesses; drives downtown economic activity.  Target Audience: Primarily LGBTQ community members, with intentional inclusion of intersecting identities (e.g., BIPOC, youth, families, allies).  Future Plans: Rochester Pride is now in its 6th year and aims to sustain and grow through local partnerships, sponsorships, and donor relationships, ensuring the annual event continues to thrive and uplift the LGBTQ community. Post-event Feedback: “With an estimated 5000 attendees, we learned that there is great demand for LGBTQ spaces and representation as well as a large amount of support from the broader community.” “The feedback on the event from the LGBTQ community was enthusiastic and grateful for a place where everyone can feel comfortable and find community.” Page 17 of 21 Soccer League Organization: Dodge Center Soccer League Funding Amount: $2,500 Project Timeline: May 4, 2025 – September 28, 2025 Description: The Dodge Center Soccer League is launching an inclusive, community-centered soccer program with a focus on affordability for lower-income and minority families. In addition to weekly matches, the league will host community events like “Championship Weekend,” featuring free food, music, and entertainment for all ages at the Fuad Mansour Sports Complex. Impact & Goals:  Primary Impact: Builds community and fosters cross-cultural connection, while offering equitable access to sports and recreation for underrepresented groups.  Target Audience: Lower-income families, minority communities, and future expansion to include women and youth participants.  Future Plans: Sustain and grow the league through sponsorships, grants, and expanded programming (e.g., kids’ soccer club and women’s league), while continuing to offer low-cost access and high community engagement. Page 18 of 21 Sports Mentorship Academy Rec Center Organization: Sports Mentorship Academy Funding Amount: $5,000 Project Timeline: May 1, 2025 – September 2025 Description: The Sports Mentorship Academy Rec Center was created to support youth affected by the closure of the Rochester YMCA and serve students in Northwest Rochester, many of whom are Black and from single-parent households. These youth often lack safe spaces and consistent adult mentorship. The program provides essential needs such as food, clothing, shoes, and transportation to help maintain a healthy life balance, along with sports-related activities and social skill-building opportunities. Impact & Goals:  Primary Impact: Provides Black youth with access to caring adult mentors, positive role models, and resources to foster personal growth and social connection.  Target Audience: Elementary and junior high school children of color living in poverty pockets in Northwest Rochester.  Future Plans: Sustain programming through donations and grants while expanding mentorship opportunities and community support networks to deepen positive impacts. Page 19 of 21 The Pitch! Organization: Bridges to Built Environment Program Funding Amount: $5,000 Project Timeline: November & March 2025 (ongoing each Fall & Spring semester) Description: The Pitch! is a built environment career and entrepreneurship program for 11th grade Economics students at John Marshall High School. Piloted three years ago under a Bloomberg grant, it brings students together with community leaders and local entrepreneurs to brainstorm, develop, and pitch innovative business ideas focused on downtown Rochester. The program fosters creativity, collaboration, and real-world learning, culminating in a pitch competition judged by community members and local officials. The initiative promotes deeper learning, economic growth, and stronger community connections. Impact & Goals:  Primary Impact: Inspires youth entrepreneurial thinking, exposure to built environment careers, and builds connections between students and community leaders, and supports local economic development.  Target Audience: 11th grade students at John Marshall High School, many of whom are BIPOC, from families experiencing barriers to opportunities.  Future Plans: Secure stable baseline funding for three years and expand support through business and real estate sponsorships to sustain and grow the program. Post-event Feedback: “The Pitch continues to evolve, this Fall bringing in a set of Community Partners who have brought new ideas and current community insights, into the Project. Post experience data from students continues to show that it is one of the most meaningful, engaging and powerful experiences of their Economics career.” Page 20 of 21 The Village Global Farmers Market Organization: The Village Agricultural Cooperative Funding Amount: $5,000 Project Timeline: July 2025 – early October 2025 (weather-permitting) Description: The Village Agricultural Cooperative is launching a farmers market at Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park, located in Rochester’s most food-insecure and diverse neighborhood. The market will provide culturally specific fresh produce unavailable elsewhere locally, supporting emerging farmers from marginalized communities (Kenya, Cameroon, Mexico) and expanding access to fresh, affordable produce. The Parks & Recreation department has waived pavilion rental fees to support this initiative. Impact & Goals:  Primary Impact: Increase food security and community connection by delivering culturally relevant fresh foods to an underserved area.  Target Audience: Residents of Rochester’s most food-insecure and diverse neighborhoods, including new immigrant communities.  Future Plans: Grow vendor participation, maintain a seasonal market manager through ongoing grant writing and local partnerships, and establish the market as a regular community gathering space. Post-event Feedback: “We worked closely with 12 farm groups this season and together they were able to net more than $140,000. They are excited for the coming season.” “The communities were very excited about our vegetable contributions to the local food shelves because we were able to provide culturally specific foods that many of the patrons would not otherwise be able to obtain anywhere else in the city. Our farmers grow foods that are specific to the palate of many new Americans now calling Rochester MN their home.” Page 21 of 21 Water Lantern Fest Organization: Cambodian American Partnership of Minnesota Funding Amount: $2,500 Project Timeline: August 2, 2025 Description: The Lantern Festival celebrates life, resilience, and the human spirit, commemorating those affected by the Vietnam War as the community approaches its 50th anniversary. The festival will light lanterns in remembrance, fostering a festive and reflective atmosphere rooted in Southeast Asian traditions, bringing together diverse community members. Impact & Goals:  Primary Impact: Promote cross-cultural understanding, tolerance, and cultural awareness while fostering community harmony and inclusion.  Target Audience: Cambodian, Hmong, Lao, Vietnamese communities, and the broader Rochester community interested in cultural exchange.  Future Plans: Build on the event’s success by expanding partnerships and sponsorships with the City of Rochester, Mayo Clinic, Olmsted County, and local foundations to grow attendance and engagement annually.