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HIGH TECH ROCHESTER  DESIGNATED MANUFACTURING AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CENTER FOR FINGER LAKES REGION

State and Federal Program Promotes Regional Economic Growth

High Tech Rochester has been selected by the New York State Office of Science, Technology and Academic Research (NYSTAR) as the lead organization assisting small- and medium sized manufacturers and technology companies in the nine county Finger Lakes Region.

NYSTAR awarded $9.2 million annual funding under the Regional Technology Development Center (RTDC) program to non-profit organizations in the State’s 10 economic development regions.  As the designated Finger Lakes RTDC for the coming five year period, High Tech Rochester will receive $904,000 of State and federal funding in the first year.  The award will continue operation of HTR’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership Center and support HTR’s technology commercialization and entrepreneurship initiatives.  “We are extremely gratified that the State has recognized the impact of HTR’s programs on the regional economy and chosen to continue its support for our work.” said Peter Robinson, Chairman of HTR’s Board of Directors.

“Since its inception, the RTDC initiative has provided special services to a range of businesses from new technology-based start-ups in need of basic business advice to mature manufacturing organizations in need of new technologies and methods to modernize their operations,” said Dr. Russell W. Bessette, Executive Director of NYSTAR. “This program has helped both small and medium-sized manufacturing and technology-based businesses become more competitive as well as to help build the State’s high-technology economy.” The total credited economic impact of the RTDC program for the 5-year period ending in 2005 is $1.56 billion. As a result of the RTDC program, 10,583 jobs have been created and retained in New York State.

HTR’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership Center is part of a nationwide network of MEP centers coordinated by the U.S. Department of Commerce.  Center consultants provide advanced operating methods and technologies to small- and medium-sized manufacturers to help them survive and grow in the face of rapid economic change.  “We have been working with manufacturing clients throughout the Finger Lakes for almost 13 years,” said Mike Haugh, MEP Center Director.  “This commitment from the State will allow us to enhance our services and help more manufacturers build their businesses with effective management and new technologies.” In parallel with the NYSTAR Award, Mr. Haugh has assumed additional responsibilities and has become HTR’s RTDC Director.

At the Lennox Tech Enterprise Center, HTR has a team of experienced entrepreneurs who mentor startup companies, helping them avoid the pitfalls of early growth.  HTR personnel are also focused on helping local companies commercialize new technologies developed in the region’s top-flight educational institutions and commercial research laboratories.
Paul Wetenhall, President of HTR commented “The RTDC designation is a competitive process, and we believe that the initiatives HTR has undertaken to increase the impact of our efforts regionally, as well as the key regional partnerships we have created, was a distinguishing factor in our successful re-designation.”  Wetenhall notes that HTR is a key player in the $15 million WIRED (Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development) initiative that is aligning 21 Finger Lakes organizations to transform the region’s approach to entrepreneurship, innovation and worker training.  “The work we are doing as a State RTDC meshes perfectly with and helps leverage the new projects HTR is helping create under the WIRED initiative.”

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About HTR…the innovators’ edge
High Tech Rochester (HTR) is a not-for-profit economic development organization that receives significant financial support from the New York State Office of Science, Technology and Academic Research (NYSTAR®), New York’s high-technology economic development agency, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP).

HTR is focused on regional economic development in the technology and high growth business sector, and assists the development of new and emerging businesses through its business incubator, the Lennox Tech Enterprise Center. Through its Manufacturing Extension Partnership, the organization improves the competitive position of small manufacturing firms. HTR, the Innovator’s Edge, serves as NYSTAR’s designated Regional Technology Development Center for the Finger Lakes region and one of nearly 350 MEP locations across the country. Learn more at www.htr.org.

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Contact: Paul Wetenhall, HTR President
   (585) 214-2401 // paul.wetenhall@htr.org