Serving small, middle, and large size businesses, entrepreneurs, start-ups, and nonprofits located or hiring in Monroe and surrounding counties.

From large job fairs to smaller recruiting events, the RochesterWorks Business Services Team offers different opportunities to help you connect with the candidates you need to fill your vacancies. Schedules and availability for each event varies, so please contact us for the latest updates and to find out what's coming up next.

These bimonthly in-person events allow job seekers to directly engage with 15 - 20 participating employers to talk about available openings, discuss the application process, and submit their resumes to recruiters and hiring managers.

Community Job Fairs are midsize events hosted by the Monroe Job Opportunities Integrated Network (JOIN) and a host town or neighborhood in Monroe County, including regular events at the Monroe Community College (MCC) Downtown Campus.

If you'd like to receive notices about Calls for Businesses to participate in these events, subscribe to RochesterWorks' Business and Community Outreach newsletters. 

JOIN is a partnership between RochesterWorks and Monroe County to increase the accessibility of job fairs for residents in all corners of our community.

We offer small-scale events, called “Recruiting Round Rochester” featuring one to two employers at a time, hosted on site at the Career Center. Employers can schedule a day to come into our College Avenue Career Center to meet job seekers by contacting the Business Services team. 

Recruit for candidates from the comfort of your office. Through a partnership with Monroe County, we host monthly virtual job fairs that give you the opportunity to text and video chat with interested job seekers. Participating businesses can create a “virtual booth” to share information about their organization including work culture, benefits, and job openings, as well as video and/or social media links. Job seekers can create an online profile, share their skills, and upload their resume.

The On-The-Job Training (OJT) grant program is designed to help businesses in the City of Rochester and Monroe County meet their employment needs by offsetting the cost of training new employees who need to upgrade their skills to meet the demands of a specific job.

• Private sector for-profit, not-for-profit, public businesses in Monroe County may apply. 
• The business must have established operations in its current location for at least 120 days.
• The business must have two or more employees (not including owners or principals) and OJT cannot represent more than 25% of a business’s total workforce.
• Organizations must comply with NYS Labor Law and successfully pass the vetting process set forth by the New York State Department of Labor including a check of the OSHA records, WARN notices, Unemployment Insurance (UI) payment status, and NYS Disability and Workers Compensation insurance.

Contact RochesterWorks to discuss your hiring needs and eligibility. Applications for the OJT grant will be accepted on a continuous basis until funding is exhausted. Selection will depend on available funding and successful completion of the application process.

Please note: Please allow a minimum of seven business days for paperwork processing and completion. Individuals cannot start work until your business has been notified of and approved for the OJT grant.

Candidates go through your traditional screening process, and if you decide you’d like to hire someone, the grant will reimburse your company up to 50 percent of their wages while they’re on-the-job learning new skills from a more experienced member of your team. 

OJT grants reimburse up to a maximum of $5,000.00 per new hire. All training must be completed within four months (640 hours). Companies are limited to three (3) OJT grants per program year, which runs July 1 – June 30.

• Full-time positions with a minimum of 35 hours per week.
• Training must take place during normal working hours. Any paid holidays, sick days, vacation days or overtime will not be covered with OJT funds.
• Upon completion of the OJT, the position should continue
• Trainee wages must be no less than the rate paid during the time of the OJT contract.

What types of positions are not covered by OJT grant funding?

• Temporary, contract or seasonal positions
• commission-based jobs.
• Businesses may not lay off and replace a current employee in the position with a new hire enrolled in OJT.

NGLCC | National LGBT Chamber of Commerce | nglcc.org

Lindsay Murphy, Disability Resource Coordinator for RochesterWorks

The Disability Resource Coordinator is the go-to for employers and job seekers in accessing disability resources, including our Ticket to Work program and the Disability & Disclosure workshop. 

Phone: Phone: 585-258-3500 ext: 3513

Email Lindsay Murphy

Business Development Financial Assistance Program

Provides low-interest loans and grants for expansion projects. Eligible projects include purchase of machinery/equipment, acquisition, construction and/or renovation of real estate, and working capital. 

Download PDF

Central Library of Rochester & Monroe County: Business Insight Center

Includes The Carlson Center for Intellectual Property, Patent Virtual Assistance Center, Patent Virtual Assistance Center

Business Insight Center - Rochester Public Library (roccitylibrary.org)

Central Library of Rochester & Monroe County: Grant Resource Center

The Central Library’s Grant Resource Center has many resources available to help you with grant seeking, including the Foundation Directory Online database.

The Grant Resource Center - Rochester Public Library (roccitylibrary.org)

City of Rochester Targeted Business Revitalization Grant

A new program to assist businesses with annual gross revenues of $5 million or less with expansion and/or business retention projects.

Download PDF

College at Brockport Small Business Development Center (SBDC)

Offers free counseling, training, and business research on starting and running a business. The SBDC assists with New York State M/WBE certification applications and more.

Department of Neighborhood and Business Development
30 Church Street, Room 005A
Rochester, NY 14614
(585)428-6912 

City of Rochester | Department of Neighborhood and Business Development

Empire State Development
Opportunities to grow your business in New York State. All forms of tax incentives that enable savings and cost advantages to businesses.

Empire State Development (ny.gov)

Kiva Rochester Crowdfunded Microloan Program

Kiva's mission is to provide capital for entrepreneurs who may have difficulty securing loans from traditional lending institutions. The program, involving a partnership with Kiva and the City, provides 0% interest/ no fee/36-month microloans to small businesses which may be startup or early-stage businesses which require capital for growth. 

City of Rochester | Kiva Rochester Crowdfunded Loans

Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprise (MWBE)
A state certification program, administered by Empire State Development, designed to assist the growth and development of businesses owned and controlled by women and minorities.

Minority & Women's Business Development | Empire State Development (ny.gov)

Neighborhood Commercial Assistance Program 

Provides small business matching grants for eligible retail and neighborhood service businesses which need capital for items such as furniture/fixtures/equipment, exterior signage, advertising, computers, architectural services, and security equipment (alarm systems, exterior lighting, security cameras). 

City of Rochester | Business Loans, Services and Grants

New York Business Express
Starter guide, custom business checklist and information on support and incentives from New York State.

New York Business Express (ny.gov)

NextCorps
Provides a suite of services, including technology commercialization for very-early-stage opportunities, business incubation for high-growth-potential startups, and growth services for existing manufacturing companies seeking to improve their top- and bottom-line performance.

Home - NextCorps

NY Small Business Development Center
Provides small business owners and entrepreneurs in New York with the highest quality, confidential business counseling, training, and business research at no cost.

New York Small Business Development Center (nysbdc.org)

NYS License Center
Useful website for those who want to start a new business or expand their current business, as it will help you find the NYS business permits and licenses you may need.

New York Business Express | New York State Office of Information Technology Services (ny.gov)

Rochester Economic Development Corporation (REDCO) Revolving Loan Fund

Provides financial assistance to new or expanding city businesses to stimulate private sector job retention and/or creation, investment within the city of Rochester and increases in the City's tax base. Eligible projects include furniture, fixture and equipment purchases, machinery acquisition, working capital and the acquisition, construction and/or renovation of real estate.

REDCO | Rochester Economic Development Corporation (redcoroc.com). 

Rochester Financial Empowerment Center
The Rochester Financial Empowerment Center is supported by the efforts of the City of Rochester Mayor's Office of Community Wealth Building and Consumer Credit Counseling Services of Rochester. It helps clients build a brighter financial future and achieve goals through free, one-on-one, professional financial counseling.

About | Rochester Financial Empowerment Center (rochesterfec.org)

START-UP NY
Helps new and expanding businesses through tax-based incentives and innovative academic partnerships.

START-UP NY Program | Empire State Development

U.S. Small Business Administration Disaster Loan Assistance

The SBA offers disaster assistance in the form of low interest loans to businesses, nonprofit organizations, homeowners, and renters located in regions affected by declared disasters. SBA also provides eligible small businesses and nonprofit organizations with working capital to help overcome the economic injury of a declared disaster.

Home (sba.gov)

U.S. Small Business Administration Loans

The U.S. Small Business Administration helps small businesses get funding by setting guidelines for loans and reducing lender risk. These SBA-backed loans make it easier for small businesses to get the funding they need.

Loans (sba.gov)

Greater Rochester SCORE
SCORE is a nonprofit association dedicated to educating entrepreneurs and helping small businesses start, grow, and succeed nationwide. SCORE is a resource partner with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), and has been mentoring small business owners for more than forty years.
https://greaterrochester.score.org/

Small Business Development Center
The New York Small Business Development Center (NYSBDC) provides small business owners and entrepreneurs in New York with the highest quality, confidential business counseling, training, and business research at no cost. 
https://www.nysbdc.org/locations.aspx

Urban League of Rochester Business Development 
The Urban League of Rochester's Business Development Division supports minority, women, and veteran-owned businesses. We help entrepreneurs and small business owners launch and/or grow their businesses through classroom instruction and one-on-one technical assistance.
https://www.urbanleagueroc.org/small-business

Business Mentor NY
Business Mentor NY is the state's first large scale, web-based, hands-on mentoring program geared to help entrepreneurs and established small businesses overcome challenges to grow their business. 
https://esd.ny.gov/business-mentor-ny-program

Rochester Economic Development Corp. (REDCO)
REDCO’s mission is to create equitable neighborhood wealth for existing and new businesses through strategic economic development.
https://www.redcoroc.com/index.cfm?Page=Home

Employers that do business in New York State can trim labor costs through workforce & economic development programs offered through the NYS Department of Labor including:

• Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC)
• Workers (with Disabilities) Employment Tax Credit (WETC)
• Work For Success
• New York Youth Jobs Program
• Hire a Veteran Credit
  
  
  

If you’re new to working with RochesterWorks: Submit your postings to us through our easy online form

If you've worked with us before: Email your job posting directly to our Business Services team at hotjobs@rochesterworks.org 

We will send you a confirmation email once your job has been posted with us. We will also share your job with the NYS Department of Labor for posting in the New York State Job Bank so you'll reach even more candidates.

If you have questions, please contact 585-258-3500 ext. 2000

The RochesterWorks Job Board is a place where you can post your open positions with us for free. Candidates will still apply directly to you. 

This program allows your business to try out candidates to see if their skills and work habits are a fit for an open position.

Work Experience Tryouts provide opportunities for individuals with barriers to employment such as chronic unemployment, inconsistent work history, or other identified matters, enabling them to establish a work history, demonstrate work success, and develop the skills that lead to unsubsidized employment.

• Private sector for-profit, not-for-profit, public businesses in Monroe County may apply. 
• Potential candidates must work or live in Monroe County.  
• Trade organizations, staffing agencies and other third-party entities are not eligible to apply for Work Experience Tryout’s on behalf of other organizations.
• Organizations with prior poor performance outcomes with RochesterWorks will not be awarded funds.
• Applicants must comply with New York State Labor Law.

Contact RochesterWorks to discuss your hiring needs and program eligibility.

A candidate will work on-site at your location but will be employed by a staffing agency and have their wages 100% subsidized and paid for by RochesterWorks Work Experience Tryouts last for a short-term period with the ultimate goal of having the employee transition into permanent employment with your company.

Please Note: All paperwork must be approved by RochesterWorks prior to the first day of work or first day of training. Individuals cannot start work until the business has been notified and approved for the program. 

• The job must pay at least the current minimum wage up to $25 an hour
• Must be full-time, year-around positions
• Positions that are in the public, private or nonprofit sectors.