• Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce

• Beechwood Neighborhood Coalition

• Brighton Chamber of Commerce

• Builder’s Exchange of Rochester

• Business Association of the South Wedge Area

• Gates-Chili Chamber of Commerce

• Greater Rochester Black Business Alliance

• Greece Regional Chamber

• Henrietta Chamber of Commerce

• Irondequoit Chamber of Commerce

• Lyell Avenue Business Association

• National Human Resources Association – Rochester Affiliate

• Neighborhood of the Arts Business Association

• Park Avenue Merchants Association

• Penfield Chamber of Commerce

• Portland Ave Business Association

• Rochester Auto Dealers Association

• Rochester Hispanic Business Association

• Rochester Rotary

• Rochester Technology & Manufacturing Association (RTMA)

• Rochester Women’s Network

• Rochester Young Professionals Network

• Small Business Council

• Society for Human Resources Management – Genesee Valley Chapter

• Webster Chamber of Commerce

What can a Disability Resource Coordinator help you with?

• Connect you with qualified individuals ready to work.
• Answer questions about reasonable accommodations for employees.
• Connect you to resources to help make your organization more accessible and inviting to people with disabilities.

Why Hire individuals with Disabilities?

• Lower absenteeism rates
• Less turnover
• Hiring from a highly motivated pool of candidates
• More diversity
• Increased business performance

Check out the economic argument for hiring people with disabilities: The economic argument for hiring people with disabilities | Humanities and Social Sciences Communications (nature.com)

•  Reach out to RochesterWorks’ Disability Resource Coordinator, Lindsay Murphy, at 585-258-3500 ext. 3513 or lmurphy@rochesterworks.org for more information.

• Central Library of Rochester & Monroe County: Grant Resource Center
  The Central Library’s Grant Resource Center has many resources available to help you with grant seeking, including the Foundation Directory Online database.
  The Grant Resource Center – Rochester Public Library (roccitylibrary.org)

• College at Brockport Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
  Offers free counseling, training, and business research on starting and running a business. The SBDC assists with New York State M/WBE certification applications and more.
  College at Brockport Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
• Department of Neighborhood and Business Development
  30 Church Street, Room 005A
  Rochester, NY 14614
  City of Rochester | Department of Neighborhood and Business Development
• Empire State Development
  Opportunities to grow your business in New York State. All forms of tax incentives that enable savings and cost advantages to businesses.
  Empire State Development (ny.gov)
• Office of Financial Empowerment, City of Rochester
  The Mayor’s Office of Financial Empowerment (OFE) envisions a Rochester where all residents have access to the pathways necessary to achieve economic mobility.
  City of Rochester | Office of Financial Empowerment (OFE)
• Monroe County Economic Development
  Supports businesses, developers, units of local government and major county facilities in economic development activities through private, state, federal and county financial resources and technical assistance.
  Monroe County Economic Development | Incentives and Programs

• New York Business Express
  Starter guide, custom business checklist and information on support and incentives from New York State.
  New York Business Express (ny.gov)
• NextCorps
  Provides a suite of services, including technology commercialization for very-early-stage opportunities, business incubation for high-growth-potential startups, and growth services for existing manufacturing companies seeking to improve their top- and bottom-line performance.
  Home – NextCorps
• New York State Consolidated Funding Application
  The main way to seek NYS funding is the Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) portal, which is used for dozens of agency offerings. Some programs are open year-round, but most programs are open during the annual “round” that typically runs from May to July.
  NYS Consolidated Funding Application
• Rochester Downtown Development Corporation (RDDC)
  RDDC is a non-profit organization dedicated to driving economic vitality in downtown Rochester. RDDC promotes downtown’s assets to attract businesses and investments while fostering innovative ideas to create a more vibrant and inclusive community.
  RDDC | Rochester Downtown Development Corporation

• Rochester Economic Development Corporation (ROCEDC)
  (ROCEDC) is a private not-for-profit organization that exists to stimulate equitable economic growth that improves the quality of life in the city of Rochester, New York.
  ROCEDC | Rochester Economic Development Corporation (rocedc.com).
• U.S. Small Business Administration Loans
  The U.S. Small Business Administration helps small businesses get funding by setting guidelines for loans and reducing lender risk. These SBA-backed loans make it easier for small businesses to get the funding they need.
  Loans (sba.gov)

The Monroe County Skills, Training, & Experience Program (STEP) is a joint initiative between RochesterWorks and Monroe County (NY). STEP provides individuals with the skills and experience needed to get a job and become self-sufficient while meeting the workforce needs of local organizations. 

If you are a non-profit, government agency or educational institution and need help with clerical or other tasks, contact us! We have partner opportunities available. There is no cost for your participation; you get assistance you need to help your business move forward while helping these individuals get better acclimated to the workforce. 

For any questions about STEP, please contact Tammy Hayes at RochesterWorks.

Email: Thayes@rochesterworks.org
Phone: (585) 753-5654 

Employers that do business in New York State can trim labor costs through workforce & economic development programs offered through the NYS Department of Labor including:

• Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC)
• Workers (with Disabilities) Employment Tax Credit (WETC)
• Work For Success
• New York Youth Jobs Program
• Hire a Veteran Credit

• Central Library of Rochester & Monroe County: Business Insight Center
  Includes The Carlson Center for Intellectual Property, Patent Virtual Assistance Center, Patent Virtual Assistance Center
  Business Insight Center – Rochester Public Library (roccitylibrary.org)
• Greater Rochester SCORE
  SCORE is a nonprofit association dedicated to educating entrepreneurs and helping small businesses start, grow, and succeed nationwide. SCORE is a resource partner with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), and has been mentoring small business owners for more than forty years.
  Greater Rochester | SCORE
• Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprise (MWBE)
  A state certification program, administered by Empire State Development, designed to assist the growth and development of businesses owned and controlled by women and minorities.
  Minority & Women’s Business Development | Empire State Development (ny.gov)
• Rochester Economic Development Corporation (ROCEDC)
  (ROCEDC) is a private not-for-profit organization that exists to stimulate equitable economic growth that improves the quality of life in the city of Rochester, New York.
  ROCEDC | Rochester Economic Development Corporation (rocedc.com).
• Small Business Development Center
  The New York Small Business Development Center (NYSBDC) provides small business owners and entrepreneurs in New York with the highest quality, confidential business counseling, training, and business research at no cost.
  Regional Centers | New York Small Business Development Center (NYSBDC)
• Urban League of Rochester Business Development
  The Urban League of Rochester’s Business Development Division supports minority, women, and veteran-owned businesses. We help entrepreneurs and small business owners launch and/or grow their businesses through classroom instruction and one-on-one technical assistance.
  Business Development — Urban League of Rochester