Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development Council

 

The Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development Council (FLREDC) is the strategic economic advisory board for the greater Rochester, New York region that includes the counties of Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Orleans, Ontario, Seneca, Wayne, Wyoming and Yates.

FLREDC Logo

How to Apply for Funding?

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-July.
Open CFA Portal

Upcoming Public Event - FLREDC Public Meeting

FLREDC Public Meeting
Tuesday, September 27, 2022
1:00pm - 3:00pm
Monroe Community College - Brighton Campus
Info Here

New York State Office of Strategic Workforce Development

The New York State Office of Strategic Workforce Development (OSWD) - a new division within Empire State Development (ESD) is charged with better aligning workforce development efforts with the needs and priorities of today's employers.
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Strategic Plans & Reports

A primary role of the FLREDC is to create a regional strategic plan and provide public updates.
Click here to access all of the FLREDC strategic plans and progress reports.

  • 2022 Finger Lakes Progress Report Cover
    Strategic Plans/Reports

    2022 Finger Lakes Annual Report

    Learn more about Finger Lakes 2022 strategies, priorities and progress.
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  • Finger Lakes 2021 Annual Report Book Cover
    Strategic Plans/Reports

    2021 Finger Lakes Annual Report

    Learn more about Finger Lakes 2021 strategies, priorities and progress.
    View File
  • 2020 FLREDC Recovery Strategy Cover
    Strategic Plans/Reports

    2020 Finger Lakes Recovery Strategy

    FLREDC COVID-19 pandemic regional economic recovery strategic plan
    View File
  • 2019 Finger Lakes Progress Report Cover
    Strategic Plans/Reports

    2019 Finger Lakes Progress Report

    Learn more about Finger Lakes 2019 strategies, priorities and progress.
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Finger Lakes Forward

Finger Lakes Forward

 
In December 2015, the Finger Lakes region was selected by NYS to receive $500 million for a five-year implementation of the Upstate Revitalization Initiative.
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Upstate Revitalization Initiative

Finger Lakes Forward (FLXFWD) is the strategic plan developed by the FLREDC for New York State's Upstate Revitalization Initiative (URI) competition and was selected by NYS to receive $500 million for a five-year implementation. 

Click below to learn more about the Finger Lakes Forward plan and its implementation.

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FLXFWD Logo
"Finger Lakes Forward: United for Success" is the strategic plan and vision to revitalize the FLX region.

Downtown Revitalization Initiative

New York State's Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) is transforming downtown neighborhoods into vibrant communities where the next generation of New Yorkers will want to live work and raise families.

FL DRI Round 1 (2016): City of Geneva (Ontario County)

FL DRI Round 2 (2017): City of Batavia (Genesee County)

FL DRI Round 3 (2018): Village of Penn Yan (Yates County)

FL DRI Round 4 (2019): Town of Seneca Falls (Seneca County)

FL DRI Round 5 (2021): City of Rochester (Monroe County) & Village of Newark (Wayne County)

Seneca Falls DRI
Governor Kathy Hochul at the announcement of Seneca Falls as the 2019 DRI winner.
Rochester High Falls State Park Preview

Preview plans for a new state park in/around the High Falls gorge in downtown Rochester (WXXI, June 2022)

Rochester on the Rise

Innovation is in the DNA of the Greater Rochester region and its on the rise again. (Excell Partners, Sept 2021)

Greater ROC: Savor Greater

Food & beverage manufacturing is amplified by the natural and tech assets in Greater Rochester. (ROC2025, Oct 2021)

Greater ROC: Create Greater

Inspiring and lifting up. Welcoming and enticing. Experience Greater Rochester. (ROC2025, June 2021)

Greater ROC: Here We Are

In Greater Rochester, New York, we are Bold Creators. Rule Breakers. Change Makers. (ROC 2025, May 2021)

Let's Be Greater ROC

Greater ROC celebrates the 9-county Rochester region’s many unique characteristics and collective strengths. (ROC2025, July 2020)

2019 Finger Lakes Award Ceremony

Regional highlight video from the annual REDC Awards ceremony

Greentopia: Spurring Revitalization in Rochester

The Genesee River and High Falls in Rochester are focal points for the city's future growth (Greentopia, Nov 2019)

Rochester: Where Belief is Made Real

Three business owners make passion their profession in a city where belief is made REAL (City of Rochester, Dec 2019)

Rochester: Everything We Need Right Here

Video homage to Rochester NY! (by Mark Bader, featuring Abby Celso from The Voice, Clarke House Creative, Dec 2019)

Grow-NY: Ag & Food Competition Overview

Grow-NY is cultivating fertile ground within Upstate NY's ag and food startup business ecosystem. (Cornell, Nov 2019)

AIM Photonics: Manufacturing USA Overview Video

AIM Photonics is a research institute for manufacturing integrated photonics based in Rochester (Mfg USA, Oct 2018)

GET REAL in the Greater Rochester Region

Get Real Business Results in the Greater Rochester, NY region (Greater Rochester Enterprise, Sept 2018)

ROC The Riverway Introduction Video

ROC the Riverway is an initiative to transform Rochester's Genesee River waterfront (City of Rochester, Aug 2018)

Luminate: Optics, Photonics & Imaging Accelerator

Luminate is the world’s largest startup accelerator for optics, photonics, and imaging technology (NextCorps, July 2018)

2018 Finger Lakes Forward Summary Video

Summary video of the FLREDC's "Finger Lakes Forward" URI implementation progress (NYS, May 2018)

NextCorps: Possibility Unites Us

The former High Tech Rochester opens its new accelerator in the historic Sibley Building with a new brand (Feb 2018)

AIM Photonics: What is Integrated Photonics?

AIM Photonics Powering the 21st Century with Integrated Photonics (AIM Photonics, Feb 2018)

Visit Rochester: Limitless

There’s no limit to Rochester’s world-class arts, culture, entertainment, dining and more (Visit Rochester, Jan 2018)

Rochester: Talent Lives Here

Rochester is leveraging its vibrant universities and a historic spirit of entrepreneurship (ESD, March 2017)

Finger Lakes: Forward with Photonics

Rochester has been a world-leader in optics and imaging, and now is leading in photonics technology (ESD, March 2017)

FLREDC Public Meetings

View notices, documents and presentations from FLREDC public meetings
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FLREDC CFA Project Awards

View information and status of all past CFA project awards for the Finger Lakes Region
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Finger Lakes Region News

View all the press releases on economic developments in the Finger Lakes Region
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More About the Finger Lakes Region

Our Vision

See Vision

Our Leadership

See Leadership

Our Resources

See Resources

Contact Us

Laura Fox O'Sullivan, Regional Director