We #ROC: Over 100+ Reasons to Love #GreaterROC

OVER 100+ REASONS TO LOVE LIVING, WORKING, AND PLAYING IN #GreaterROC, NY

We are filled with pride about the Greater Rochester/Finger Lakes region! Our area is one of the best-kept secrets in New York State and across the country. We have pristine lakes and landscapes, four beautiful seasons, strong industries, the brain power and talent pipeline of our colleges and universities, and so many more reasons to love #GreaterROC.

This “brag book” explores ten categories to share a brief glimpse into why Greater Rochester is a great place to live greater, work greater, and play greater. This publication shares how our history, present, and future create a synergistic relationship that helps us all thrive together. We are please to update and re-publish this book in 2023 after it was originally created in 2017. Since then, it has been printed and shared over 25,000 times, helping the same number of people see how fantastic our community is.

We know that once you discover what makes Greater Rochester so special, you will see why so many love it here and choose to make it their home. On behalf of the Greater Rochester business and tourism communities, we urge you to read this book, share it, and help us spread the word: We #ROC!

ROBERT J. DUFFY President & CEO Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce

DON JEFFRIES President & CEO Visit Rochester

on the CUTTING EDGE

Ebenezer Allan built the first flour mill on the Genesee River in Rochester in 1789. Because of the power provided by the Genesee, other enterprising establishments followed suit, earning Rochester the nickname “The Flour City. ”

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Eastman Kodak founder George Eastman’s creation of a flexible film was a key contribution to the motion pictyre industry. He helped develop the practice of professional photofinishing and easy-to-use cameras that made photography widely accessible.

The first Finger Lakes vineyard was planted by Reverend William Warner Bostwick in his rectory garden in Hammondsport in 1829.

Mount Hope Cemetary, founded in 1838, was the first municipal cemetary in the United States and is the burial site of Susan B. Anthony, Frederick Douglass, and many other notable Rochestarians.

William A. Johnson, Jr. became the City of Rochester’s first African-American mayor with his 1993 election victory.

University of Rochester Medical Center virologists developed the technology for the first vaccine to prevent cervical cancer.

Kate Gleason of Rochester’s Gleason Works became the first female member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers in 1918. She was also the first woman to serve as president of a national bank, leading the First Bank of Rochester from 1917 to 1919.

The Iroquois Confederacy of “Haudenosaunee” were among the first settlers of the Finger Lakes region, including the Mohawk, Onondaga, Oneida, Cayuga, Seneca, and Tuscarora peoples.

Seth Green, a farmers’ son and student of native people, birthed an industry when he established the United States’ first fish hatchery in the ideal waters of Caledonia Creek.

Kodak engineer Steve Sasson invented the first digital camera in 1975. The toaster-sized device evolved into the prolific digital photography technology that we know today.

Rochester was America’s first boomtown, known as the “Young Lion of the West.” The birthplace of Eastman Kodak (1888), Bausch + Lomb (1853), Gleason Works (1865), and Xerox (1906) as The Haloid Photographic Company), the area has a rich history of entrepreneurship, innovation, and success.

With over 1,500 manfacturers and nearly 66,000 individuals working in the industry, manufacturing is a leading sector in our region, which is home to two national Manufacturing Innovation Institutes, AIM Photonics, and the REMADE (Reducing Embodied-energy and Decreasing Emissions) Institute.

Eastman Business Park is one of the largest industrial parks in the nation, spanning 1,200 acres. Approximately 50% bigger than Central Park in New York City, it is home to more than 110 companies.

Eat up! Our region is home to more than 100 food and beverage manufacturing companies, including Constellation Brands, the world’s leader in premium wine and the no. 3 beer company in the U.S., as well as LiDestri Food & Drink, the largest tomato processor in the country. Baldwin Richardson, Barilla America, Bonduelle USA, Dr. Pepper Snapple Group, Kraft Heinz, North American Breweries, and Seneca Foods are some of our other world-renowned brands.

The Finger Lakes region is ranked 5th highest for patent production per capita in the U.S. Of the patents produced in New York State, 26% come from our region

Hickey Freeman, founded in Rochester in 1899, manufactures tailored men’s clothing, with its suits known around the world for their quality. Having dressed John F. Kennedy, the Rat Pack, and more recently, the 2016 USA Olympic Team, this brand has stood the test of time.

Wegmans Food Markets began as the Rochester Fruit and Vegetable Company in 1916. Now with more than 109 stores and 52,000 employees, Wegmans is consistently listed as one of FORTUNE Magazine’s “100 Best Companies to Work For.”

Early automobiles like the Cunningham, Foster Steam Car, Selden Motor Wagon, and Gearless Motor Car were developed and manufactured in Rochester.

Since 1905, shoppers have browsed Rochester’s Public Market on North Union Street. On a busy Saturday, there are more than 300 local vendors

A leader in optics, photonics, and imaging, our region has over 120 businesses in these industries. The University of Rochester’s Institute of Optics awards approximately 50% of all optics degrees in the country. The future is bright!

HALL OF FAME

Susan B. Anthony was a national champion of suffrage, abolition, temperance, and equal rights for woman. Her home on Madison Street in Rochester draws thousands of visitors a year.

John Jacob Bausch, a German immigrant, set up a tiny optical goods shop in Rochester in 1853. With an investment from Henry Lomb, the two went on to found Bausch + Lomb, one of the oldest continually operating companies in the United States.

Tom Golisano founded payroll processor Paychex with a $3,000 investment, one employee, and 40 clients in 1971. The company has grown into a leading payroll, HR, and benefits outsourcing provider with more than 730,000 clients.

Francis Bellamy, born in Mount Morris, Livingston County, wrote the Pledge of Allegiance for a National Public School Celebration in Boston in 1892.

George Eastman founded the Eastman Dry Plate Company which became the Eastman Kodak Company in 1892. This entrepreneur, philanthropist, and pioneer of photography and motion picture film lives on in memory of Rochester through many of his charitable contributions. During his life, Eastman donated more than $100 million to organizations around the world.

Chester Carlson invented the xerographic process to produce high-quality text and graphic images on paper in 1938. Rochester-based Haloid Corporation CEO Joseph Wilson worked to develop and commercialize xerography, which led to rebranding of the company to Haloid Xerox in 1958, and subsequently to Xerox Corporation in 1961.

Blanche Stuart Scott of Rochester was the first woman to fly solo in a powered aircraft. She also became the first woman to drive a car coast to coast.

A former enslaved person, Frederick Douglass went on to become a famed abolitionist, author, and orator as well as a United States ambassador abroad. Douglass founded The North Star newspaper in Rochester in 1847.

We’re as cold as ice… Classic rock bank Foreigner drew lyric inspiration from lead singer Lou Gramm’s Rochester upbringing, including references to the fast-paced Lake Avenue corridor.

Other notable people with Rochester ties include Gannett newspapers founder Frank Gannett, Oscarwinning actor Philip Seymour Hoffman, choreographer Garth Fagan, famed Opera singer Renée Fleming, and activist Harriet Tubman.

PLAY DATE LET’S

Letchworth State Park is known as the “Grand Canyon of the East.” The Genesee River runs through the gorge over three major waterfalls between cliffs surrounded by lush forests.

The George Eastman Museum is the world’s oldest museum dedicated to photography and one of the world’s oldest film archives. It is also a leader in film preservation and photograph conservation.

Skier? Snow problem! Bristol Mountain offers 1,200 feet of vertical, two high-speed quad chair lifts, and 138 skiable acres. Swain Resort features 33 trails, five lifts, and two terrain parks, while Monroe County’s Northampton Park offers a more casual experience for all ages.

The National Women’s Hall of Fame was founded in 1969 in historic Seneca Falls, the birthplace of the American Women’s Rights Movement. The Hall honors and celebrates the achievements of distinguished American women and their stories of inspiration, innovation, and imagination.

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Darien Lake Amusement Park features rides, concerts, and camping, and enjoy historic Seabreeze near the Lake Ontario shoreline. Roseland Waterpark in Canandaigua is the largest waterpark in the FLX region with 56 acres of aquatic adventure.

The ROC City Skate Park opened in 2020 under the Frederick Douglass-Susan B. Anthony Bridge as a welcoming space where skateboarders, rollerbladers, BMXers and other progressive sports enthusiasts come to have fun.

“Great” Lake Ontario is the 14th largest in the world and a popular destination for boating, swimming, beachcombing, or just watching the sunset during all four of the Greater Rochester region’s glorious seasons.

Finger lakes Wine Country is home to the Seneca, Cayuga, and Keuka Lake Wine Trails, each offering exciting wine and food pairings throughout the year.

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The Erie Canal and Canalway Trail run through the Finger Lakes region and are perfect for boating, biking, hiking, and paddling. Designated a National Historic Landmark, the canal system remains in service today, passing vessels between the Atlantic Ocean and the Great Lakes.

The Strong National Museum of Play in downtown Rochester delights kids of all ages with its immersive exhibits, games, books, and rich history. What began as the enviable toy chest of Margaret Woodbury Strong is now home to the National Toy Hall of Fame.

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The Constellation Brands Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center (CMAC) brings major recording artists and bands to Canandaigua where up to 10,000 fans enjoy a unique outdoor concert experience.

CAMPUS CLOUT

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The University of Rochester, the region’s largest employer, is one of the country’s top-tier research universities. The University of Rochester Medical Center, the Laboratory for Laser Energetics, and the Eastman School of Music draw brilliant minds from around the world.

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Monroe Community College, part of the State University of New York system, serves as a catalyst for innovation, economic development, lifelong learning, and civic engagement.

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Rochester Institute of Technology excels in career education and experiential learning, with many students participating in co-ops and internships at local companies. Its National Technical Institute for the Deaf is a leader in educating deaf and hard-of-hearing students.

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SUNY Brockport, also part of the State University of New York system, awards about 25% of all bachelor’s degrees in the Rochester region each year, with many alumni staying to work or go to graduate school here.

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The State University of New York at Geneseo offers 50 undergraduate majors and is home to the only pelletron particle accelerator in western New York, a key asset for scientific research in the region.

An independent university in the Catholic tradition, St. John Fisher University has five schools focusing on arts & sciences, business, education, nursing, and pharmacy.

Finger Lakes Community College, a State University of New York school, has a 250 acre main campus in Canandaigua with campus centers in Geneva, Newark, and Victor.

Sixty majors available at include education, health and human services, management, fine arts, music, theater, math and science, foreign languages, and liberal arts. The institution is nationally recognized for its Fulbright scholars.

With just over 1,700 students enrolled, the Christian institute Roberts Wesleyan University offers 60+ majors and programs for undergraduate students as well as graduate students as well as graduate and online programs.

Other colleges and universities in the region include Genesee Community College, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Keuka College, SUNY Empire State College, Northeast College of Health Sciences, Medaille College, Northeastern Seminary, St. Bernards’s School of Theology and Ministry, Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School, Bryant and Stratton College, and Elim Bible Institute and College.

THE ART BEAT

The Finger Lakes region is home to many renowned architectural works, including the Broad Street Aqueduct (1842), Boynton House by Frank Lloyd Wright (1908), and the “Mushroom House” (1970), which has been featured in HGTV’s Offbeat America series.

The Seattle Space Needle and The Metropolitan in downtown Rochester were both designed by English-born architect John Graham.

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Scenes from several Hollywood movies have been filmed in Rochester, including “Planes, Trains & Automobiles,” “The Thomas Crown Affair,” “The Natural,” and “Spider-Man 2. ”

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Rochester has several notable parks designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, the architect who designed Central Park, including Highland Park, Genesee Valley Park, Maplewood Park, and Seneca Park.

The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestera, founded in 1922 by George Eastman, performs up to 130 concerts annually at the Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre.

Rochester is home to two of the longest continually operating movie theaters in the country: The Little Theater and Cinema Theater

Visitors take in works of art at the Memorial Art Gallery and ARTISANWorks, marvel at natural wonders at the Rochester Museum & Science Center and Strasenburgh Planetarium, and stroll back in time at the Genesee Country Villiage & Museum and the Susan B. Anthony House

The region is home to many fine performing arts theaters and companies including Geva, Blackfriars, Downtown Cabaret, JCC Centerstage, Rochester Broadway Theatre League, and The Smith Opera House in Geneva, Ontario County.

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Downtown Rochester’s “Wall\Therapy” splashes stunning large-scale works by local and world artists over the urban landscape. This sometimes-controversial project has garnered national acclaim.

The Mercury statue, a landmark of downtown Rochester is 21 feet tall and weighs 700 pounds. It was re-introduced atop the Aqueduct Building in 1973.

Rochester is home to the world-famous Garth Fagan Dance, which incorporates elements of modern dance, ballet, Afro-Caribbean dance, and social dance. Rochester City Ballet, founded in 1987, is also considered one of the best regional ballet companies in the United States.

BEING A GOOD SPORT

Rochester is close enough to Buffalo, Toronto, Cleveland, and Pittsburgh to see NFL, NHL, and MLB games, as well as serving as a major talent pipeline.

The Rochester Americans Hockey Club is the American Hockey League affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres. The Amerks have won six Calder Cup championships.

The Rochester Institute of Technology men’s lacrosse team made history by winning two NCAA Division III national titles back-to-back in 2021 and 2022.

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Take me out to the ball game! The Rochester Red Wings are the Minor League Baseball AAA affiliate of the Washington Nationals and call Innovative Field home during the spring and summer months.

The Rochester Knighthawks play box lacrosse in the National Lacrosse League North Division. The team was reborn in 2019 under the Pegula Sports + Entertainment brand.

The Rochester Institute of Technology men’s and women’s hockey teams play at the Division I level. The men made it to the NCAA Frozen Four in 2010.

In 1951, the Rochester Royals, now known as the Sacramento Kings, captured the NBA title by defeating the New York Knicks.

Rochester is home to the Flower City Union, a a professional soccer team playing in the National Independent Soccer Association.

The Rochester region was rated among the top ten golf cities in America by Golf Magazine. Pittsford’s Oak Hill Country Club has hosted several major events including the U.S. Open, the U.S. Senior Open, the PGA Championship, and the Ryder Cup. Fore!

Notable atheletes with ties to Rochester include Abby Wambach (soccer), Roland Williams (NFL), Walter Hagen (PGA), Brian Gionta (NHL), Ryan Lochte (Olympic swimmer), Joe Altobelli (MLB), Jenn Suhr (Olympic pole vaulter), Charles “The Natural” Murray (boxer), John Wallace (NBA), and Cathy Turner (Olympic speed skater).

CHEF’S KISS

The “Garbage Plate” is Rochester’s signature dish. It consists of a choice of meat (typically burgers or hot dogs), macaroni salad, beans, and home fries topped with onions, mustard, and the key ingredient: meat hot sauce. It originated at Nick Tahou Hots.

Fifth-generation family-owned Zweigle’s supplies their famous hot dogs to the region and beyond. Zweigle’s Reds are made of pork and beef blended with a unique spice mix. White Hots are made of pork, beef, and veal.

New York State is the second largest apple producing region in the United States, only behind Washington State.

Founded in 1878, Rochester’s Genesee Brewing Company is one of the largest and oldest continually operating beweries in the United States. It is known for its Genesee, “Genny” Light, Cream Ale, Bock, and now, its “Pilot Batch” brews.

While experimenting with gelatin for a cough remedy in LeRoy, Genesee County, in 1897, carpenter Pearle Wait developed a fruit flavored dessert that his wife May named Jell-O. Visitors can learn more about “America’s most famous dessert” at The Jell-O Gallery Museum in LeRoy.

Eddie Harris created sweet and spicy Boss Sauce from a secret family recipe in 1981, and now makes and distributes it through his American Specialty Manufacturing Company.

Say cheese! New York State is the fourth leading producer of milk in the country and one of the largest producers of yogurt, cream cheese, sour cream, and cottage cheese. Genesee, Livingston, and Orleans Counties are well-known for their dairy farms.

A hot summer day in the Rochester region draws lines to Abbott’s Frozen Custard locations. The original shop opened in the 1920s across from Ontario Beach Park and remains in operation today.

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Rochester was rated the #1 small city for vegans in America because of its plant-based restaurants, culture, and strong actvisim scene.

The iconic Country Sweet Restaurant in Rochester developed Country Sweet Sauce in 1977. The mix of sweet, sour, and spicy kick is regarded as an all-purpose flavor enhancer.

FESTIVITIES FOR ALL

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The Rochester Lilac Festival is the largest free festival of its kind in North America, celebrating the city’s signature flower in beautiful Highland Park. The 10-day festival features magnificent gardens, exciting exhibits, food, and exhilarating special events.

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Each year the ROC Holiday Village brings over 100,000 people downtown each December for outdoor seating and fire pits, free ice skating and skate rentals, a unique shopping village, indoor and outdoor bars with tasty food and drinks, free visits with Santa, hand-crafted goods, cozy winter igloos, free crafts for kids, holiday celebrations, live music, private events, nightlife and more.

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Monster trucks, livestock shows, tractor pulls, and a demolition derby around at Hemlock “Little World’s” Fair

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The Rochester International Jazz Festival has become one of the nation’s most popular and respected music festivals. Over nine days, it features more than 1,500 artists at more than 320 concerts, including many free shows and events.

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Fairport Canal Days transforms the scenic Erie Canal village into a family-friendly atmosphere with more than 200 artisans, fine food vendors, and live music.

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Each summer, the Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport hosts the Rochester International Airshow featuring the United States Air Force Thunderbirds and other exciting aerial performers.

in Livingston County.

Historic homes, beautiful gardens, and Rochester’s oldest residential neighborhood surround the Corn Hill Arts Festival, popular for its hundereds of juried artists and works for sale.

Every September since 1961, the Naples Grape Festival celebrates the area’s grape harvest with talented artisans, wine makers, local music, and cuisine. Try the famous grape pie!

The Rochester Fringe Festival is a ten-day visual and performing arts festival that pushes the limits of the imagination. Each year the “Spiegeltent” hosts magical and mind-bending performances in one of the last remaining “mirror tents” of its kind.

Each September, CollegeFEST brings students from all of Rochester’s colleges and universities together downtown to network and enjoy live music, food, and games to showcase all Rochester has to offer for these students!

Imagine RIT is a campus-wide event that showcases the innovative and creative spirit of Rochester Institute of Technology students, faculty, and staff through interactive presentations, hands-on demonstrations, exhibitions, and research projects throughout campus.

Each July, ROC Pride Collective hosts ROC Pride Fest to celebrate Greater Rochester’s LGBTQ+ community featuring a parade, picnic, and festival with food, games, and live music.

JUST GETTING GREATER

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Monroe County is made up of 19 towns, 10 villages, and the City of Rochester, with a combined population of 755,000 residents. From its early agricultural and milling start, Monroe County has developed into a modern center for high technology, manufacturing, education, and medicine.

Named after the Iroquois word Gen-nis-hee-yo for “The Beautiful Valley,” Genesee County is home to the Genesee Valley Agri-Business Park, Upstate MedTech Park, and Western New York Science and Technology Advanced Manufacturing Park. The agricultural and food and beverage sectors employ more than 1,500 workers in Genesee County.

15 miles south of Rochester, Livingston County has key industries in agriculture, food processing, and manufacturing. It is named after Robert R. Livingston, a member of the committee that drafted the Declaration to Independence.

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Nestled on the southern shore of Lake Ontario, Orleans County enjoys the peaceful rural life with the advantages of urban centers nearby. Competitive sport fishing is a favorite pastime, with thousands netted in prize money for trout, salmon, carp, and more each year.

Ontario County, with its major city of Canandaigua, was an early investor in the local wine and grape industry. While agriculture still plays a vital role, manufacturing for farm machinery, office supplies, metal products, and high tech industries have also risen to prominence.

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Known as the “County Between the Lakes” Seneca County lies between the two largest Finger Lakes, Seneca Lake and Cayuga Lake. Seneca County counts health and medical services, agriculture, construction, and transportation among its key industries.

The influence of Lake Ontario on the climate of Wayne County is reflected in the concentration of orchards in the northern section. As a result, Wayne County ranks high in the production of sour cherries, apples, and pears.

Wyoming County’s beautiful rural setting is a havel for outdoor sports like fishing, hunting, and snowmobiling. Historically an agricultural community, manufacturing has risen in Wyoming County with metalsbased industry leading the way.

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The scenic Finger Lakes and extensive wine industry make Yates County a popular tourist destination, and home to a large Mennonite population. Agricultural assets include dairy and crop farms, grape vineyards, and apple orchards.

The City of Rochester is the metropolitan hub of the nine-county Finger Lakes region. Residents enjoy a housing market known for great bargains, short commute times, world-class cultural and centertainment offerings, and a fastgrowing innovation economy poised to thrive in the 21st century.

Image Credits and References

Cover Rochester Skyline

Front Image Seneca Lake

On the Cutting-Edge Kodak Camera

On the Cutting-Edge Grapes

On the Cutting-Edge William Johnson

On the Cutting-Edge Mt. Hope Cemetary

On the Cutting-Edge Kate Gleason

We Mean Business Bottle of Prosecco

iStock 1424702866, © DenisTangeneyJr

iStock 1417107948, © DenisTangeneyJr

George Eastman House (via New York Times)

iStock 489520104, © Tim UR

Southwest Tribune

Friends of Mt. Hope Cemetery

Rochester Institute of Technology

Ruffino/Constellation Brands

We Mean Business Rochester Public Market Visit Rochester

We Mean Business Wegmans Employees

Hall of Fame Pledge of Allegiance

Hall of Fame

The North Star

Hall of Fame Philip Seymour Hoffman

Hall of Fame Blanche Stuart Scott

Hall of Fame Susan B Anthony grave

Play Date

Play Date

Letchworth

Roller Coaster

Play Date Various Toys

Play Date

Skateboarder

Campus Clout RIT Students

Wegmans

University of Rochester

Library of Congress via Wikipedia

WireImage

Smithsonian Magazine

Reuters via VOA News

iStock 1199774179, © JimVallee

Six Flags Darien Lake

Strong Museum of Play

Friends of ROC City Skate Park via Facebook

RIT Photography Toolkit

Campus Clout Piano iStock 1224998423, © Churairat Music

Campus Clout St. John Fisher

Campus Clout Sthethoscope

The Art Beat Boynton House

The Art Beat Metropolitan Building

The Art Beat MAG Sign

The Art Beat Mercury Statue

St. John Fisher Athletics

iStock 1354648840, © Aleksandr Kharitonov

Wikipedia

Gallina Development

Memorial Art Gallery (via Twitter)

Library of Congress

The Art Beat Garth Fagan Dancers Garth Fagan Dance

Being a Good Sport

Abby Wambach

Abby Wombach

Being a Good Sport Championship Trophy RIT via Facebook

Being a Good Sport Highmark Stadium

Being a Good Sport Red Wings Mascot

Being a Good Sport Basketball

Chef's Kiss White Hots

Wikipedia

Rochester Redwings via Facebook

iStock 170096587, © by_nicholas

Zweigle's

Chef's Kiss Genesee Light, Cream Ale Genesee Brewery

Chef's Kiss Jell-O Cubes

Chef's Kiss Custard Cone, Shake

Festivities for All Lilac

Festivities for All Thunderbirds

Festivities for All Grape Pie

Festivities for All Tractor

Getting Greater Trout

Getting Greater Canandaigua

iStock 453012167, © AlasdairJames

Abbot's Frozen Custard

iStock 138186848, © iiievgeniy

US Airforce Thunderbirds

Home in the Finger Lakes

iStock 139985267, © dr3amer

iStock 1386250898, © GoodLifeStudio

iStock 1088019174, © ChrisBoswell

Getting Greater Rochester Logo City of Rochester

Getting Greater Cherry

Getting Greater Finger Lakes Postcard

Credits Page Letchworth State Park

iStock 157428769, © RedHelga

Wikipedia

iStock 469820040, © JimVallee

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ABOUT GREATER ROC

Greater ROC is an initiative of ROC2025, an alliance of regional economic development partners serving Greater Rochester, NY. Together with thousands of voices across our region, we’re generating a bolder, broader story and greater momentum for growth.

There are no limits to what’s possible in Greater Rochester, NY. Add your spirit, find your superpower and see how Greater is the only way to be. Whether you’re native or new, familiar with or know nothing about the region, Greater Rochester is a place with a lot of heart. To make you feel at home. Feed curiosity. Find inspiration. Shape a future you want to see and be part of. Here is where history still happens. Opportunity abounds. Nature nurtures us. People progress.

Take it all in and uncover what gets your heart pumping. Then spread the word about what you think is Greater. For others to enjoy Greater, too.

THANK YOU

to all involved in the production of this publication, including the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce communications team: Shannon Ealy & Xander Rohring.

To request additional copies of this publication, please email Info@VisitRochester.com.

ABOUT GREATER ROCHESTER CHAMBER

Since 1887, Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce has been the trusted partner, resource, and advocate for businesses and non-profits in Greater Rochester, NY. Together, we help the nine-county Finger Lakes region grow and thrive. As a collaborator and convener, we bring civic, business, and community leaders together to solve problems, overcome obstacles, and create opportunities.

ABOUT VISIT ROCHESTER

Visit Rochester is the official tourism promotion agency for Monroe County. Our mission is simple. We sell and market Greater Rochester as a preferred destination—for business and leisure travel—in order to grow and maximize visitor spending and to enhance the economy. Tourism plays a major role in the economy of Monroe County as well as the entire Finger Lakes region. To this end, Visit Rochester also advocates for appropriate destination development, investment and increased community awareness, and appreciation and support for the visitor industry.