Sign In
Upcoming Event
Free Newsletter
Junior Achievement opens Paychex JA Discovery Center in Rochester for area students
Junior Achievement opens Paychex JA Discovery Center in Rochester for area students
Junior Achievement of Central Upstate has officially opened the Paychex Junior Achievement Discovery Center in Rochester, holding a ribbon cutting ceremony at the site on Thursday morning.
The 19,000-square-foot facility within the Kodak Center at Eastman Business Park offers hands-on experiences in work force readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy to area students. It is the first of its kind in New York.
Construction was completed in late 2023 and the first cohort of students were welcomed last month. Junior Achievement anticipates serving 4,000 students through June 2024, reaching 12,000 students annually at full capacity.
The hands-on facility was identified as a priority project in 2017 by the Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development Council (FLREDC) and awarded a grant of just over $560,0000 for the project. The total project cost was nearly $4 million.
The Center is based on a proven JA program model that currently operates in over 40 U.S. cities, impacting more than 500,000 annually.
“The Discovery Center programs provide students with a memorable authentic experience to practice being an adult in our economy, fostering the skills and confidence for self-sufficiency,” said Patricia Leva, president and CEO of Junior Achievement of Central Upstate New York. “Students acquire lifelong financial skills, develop an entrepreneurial mindset, explore the careers available in our region and learn about the skills needed for their individual success.”
Added John Gibson, Paychex president and CEO, “The Paychex JA Discovery Center will provide thousands of students with the foundational skills and opportunities necessary to carry forward the entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to building vibrant communities that Rochester and the Finger Lakes region is known for.”
The ribbon-cutting ceremony, attended by corporate sponsors, donors, school district representatives and elected officials, featured remarks Leva and Gibson. Also speaking were New York State Senator Jeremy Cooney, Senior Vice President for Regional Economic Development at Empire State Development Vincent Esposito and Rochester Mayor Malik Evans.
[email protected] / (585) 653-4021
"
