Voice of Business Blog

On July 14, the National Science Foundation announced $15 million in federal funding for the Greater Rochester region through the STELLAR project, selected as part of the NSF’s second cohort of Innovation Engines. Led by the University of Rochester and matched with $16 million in New York State funding, the STELLAR (Science, Technology and Engineering for Laser and Laser Applications Research) Engine will establish an internationally competitive technology and innovation cluster in the region focused on laser technologies, education, business expansion and attraction, manufacturing, and workforce development.

This announcement is huge. It will create significant numbers of meaningful, good-paying jobs. It bolsters national security efforts. It opens the door for up to $160 million in additional NSF investments over the next decade. And, it significantly advances Upstate New York’s innovation ecosystem.

And perhaps what is more significant is the process that got us here and the commitment to the future. This announcement signals the unmatched value of collaboration and community – and the ground we can cover when we go together. The STELLAR project is a coalition of more than 100 organizations, including industry, higher education, startups, state and local government, venture capital, and not-for-profits working together towards a shared goal. And it’s already paying off.

This isn’t an isolated incident, but rather a proven pattern. When we put competition aside and work together towards the greater good, it pays off for everyone. When regional economic development partners including Greater Rochester Chamber, Greater Rochester Enterprise, Visit Rochester, and Rochester Downtown Development Corporation aligned as OneROC partners in 2019, our region’s rankings have significant improved on job growth, labor force growth, regional GDP growth, and unemployment rate compared to our 53-metro peer group. This is a testament to what happens when we unite in our efforts.

This is happening across Upstate New York as a whole. When Rochester, Buffalo, and Syracuse joined forces to secure its designation as a Federal Tech Hub through the NY SMART I-Corridor, it attracted the nation’s attention, earning $40 million in federal funding. The collaboration between our communities is powerful, as is the collaboration within. The NY SMART I-Corridor is a coalition of over 100 organizations collaborating in pursuit of innovation and regional advancement.

In a world where we are more divided than ever, this lesson could not be more clear: we are stronger together. Instead of focusing on hyperpartisan rhetoric, we need to remind ourselves of shared goals. Reach across the aisle, form a relationship, and seek common ground. In an ultracompetitive business climate where every dollar counts, we must intentionally seek out an abundance mindset to drive shared, collective vitality. Rising tides raise all ships.

Greater Rochester Chamber is proud to convene and work alongside our 1,300 member organizations throughout the region. Together, we are working towards a region elevated by connected prosperity. Through events, advocacy, connectivity, business support services, and access that accelerates, we’re building a better better region together. And through it all, we remain deeply committed to the idea that doing this work together is the key to success.