Niagara Mohawk - Economic Development

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The Finger Lakes region consists of nine counties spreading from the fertile farmland on the Lake Ontario border to the north, to the low, rolling hills of the south, carved by eleven slender bodies of water that gave the region its name. The area is 4,692 square miles with mean daily temperatures in 24.0F in January and 71.2F in July.

Quick Facts:

Work Force
Population
Local Utilities
Market Access
Industries
Economic Development Zones
Selected Employers
Transportation
Education
Health Care
Quality of Life

Work Force

Labor Force- 619,200
Households- 430,690
Total Personal Income- $25.2 billion
Per Capita Income- $21,211
Median Home Sales Price- $85,600 (Greater Rochester Area)

Population - 1,191,075 BACK TO TOP

Genesee County 61,292
City of Batavia 16,079
Livingston County 64,971
Monroe County 726,948
City of Rochester 231,170
Ontario County 98,778
City of Geneva 14,268
Orleans County 45,619
Seneca County 32,638
Wayne County 92,988
Wyoming County 44,054
Yates County 23,911

Local Utilities BACK TO TOP
Niagara Mohawk offers negotiated flexible electric rates for many types of new businesses.

Market Access BACK TO TOP
The area's excellent transportation system, highly educated workforce and international presence in high technology have helped make Rochester a leading export city. The Finger Lakes region's center location in New York State places it in close proximity to 10 of the largest cities in North America.

Industries BACK TO TOP
Manufacturing is the largest employer in the region, accounting for about one out of every four non-farm jobs, and embracing about 1,600 establishments. The production of photographic equipment and supplies is a major industry, largely represented by the Eastman Kodak Company and Xerox Corp. but supported by numerous other smaller companies. There is also significant employment in the manufacture of transportation equipment, biomedical instruments and metal fabrication.

The Rochester/Finger Lakes region is a world center for advanced optics and imaging industries, employing more than 100,000 workers in about 90 companies large and small, from Fortune 500 companies like Bausch & Lomb to small firms exploring niche technologies.

The agricultural sector is noted for its apples, cherries, grapes and wine, and the large volume of locally grown produce supports one of the state's largest food processing industries.

Economic Development Zones BACK TO TOP

Geneva
Rochester

Selected Employers BACK TO TOP

Bausch & Lomb, Rochester
Canandaigua Wine Co., Canandaigua
Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester
Goulds Pumps, Inc., Seneca Falls
Kraft General Foods, Avon
Mobil Chemical Corp., Macedon and Pittsford
Foster Wheeler Energy Corp., Dansville
Frontier Corporation, Rochester
General Motors Corp., Rochester
Genesee Brewing Co., Inc., Rochester
Prestolite Electric, Inc., Arcade
Stone Construction Equipment, Inc., Honeoye
Wegmans Food Markets Inc., Rochester
Xerox Corp., Rochester

Transportation BACK TO TOP

Highways: The New York State Thruway (I-90) provides the major east-west access, and I-390 is the primary route to the south.
Air Service: The Greater Rochester International Airport provides direct and connecting flights to domestic and international destinations for about 2.5 million passengers annually.
Rail Service: More than 550 miles of track are operated throughout the region, with Amtrak offering service east and west.
Bus Service: Intracity transportation is provided by Greyhound and Trailways, the Regional Transit Service operates in and around the city of Rochester, and outlying counties are served by four other bus services.
Port Facilities: The New York State Canal System can be accessed at points throughout the region.

Education BACK TO TOP
More than 64,000 students are enrolled in the region's 13 two- and four-year public and private colleges and universities. Together these schools offer advanced programs in computer sciences, optics, laser technology, chemistry, graphic technology, ceramics, agribusiness and other emerging fields. The state's Center for Advanced Technology in Electronic Imaging Systems is located at the University of Rochester, along with the Center for Optics Manufacturing and the Laser Energetics Laboratory; the Rochester Institute of Technology houses the Center for Imaging Science.

Major Colleges and Universities Enrollment

Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester - 12,068
SUNY College at Brockport - 9,227
SUNY College at Geneseo - 5,651
University of Rochester, Rochester - 9,686
Monroe Community College, Rochester 14,122

Health Care BACK TO TOP

Genesee Hospital, Rochester
Strong Memorial Hospital/University of Rochester Medical Center
Park Ridge Hospital, Rochester
St. Mary's Hospital, Rochester
VA Hospital, Canandaigua
Rochester General Hospital
Geneva General Hospital, Geneva
Highland Hospital, Rochester

Quality of Life BACK TO TOP
Excellent educational opportunities, affordable housing, an advanced health care system and a wide range of cultural and recreational offerings make the Finger Lakes a highly desirable region in which to live and work. The region's scenic highlights include the 11 slender "finger lakes," 100 miles of Lake Ontario shoreline and several state parks, including Letchworth State Park, also known as the "Grand Canyon of the East." Water sports and fishing in the warmer months give way to alpine and nordic skiing in the winter. Cultural opportunities abound at a variety of art galleries, historic sites, theaters and museums, including the highly acclaimed International Museum of Photography at the George Eastman House. Horse racing, zoos, winery tours, minor league sports and amusement parks are part of the array of entertainment that attracts residents and visitors alike