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October, 2006
From Our Sales and Marketing Issue
Community Report, October 2006
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Monroe County Just Ask CareGuide
Our community celebrated a major economic victory when CareGuide—a healthcare management company—decided to move a majority of its national operations to Monroe County, creating 200 new jobs. The jobs represent nearly a 400 percent increase in local job growth for CareGuide. The company will invest $11 million to consolidate operations from Florida, Texas, and Nevada into a facility in Henrietta.
CareGuide, which has been in business since 1995, is recognized as a highly innovative company, on the cutting-edge of their industry.
This announcement underscores that there is momentum in our local economy, and there are jobs being created here. It also shows that our collaborative efforts to keep Monroe County competitive are paying off, and that our area has tremendous assets that not only meet —but exceed —other areas of the country. Once again, our highly skilled workforce played a key role in attracting these jobs and investment, as did our community's leadership in healthcare and information technology. When it comes to economic development, partnerships matter, and Monroe County is proud to have been a partner in CareGuide's expansion. The assistance and support provided through organizations like the County of Monroe Industrial Development Agency, Empire State Development and Greater Rochester Enterprise are critical to our ability to compete for jobs in today's global economy. Chris Paterson, president and CEO of CareGuide, praised all those involved for "rolling out the welcome mat" for their company. As we continue to work hard to retain and attract jobs and investment, our message to companies is clear: Monroe County is a great place to do business, and we're here to help you grow and succeed. Just ask CareGuide. EXECUTIVE MAGGIE BROOKS
WWW.MONROECOUNTY.GOV
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The City 4 Steps to the Best
An Infallible Process The City of Rochester encourages commercial districts to initiate a four-step process in order to transform a district to be the best that it can be. Community input is key to ensuring that all stakeholders are engaged in the process that yields a master plan for the commercial district. The process is as follows:
I.
Visioning—Neighborhood stakeholders, residents, business owners, property owners, not-for-profit community agencies, churches, police, NET, schools, etc. are invited to a session to "vision" the future of the neighborhood.
The large group is broken into small groups, each with a facilitator that will identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. After this group meets, the larger group meets and each group reviews their concepts. The information is collected for comparison and to compile data to be shared with the stakeholders. |
| II.
Economic Analysis—
Using demographics as well as consumer spending characteristics for the targeted area, EDD and the "neighborhood" see if specific economic relationships exist between the neighborhood vision and neighborhood economics. This process helps to identify which goals are realistic and supported by financial data.
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III.
Design Charette—
This phase allows stakeholders to determine the appropriate look for their neighborhood. Small groups use GIS maps to draw the amenities they desire (new street lights, curb cuts, parking lots, benches, trees). Design guidelines are established for this targeted area as well as a unique look.
Carlos Carballada
Commissioner of Economic Development
the City of Rochester
WWW.CITYOFROCHESTER.GOV |
| IV.
Action Plan—The information collected in the prior steps is brought together to create a logical action plan with a timeline and budget. This plan will involve EDD, DES, police, and the neighborhood.
The plan is truly holistic. To be successful all stakeholders must take a role in creating the new vision. Money alone cannot create the sustainable change desired by all the stakeholders.
For more information contact:
Phil Banks, Deputy Commissioner of Economic Development,
428-6965. |
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Financing
Rochester-Hosted Events for Venture and Angel Financing
Digital Rochester
Local entrepreneurs have long been concerned about the perceived and actual dearth of angel and venture capital financing for startup ventures in Western New York. Several recent events may be harbingers of hope for the future of financing for Rochester entrepreneurs. The National Association of Seed and Venture Funds (NASVF) held its annual conference in Rochester on September 20-22. The event featured seminars and sessions on a variety of topics ranging from angel networks and seed investments to university tech transfers and regional innovation networks. Venture capital investors, university employees, and government officials from 30 states, and from as far away as Brazil, Japan and Australia, came to Rochester to attend this event. Earlier the same week, UNYTECH held its annual event here in Rochester, with presentations from numerous companies and university startups.
Digital Rochester will soon be holding its tenth Entrepreneurs & Angels event. Four to five emerging technology, technology-driven and/or biomedical and life sciences businesses will be presenting a summary of their business plans in a rapid-fire format to an audience of potential investors, advisors, economic development professionals, and others with a vested interest in promoting regional entrepreneurial activity. Check www.digitalrochester.com/ea/ for details on dates, location, and how to participate and attend.
Don't forget to join us every month for networking. On Tuesday, October 3, we're inviting other networking organizations to join us for Get Connected at Village Gate. We'll be networking a week later than usual on Tuesday, November 14 so you can exercise your right to vote on Election Day. Make sure you mark your calendar now for our annual Festivus celebration on Tuesday, December 5.
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Global BusinessCapturing Your Portion of the Global Marketshare High Tech Rochester
Increasing revenues and growing the bottom line--these thoughts are on the minds of all CEOs. New markets, new customers, new products--one strategy that can combine all of these is exporting. Unfortunately, too many small- and medium-size manufacturers are put off by what they perceive as high barriers to success and never take advantage of this opportunity. Seeing the strong revenue potential from exporting, the U.S. Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) conducted research into the strategies followed by successful smaller exporters across the country. On September 20, High Tech Rochester's MEP Center presented the results of this research, along with guidance for those about to embark on the exporting journey, at a seminar entitled "Export Strategies for Manufacturing CEOs." Many firms can begin exporting and grow their sales within the North American market. However, success in the more global world requires an understanding of strategic advantages that can overcome the added costs of doing business in distant markets. Some of these costs have been offset recently by the decline of the U.S. dollar's value relative to other currencies. This change has given foreign consumers more buying power and lowered the cost of U.S.-made goods in their countries. Despite this change, American firms need to exploit advantages in such areas as product design, product quality, and service to mount successful export programs. Beyond the strategic issues identified, the research explored the success models followed by profitable exporters, revealing the choices these firms make as they grow. One key differentiator of successful exporters is their commitment of resources to identify promising markets and adapt their sales and logistics processes to meet the unique needs of international customers. Carefully selected strategic partnerships can be a major advantage in these areas. To learn more about MEP's export research, or to explore positioning your company for successful exporting, contact HTR-MEP at (585) 327-7921 or visit us at www.htr.org.
HIGH TECH. ROCHESTER. . . The Innovator's Edge
WWW.HTR.ORG
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It Takes a Village to Eat a White Hot
Greater Rochester Visitors AssociationCan Rochester residents live here and believe in Rochester the city? The Rochester Made For Living brand attempts to answer that question, and trusts the thousands of people who live in this community to embrace "the message" much like we do with our favorite brand of toothpaste. But then, it's easy to believe in the message of toothpaste marketing isn't it? It either cleans your teeth or it doesn't. Marketing a community brand is a different breed of marketing, because we all know how we feel about our community's strengths and weaknesses despite someone telling us otherwise. But it can be the same analogy if we allow it. The next time your sales and marketing efforts speak of Rochester the city and destination, you can foster a new idea that could build the Greater Rochester area, think of ten reasons why Rochester could work, instead of five reasons why it won't. It will take all of us, in our work and home lives, to speak well of and build this community. Ask yourself what you would think of a community that is home to a new soccer stadium, the expansion of a nationally acclaimed children's museum, and is one of only three U.S. cities to host the traveling works of Georgia O'Keefe. Now, does your impression change when you realize Rochester is the burgeoning community we are talking about?
GREATER ROCHESTER VISITORS ASSOCIATION
WWW.VISITROCHESTER.COM
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