Mayo is seeking public financing for the $500 million in proposed public investment

— tomscheck (@tomscheck) January 30, 2013

Mayo Clinic leaders joined Gov. Mark Dayton Wednesday at the state Capitol to unveil a $6 billion economic development initiative aimed at ensuring the clinic remains a top global destination for health care.

"We want to defend our turf. That’s what this basically boils down to," said Mayo Clinic President and CEO Dr. John Noseworthy, in an interview prior to the announcement in the governor’s reception room. via Post Bulletin.

The Star Tribune reports, “Under the initiative, which is known as Destination Medical Center, Mayo will invest $3.5 billion over the next two decades on projects directly related to medical care, including hospital and clinic facilities, lab space and biomedical sites. Mayo has been working with local leaders for several years on the effort.”