Voice of Business Blog

At Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce, we are proud to be an integral part of the transformative initiative now known as OneROC. This month, we celebrated their rebranding from ROC2025, reflecting on the results of the last five years and renewing our dedication to collaboration among economic development organizations in the Greater Rochester region.

ROC2025 was established in 2019 as a collaborative effort among key stakeholders in the Greater Rochester area, including business leaders, government officials, and economic development organizations including Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce, Greater Rochester Enterprise, Visit Rochester, and the Rochester Downtown Development Corporation. The initiative was formed in response to a growing need for a unified approach to regional development, aiming to address economic challenges and leverage opportunities for sustainable growth. ROC2025 focused on creating a cohesive strategy to improve the region's economic indicators and enhance the quality of life for its residents. Together, we have successfully driven significant progress in several key areas:

• Job Growth: Our collective efforts have improved Greater Rochester's annual job growth rate by 25 positions, moving from #43 to #18 among 53 metro areas.
• Regional GDP Growth: We have advanced 24 positions, from #50 to #26, in terms of regional GDP growth.
• Labor Force Growth: Our ranking has risen by 10 positions, from #46 to #36.
• Unemployment Rate: We have improved by 2 positions, from #40 to #38.
• Federal Tech Hub Designation: The Buffalo-Rochester-Syracuse region's federal tech hub designation and funding will catalyze technological advancements, attract high-tech industries, and create high-paying jobs, further solidifying Greater Rochester's position as a leader in innovation. OneROC was a key leader in this effort, helping to orchestrate multiple successful submissions that led to our selection, especially through the efforts of OneROC President and CEO Joe Stefko. We are proud to partner with Buffalo and Syracuse in the NY Smart I-Corridor initiative.

OneROC's success is underpinned by four strategic pillars, each playing a crucial role in our regional growth:

Business Growth & Attraction

• Cultivating Business: Business attraction and retention are pivotal to OneROC's strategy, driving economic growth and regional competitiveness. Enhancing our capacity to identify and secure new business prospects while supporting the expansion and retention of existing companies ensures a robust, diversified economy, creates jobs, and fosters a dynamic business environment where companies can thrive and innovate. Through targeted outreach and strong partnerships, OneROC continues to position Greater Rochester as a prime destination for business investment and development.
• Capacity Building: Investments in our partner organization, Greater Rochester Enterprise (GRE) have expanded staff capacity and integrated CRM data management, helping GRE to quarterback regional efforts to attract and grow businesses. This has resulted in four consecutive years of record project volume, including 37 "wins," $1.5 billion in investment, and 4,000 jobs created or retained in 2023 alone.

Regional Talent Strategy

• Talent Attraction & Retention: At the heart of our strategy is a commitment to talent. Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce plays a vital role in attracting, retaining, and developing the workforce that fuels our region's growth. Our efforts have led to a 19-point improvement in labor force growth ranking over five years, demonstrating the critical importance of talent in driving economic prosperity.
• Strategic Investments: Through programs like Campus ROC, we are increasing retention rates among the 19,000 students graduating annually from the region’s 19 colleges and universities. Our comprehensive job portal, Greater ROC Careers, connects job seekers with employers across all industries, while initiatives like Greater ROC Relocate and Veterans Connect ensure a steady influx of skilled professionals. In addition to our talent initiatives, strategic investments in workforce development and training programs are crucial. These investments ensure that our workforce is equipped with the skills needed to thrive in a rapidly changing economy, further solidifying our region's competitive edge.

Downtown Innovation

• Revitalizing Downtown: The Rochester Downtown Development Corporation (RDDC) has spearheaded efforts to rejuvenate downtown Rochester. High residential occupancy rates, increased visitor volumes, and vibrant new developments are just a few of the outcomes.
• Key Projects: Investments in the Main Street Business Activation initiative and the Downtown Definitely event series are revitalizing key downtown areas and enhancing the community experience.

Regional Branding & Marketing

• Elevating Our Story: The Greater ROC campaign has amplified our region's visibility and reputation both locally and nationally. Increased media impressions, video views, and social media engagement have drawn attention and investment to Greater Rochester.
• Strategic Investments: The design and activation of a cohesive regional brand identity, along with robust paid media support, have been crucial to these efforts.

The recently released impact report details these achievements and can be seen here.

As we look ahead, the rebranding to OneROC symbolizes our ongoing commitment to building a vibrant and competitive Greater Rochester. Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce, along with our partners, continue to drive forward, leveraging new opportunities and creating inclusive growth.

The work of ROC2025, and now OneROC, is far from over. We are dedicated to sustaining and expanding our region's economic prosperity, and will continue to build on our momentum and ensure Greater Rochester remains a hub for innovation, talent, and investment.

For more information on our progress and how you can get involved, visit OneROC.com.