We live in an era in which books like the “Rise of the Robots” by Martin Ford, studies by prominent think-tanks such as the Brookings Institution, and a variety of media stories all seem to be telling us that robots ...
Read More »The onslaught of robots: Is it real and what should we do?
New York needs New T-Mobile to reach communities across the digital divide
Nearly 20 years ago, President Bill Clinton said, “Together we have the power to determine exactly what we want the Internet to become. And what we want it to do is to be an instrument of empowerment, education, enlightenment, and ...
Read More »6 big innovations that could change Rochester’s economy 
Last month, our organizations—NYSTAR and FuzeHub—hosted the New York State Innovation Summit in downtown Rochester. More than 500 New Yorkers gathered together to immerse themselves in the state’s innovation ecosystem. This eye-opening event gave us an early look at the ...
Read More »Let’s heat up the Rochester labor market 
The good news: New York has one of the largest and most robust workforces in the country. The bad: Low-wage jobs dominate the labor market. Of the occupations that make up over 1.7 million jobs, 90% of them pay less ...
Read More »The economics of China’s belt and road initiative: Rhetoric and reality 
In 2013, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced the creation of two major infrastructure projects called the “Silk Road Economic Belt” and the “21st Century Maritime Silk Road.” These two projects have since been merged to create the “Belt and Road ...
Read More »Rebuilding our schools rejuvenates our communities
There are more than 6,284 public and private school buildings across New York State, all proudly serving and supporting the state’s 2.6 million K-12 students and their school staffs, parents and communities. But no amount of pride can slow the ...
Read More »Peer networking of increasing importance for family firms 
Many professionals have the experience of moving up the chain and finding that it gets lonelier at the top. But for family business owners, it can be even lonelier. Peer networking is a highly popular strategy for business leaders at ...
Read More »Upcoming symposium to focus on diversity in the workplace 
It’s important to acknowledge that unconscious bias and structural racism are real and exist. In recent years, our community has talked a great deal about lacking diversity and inclusion in the workplace. The solution isn’t about workers doing ...
Read More »Do doctors practice defensive medicine and, if yes, do patients benefit? 
Although many factors are responsible for the high cost of healthcare in the United States, many believe that one key factor is the medical malpractice pressure that doctors routinely bear. One contrarian perspective on this matter comes from Michelle ...
Read More »As Wegmans opens its 100th location, key factors to consider 
Wegmans’ 100th store opening, in Raleigh, N.C., has just been occurred and marks a new stage of growth for the Rochester-based grocery chain. While the steady expansion in geography and scope has been a hallmark of Wegmans Food Markets Inc., ...
Read More »How the affordable housing industry can help New Yorkers register to vote 
One person, one vote: that principle is foundational to our democracy. But the sad reality is that in nearly every election voter participation is embarrassingly low in the Empire State. Every New Yorker has a responsibility to help reverse this ...
Read More »Are rare earth elements an ace up China’s sleeve in trade war with the U.S.?
President Trump’s trade war with China has now dragged on for many months. Talks between the two nations are at an impasse with no obvious way forward. Apparently frustrated by this lack of progress in the trade talks, in May, ...
Read More »M&As: Scapegoating or strategic-minded?
Mergers and Acquisitions (M&As) are on the rise once more and hardly a day passes by without us noticing news of them. Rochester in recent years has been a focal point due to some of the most high-profile M&A activities ...
Read More »State takeover of ineffective RCSD a necessary idea 
There is no greater inhibitor to the future economic success of the Rochester and Finger Lakes region than the outcomes produced by the Rochester City School District. That is why Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce calls upon the New York ...
Read More »High Growth Companies Need Our Region’s Colleges
Thank you Upstate Venture Connect (UVC) for shedding light on an important economic development opportunity. UVC is a nonprofit organization founded and led by accomplished entrepreneurs dedicated to supporting entrepreneurship and advocating for our region’s high growth startups. UVC recently ...
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