Greater Rochester Enterprise Launches New York State's First Economic Gardening Program
Fosters the Growth of Companies Throughout Greater Rochester, N.Y. Region
5/22/2012
Rochester, N.Y. – Greater Rochester Enterprise (GRE) announces the launch of the GRE Regional Economic Gardening Program. The first of its kind in New York State, the program focuses on fostering business growth throughout the Greater
Rochester, N.Y. Region by providing free assistance to companies in expansion mode.
"In addition to attracting new businesses, the best way to grow a region's economy is through business expansion," said GRE President and CEO Mark S. Peterson. "The GRE Regional Economic Gardening Program will allow companies to expand in the Greater Rochester, N.Y. Region, leading to more job creation and economic growth."
A group of 20 second-stage businesses located in the Greater Rochester, N.Y. Region will be selected to take part in the program. A team of national experts provided by the Edward Lowe Foundation will work with selected companies to develop a plan to further accelerate their business success. Participating companies will have access to a free suite of high-end, high-speed technical assistance, including help identifying qualified sales leads; mapping to facilitate targeted marketing efforts; reviewing core strategies related to commodity and niche markets; analyzing employee temperament to build strong management teams and recruit talent; examining social media utilization; and search engine optimization guidance.
In order to participate in the GRE Regional Economic Gardening Program, second-stage companies must be for-profit and privately-held; headquartered and operating in Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Orleans, Seneca, Wayne, Wyoming or Yates counties; generate between $700,000 and $50,000,000 in annual revenue; employ between five and 100 employees; have maintained principal operations in the nine-county Greater Rochester, N.Y. Region for a minimum of two years; demonstrate growth in employment and/or revenue for at least two of the past five years; and provide products and/or services to markets outside of the Greater Rochester, N.Y. Region.
Applications must be submitted online at http://rochesterbiz.com/gardening.
Program partners include the County of Monroe Industrial Development Agency, County of Orleans Industrial Development Agency, Edward Lowe Foundation, Empire State Development, Finger Lakes Economic Development Center, Genesee County Economic Development Center, Livingston County Development Group, Ontario County Industrial Development Agency, Orleans Economic Development Agency, Seneca County Industrial Development Agency, Wayne County Industrial Development Agency, Wyoming County Business Center, and the Wyoming County Industrial Development Agency.
GRE received $200,000 for the economic gardening program from New York State through the Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development Council.
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