Last week, OneROC was proud to welcome Trustees, Program Committee members, and staff of the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation to Rochester - and what a visit it was!
Across workforce development, place-based economic development, placemaking, entrepreneurship, and digital equity, we saw firsthand the powerful impact of the Foundation’s investments and the community partners bringing that vision to life.
Stops included:
📍 Harper’s Corner, where Home Leasing has transformed long-blighted historic buildings into affordable housing and commercial space for local and MWBE entrepreneurs.
📍 NextCorps, one of Rochester’s leading technology business accelerators supporting entrepreneurs, innovation, and quality job creation.
📍 Rochester by Water (formerly Corn Hill Navigation), connecting residents and visitors to the Genesee River and helping activate our waterfront.
📍 Connected Communities, where the Neighborhood Hub and Connect Lab are advancing digital equity, workforce readiness, and neighborhood opportunity.
Together, these visits told the story of a Rochester that is growing stronger, more connected, and more vibrant.
We are deeply grateful for the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation’s partnership and inspired by what we are building together. 🙏
Great turnout tonight at the High Falls State Park open house at @lalunaroc - an exciting milestone for what will become Upstate NY’s first urban state park!
Phase 1 is ready to break ground in Fall 2026, including major improvements to High Falls Terrace Park.
OneROC is proud to help align RRP investment behind the critical remediation and site prep that makes big, bold projects like this possible. Excited to keep building momentum along the Genesee River with our partners and community.
#GreaterROC #HighFalls #ROCTheRiverway #RegionalRevitalizationPartnership #CatalyticCorridors
Thank you to the Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development Council for the opportunity to speak at their public meeting about the extraordinary regional collaboration that continues to reinforce #GreaterROC’s role in multi-city Upstate initiatives like the NY SMART I-Corridor, the Regional Revitalization Partnership, and the WNY Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Accelerator. OneROC is proud to serve as a regional intermediary for these efforts, bringing the strength of our alliance partners and leadership table to translate investment into action across Upstate New York.
We’re thrilled to share that Joseph Stefko, President & CEO of OneROC, has been named to City & State New York’s 2025 Upstate Power 100. In addition to leading collaboration and capacity-building efforts in #GreaterROC, Joe serves as Regional Innovation Officer for the NY SMART I-Corridor, the federally designated and funded Tech Hub connecting Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse, anchored by Micron’s new semiconductor facility and the broader expansion of the industry across Upstate New York. It's inspiring to see so many of OneROC’s partners, investors, and community leaders represented on this list - proof of the depth of leadership driving our region forward.
See the full list at cityandstateny.com
OneROC was proud to sponsor alliance partner Rochester Downtown Development Corporation’s Vision~Future luncheon yesterday, presented in partnership with Rochester Rotary Club and featuring inspiring remarks from @cityofrochesterny Mayor Malik Evans and @monroecountyny County Executive Adam Bello on the work of the past year and what’s to come (plus shoutouts for the Regional Revitalization Partnership's Harper's Corner and West Main Gateway projects!)
As Mayor Evans put it, MOMENTUM is the key word for Rochester right now, and he described the “rock and roll rhythm” our community is building together. As the alliance of public, private, and philanthropic partners working to advance our region, OneROC is helping to drive that momentum through bold collaboration across sectors - turning shared vision into coordinated action.
Many thanks to Galin Brooks and the entire @downtownrochesterny team for another outstanding event!
OneROC is proud to support Global Entrepreneurship Week Rochester (GEW ROC), strengthening collaboration among regional partners who champion entrepreneurs at every stage of growth. This four-day event will convene more than 100 entrepreneurs, changemakers, and ecosystem builders for panels, workshops, and networking opportunities designed to help founders start, grow, and sustain their businesses.
Explore the full schedule and register at GEWROC.com.
Thank you @rochesterrotary for inviting OneROC President & CEO Dr. Joseph Stefko to speak today on how our innovative economic alliance is driving momentum in #GreaterROC and #UpstateNY
Excited to support @nextcorps in kicking off the NYS Innovation Summit in #GreaterROC with a welcome reception for 100+ leaders from NYSTAR-supported centers, including Centers for Advanced Technology (CATs), Centers of Excellence (COEs), Innovation Hot Spots, incubators, Manufacturing Exchange Partnership (MEP) centers, and more.
#NYSInnovationSummit #NYSTAR #NextCorps #InnovationNY #NewYorkTech #EntrepreneurshipNY #EconomicDevelopment #TechEcosystem #StartupSupport #AdvancedManufacturing #CentersOfExcellence #CATs #HotSpots #Incubators #MEP #UpstateNY #RochesterNY
We’re excited to support the launch of the High Falls State Park Framework Plan - a major step toward unlocking the full potential of one of Greater ROC's most iconic places!
📅 Tuesday, October 21 | 🕔 5:00–7:00 PM 📍 MCC Downtown Campus - High Falls Room A/B 321 State St, Rochester, NY 14608
At 5:00 PM, the team will present the Framework Plan, followed by an open house where you can meet the project partners, ask questions, and share feedback.
This is a chance to be part of history, supported in part by the Regional Revitalization Partnership. Hope to see you there!
It’s here - Episode 1 of the Accelerate Greater Podcast! 🎧
This first episode shines a spotlight on something truly unique - the power of OneROC, a regional alliance of @greaterroc ’s leading economic development organizations working as one to accelerate growth and opportunity.
In a series of quick-hitting 10-minute conversations, we hear from our EDO partners:
> Galin Brooks (@downtownrochesterny ) on downtown momentum, data, and the projects reshaping Rochester’s urban core.
> Don Jeffries (@visitrochester ) on how to be a tourist in your own town - and why tourism is a vital part of our regional economy.
> Bob Duffy (@greaterrochesterchamber ) on talent challenges, opportunities, and building the region’s competitive edge.
> Matt Hurlbutt (@rochesterbiz ) on what’s fueling a strong pipeline of projects, wins, and business investment across the region.
It’s a rare look at how collaboration at this level really works - and why this model is being celebrated (and emulated) across the state and beyond.
👉 Listen to Episode 1 and explore all the ways to tune in at OneROC.com/blog
Founders see the future first. 💡 With the support of venture capital, they turn that vision into products and services that change the world.
Yesterday in Buffalo, OneROC hosted an event in the Springboard Speaker Series - a platform for unique and inspiring conversations at the intersection of venture capital and entrepreneurship.
Moderated by Jack Greco, Co-Founder of ACV Auctions, the event featured national VC leaders including: • Lauren DeLuca, Managing Partner, Motivate VC • Katelynn Donnelly, Managing Partner, Avalanche VC • Rohit Gupta, Managing Director, Future Communities Capital • Victor Gutwein, Managing Partner, M25 • Cat Middleton, General Partner, The Venture Collective • Jamie Rosenblatt, Partner, Golden Ventures • Zak Schwarzman, General Partner, MetaProp
We were also honored to hear from Chris Rizik, visionary leader of the Renaissance Venture Capital Fund, who shared lessons from Detroit’s journey to becoming one of the most vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystems in the country - and what that could mean for Western New York.
Together, these speakers highlighted the trends, strategies, and opportunities shaping the future of venture capital, both across the nation and right here in our region.
This series is part of a larger, community-driven effort, supported by the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, to strengthen Western New York’s entrepreneurial ecosystem across Greater Buffalo, Greater Rochester, and the Southern Tier.
At OneROC, we’re proud to be leading this movement in partnership with the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, Main Light Strategies, and ecosystem leaders who are passionate about accelerating growth.
Why now? ⏰ Because #UpstateNY is brimming with world-class IP from our universities, industry, and accelerators. With historic opportunities like the NY SMART I-Corridor federal tech hub and other transformational investments underway, the time is right to amplify our presence in the national ecosystem and attract more capital to power this innovation.
This is just the beginning. Western NY is stepping onto the national stage as a place where entrepreneurs thrive, investors engage, and bold ideas take flight. 🚀
