State Of The County 2024

Economic And Workforce Development

Press Release Transcript Watch Video

Monroe County is home to a diverse economic landscape, with globally known corporations alongside hometown entrepreneurs growing small businesses. Legacy and emerging industries ranging from farms and agribusinesses, to photonics and semiconductors. 

As much as our economy is about business, it’s also about the people who power them, be they skilled trades workers, advanced manufacturers, or part of a growing healthcare workforce. Learn more about the initiatives listed below.  

Economic & Workforce Development Initiatives

MCC Investments

  • $16.5 M American Rescue Plan Act investment in the Transformational Community Care Coordination (TC3) Program and Community Care Coordination Program, to train more certified nursing performing assistants, home health aides, licensed practical nurses and registered nurses.
  • $55M investment in a new Applied Technology Center at Monroe Community College
  • $1.3 million state grant match for the expansion of MCC’s optics program
  • $1.5M 3-year COMIDA investment for mPower Program to help upskill and reskill county residents and connect them to the healthcare workforce.

Watch Video 

Rochester Emerging Talent and Innovations Network (RETAIN)

A grant for college graduates who stay in Monroe County for at least one year post-graduation. Retain aims to ensure top-tier talent remains in our region after graduation.

Watch Video 

COMIDA Workforce Development Fund

  • $1 M to the IBERO American Action League to support bilingual job training 
  • $1 M in combined investments in the skilled trades to provide pre-apprenticeship training and placement with wrap-around services for low-income youth
  • $920,000 to the Young Adult Manufacturing Training and Employment Program (YAMTEP) 
  • $450,000 to RochesterWorks to upskill workers and connect people impacted by substance use disorder to careers 
  • $400,000 to NextCorps to launch a “no-code” software developer program 
  • $300,000 to 1199 SEIU to train Certified Nursing Assistants, Patient Care Techs, Phlebotomy Techs, and Pharmacy Techs 
  • $300,000 to the Rochester Childfirst Network to support the creation and certification of new In-Home Childcare providers 
  • $200,000 with BOCES to support a Commercial Driver’s License Program 

Watch Video 

ARPA Workforce Programs

  • $5.8 M investment with Encompass Resources for Learning to provide academic support, behavioral health services, job training, and job placements for young people
  • $1.3M investment with REOC (Rochester Educational Opportunity Center) at SUNY Brockport as they unveil their Mobile Welding Lab
  • Urban League of Rochester’s Workforce Development Program for Under- and Unemployed individuals.

Watch Video 

DHS Partnership with Rochester-Genesee Transportation Authority (RGRTA)

A new partnership will soon launch a pilot program to help eliminate transportation barriers for job seekers. Under the pilot program, a select group of Department of Human Services clients will be able to ride RTS buses using their Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card.

Watch Video

Help for Small Businesses

The MicroAdvantage Small Business Loan Fund provides qualified small businesses with access to capital loans of up to $50,000 to serve as gap financing when other sources of capital are not available.

Watch Video

Record Investments From Job Creators

In the past four years, Monroe County has seen record investments in our community by innovative companies such as Amazon, Constellation Brands and fairlife. 

Watch Video

Economic & Workforce Development News Coverage

Top