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Eureka! Winning WaysHTR's Manufacturing Extension Partnership is delivering Eureka! Winning Ways, a proven approach to converting knowledge into action, enabling Finger Lakes manufacturers to develop practical ideas to achieve explosive growth within their companies.
At a one-day Growth Summit, employees from a manufacturing firm are guided to develop up to 50 growth ideas. They can be as simple as changing the parameters of a product design, to more complex issues such as entering new markets. HTR Growth Coaches and Eureka! staff then take the top ideas and scientifically screen them against a vast database of manufacturing ideas to filter out one or two that the benchmark data suggests will be the most likely to succeed. From there, the manufacturer and HTR develop a 30-day action plan to research and test the top ideas. At the conclusion of the project, the company has a defined plan to implement their idea(s) and realize results quickly.
The program is focused on choices, and choices begin with great ideas. Choices representing real opportunities include:
1) Choices for more effective marketing messages
2) Choices for capturing new customers or markets
3) Choices for new products, services or
business models
Since 1986 the Eureka! Ranch team has created and researched more business building ideas than any team on earth for industrial, B2B, and consumer companies.
Participating companies receive:
-50+ Choices for Growth outlined in a disciplined format
-four scientific research reports on the probability of success for the best ideas
-two written & refined ideas for growth that your team is excited about
-two leadership action plans for taking those ideas to a management decision point
-30 days of expert action plan coaching to accelerate success
To learn more about Eureka! Winning Ways0…3, please call John Steele, HTR Project Manager at (585) 327-5906 or Rich Gizzi, HTR Project Manager, at (585) 327-7934.
HIGH TECH ROCHESTER...The Innovator's Edge
WWW.HTR.ORG
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Bright Spots
Mirror Show Management is one of the bright spots of our local economy and an example of the small businesses that are driving economic growth in our area. In fact, 97 percent of our region's job growth is in small business.
I was thrilled to join company president Donna Shultz to break ground on the company's expansion in Webster. To accommodate its continued growth, Mirror Show purchased a 126,000 square foot building and is also constructing a 25,000 square foot addition. Mirror Show will invest $4.7 million in the expansion and create 15 new jobs in Monroe County, increasing its local employment by 30 percent.
Monroe County is proud to be a partner in the project, offering an SBA 504 loan and assistance through COMIDA.
Since its founding in 1993, this certified woman-owned business has fast become a model of excellence in its industry. Mirror Show designs and manufactures custom trade show exhibits and provides comprehensive trade show management services to a variety of businesses.
Donna Shultz, who credits her outstanding team of employees for the company's success said, ¡°Without the help of Monroe County and COMIDA, it would not have been possible for us to create this level of expansion that will increase our efficiencies, create better service for our customers and allow us to grow year after year.
Helping local businesses grow and retain and create jobs is our top priority. Over three and a half years, we have helped 660 companies improve and expand their local operations, and 86 percent of these companies have less than 100 employees. These businesses are creating more than 10,000 new jobs, retaining over 46,000 jobs, and investing $1.3 billion dollars in our economy.
We thank Mirror Show Management and all our small businesses for their investment in Monroe County.
MAGGIE BROOKS
COUNTY EXECUTIVE
MONROE COUNTY
WWW.MONROECOUNTY.GOV
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International Business Council Presents Trade Event on North American Free Trade Agreement
The International Business Council (IBC) of Greater Rochester, NY will present a trade event on the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) this month. The event, titled NAFTA in the 21st Century: Still Learning, Still Growing, will take place from 3 to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 10, at Artisan Works, 565 Blossom Road, Rochester. A reception follows from 6 to 8 p.m.
IBC Executive Director Laurie DeRoller said the upcoming trade event will be of special interest to companies that currently conduct business in Canada or Mexico¡ªor those companies looking to expand their business with our northern and southern neighbors.
First implemented in 1994, NAFTA has become one of the most significant trade agreements for American business, DeRoller said. NAFTA has assisted countless companies in growing their business, and many other U.S. companies¡ªincluding those in the Rochester region have products that qualify under the agreement, but they just don't know it yet. We want to make sure they know about it.
The Oct. 10 trade event is sponsored by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and Mohawk Global Logistics. Topics include:
-An overview on NAFTA and recent changes in U.S. customs
-What products qualify under NAFTA
-Required documentation and how to fill it out properly
-Temporary exports/imports to NAFTA members
-Tools of the Trade requirements
-Insights from other local companies that do business in Canada and/or Mexico
Cost for the event and reception is $75. Cost for the reception only is $50. The reception will include an address by IBC leaders on the organization¡¯s direction and plans for the coming year. To register, please visit
www.RochesterBiz.com. Deadline for registration is Thursday, Oct. 4.
About IBC:
The International Business Council of Greater Rochester, NY is a collaborative association established to promote and expand international opportunities by developing and enhancing the expertise of its members and engaging in advocacy on their behalf. Among the services IBC can provide are document certifications, international certification programs for managers, travel advisors, business contacts in overseas markets and document translation into any of 25 languages. IBC also hosts specialized seminars and other events on key issues of interest to those businesses engaged in the global marketplace.
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Price Rite Comes to Rochester
When Wegmans closed the Driving Park store in the city's northwest neighborhood in May 2007, a significant void was created in the Dewey-Driving Park commercial center. Wegmans was a commercial anchor for the district since 1950 and provided important essential neighborhood services and goods for the residents. When the city first learned that Wegmans was closing the store, the city immediately began efforts to attract another operator to the 46,000 square foot former Wegmans store.
Two local investors, Peter Lutz and Dale Scutti, approached the city with a plan to bring Price Rite to the area.
A key to the plan was Wegmans' willingness to donate the property to the city in order to facilitate bringing Price Rite in as the operator of a new supermarket. ¡°We donated our Driving Park site to the city with no restrictions on use because we know the property is important to the revitalization of the neighborhood,¡± said Wegmans CEO Danny Wegman. The mayor and the folks who live in the area were anxious to have another food store. We¡¯re happy it all came together.
There are 32 Price Rite stores currently, and Rochester's will be NY state's third with others located in Schenectady and Glens Falls. We've received tremendous support from our customers throughout the years in response to the value and quality products we provide. We are excited and proud to be entering the Rochester community with our 33rd Price Rite location,¡± said Neil Duffy, Price Rite President. Price Rite will hire approximately 100 new employees.
Mr. Lutz and Mr. Scutti purchased the property from the city for $425,000, and are leasing the property to Price Rite. As part of the land sale agreement, the city will use the $425,000 for grants of up to $30,000 for targeted exterior improvements to the neighborhood businesses.
City of Rochester
R. Carlos Carballada
Commissioner, Economic Development
THE CITY OF ROCHESTER
WWW.CITYOFROCHESTER.GOV
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The Rochester Business Alliance
Revisiting Unshackle Upstate
With some significant accomplishments under our belt, but much more still needing to be done. The Unshackle Upstate coalition is pushing ahead and developing its strategies for 2008.
For those who may not be familiar with Unshackle Upstate, it's a statewide coalition of business organizations trade groups, companies and even some government officials aimed at drawing attention to the region's struggling economy and the reasons behind it.
One of the highlights of 2007 was the coalition's growth. Unshackle Upstate was started in 2006 with just two organizations on board the Rochester Business Alliance and Buffalo Niagara Partnership.
Today, it has nearly 60 partners, including key business groups in the state's major Upstate cities¡ªBuffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Utica, and Binghamton.
Among the coalition's most visible activities is working toward reform or repeal of some of the antiquated and burdensome state regulations that raise the cost of doing business in New York state, therefore putting companies here at a competitive disadvantage. When companies can't compete, they can't grow and add jobs. And jobs are what our region needs most if we are to stem the tide of population loss to other, more booming parts of the country.
What makes Unshackle Upstate different from some other initiatives is that the region has banded together to speak with one voice. Our 60 partner members represent more than 32,000 regional employers who have more than 1 million workers.
Another difference: rather than merely pointing out the problems which have long been obvious we're identifying possible solutions and bringing them to the people who can affect change, including our lawmakers.
In 2007, we were successful in pushing for reform of the state's Workers' Compensation system, a program that had some of the highest costs in the nation, yet paid benefits to injured workers that were among the lowest in the 50 states. In March, Gov. Eliot Spitzer signed a reform bill into law which is expected to save New York's employers about $1 billion in the coming year, while significantly improving benefits for injured workers.
But so much more needs to be done. To help set our priorities, and ensure a focus on changes that will be most helpful in spurring our regional economy, Unshackle Upstate's partners will meet this month for our second annual summit. Last year's summit in Syracuse galvanized our 2007 activities, which included a cross-state road show that ended with a rally in Albany, as well as a marketing and advertising campaign built around our slogan ¡°We want our economy moving¡ªnot our people.
Our goal for this year's summit is to set the specifics of our 2008 legislative agenda, which we expect to focus on economic development and tax relief, two key items we believe will encourage companies to expand here, relocate here and add much needed jobs across the region.
In 2007, Unshackle Upstate became a recognized entity across our communities and in the legislative halls of Albany. In 2008, we want to keep the conversation going, and get even more people involved. We invite you to join us. RBA
To learn more, log on to
www.UnshackleUpstate.com.
Or contact Chris Wiest, Vice President for Public Policy
& Advocacy at 585-256-4626 or
Chris.Wiest@RBAlliance.com.
For RBA Info., Contact:
Ellen Rosen, Vice President/Marketing,
Communications & Membership
Rochester Business Alliance
Ellen.Rosen@rballiance.com585-256-4616