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Gov. Mark Dayton announced today his appointments to an eight-member board that will make spending decisions about the state's contribution to Mayo Clinic's  expansion plan, what his office calls the "state’s largest-ever economic development project."

Dayton appointed his own chief of staff Tina Smith, Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak, Rani Engineering President Susan Rani and former Wells Fargo CEO Jim Campbell to the Destination Medical Center Board of Directors.

The Mayo Clinic also announced today that it has appointed former Medtronic CEO Bill George to the board.

The board will determine how $455  million in state money will be spent for development projects in the greater Rochester area.  Dayton signed a bill into law in May that established the Destination Medical Center. The Mayo Clinic wanted the subsidy to basically overhaul downtown Rochester to support the clinic's expansion in the city over the next two decades.

The board will authorize spending on everything from new roads, bridges, parking garages, to entertainment venues and shopping outlets.  In turn, Mayo Clinic has promised to invest billions of dollars in the city.

The state money will leverage an estimated $5.6 billion in local and private investment over the next 20 years, create tens of thousands of new jobs, and secure the state’s competitive position as an international hub for health care and medical advancement, according to a statement from Dayton's office.

The new appointees join Rochester Mayor Ardell Brede and Rochester city council member Ed Hruska on the board. Olmsted County board members will appoint someone at their meeting tonight.

Here's some biographical information from the governor's office on Dayton's choices:

Politics and Government News

Capitol View®

Tom Scheck

Author

Gov. Mark Dayton announced today his appointments to an eight-member board that will make spending decisions about the state’s contribution to Mayo Clinic’s  expansion plan, what his office calls the “state’s largest-ever economic development project.” Dayton appointed his own chief of staff Tina Smith, Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak, Rani Engineering President Susan Rani and former…

Board members named to oversee major Rochester redevelopment effort

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