LaBella Associates: Reimaging ROC

Restoring the Past. Building the Future. From classrooms to concert halls, LaBella’s team of architects, engineers, environmental scientists, and planners is reshaping Roc. In this GRE Why Roc TV interview, LaBella CEO Steve Metzger shares how his team is bringing two landmark projects to life: Steve shares more in this GRE Why Roc interview with WROC’s Brennan Somers.  … Continued

Barilla Invests $170M in Greater Rochester, NY Region Expansion

Pasta, Passion, and Partnership After nearly 20 years of manufacturing in Avon, NY, Barilla is doubling down on the Greater Rochester, NY region with a two-phase, $170M expansion. The company will add new production and packaging lines, warehouse capacity, and 90 new jobs, making it a distribution hub serving Northeast markets with a high concentration of pasta lovers! And yes, … Continued

ITX Product + Design Conference Returns

ROC’s Software Community Draws National Attention  ITX is bringing software professionals from across the country and beyond to downtown #ROC for its annual Product + Design Conference, a two-day event focused on product innovation, user experience, and collaboration, taking place June 24–25 at the Rochester Riverside Convention Center. Led by industry experts with experience at … Continued

New York State Economic Development Council Honors Leah George VanScott with Linda J. Hill Women’s Leadership Award

Recognition celebrates outstanding leadership, mentorship, and transformational impact on economic development across New York State The New York State Economic Development Council (NYSEDC) has selected Leah George VanScott of Greater Rochester Enterprise (GRE) as the recipient of the prestigious Linda J. Hill Women’s Leadership Award, recognizing her exceptional contributions to economic development, regional collaboration, mentorship, and community leadership across New York … Continued

Barilla Commits to Invest nearly $170 Million and Create more than 90 New Jobs for a Two-Phase Expansion at its Livingston County Manufacturing Facility

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced a major two-phase expansion plan for storied dry pasta maker Barilla at its Town of Avon, Livingston County manufacturing facility. The company will invest $145 million in Phase One of the project to include the construction of a new, 52,000 square-foot main building to expand its manufacturing operations, including one … Continued

Oxbo’s Growth Accelerates with New State-of-the-Art Facility

All the Peas You Eat Are Harvested with Oxbo Machinery Oxbo, known for its specialty harvesting and controlled application technology, makes the world’s only pea combine. All the peas grown in North America are picked via Oxbo machinery. The company also sells its equipment in 44 countries worldwide yet remains committed to expanding its US … Continued

Grand Opening of High-Tech Farming Equipment Manufacturer Oxbo’s New U.S. Headquarters in Genesee County

Governor Kathy Hochul today marked the official grand opening of Oxbo’s new farming equipment manufacturing facility in the Town of Bergen, Genesee County. The global agribusiness company constructed a new $60.5 million, 200,000 square-foot facility in Apple Tree Acres Corporate Park which will also serve as the company’s U.S. headquarters. The company has committed to … Continued

Imagine RIT is Back and Bigger Than Ever

Free, Fun & Full of Innovation The Imagine RIT Creativity and Innovation Festival returns to the RIT campus on Saturday, April 25 for its 19th year! RIT’s signature event showcases the imaginative and inventive spirit of RIT students and is free and open to the public. This year’s festival is a record-breaker, featuring more than … Continued

The Rochester Advantage: Why Manufacturing Giants are Anchoring in Greater Rochester, NY

As seen in Business Facilities, April 2026 In the competitive landscape of American manufacturing, the “where” is just as critical as the “how.” While many regions struggle with aging infrastructure or dwindling resources, a quiet resurgence is underway in the Greater Rochester, NY, region. Major industry players, including Toyota Material Handling North America, Edwards, and … Continued

A $19.4 Billion Opportunity for Genesee County and Greater Rochester, NY

Jobs, Revenue, and Growth In this week’s GRE Why Roc TV interview, Mark Masse, President and CEO of Genesee County Economic Development Center, discusses a major opportunity at the Science & Technology Advanced Manufacturing Park (STAMP), where STREAM US Data Centers is proposing a $19.4 billion investment to build three data centers. The project would create 125 … Continued

RIT Unveils New Performing Arts Center

From STEM to the Spotlight Rooted in NTID (National Technical Institute for the Deaf)’s creative legacy and driven by past president, Dave Munson’s vision to become the nation’s leading performing arts program for non‑majors, the RIT Performing Arts Center is a 40,000‑square‑foot venue that features a 750‑seat theater, immersive sound, advanced projection and lighting, full Deaf and hard‑of‑hearing accessibility, … Continued

Faheem Masood’s Legacy as President and CEO of ESL Federal Credit Union

Purpose, People, and Prosperity Faheem Masood’s legacy as president and CEO of ESL Federal Credit Union is defined by remarkable growth grounded in purpose and values. Over the last ten years the organization, ESL has doubled its assets from $5 billion to $10 billion, expanded wealth management to more than $10 billion, welcomed 100,000 new members, and created 300 new … Continued

Turning Point Tool Joins Apollo Optical Systems to Form a Vertically Integrated Optics Manufacturing Platform

Apollo Optical Systems, a leader in precision optical engineering and polymer optics manufacturing, today announced that Turning Point Tool, a Rochester-based tooling and machining company, has officially joined the Apollo platform. This strategic combination creates a vertically integrated optics manufacturing company, where mold design, fabrication, and optical production are now performed in-house. By unifying two … Continued

Business Growth in Monroe County

Built for Business Monroe County Executive Adam Bello highlighted strong business growth in the region, noting both major new corporate investments, such as Reju, and progress at existing companies like fairlife. In addition to attracting large employers, Monroe County focuses on helping small businesses thrive through accessible financing, equipment support, and guidance on government contracting with … Continued

GRE’s 2025 Results: 33 Project Wins, $239M Invested, 887 New Jobs

The Momentum Continues GRE closed out 2025 with 33 project wins, driving $239 million in new capital investment, 887 new jobs, and 1,546 jobs retained across the Greater Rochester, NY region. Companies like EvolvOptic, QED Technologies, and Toyota Material Handling continue to choose Rochester for its talent, R&D strength, and high-quality sites. Looking ahead, GRE’s 2026 pipeline … Continued

GRE Issues 2025 Results

In 2025, GRE secured 33 company project wins totaling $239 million in new capital investment, creating 887 new jobs, and retaining 1,546 jobs across the Greater #RochesterNY region. Many more likely wins are on the horizon in early 2026! Thanks to the generous support of GRE board members and investors, true GRE Growth Champions, we’re … Continued

Reju Selects New York State to Establish First-of-Its-Kind $390 Million Textile Regeneration Hub in North America

Reju is expected to create approximately 70 new jobs at Eastman Business Park in the City of Rochester, Monroe County Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that French textile-to-textile regeneration company Reju plans to establish a $390 million textile regeneration hub on an 18.9-acre vacant lot at Eastman Business Park in the City of Rochester — … Continued

Greater Rochester Enterprise and New York Photonics Announce Strategic Partnership

Leading Economic Development Organization and Industry Association Join Forces to Promote the Greater Rochester, NY region as the Leader in Optics, Photonics, Imaging, and Laser Technologies Greater Rochester Enterprise (GRE), the leading economic development organization in the nine-county Greater Rochester, NY region, and New York Photonics, a nonprofit industry cluster organization dedicated to promoting and enhancing … Continued

LLE and EvolvOptic Join Forces

Leading the Laser Revolution The Laboratory for Laser Energetics (LLE) is working on the NSF OPAL project, which will advance the frontier of ultra-high intensity laser-matter interactions. EvolvOptic is collaborating with LLE and developing fast, cost-effective solutions by leveraging Rochester’s optics and photonics expertise. The collaboration supports NSF’s STELLAR proposal, which could bring $160M to … Continued

Sydor Optics Invests $3M to Power MCC’s Optics Program

Strengthening ROC’s Optics Legacy Sydor Optics invested $3 million in MCC to strengthen its optics program, which is the first U.S. community college to offer an optical systems technology degree. The new Sydor Optics Advanced Technology Center will provide modern, industry-aligned labs to address workforce shortages and fuel regional growth. Sydor’s gift reflects a commitment … Continued