Build Entrepreneurship Culture to Ignite Innovation Potential Rochester is producing more R&D output and patents and securing more federal funding to move those innovations to market than peer cities. However, Rochester-based companies are behind in securing venture capital and experienced leadership that is critical to scaling startups into high-growth companies.  Jim Senall, president of NextCorps, … Continued

Designation to Ensure America Remains a Leader in Developing and Manufacturing Laser Technologies An estimated $16 trillion global marketplace depends on lasers for everything from smartphones to national defense, but their production is increasingly based overseas. Lasers are essential across nearly every sector, from medical devices to quantum technology. However, the US remains overly dependent … Continued

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

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

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

Rooted in ROC Palmer Food Services is celebrating its 175th anniversary, driven by a long-standing commitment to strong relationships with its clients, employees, and customers. As part of that continued focus on community, the company recently reopened its newly renovated Direct To You Market in Henrietta, featuring an expanded footprint and enhanced experience for shoppers … Continued

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Global leader in Precision Optics Grows in Rochester QED Technologies, a global leader in precision optics, is significantly expanding its footprint in the Greater Rochester, NY region. Acknowledging Rochester’s status as the “precision optics capital of the world,” QED Technologies is establishing a world-class fabrication and customer experience center here. This expansion is designed to … Continued

From Strategy to Slime Board games rule this year’s National Toy Hall of Fame class! Shane Rhinewald, Senior Director of Communications at The Strong Museum, reveals the newest inductees: Battleship, Trivial Pursuit, and Slime. These timeless toys have sparked strategy, creativity, and knowledge for generations, and this year’s announcement even made headlines on the TODAY … Continued

Innovation Takes Center Stage This year’s $1M grand prize went to Brekland, a company that has developed a biodegradable foam coating that brings new, in-field functionality to crop protection products. Grow-NY positively impacts the food, farming, and agricultural economy, with many finalists staying in the region to set up operations, create jobs, and stimulate economic activity … Continued

Made With Love, Not Alcohol Founder and Flavor Maven Shelley Elkovich has brought her woman-owned, family-run business, For Bitter For Worse, to Rochester, NY, where it now operates out of a historic former distillery. For Bitter For Worse is known for crafting complex, non-alcoholic cocktails using locally farmed and foraged botanicals. The company was drawn to Rochester … Continued

Optics is Everywhere, and it’s Essential. This week, Rochester, NY, hosts SPIE’s Optifab conference and Luminate Finals, spotlighting the region’s leadership in optics, photonics, imaging, and lasers. SPIE’s CEO Kent Rochford highlights Optifab’s 20-year history in Rochester, driven by its strong academic and industry base. He explains in this GRE Why ROC segment how optics powers everyday … Continued