Projects in Progress

Projects Approved for Funding by Governing Board - as of December 2008

1. Strategic Growth through Innovation Program – RIT
   Contact:  Richard DeMartino, 585-475-5646

• Immersion Sequence program targets high-growth potential small enterprises managers wishing to join or lead commercialization teams.  Also targets potential and existing entrepreneurs
• Connecting entrepreneurial acumen with economic growth
• Classes scheduled to begin Fall ‘07.

2. The Entrepreneurs Network – TEN
   Contact:  Jean Kase, 585-753-2031

• 6-month program including a Boot Camp, Work Shops, and Panel Events that are designed to optimize exposure to, and interaction with leading local and national entrepreneurial experts Connecting entrepreneurial acumen with economic growth
• Intended to introduce entrepreneurs to new ideas and avenues to attract capital as well as a social networking opportunity for alumni and current members

3. Pre-Seed Workshops – HTR
   Contact:  Rami Katz, 585-214-0596

• 2+ day sessions will provide an assessment of business potential for a specific invention, and will foster a collaboration of technologists/inventors knowledgeable about business creation realities and connect them with a business network for future assistance
• Addresses gap in the commercialization continuum at “pre-seed” stage and will improve the identification and qualify technologies for transfer 

4. SBIR Outreach and Access – HTR
   Contact:  Rami Katz, 585-214-0596

• Intent is to move the region’s SBIR/STTR participation to a much higher level through assistance of grant and connection with other available resources
• Will educate entrepreneurs and small business owners of grant funding opportunities, proposal reviews, proposal preparers, and solicitation finders

5. Tech Commercialization – HTR
   Contact:  Rami Katz, 585-214-0596

• Intent is to accelerates the commercialization of university and orphan technology from local companies
• Program proposes to augment the traditional licensing programs of the local research institutions with entrepreneurs and product development specialists to identify and nurture high potential technologies and lead them into the marketplace either by new business formation or by infusion into existing regional companies

6. Scholarship Fund – RW, FLW, GLOW
   Contact: Kristy Ioele, 585-258-3548

• Addresses skilled worker shortages in key industry segments: Alternative Energy, Biotech & Life Sciences, Food & Agriculture, Optics & Imaging, Advanced Manufacturing, Information Technology, Engineering, Business Services and Health Care
• Will provide scholarships to businesses to train their employees in skills that will lead to credentials/certifications or transferable skills

7. Regional Apprentice System – MCC, GCC, FLCC
   Contact:  James Winston, 585-262-1401

• Develop industry-based apprentice system for the Finger Lakes Region
• System will begin with several new education/training programs for three of the four targeted industry clusters (optics, printing/packaging, bio-manufacturing and food processing industries)

8. Educator Internships – FLW/RACEC
   Contact:  Karen Springmeier, 315-789-3131

• Placing teacher-interns in industry and will engage employers from high tech and emerging industries of Optics/Imaging, Biotech/Life Sciences, Alternative Energy, and Food and Agriculture
• The project will engage educators and will impact students by creating linkages to high-tech and emerging industries that currently do not exist among school districts, educators, and employers in the region

9. Predictive Analysis – Business Attraction – GRE
   Contact: Matt Hurlbutt, matt@rochesterbiz.com (585) 530-6208

• This project will help develop robust knowledge of assets in targeted clusters, identify high-growth sub-sectors of those clusters (and leading companies within those sub-sectors), perform in-depth research on each identified company, and will set up mission trip of ED professionals, senior business leaders, government officials, etc. to proactively visit target companies
• ZoomProspector from GISPlanning, Inc will map regional assets such as real-time information about a specific site location, including demographics, workforce data, and industry information, and to be able to obtain this data on-line. Because 85% of the initial site selection process occurs via the Internet and 86% of site selectors visit websites to familiarize themselves with various locations, and to leverage current assets and marketing efforts, this interactive environment will be placed at the GRE website

10.  Young Entrepreneurs Academy – U of R
Contact: Gayle Jagel, gjagel@yeausa.org, 585-272-3535

• Replicate a program for students in grades 9 through 12 that teaches entrepreneurship and assists in the start up of a real business
• See recent news

11. Regional Cluster and Competency Networks – GRE
Contact: Matt Hurlbutt, matt@rochesterbiz.com (585) 530-6208

• Build on competencies and enhance clusters in Advanced Manufacturing, Optics & Imaging, Biotech & Life Sciences, Alternative Energy, and Food & Agriculture
• Support matchmaking, collaboration, networking, identification of regional gaps, opportunities and resources through regional activities.

12. Entrepreneurship Fast Track at the Community Colleges – GCC, MCC
Contact: James Winston, jwinston@monroecc.edu, 585-262-1041

• This community college entrepreneurial training program is designed to foster entrepreneurism and new business development. This credit-bearing courses explore the process entrepreneurs go through to start and operate a business and helps students complete a business plan.  

13. Increasing Emerging Worker programs
Contact: Pat Piles, ppiles@fingerlakeswired.com, 585-258-3556

• This program is directed at exposing youth (ages 16-21) to high tech careers, providing them skills and competencies in key industry sectors and encouraging them to complete high school and pursue technical training.  Programs funded through 2008 include sites at The Academy for Career Development, the Finger Lakes Workforce Investment Board, Genesee Community College SUNY Brockport’s Rochester Educational Opportunity Center and the Urban League of Rochester.

14. Regional Center for Workforce Excellence – FLCC, GCC, MCC
Contact: James Winston, jwinston@monroecc.edu, 585-262-1041

• The virtual Regional Center for Workforce Excellence will enhance the skills of area workers by providing access to technical, lab-based non-credit and credit programs - currently only offered at one of the three community colleges - via distance learning and hybrid delivery formats. Non-credit courses offered at one college will also be hosted offsite at partner facilities or businesses to expand the reach of programs beyond existing geographic barriers. This new delivery method will also expand the regional talent pool for small to medium-sized businesses in industries that could include optics manufacturing, health care, biotechnology, precision manufacturing and alternative energy.

15. Regional Skills Alliance and Career Readiness Credential – Finger Lakes WIB, GLOW WIB, Rochester/Monroe County WIB
Contact: Karen Springmeier, flwibks@rochester.rr.com, 315-789-3131

• The goal of the project is to address business needs while also providing workforce solutions.   This initiative will utilize the model created by the Finger Lakes Advanced Manufacturing Enterprise (FAME) to expand and establish regional skills alliances, groups of public and private sector partners dedicated to addressing business needs and workforce development, in the advanced manufacturing and health care/human services industries.  The expansion of the RSAs will also include the implementation of the CRC assessment program across the nine-county region to determine the performance level of job applicants.
  

16. Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Camps
Contact: Pat Piles, ppiles@fingerlakeswired.com, 585-258-3556

• Expand the offerings of Science and Technology camp-like programs that attract the region’s youth to explore STEM offerings, inspire parents and educators to encourage STEM educational opportunities for youth and that will enhance awareness of STEM opportunities in the Finger Lakes Region.  Camps will be offered again in summer 2009.
• In 2008, 143 scholarships were provided for 16-18 year olds at the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ontario County, 4-H Camp Bristol Hills;  Finger Lakes Institute - Hobart & William Smith Colleges, Kids College; Infotonics Summer Science Camp; Rochester Institute of Technology, Kids on Campus; Finger Lakes Council - Boy Scouts of America; MCC; and RIT-National Institute for the Deaf.
   

Updated 1.21.09