Rochester stimulates growth by actively facilitating the identification and development of new business opportunities in the city, particularly for women. The city is among those leading in entrepreneurial education, training, and networking programs meant to empower, inspire, and improve women’s professional as well as personal lives.
Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (MWBE)
MWBE is a federal program run through each state. The city of Rochester is committed to supporting MWBE businesses by providing them with opportunities to become part of the procurement process of the City. Rochester’s MWBE policy makes it the only city in New York which has done something commendable in an attempt to increase the purchasing power of women in the State. Find out more at https://www.cityofrochester.gov/mwbe/.
Economic development
Rochester has opportunities for MWBEs to work on the city’s economic development projects through the Neighborhood and Business Development (NBD) Department. This allows women to participate in the long term goals of the City. All economic development projects in the city have workforce goals of 6.9 females.
Business Development Division
The Urban League of Rochester’s Business Development Division supports women in growing their businesses through training and one-on-one technical assistance. The division also helps dislocated women workers, the disabled, aspiring them in the startups and expansion of their businesses. Join the Urban League of Rochester at http://www.ulr.org/BecomeaMember.
Workforce Development Program
This program seeks to prepare women for successful careers in construction, healthcare, food service, and advanced manufacturing areas while training them to have the skills required to compete in the economy of today. Find out more at http://www.ulr.org/Programs/WorkforceDevelopment.
Rochester’s Women’s Network (RWN)
Rochester Women’s Network is a member-driven organization that works to improve the professional and personal lives of women in all stages of their career development by offering them opportunities to support, empower, and inspire each other. Become a member of RWN at https://rwn.org/.
Small Business Assistance Center
Small Business Assistance Center provides free counseling services to women who want to start or grow their businesses by connecting them with resources to enable them to prosper in the economy.
Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce work to connect women with valid information, expertise as well as people that enables them to succeed and grow their businesses. It acts as the voice of women-owned businesses by proving them with advocacy, human resource services, and networking to them achieve their long term dreams of becoming successful in today’s economy. Visit GRCC’s website at https://greaterrochesterchamber.com/.
The chamber makes available the following additional resources:
- Greater Rochester Enterprise. Provides information on available business incentives, small business grants, and loans from the City of Rochester to women. Visit http://www.rochesterbiz.com/Business/Incentives/ and get the support you need.
- SCORE. This is a non-profit association that assists women-owned small businesses by offering services such as workshops, networking, and a checklist describing steps for startups.
Women are also able to access resources from the state such as:
- Small Business Development Center. SBDC helps women overcome the challenges in starting and running their businesses by offering a wide range of services such as counseling, business consultation, networking, and marketing services to them free of charge. Access this resource at http://www.nyssbdc.org.
- NYS License Center. This website is useful for women interested in starting or expanding their businesses by helping them find NYS business permits and licenses you may need.
- The Small Business Administration. Provides planning, services, tools, and local resources to women too enable them to run their business activities smoothly.
Advertising Opportunities
The Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce offers affordable rates for advertising to women willing to improve the visibility of their brands. This is achieved through Voice of Business Magazine which enables women to promote their products and services. Visit https://greaterrochesterchamber.com/business-services/advertising-opportunities for more information.
Human Resource Services
Human Resource Services is key to achieving employee satisfaction. Rochester Chamber’s Human Resource offers programs and information women-owned businesses need to compete in today’s market place. You can access human resources at https://greaterrochesterchamber.com/business-services/human-resources.
Financial Assistance for Single Mothers
The Financial Assistance Division in the City of Rochester delivers temporary support, child support, daycare subsidies to single mothers in the region. Financial assistance is provided in the form of cash, rent, utility transportation food, housing, health insurance, job search support.
Business Permit Program
The City of Rochester’s Business Permit Program is designed to ensure that women operate their businesses safely and legally within the City. Certain types of business must obtain a business permit and all businesses have to obey good as well as codes and laws of the City of Rochester.
Apprenticeship Training Program
Apprenticeship is a training method in which actual work experience is combined with related classroom instruction to produce a worker skilled in the occupation. the City of Rochester supports the apprenticeship program which is designed to increase employment opportunities for women.
Conclusion
The city of Rochester has numerous employment, job training, small businesses, and assistance available for women to enable them to prosper in today’s economy. The City also extends support to single mothers with no jobs through childcare, rent, and housing support. This makes Rochester one of the best cities with opportunities, benefits and grants, and other resources to empower and enable women to thrive. The city has worked with its Chamber of Commerce in supporting women by providing networking, marketing, and business development opportunities.