Kick Off 2026 with Top Business Opportunities in Rochester

The Insider's Guide to The Greater Rochester, NY Business Community

Author

Mike Marcellus
January 07, 2026

The Rochester Networker

👋 Good afternoon, Rochester! Welcome to The Rochester Networker, the local newsletter serving 10,342 professionals in the Greater Rochester business community.

In today’s issue:

👍Reimagining downtown's Four Corners part of 'Rochester renaissance'

👀 Call for Applications: 2026 Greater Rochester Chamber MWBE Awards

📈 Rochester organizations looking for Engineering Services, Animal Services, Funding, and more

❤️ Region gets new economic development funding

📅 Register for Rochester networking events

👨‍💻 And more …

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🍇 GRAPEVINE
Rochester Business Buzz

A snapshot of what’s happening in the Rochester business community.

  • Reimagining downtown's Four Corners part of 'Rochester renaissance' (Read)

  • Call for Applications: 2026 Greater Rochester Chamber MWBE Awards (Read)

  • Rochester’s WXXI adapts after losing federal public media funds (Read)

  • L3Harris among 7 companies contracted by NASA to advance flagship space telescope project (Read)

  • Rochester credit union completes acquisition of Generations Bank (Read)

  • Wegmans responds to questions about facial recognition in NYC stores (Read)

  • Longtime Rochester beverage destination to close after decades in business (Read)

  • Beers of the World, Fifth Frame Brewing announce closures (Read)

  • 30+ notable new restaurants to check out in 2026 (Read)

  • Delta Sonic Divide: Neighbors express frustration over recently approved gas station (Read)

📈 PIPELINE
Sales & Marketing

Your source for sales leads, discounts, and promotions in Rochester, NY.

  • Joseph A. Floreano Rochester Riverside Convention Center Modernization Project (Link)

  • Rochester Housing Stability Fund Corporation Application for Small-scale or Innovative Project Funding (Link)

  • Production of High Quality Display Items needed at NYS organization (Link)

  • Empire State BidNet Purchasing Group needs Professional Engineering Services for Terminal Apron Rehabilitation Design (Link)

  • On-Demand Event Collateral Printing needed at NYS Office of General Services (Link)

  • New York State Office of General Services for Live Event Audio, Visual, and Staging Services (Link)

❤️ BOOSTS
Resources & Support

Find the tools, websites, and grants that power your growth in Rochester.

  • Region gets new economic development funding (More)

  • Rochester and Geneva get part of state’s Climate Smart Communities Grant to curb climate change (More)

  • Golisano Foundation awards $100 million to two children’s hospitals (More)

  • To address surging food insecurity (especially after SNAP disruptions), Foodlink has purchased over US $1.5 million in food and expanded its emergency network to help residents across Greater Rochester and the Finger Lakes region. (More)

  • United Way of Greater Rochester and the Finger Lakes $250,000 Donation to Foodlink (More)

  • Rochester assemblymembers announce $200K grant to strengthen local nonprofits (More)

📅 EVENTS
Business & Networking

Where you go to learn, connect, and grow with Rochester professionals

🤝 1/9 Business Shower Networking Expo 2026 (Register)
🤝 1/9 Make a Connection at The MAG (Register)
🤝 1/9 Kickstart 2026 Leadership Symposium at Nazareth University (Register) 
🤝 1/29 January Open Coworking Day (Register)

🤝= In Person, 💻 = Virtual

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Thank you for being part of our Greater Rochester business community!

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