TALENT & EDUCATION

A talented and educated workforce is the foundation of Monroe County’s ability to attract and retain businesses. The students who attend our dedicated institutions like the University of RochesterRochester Institute of TechnologyNazareth College of Rochester and Monroe Community College (MCC) directly impact our economy. Each year, the MCC-educated workforce adds approximately $510 million in income to Monroe County. But we are always striving for more. MCC created an Economic Development & Innovative Workforce Services division to identify, teach and train quality employees in key career areas, which helps local businesses stay competitive and keeps our economy going strong.

More Reasons to Do Business in Monroe County

SHORT COMMUTE TIMES

Monroe County’s residents enjoy an average commute time of 19.9 minutes, ranked among the shortest in the nation, and Rochester was named the “Best City in the U.S. for Commuters” by Kiplinger. The ranking was based on Rochester’s low congestion cost (a measurement of wasted time and fuel calculated by the Texas Transportation Institute) along with average length of commute, local gas prices, yearly delays per commuter, and public transit use.

Learn More about the Community

ROOM TO GROW

It’s more than just the diverse businesses and unmatched quality of life that make Monroe County unique. It’s the proximity to major markets. The growth of your business depends on the environment in which it operates in. Monroe County is a vibrant and prosperous community that benefits from its proximity to other major markets like Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, Toronto, and Washington, DC. Monroe County offers you the space to grow and expand your business operations while providing the support your skilled employees, your workforce and their families need to experience an exceptional quality of life.

EXPANSIONS AND RELOCATIONS

BUSINESS INCENTIVES

COMIDA offers tax incentives and financial assistance for for-profit companies including sales and mortgage tax exemptions and real property tax abatements. We can assist projects located throughout Monroe County, including the City of Rochester in the state of New York, and our benefits can be combined with incentives provided by other sources.

View All Incentives & Programs

PROXIMITY TO MAJOR MARKETS

Conveniently located within 500 miles of one-third of the U.S. and Canadian population, Monroe County is close to major markets like New York City, Boston, Philadelphia, Toronto, and Washington, DC without the major-market costs of doing business. The Greater Rochester International Airport offers nearly 30,000 seats per week to 19 non-stop destinations and major hubs with connections worldwide. Flights to cities such as Boston, New York, and Washington, DC are less than one and a half hours by air. Our airport is also ranked as one of the most affordable airports in the country.

Learn More about the Logistics

TOP COMPANIES IN AMERICA

Doing business in Monroe County means you share our bustling environment with some of the country’s best companies. Home to #1 ranked small, medium and large companies to work for in America (Dixon Schwabl, 2010; Genencor, 2005; Wegmans, 2005) according to the Great Place to Work Institute, Monroe County boasts a diverse business community that’s focused on economic growth, a highly-educated workforce and excellent research centers and industry expertise. Not to mention the unique quality of life wo which Monroe County residents get access, from the wine trails of the Finger Lakes to the countless golf courses and nearby ski slopes.

SEE WHAT IT'S LIKE TO DO BUSINESS HERE

QUALITY OF LIFE

Picture a county with miles of lakeshore, a central-city riverfront sprinkled with waterfalls, and a historic canal that flows through the heart of the small-town Americana. Now imagine that same city surrounded by glacier-carved lakes, one of the largest collections of cobblestone homes in the country, and world-class wine country. Our vibrant community provides residents with a world-class quality of life. We have the arts, sports and culture of a big city and the comfort of a small town.

See why it's great to live in Monroe County