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September, 2006
From Our Education Issue
Community Report, September 2006
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GREATER ROCHESTER VISITORS ASSOCIATION
Show Out-of-Town Family and Friends Why Rochester is Made For Living
Inviting and hosting friends and family from out-of-town can be fun and easy. That's the message the Greater Rochester Visitors Association's (GRVA) new program, Guest-pedition is touting. GRVA has created the program to encourage residents to extend invitations and to help plan activities that will surely prove, "Rochester is Made for Living."
Guest-pedition offers area residents a specially designed "Guest-pedition" kit that includes local and regional tourist information, special value offers from GRVA's member attractions, restaurants, retailers and lodging facilities, and a Guest-pedition planner with trip ideas and reminders. The kit comes in a canvas bag proclaiming "I'm hosting a Guest-pedition." A bumper sticker is also included for hosts to boast about their participation. The kits are available for $5 each (including tax) at various locations. GRVA created Guest-pedition as a fun way to help generate additional visitor spending in the area and runs through Labor Day.
A part of the Guest-pedition planner includes a postage-paid card that can be filled out by resident hosts and returned with suggestions and details on what guests seemed to enjoy most (or not). The information will be used to measure, grow, and enhance the program. As an incentive to return the postcard, GRVA will conduct a drawing from the returned cards for four segment tickets (two round-trips) on JetBlue Airways. Deadline for the drawing is October 15.
Call (585) 279-8331 for all kit distribution locations.
GREATER ROCHESTER VISITORS ASSOCIATION WWW.VISITROCHESTER.COM
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CITY OF ROCHESTER A Case Study
The City of Rochester's Economic Development Department (EDD) is constantly striving to help our area businesses grow and develop. Generally EDD plays the role of providing financial assistance, finding suitable space to develop, and providing technical assistance. It is our goal to branch out and find other resources that will allow us to help businesses succeed.
| It is through collaborative efforts like this that the city of Rochester and our area will continue to grow and prosper. | Recently, another opportunity for providing assistance presented itself to EDD. One of the city's larger companies had a need to hire skilled machinists and laborers. They had difficulty finding individuals who had the skills to match their needs due to competition for the same individuals among similar companies.
Company officials contacted EDD and explained their situation. Individuals from our department reached out to RochesterWorks, Monroe Community College, and area BOCES to see if they could help. By working with these organizations, EDD was able to provide the following: seven qualified resumes, information regarding training programs, and available assistance.
This was a victory not only for the City of Rochester's Economic Development Department but for our community. It is through collaborative efforts like this that the city of Rochester and our area will continue to grow and prosper. This area's educational facilities will continue to play an essential role in our economy.
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HIGH TECH. ROCHESTER. . . The Innovator's Edge HTR Redesigned the Manufacturing and Technology Development Center for Finger Lakes Region High Tech Rochester has recently been selected by the New York State Office of Science, Technology and Academic Research (NYSTAR) as the lead organization assisting small and medium-sized manufacturers and technology companies in the nine county Finger Lakes Region. NYSTAR awarded $9.2 million annual funding under the Regional Technology Development Center (RTDC) program to non-profit organizations in the state's 10 economic development regions. As the designated Finger Lakes RTDC for the coming five-year period, High Tech Rochester will receive $904,000 of state and federal funding in the first year. The award will continue operation of HTR's Manufacturing Extension Partnership Center (MEP) and support technology commercialization and entrepreneurship initiatives such as the regional business plan contest.
HTR's MEP Center is part of a nationwide network of MEP centers coordinated by the U.S. Department of Commerce. Center consultants provide advanced operating methods and technologies to small and medium-sized manufacturers to help them strengthen and grow in the face of rapid economic change. HTR-MEP has been working with manufacturing clients throughout the Finger Lakes Region for almost 13 years. This commitment from the state will allow HTR to enhance our services and help more manufacturers build their businesses with effective management and new technologies.
| A team of experienced entrepreneurs mentor startup companies, helping them avoid the pitfalls of early growth. | HTR also operates the Lennox Tech Enterprise Center (TEC), a business incubator that has served 70 client-tenants since 1997. A team of experienced entrepreneurs mentor startup companies, helping them avoid the pitfalls of early growth. HTR personnel also work with local companies to commercialize new technologies developed in the region's top-flight educational institutions and commercial research laboratories.
HTR is a key player in the $15 million WIRED (Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development) initiative that is aligning 21 Finger Lakes organizations to transform the region's approach to entrepreneurship, innovation and worker training.
Please visit www.htr.org to learn more.
HIGH TECH. ROCHESTER. . . The Innovator's Edge WWW.HTR.ORG
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GREATER ROCHESTER ENTERPRISE
The Power Behind a Whole New Lifestyle for Rochester
As U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton stated at the recent Alternative Energy in New York Expo 2006, the Rochester Region is uniquely positioned to be a "national capital" in alternative energy.
Our region's assets are perfectly aligned, we have materials and precision-manufacturing expertise, a skilled workforce adept at managing complex electro-mechanical and chemical products, and university research and development already underway to find smarter energy solutions.
When it comes to alternative energy, Rochester has the assets to compete in four major subsectors: fuel cells, biofuels, solar power, and wind energy. Numerous local companies and university researchers are working on technologies to power your car, light your way, and heat your home without relying on traditional sources of energy.
| By maximizing the alternative energy knowledge and expertise right here in our own community, we all can create energy independence, the power behind a whole new lifestyle for the Rochester Region. | To support this key industry, Greater Rochester Enterprise has been actively meeting with government and business officials in private sessions, as well as public forums. For more information, or to view GRE's new video highlighting the region's alternative-energy industry, visit www.RochesterBiz.com/business/regional/industry/.
Rochester hosts Fuel Cell 2007
GRE's recent efforts to promote Rochester's fuel-cell expertise have attracted national attention. Organizers of the Fuel Cell 2007 conference recently announced that the annual event will be held in Rochester, June 14-15, 2007. This conference will attract more than 200 fuel-cell experts to our community for a two-day seminar focused on this emerging alternative-energy sector.
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DIGITAL ROCHESTER
Welcome Back!
Like many of you, Digital Rochester has taken some well-deserved vacation time during August.
Our fifth annual Golf Tournament in July was a success. We had a beautiful day to play on the high-tech Ravenwood course. Thanks to our sponsors, Vanteon, Cognos, Verizon, High Falls Brewing, Lee Hecht Harrison, and dozens more, we raised funds to support the economic development efforts of Greater Rochester Enterprise.
Now we're all back at full speed and looking forward to varied events. Our networking is on right away, Tuesday, September 5th at 5:30 p.m. It's DR Networking On The Road at the B. Thomas Golisano College of Computing & Information Sciences (GCCIS), centered in the atrium of their impressive new building. This stop at RIT was one of our most highly-rated events last year. As always, the college will have something special planned for us. And meet Dean Jorge Diaz-Herrera and learn about all the new programs underway.
Those seeking jobs and those seeking great employees should attend our third Job Fair for Technology Professionals, co-sponsored with the High Tech Business Council (HTBC), on Thursday, September 14th from 3 to 7 p.m. Two previous events have each attracted more than 40 companies and 600-800 attendees.
This event will be held at a great venue, the Girl Scouts of Genesee Valley Program
| As we move into the fall, Digital Rochester will have all of its usual excellent events, including Rising Stars, Knowledge Upgrades, Entrepreneurs and Angels, and Networking. | Center on John Street. The building includes a gymnasium with a wall of glass overlooking 25 scenic acres, a striking atrium, and several multi-purpose rooms. This facility is only five minutes from Marketplace Mall and is adjacent to the RIT campus. When innovation and opportunity tap into a highly skilled and productive workforce, the greater Rochester region is at its best.
As we move into the fall, Digital Rochester will have all of its usual excellent events, including Rising Stars, Knowledge Upgrades, Entrepreneurs and Angels, and Networking. Visit our site at http://www.digitalrochester.com, and check out membership, sponsorship, events, and all the ways to participate.
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