Business Growth Resources
Thrive in a community that delivers top-tier talent, leading-edge innovation, strategic location, and a competitive cost of doing business.
Photo by Jim Montanus
It’s Not the Size of the Region That Matters, But What It Can Accomplish
The Greater Rochester, NY region is mid-sized but mighty — home to a community of nearly 1.2 million people and a diverse set of businesses. Our location boasts close proximity to major markets without the high cost associated with a major metropolitan area. Businesses have capitalized on our area’s highly-educated workforce, research centers of excellence, and industry expertise in fields such as energy innovation, life sciences, food and beverage manufacturing, software and IT, and optics, photonics, imaging, and lasers.
Close to Major Markets without Major Market Costs
Located on route I-90 in Western NY, between Lake Ontario and the Finger Lakes wine country, the Rochester region is within 500 miles of one-third of the U.S. and Canadian populations. It’s where smart people live and smart businesses grow.
120
Million Consumers Within 500 Miles
21.2
Minute Average Commute
54%
Lower Commercial Real Estate Rates than the National Average
Top 5
Top 5 Major Metro for STEM Degrees
Why Companies are Growing in the Greater Rochester, NY Region
INDUSTRY EXPERTISE
Greater Rochester, NY’s Key Industries
Encompassing everything from precision-engineered technologies to the latest breakthroughs in your favorite foods and beverages.
Resources
Make Profits of $1 MILLION a Year More in Rochester, NY than in Boston, New York City, San Francisco or DC.
With a highly-skilled workforce and commercial real estate rates 54% lower than the national average, companies with 50 or more employees can make profits of $1 million a year more in Rochester, NY than in other high-tech hubs like Boston, New York, Washington D.C., or San Francisco.
Support Your Business Growth with Our Full Range of Services
Photo credit – Business Support Services: HP Hood. Companies Hiring Here: Jim Montanus for Gallina Development Corp. Talent: Matt Wittmeyer.
Relevant Documents
Learn More About Businesses in the Greater Rochester Region
Rochester has a deep talent pool around all of the things we need to commercial advanced materials in the energy economy.
Ben Britton
Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer, Ionomr Innovations
You know your business.
We know Greater Rochester.
Let’s team up.
Photo by Ed Welch Photography
Thank You To Our Investors
High tech companies know Rochester as the optics mecca in the United States.
Matt Sydor
Vice President, Sales and Compliance, Sydor Optics
Rochester is the right place for a manufacturer like Pfisterer. We found an affordable, suitable manufacturing site, a skilled and motivated workforce, excellent infrastructure and a city with an excellent standard of living.
Marcus Horn
President, North America, Pfisterer
At Toyota Material Handling North America, which is comprised of two main group companies – Toyota Material Handling and The Raymond Corporation – we are committed to leading the way in energy innovation. We believe that the Greater Rochester, NY region shares that commitment, and is the ideal location to establish our cutting-edge energy storage and fuel cell development center.”
Jennifer Lupo
Vice President of Energy Solutions, Supply Chain, and Leasing, The Raymond Corporation
Rochester has a great work base. They’re loyal. They’re smart. They’re well educated and they want to succeed.
Jim Continenza
Executive Chairman and CEO, Eastman Kodak
We keep and maintain and are investing specifically in Rochester because that is where the talent is. We don’t succeed without the right talent.
David Velasquez
Vice President and General Manager, Corning Incorporated
Rochester has the manufacturing capability, testing capability, and intellectual horsepower.
Matt Fronk
Past Chairman, NY BEST
Rochester has a deep talent pool around all of the things that we need to do to commercialize advanced materials for the energy economy.
Ben Britton
Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer, Ionomr
The decision to expand locally was a relatively easy one for CooperVision. The Rochester area has provided so many of the elements necessary for a successful operation.
Jerry Warner
President, CooperVision
The proximity to top colleges and industry-leading companies, in addition to the quality of life in Western New York, made the decision to open our second office in Rochester an easy one.
Mike Pinch
Director, Security Risk Advisors
“Rochester is world famous for precision optics manufacturing and photonics.”
Jennifer Cable
President, Thorlabs
We have a long history of people skilled in aerospace technology and precision optical assembly. We take advantage of the industrial base in the Rochester area. We also take advantage of the skill sets developed by our local technical institutions like MCC, RIT, or the University of Rochester.”
Tony Whitman
Cryogenic Optical Test Director for James Webb Space Telescope, L3 Harris
We have inherited an exceptional quality of life thanks to an impressive cluster of cultural organizations, unparalleled natural resources, and a resilient and welcoming spirit of community.
David Munson
President, Rochester Insititute of Technology
Once people get here and their families get used to short commute times, low home prices, the fact we have all kinds of recreational sporting activities, the quality of schools, they don’t want to leave.
Arunas Chesonis
CEO and Chairman, Sweetwater Energy
Rochester has provided ID Signsystems with the ability to grow and develop by tapping into the region’s large pool of design-focused talent, technicians, engineers and sign makers.
Paul Dudley
President, ID Signsystems
Our network of local universities, colleges, and optics companies has created a workforce pipeline that is unmatched anywhere in the United States.
Joseph Spilman
CEO, Optimax
GRE’s direction and guidance proved to be well worth our investment. Their passion to make the business environment in the Rochester area greater is very apparent.
Scott MacCaull
Workplace Interiors
There is unlimited, untapped technical talent in the area and I hope we start a wave of other companies moving to Rochester.
Austin McChord
Founder, Datto
Rochester has a long history of being a hub for telecommunications. There is a rich ecosystem of talent and services to support business growth.
Jai Ramachandran
Founder and CEO, Wire3
Rochester is the perfect size city to get business done. I’m always one connection away from anything I’m looking for.
Zack Phillips
President, Kink BMX
We have access to talent graduating from our businesses and technical institutions capable of perpetuating our success for years to come.
Marc Iacona
President & CEO, Simcona Electronics
The Rochester region provided convenient access to both railroads and major highways, as well as proximity to Barilla’s customer base in the Northeast.
Fabio Pettenati
Vice President of Supply Chain, Barilla America
We’re excited about this area. There’s high-quality milk in the region. There’s a lot of top talent. The industry, the innovation, the technical experience , the work ethic is all attractive to us.
Phil LaMothe
Vice President of Manufacturing, fairlife
The country is starting to recognize Rochester as a technical city outside of just software. We have optics and manufacturing that’s exceeding most of the baselines around the country.
Craig Lamb
Co-owner, Envative
Rochester has the resources optics companies need to transform their concepts into reality.
Dr. Duncan T. Moore
Vice Provost for Entrepreneurship and Professor of Optical Engineering
Rochester has a great base of intellectual capital in the science and technology fields at local businesses and universities.
Daniel J. Burns
Area Executive for Upstate NY, Western NY, and Pennsylvania, M&T Bank Corporation
We’ve developed vaccines to prevent cervical cancer right here in Rochester.
Peter Robinson
Vice President and COO, University of Rochester Medical Center
Among many great options, none could match Rochester in terms of talent, local supplier networks, and opportunities to partner with top-tier research institutions.
Andy Marsh
CEO, Plug Power
There is an incredible hotbed of talent in Rochester.
Jeff Mucha
CEO and Managing Partner, EEP Quality Group