The Need
Rochester has the highest rate of extreme poverty and the second-highest rate of poverty in the nation among comparably-sized U.S. cities. –Rochester-Monroe Anti-Poverty Initiative Report
Today the City of Rochester stands at a crossroads. For over a century, we have been a global leader in optics, photonics and imaging via such pioneers in the field as Bausch and Lomb, Kodak, and Xerox. However, industrial shifts have led to a disinvestment in domestic manufacturing, resulting in a reduction in jobs across skill levels.
Rochester is now a tale of two cities, with a small but growing cluster of highly specialized well-paying jobs and associated research and educational institutions, contrasted with large pockets of high poverty and low educational attainment.
Rochester has the highest rate of extreme poverty and the second-highest rate of poverty in the nation among comparably-sized American cities, and is home to the lowest-performing school district in the state. Meanwhile, new investments such as the Department of Defense’s $115 million Integrated Photonics Institute for Manufacturing Innovation promises the potential of thousands of new jobs. Rochester is uniquely positioned for this opportunity. The City’s poverty has reached a crisis point, and a concerted effort is required to enable Rochester residents most in need to take advantage of the opportunities that come with increased investment. The Promise Zone designation will provide Rochester with the resources necessary to bridge this gap.
The Plan
The Rochester Promise Zone initiative seeks to revitalize the City’s highest poverty neighborhoods by:
- Creating jobs,
- Increasing economic activity,
- Improving educational opportunities,
- Reducing violent crime, and
- Improving health and access to healthcare.
These five goals will be achieved by leveraging private capital with City-dedicated funds and state and federal monies, including the recently announced $500 million Upstate Revitalization Initiative Plan for the Finger Lakes Region and the Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership designation awarded to Rochester in 2014.
In addition, these goals will complement the anti-poverty initiatives underway, and will support implementation of programs such as the Market Driven Community Cooperative; multiple job training initiatives; a comprehensive educational approach with a focus on making the transition from school to career; programs to assist ex-offenders; and programs to ensure access to healthy foods and health care.
The Partnership
The City of Rochester is assembling a robust team of partners to assist in the implementation of a comprehensive strategy to link the economically disadvantaged sectors of our community with support and opportunities. Partners in these efforts are a collection of neighborhood-based non-for-profit services agencies, economic development entities, educational institutions, and technology partners, and include the following:
The City of Rochester is assembling a robust team of partners to assist in the implementation of a comprehensive strategy to link the economically disadvantaged sectors of our community with support and opportunities. Partners in these efforts are a collection of neighborhood-based non-for-profit services agencies, economic development entities, educational institutions, and technology partners, and include the following:
Implementation Partners
- Baden Street Settlement House
- Charles Street Settlement House
- Southwest Area Neighborhood Association
- The Community Place of Greater Rochester
- Rochester City School District/School 17
- Rochester Police Department
- Rochester Institute of Technology
- Monroe Community College
- Downtown Innovation Zone
- High Tech Rochester
- Foodlink
- Greater Rochester Health Foundation
- Rochester Area Community Foundation
The Benefits
The City of Rochester is pursuing a federal Promise Zone designation to assist in addressing multiple community revitalization challenges. If selected, Rochester will receive:
- An opportunity to engage five AmeriCorps VISTA members in the Promise Zone's work
- A federal liaison assigned to help designees navigate federal programs
- Preferences for certain competitive federal grant programs and technical assistance from participating federal agencies
- Promise Zone tax incentives, if enacted by Congress
For Additional Information Contact:
Dana Miller
Director of Development Services
Neighborhood and Business Development