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Rochester council backs UMR lab expansion, approving $7.7M in local and state funds.ROCHESTER — Nearly $4.7 million in local sales tax funds and $3 million in state Destination Medical Center funds will help University of Minnesota Rochester expand its local lab space.The Rochester City Council voted unanimously Monday to approve the release of funds for a proposed $10.38 million renovation of 1,400 square feet in One Discovery Square, 202 Fourth St.ADVERTISEMENT “UMR has been on for the bright success stories in Rochester over the last two decades in the way it’s grown up,” council member Patrick Keane said, before the vote that didn’t include additional comment.During a previous meeting with the council, UMR Chancellor Lori Carrell said of the planned creation of roughly 12,600 square feet of additional teaching laboratories, classrooms and collaboration space is important for continued success.“We can’t grow without this,” she said.The Discovery Square complex already houses some educational space for the university, and Carrell said it’s the only downtown space equipped to create new labs.With UMR classrooms already part of the privately owned facility, she said the proximity to Mayo Clinic labs and other research spaces enhances the local learning environment as the university seeks to build a workforce for the future.“The city gave birth to us for a reason, and that was to develop talent for our region and specifically our city,” she said during a recent discussion of the project.The sales tax funds being released are what remains from $14 million already collected through a 2012 voter-approved tax extension.The funds were dedicated to developing a University of Minnesota campus in Rochester.ADVERTISEMENT The DMC funds were approved by the state DMC Corp.board on May 21, with the expectation that the UMR facility will support efforts to draw new companies and startups to Rochester and the surrounding area.Michael Flynn, senior director of economic development for the DMC Economic Development Agency, said the students that will be trained in the new university labs will play a key role in future efforts to grow new opportunities in the city.The planned lab conversion and other university projects are still subject to review by the University of Minnesota regents, who will meet on June 11 to consider final approval.In addition to expanding lab space, Carrell said the university is proposing to build two of its own spaces, one in the downtown core and another on property it owns near Soldiers Memorial Field Park.Carrell said requests for proposals related to the projects are expected to be issued this year.The downtown building is slated to be a centralized heart of campus, expanding instructional capacity with state-of-the-art classrooms, student support services and collaborative learning environments.The planned Soldiers Field building is slated to create a student housing and recreation district, with Carrell noting students have voiced a desire for campus housing that is separate from their downtown classes.