>>
Gary: JUST AHEAD ON "NEED TO
KNOW," WHEN EXPANSION MANAGEMENT
MAGAZINE LISTED "AMERICA'S 50
HOTTEST CITIES FOR BUSINESS
RELOCATION AND EXPANSION OF
MANUFACTURING COMPANIES,"
ROCHESTER WASN'T ON IT.
FIND OUT WHAT THE NEWLY FORMED
"GREATER ROCHESTER ENTERPRISE"
IS DOING TO CHANGE THAT.
AND THE FALL OF GLOBAL CROSSING.
WHAT'S IT ALL MEAN TO TELECOM
ALLEY?
WE'LL CHAT WITH THE "DEMOCRAT
AND CHRONICLE'S" ELLEN ROSEN IN
OUR BUSINESS SEGMENT.
THIS AND MORE, INCLUDING A
TRIBUTE TO ROCHESTER'S HISTORY
TONIGHT ON "NEED TO KNOW."
>> WE NEED NOT TO BE TALKING SO
MUCH ABOUT OUR ASSETS BUT BE
TALKING ABOUT THINGS THAT ARE
IMPORTANT TO PEOPLE, ALL PEOPLE
FOR WHOM ROCHESTER WOULD BE A
GREAT PLACE TO LIVE AND RAISE A
FAMILY.
>> THIS IS "NEED TO KNOW," THE
ROCHESTER AREA'S ONLY IN-DEPTH
NEWS PROGRAM.
"NEED TO KNOW" IS A PRODUCTION
OF WXXI NEWS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS
COVERING ISSUES, POLITICS,
EDUCATION AND CURRENT EVENTS.
>> "NEED TO KNOW" IS MADE
POSSIBLE BY THE DAISY MARQUIS
JONES FOUNDATION, BY DORSCHEL
LEXUS AND BY THE SUPPORT OF
VIEWERS LIKE YOU.
>> Gary: THANK YOU FOR JOINING
US.
I'M GARY WALKER.
THE HOT TOPIC TONIGHT IS
PROMOTING ROCHESTER AND ECONOMIC
GROWTH.
DESPITE REPEATED LAYOFFS FROM
THE BIG THREE, ROCHESTER HAS
SOMEHOW MANAGED TO SURVIVE,
THANKS TO SMALL BUSINESS AND
HIGH-TECH START-UPS.
BUT WHEN WILL THE FLOWER CITY
FLOURISH AND GROW AGAIN?
THIS WEEK, COUNTY EXECUTIVE JACK
DOYLE HELD HIS FIRST ECONOMIC
SUMMIT.
HE AND OTHER PANELISTS REVEALED
NEW STRATEGIES FOR FINANCIAL
SUCCESS AND JOB GROWTH.
DOYLE STRESSED OUR TECHNICAL
INNOVATION IS STRONG AND SAYS
THE OPPORTUNITIES ARE ENDLESS.
BUT REALISTICALLY, HE'S WORRIED
IF THE FUTURE WORK FORCE WILL BE
BOTH SKILLED AND EDUCATED.
>> Jack Doyle: GUESS WHAT?
WE ARE AT A CRISIS LEVEL IN
THOSE AREAS, WHERE WE HAVE
SOMETIMES ONLY 3% OF THE
CHILDREN AT A VERY GOOD, WELL
BUILT, BEAUTIFUL MIDDLE SCHOOL
PASSING THEIR EIGHTH GRADE
TESTS.
3%.
WHERE WE HAVE, IN THE COHORTS,
WHEN THEY START IN HIGH SCHOOL
IN THE CITY, ONLY 20% OF THE
KIDS WHO START AS FRESHMEN
ACTUALLY GRADUATE FOUR YEARS
LATER.
WELL, WHERE DID THE REST OF THEM
GO?
>> Gary: WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE
NEW EFFORT TO PROMOTE ROCHESTER,
BUT FIRST WE'RE JOINED BY WXXI
RADIO NEWS DIRECTOR PETER
IGLINSKI, WHO WAS AT THIS WEEK'S
SUMMIT AND AT DOWNTOWN
DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE LUNCH
YESTERDAY.
PETER, YOU HEARD THE COUNTY
EXECUTIVES TALK ABOUT ECONOMIC
GROWTH AND JOB EXPANSION AND
MARKETING OUR AREA IN THE PAST.
ANYTHING NEW IN THE SUMMIT?
>> NOT A LOT THAT WE HEARD, SOME
OF THE SAME IMPORTANCE, SOME OF
THE SAME OLD INFORMATION.
OUR BIGGEST ASSET, INTELLECTUAL
CAPITAL, SKILLED WORK FORCE,
GREAT EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS.
ONE THING CAME OUT OF THE
LUNCHEON ON WEDNESDAY.
A SPECIALIST IN BUSINESS
RELOCATION SAID ROCHESTER SHOULD
PROMOTE ITSELF AS A SAFE HAVEN
FROM NATURAL AND MANMADE
DISASTERS AS OPPOSED TO 9/11.
>> Gary: EXACTLY.
>> NO ONE'S DOING THAT.
OR EVEN NATURAL DISASTERS,
HURRICANES, EARTHQUAKES.
NO ONE'S DOING THAT IN THE
COUNTRY.
HE SAID BUSINESSES VALUE
CONTINUITY.
THAT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR
ROCHESTER.
>> Gary: ALSO I HEARD A LOT
ABOUT CO-OPERATION.
BUT ONCE AGAIN, AT THAT LUNCH
YESTERDAY, COUNTY EXECUTIVES'
CALL FOR CO-OPERATION WAS
ANSWERED BY THE ROCHESTER MAYOR
JOHNSON'S SAYING THAT HOLDING
TWO HALF-FULL CUPS AND SAYING
THIS THE CITY, THIS IS THE
COUNTY FORMED TOGETHER THEY ARE
ONE.
HE BASICALLY SAID HE SEES A LACK
OF LEADERSHIP IN THIS AREA,
WHICH IS TOUGH WORK.
>> EXACTLY.
HE POINTS OUT, DON'T LEAVE
ROCHESTER BEHIND.
HE SAID IT BEST.
THE STRONGEST ECONOMIC REGIONS
IN THE COUNTRY, IT'S NO
COINCIDENCE THAT STRONG COUNTRY
CITIES DON'T LEAVE THE CITY OUT.
AND HIS CALL, HIS WARNING IN A
SENSE, CAME ONE DAY AFTER JACK
DOYLE SAID WE'RE IN THIS
TOGETHER.
WE'VE GOT TO REDUCE COMPETITION
AMONG OURSELVES AND CO-OPERATE.
>> Gary: PETER, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
AND PETER IS ON THE JOB.
AFTER TONIGHT, A VOTE FROM THE
SCHOOL DISTRICT, YOU CAN TUNE
INTO WXXI AM 1370 TOMORROW
MORNING AND HEAR THE RESULTS OF
THAT VOTE.
PETER, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
NOT TOO LONG AGO, A PRIVATE
GROUP OF LOCAL BUSINESS LEADERS
FORMED THE "GREATER ROCHESTER
ENTERPRISE" IN HOPES OF BRINGING
COMPANIES AND A LARGER
POPULATION BASE HERE.
THEY HOPE TO DO IT OVER THE NEXT
FIVE YEARS WITH LESS THAN $15
MILLION.
THEIR GOALS ARE LOOSELY BASED ON
INITIATIVES CREATED BY SIMILAR
GROUPS IN BUFFALO AND BALTIMORE.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, THE GREATER
ROCHESTER ENTERPRISE, OR G.R.E.,
EVEN HIRED THE SAME CONSULTANTS.
TONIGHT WE HAVE THE GREATER
ROCHESTER ENTERPRISE, AND
OTHERS, ON BOARD WITH US.
BUT FIRST "NEED TO KNOW'S" MATT
CUMMINGS DELVED INTO THE NEWLY
FORMED WORLD OF THE G.R.E. AND
MET WITH THOSE IN BUFFALO, WHO
HAVE BEEN TRYING OUT THE CONCEPT
OF THE "ENTERPRISE" FOR THE LAST
THREE YEARS.
>> NOBODY, THOUGH, CURRENTLY IS
REACHING OUT BEYOND OUR
COMMUNITY AND TRYING TO MARKET
THIS PLACE.
>> Matt: HOW TO GET COMPANIES
FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY TO
MOVE HERE.
THE KEY: IMAGE.
PROBABLY KNOW TOM RICHARDS AS
THE LEADER OF ROCHESTER GAS AND
ELECTRIC.
HE'S ALSO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE
NEWLY FORMED GREATER ROCHESTER
ENTERPRISE.
ROCHESTER BUSINESS LEADERS
FORMED THE GREATER ROCHESTER
ENTERPRISE LAST SUMMER WITH ITS
PRIMARY GOAL TO BRING NEW
COMPANIES AND SKILLED LABOR TO
THIS AREA.
EVEN THOUGH RICHARDS SAYS MONROE
COUNTY, THE I.M.C. AND THE
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE DO A GOOD
JOB AT JOB TRAINING AND
DEVELOPMENT, THE G.R.E., WHICH
IS A PRIVATELY FUNDED GROUP,
NEEDS TO DO EVEN MORE TO LURE
NEW BUSINESS.
>> I THINK IT'S A PRODUCT OF
EVOLUTION.
IF YOU LOOK BACK AT THE ECONOMY
IN ROCHESTER IN THE EIGHTIES OR
BEFORE THAT, WE WERE DOMINATED
BY LARGE ORGANIZATIONS, KODAK
AND XEROX.
THEY SPUN OFF A LOT OF OTHER
BUSINESSES BECAUSE OF THE
DEMANDS THOSE LARGE BUSINESSES
HAD.
THAT'S WHAT THIS COUNTY THRIVED
ON.
WE DIDN'T NEED THIS, BUT WE DO
NOW.
TIMES HAVE CHANGED.
>> THINK OF THE ROCHESTER
COMMUNITY AS A BIG CORPORATION,
DIFFERENT PRODUCTS AND DIFFERENT
SERVICES, AND A NEED FOR A
SINGLE COHESIVE IDENTITY THAT
ALLOWS THOSE PRODUCTS AND
SERVICES TO BE BETTER THAN THEY
WOULD IF THEY WERE ALL OUT ON
THEIR OWN.
THAT'S IN ESSENCE WHAT WE'VE
GOT.
>> Matt: PETER HOLERIN, CHAIRMAN
OF THE AD COUNCIL OF ROCHESTER
AND PRESIDENT OF COGNITIVE
MARKETING BELIEVES THERE'S NOT A
BETTER TIME THAN RIGHT NOW TO
CREATE THAT COHESIVE IDENTITY.
BECAUSE WITHOUT IT, ROCHESTER'S
ECONOMIC GROWTH COULD BE
STUNTED.
HOLERIN SAYS JUST HOW THE NEWLY
FORMED GREATER ROCHESTER
ENTERPRISE PROMOTES OUR REGION
WILL GO A LONG WAY TOWARD
DETERMINING WHAT BUSINESSES AND
PEOPLE WILL MAKE THEIR WAY HERE.
>> IT NEEDS TO TAKE INTO
CONSIDERATION THE FACT THAT
ROCHESTER DOES NOT HAVE TO BE
ALL THINGS TO ALL PEOPLE, ALL
THINGS TO ALL INDUSTRY IN ORDER
TO BE EXTRAORDINARILY
SUCCESSFUL.
BRAND DEVELOPMENT, POSITIONING
AND MARKETPLACE IS ABOUT FINDING
ITS DISTINCT CAPACITIES AND
CAPABILITIES AND THEN FINDING
THE MARKETPLACE FOR THOSE.
>> Matt: FOR A TASTE OF WHAT MAY
LIE AHEAD, THE G.R.E. ONLY NEEDS
TO LOOK 70 MILES TO THE WEST.
BUFFALO NIAGARA ENTERPRISE WAS
CREATED THREE YEARS AGO WITH A
SINGLE PREMISE IN MIND.
>> IT'S REALLY ONE GOAL AND IT'S
NEW JOBS AND INVESTMENT IN THE
COMMUNITY.
>> Matt: THE GROUP IS HANGING
ITS HAT ON THE CAMPAIGN SLOGAN
"I AM BUFFALO NIAGARA."
BUT TREASURER MARSHA HENDERSON
SAYS, IN ORDER TO BE SUCCESSFUL,
THEY MUST PROVIDE THE NUMBERS
THAT PROSPECTIVE COMPANIES WANT
TO SEE.
>> YOU HAVE TO SHOW UP WELL IN
THE SCREENING PROCESS.
AND THAT MEANS OUR TAX, COSTS,
DEVELOP THE LAND, TAX INCENTIVES
THAT ARE HERE, POPULATION GROWTH
OR DECLINE.
A POPULATION DECLINE IS A
NEGATIVE FACTOR FOR US.
>> Matt: FOR UPSTATE NEW YORK,
IT'S A RACE AGAINST TIME TO GRAB
THOSE COMPANIES.
>> THE TIME THAT THE COMPANIES
TAKE FROM WHEN THEY ORIGINALLY
UNDERSTAND THAT THEY NEED A NEW
MANUFACTURING FACILITY; THEY
NEED TO CONSOLIDATE FACILITIES
OR NEED TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL
SERVICE FOR CONTRACT, FROM THE
OLD DAYS TO WHERE IT IS NOW HAS,
IN THE LAST TEN YEARS, HAS BEEN
DECREASING BY 50% EVERY TWO
YEARS.
WHERE WE USED TO HAVE A
NINE-MONTH WINDOW TO TRY AND
INFLUENCE THE COMPANY TO LOOK AT
YOUR AREA, PUT TOGETHER A
PACKAGE THAT THEY WOULD PUT A
NEW FACILITY OR EXPANDED
FACILITY IN AN AREA, IT'S NOW IN
MANY CASES SHRUNK DOWN TO NINE
WEEKS.
>> Matt: TIME IS MONEY,
ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO
MEDIA BUYS.
BUFFALO NIAGARA MARKETS THEIR
MESSAGE IN "THE WALL STREET
JOURNAL," ON CNN, CNBC, AND
NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO.
THE G.R.E. HIRED A.M.A.
CONSULTING TO HELP MARKET OUR
COMMUNITY.
THAT'S THE SAME AGENCY INVOLVED
WITH THE BUFFALO NIAGARA
ENTERPRISE AND THE GREATER
BALTIMORE ALLIANCE.
ALTHOUGH RICHARDS SAYS MONROE
COUNTY'S RESOURCES ARE
STRETCHED, THE PRESIDENT OF THE
GREATER BALTIMORE ALLIANCE
BELIEVES LOCAL GOVERNMENT PLAYS
A VITAL ROLE IN THE G.R.E.'s
FUTURE.
>> THERE IS A BETTER WAY TO DO
BUSINESS.
NUMBER ONE, THEY'RE CREATED
BECAUSE THERE'S A NEW REALITY
AND BUSINESS LOCATION
DECISION-MAKING AND, NUMBER TWO,
BECAUSE PEOPLE FINALLY
UNDERSTAND BUSINESS CAN'T DO IT
ALONE AND GOVERNMENT CAN'T DO IT
ALONE.
A COUNTY CAN'T DO IT ALONE.
A CITY CANNOT DO IT ALONE.
THERE IS POWER AND STRENGTH IN A
GROUP OF MANY WORKING TOGETHER
AS ONE.
>> Matt: OVERALL, THE G.R.E.
WANTS TO RAISE $14 MILLION OVER
FIVE YEARS TO INVEST PRIMARILY
IN A MARKETING AND OUTREACH
PROGRAM FOR PROSPECTIVE
COMPANIES AND ALSO ON AN
ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN.
HOWEVER, THE G.R.E. HAS YET TO
SETTLE ON A CAMPAIGN SLOGAN.
>> WE'RE GOING AFTER THE KIND OF
INDUSTRIES THAT WE THINK CAN
THRIVE ON OUR ADVANTAGES.
THOSE ARE GOING TO BE INDUSTRIES
WHOSE CAPITAL IS LARGELY
INTELLECTUAL.
I THINK THAT BUILDING LARGE -- I
NEED TO GIVE YOU AN EXTREME.
TO BUILD A LARGE HEAVY
MANUFACTURING FACILITY IN
UPSTATE NEW YORK AND ROCHESTER
IS PROBABLY NOT WHAT'S GOING TO
HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE CAN'T
ATTRACT PEOPLE TO THIS COMMUNITY
WHOSE BASIC CAPITAL IS
INTELLECTUAL AND WHO ALSO FIT
WELL INTO THE ENVIRONMENT WE'RE
BUILDING.
>> Matt: PETER HOLERIN IS
CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC.
>> GIVE IT A PLACE IN THE
CONSCIOUSNESS OF AMERICA.
NOTHING LESS THAN THAT IS REALLY
WHAT WE NEED TO BE DOING, WHAT I
HOPE G.R.E. HAVE PULLED
TOGETHER.
(Music)
>> Gary: THANK YOU, MATT.
WELL, THERE YOU HAVE IT.
LET'S GET RIGHT TO IT.
CHRISTINE WHITMAN, YOU'RE WITH
THE DRIVING FORCE, "THE" DRIVING
FORCE BEHIND G.R.E.
I PUT IT TO YOU: HOW ARE YOU
GOING TO DO IT?
$14 MILLION OVER FIVE YEARS TO
CREATE A NEW IMAGE, PROMOTE
ROCHESTER, BRING NEW COMPANIES
HERE SEEMS KIND OF MEAGER.
I MEAN BUFFALO AT 25 MILLION IN
TWO YEARS.
>> WELL, THANK YOU, GARY.
WE LOOKED AT WHAT OTHER
COMMUNITIES WERE DOING, AND 14
MILLION SEEMED LIKE THE RIGHT
AMOUNT FOR ROCHESTER,
WHERE WE ARE.
OUR PRODUCTS ARE IN VERY GOOD
SHAPE COMPARED TO SOME OTHER
COMMUNITIES, AND WE FELT THAT
THIS WAS THE APPROPRIATE AMOUNT.
IT'S MORE ABOUT GETTING THE
MESSAGE OUT THROUGH ARTICLES,
THROUGH TRADE SHOWS AND REALLY
CREATING A BUZZ ABOUT ROCHESTER
RATHER THAN MAYBE A HARD-HITTING
ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN.
THERE'S ADVERTISING INCLUDED IN
THE ACTIVITY, BUT IT'S A MORE
FUNDAMENTAL CAMPAIGN THAT IS
GOING TO CONVINCE THE COMMUNITY
THAT THINGS ARE PRETTY GOOD
HERE.
>> Gary: WE'RE GOING TO RETURN
TO THAT.
I'M GOING TO GO TO SANDRA
PARKER, PRESIDENT OF THE I.M.C.,
AWARD WINNER.
CONGRATULATIONS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> Gary: I HAVE TO ASK YOU,
THOUGH, I.M.C., THE CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE, THE CITY, THE COUNTY
ARE ALL INVOLVED IN MARKETING
ROCHESTER AND BRINGING JOBS
HERE.
DO WE NEED ANOTHER LAYER?
DO WE NEED ANOTHER ENTITY?
>> NEITHER THE I.M.C. NOR THE
CHAMBER HAS DEDICATED FUNDING TO
PROMOTE THE MARKETING EFFORTS OF
THE GREATER ROCHESTER AREA.
WE ASSIST THE COUNTY AND THE
CITY IN THEIR MARKETING EFFORTS
BY PROVIDING THEM WITH DATA AND
INFORMATION RELATIVE TO -- THE
LABOR FORCE, AND WHAT WE REALLY
NEED TO DO IS WE NEED TO INFUSE
MORE DOLLARS INTO THIS MARKETING
EFFORT.
>> Gary: LET ME TURN TO TOM
BATLEY.
HE'S THE MANAGER OF MONROE
COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
TOM, I HAVE TO ASK YOU.
ANY TOURIST ISSUES HERE?
I MEAN, IF YOU LOOK AT THE
G.R.E.'s DOCUMENTS, THEY SAY
THEY WANT THE PRIMARY
RESPONSIBILITY FOR BUSINESS
ATTRACTION IN OUTREACH
MARKETING.
COUNTY OKAY WITH THAT?
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, FOR YEARS
ROCHESTER DID VERY WELL WITH
SENIOR STEWARDS OF OUR COMMUNITY
WHO WERE C.E.O.s AND POLITICAL
LEADERS.
AND ON THE C.E.O. SIDE, WE'VE
REALLY SEEN THAT EVAPORATE IN
THE PAST TEN YEARS.
NOW C.E.O.s FOR OUR LARGE
COMPANIES HAVE BEEN GENERALLY
RECRUITED FROM OUT OF TOWN.
AND TO HAVE A NEW GENERATION OF
BUSINESS PEOPLE WHO HAVE NEVER
REALLY PARTICIPATED IN A
RECRUITMENT EFFORT THAT WE GO
THROUGH TAKE A STRONG INTEREST
IN WHAT IT IS WE'RE DOING AND
TRY AND BRING NEW BUSINESS HERE
IS A GREAT THING.
>> Gary: DOES IT CHANGE YOUR
JOB?
>> I WANT MORE DEAL FLOW.
IF THEY CAN BRING MORE DEAL
FLOW, THEN NEW YORK STATE, THE
CITY OF ROCHESTER, MONROE COUNTY
CAN CLOSE MORE DEALS.
>> Gary: DAVID TYLER, BUSINESS
WRITER FOR THE "DEMOCRAT AND
CHRONICLE," I HAVE TO AS YOU.
YOU'RE COVERING THE BUSINESS
THEME.
IS ROCHESTER ON THE RADAR WHEN
IT COMES TO BUSINESS ATTRACTION
FOR COMPANIES THAT SITE
BUSINESSES HERE?
>> WELL, IF YOU TALK TO VARIOUS
EXPERTS, THEY SAY IT'S STARTING
TO GET THERE.
A FELLOW NAMED JAY BIGGINS WHO
RUNS AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
INCENTIVE CONSULTING FIRM BASED
OUT OF NEW YORK CITY TOLD ME
THAT ROCHESTER IS STARTING TO
GET THERE, STARTING TO GET MORE
NOTICED BECAUSE OF OUR TRAINED
WORK FORCE AND BECAUSE OF SOME
OF THE MARKETING EFFORTS THAT
HAVE ALREADY STARTED AND BUZZ
THAT'S BEING CREATED AROUND
THEM.
>> Gary: I'LL STICK WITH YOU
FOR A MINUTE, DAVID.
COMPARING THIS TO BALTIMORE OR
BUFFALO, SHOULD WE COMPARE
G.R.E. TO BALTIMORE OR BUFFALO?
>> WELL, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S
NECESSARILY THE ONLY CITY YOU
WANT TO COMPARE TO.
I DID SOME REPORTING ON
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, ROUGHLY THE
SAME SIZE, METROPOLITAN AREA.
AND THEY'VE HAD AN EFFORT THERE
FOR ABOUT SEVEN YEARS NOW.
THEIR FIRST FIVE-YEAR BLOCK,
THEY HIT THEIR GOALS OF JOB
CREATION, $2 BILLION IN
INVESTMENT AND 50,000 NEW JOBS.
LAST YEAR, THOUGH, WAS A LOT
TOUGHER.
THEY ONLY CREATED 100 JOBS AND
ABOUT $50 MILLION IN INVESTMENT
THAT THEY'RE TAKING CREDIT FOR
WITH THAT ORGANIZATION.
>> Gary: OKAY, CHRISTINE,
YOU'RE LISTENING TO ALL OF THIS.
I HAVE TO ASK YOU, I MEAN IN A
SENSE IT TAKES A LOT OF -- HOW
DO WE WANT TO CALL IT ON TV?
IT TAKES A LOT OF COURAGE TO
COME OUT TO A COMMUNITY AND TO
ORGANIZATIONS WHICH HAVE
TRADITIONALLY DONE THESE THINGS
AND COUNTY AND CITY AGENCIES AND
SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT?
IN A SENSE, JUST BY SAYING YOU
NEED G.R.E., YOU'RE SAYING
SOMEHOW THE JOB OF SELLING
ROCHESTER IS JUST NOT GETTING
DONE.
>> NO, THAT'S NOT THE CASE.
THESE ORGANIZATIONS HAVE REALLY
ALL DONE A GREAT JOB, BUT...
>> Gary: WHAT'S LACKING?
>> WHAT'S LACKING IS THE
FUNDING.
OTHER COMMUNITIES HAVE COME
TOGETHER AND CREATED THESE
ORGANIZATIONS, BUT WE'RE NOT
COMPETITIVE.
OTHER COMMUNITIES HAVE THIS 14,
$15 MILLION POT OF MONEY THAT
CAN BE USED TO MARKET THE
COMMUNITY, TO USE FOR THE
OUTREACH, TO BE USED TO RETAIN
COMPANIES IN THE COMMUNITY AND
TO BE USED FOR THE MARKETING
INITIATIVE.
WE DON'T HAVE THAT.
YOU KNOW, THE COUNTY'S DOING A
GREAT JOB.
THE PEOPLE THAT WE'VE
INTERVIEWED HAVE BEEN REALLY
HAPPY WITH THE COUNTY, THE CITY,
THE CHAMBER AND THE I.M.C., BUT
NONE OF THEM HAVE THE BUDGET
WITHIN THEIR ORGANIZATIONS TO DO
THE JOB.
>> Gary: IS IT ALSO
CO-OPERATION, TOO?
I MEAN ONE OF THE LAST THINGS
THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE OF ERIE
COUNTY SAID TO OUR REPORTER WAS,
"HEY, TELL BILL AND JACK TO
START GETTING ALONG."
>> WELL, IT'S ABOUT EVERYBODY
COMING TOGETHER.
THE ANALOGY I'M GOING TO GIVE
YOU IS THE FAMILY, YOU KNOW.
ALL FAMILIES HAVE LITTLE
SQUABBLES WITHIN THEIR OWN
FAMILY, BUT THEN WHEN THEY GO
OUT TO THE OUTSIDE, THEY ARE A
TEAM.
>> Gary: OKAY, LET'S HOLD ONTO
THAT.
WE'RE GOING TO THE OUTSIDE.
BUFFALO SAYS "I AM BUFFALO
NIAGARA."
THAT'S THEIR SLOGAN.
WHAT IS OUR IMAGE AND DO WE HAVE
A SLOGAN?
DO EACH OF YOU HAVE AN IDEA WHAT
IT SHOULD BE?
IS THERE ANY AGREEMENT ON WHAT
IT SHOULD BE?
ROCHESTER IS --
>> ROCHESTER GROWS, JUST LIKE WE
HAVE ROCHESTER WORKS FOR THE
WORK FORCE DEVELOPMENT
INITIATIVE.
I MEAN, THAT IS REALLY ONE OF
THE BEST WORK FORCE DEVELOPMENT
INITIATIVES IN THE COUNTRY.
WE'RE REALLY A BENCHMARK FOR THE
COUNTRY, AND THAT'S A
COOPERATIVE EFFORT BETWEEN THE
COUNTY AND THE CITY, THE I.M.C.
AND THE CHAMBER.
>> Gary: BUT, TOM, THIS IS YOUR
JOB.
WHEN YOU SAY ROCHESTER IS, WHEN
SOMEONE SAYS WHAT IS ROCHESTER,
WHAT DO YOU SAY?
>> QUALIFIED WORK FORCE,
EXCELLENT QUALITY OF LIFE,
TREMENDOUS WORLD-CLASS LOCATIONS
FOR EXPENDING OR INVESTING
DIRECTLY INTO THE COMMUNITY.
>> HIGH-TECH CENTER.
>> HIGH-TECH CENTER.
WE CAN GET A COMPANY ESTABLISHED
AND A FACILITY UP AND RUNNING AS
FAST AS THEY CAN ANYWHERE.
>> Gary: DOESN'T EXACTLY ROLL
OFF THE TONGUE FOR A SLOGAN.
>> IT'S NOT A SLOGAN.
I GUESS WHAT I'M TRYING TO GET
AT IS WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO SAY
TO A -- I MEAN, IN TODAY'S
REALITIES, YOU SAW THE
ADVERTISING FOR BUFFALO.
WHAT ARE WE?
>> I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'VE
IDENTIFIED A PARTICULAR SLOGAN
YET, BUT WHATEVER WE DO IDENTIFY
WILL INCORPORATE ALL OF THOSE
IMAGES THAT TOM DESCRIBED.
>> Gary: ARE YOU CONCERNED ALSO
ABOUT HOW MANY VOICES THAT ARE
OUT THERE DESCRIBING ROCHESTER?
FOR EXAMPLE WE'VE HEARD SOME
CRITICISM ON THE PART OF P.R.
FOLKS SAYING THE COLD RUSH.
THEY GO, OH, MY GOD!
WHY WOULD YOU PROMOTE
ROCHESTER'S WEATHER?
I MEAN, WHY WOULD YOU CALL IT
THE COLD RUSH?
THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT
ENTITIES, A LOT OF DIFFERENT
GROUPS WHO ARE PROMOTING THEIR
PRODUCT IN THE WAY OF PROMOTING
ROCHESTER.
>> IN A WAY, GARY, I THINK
THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT
G.R.E. WILL BRING ALL OF THESE
VARIOUS ENTITIES INTO ONE FOCAL
POINT SO THAT WE WILL HAVE ONE
VOICE, WE WILL HAVE ONE IMAGE,
AND WE WILL HAVE ONE MESSAGE.
>> Gary: DAVID, IS THERE AN
IMAGE OF ROCHESTER RIGHT NOW
THAT YOU CAN -- THAT YOU FEEL IN
YOUR REPORTING THAT YOU'RE
GETTING FROM PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF
ROCHESTER?
>> I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN ANSWER
THAT.
PEOPLE THAT I TALK TO CERTAINLY
KNOW ABOUT ROCHESTER.
I THINK THEY'RE GETTING AN
IMPRESSION OF WHAT ROCHESTER HAS
TO OFFER, THAT IT'S NOT JUST THE
LAND OF KODAK, BUT VARIOUS
COMMUNITIES DON'T NECESSARILY
ALL BOIL IT DOWN TO A BUZZWORD.
>> Gary: OKAY.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
OUR TIME DWINDLES.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT FOR G.R.E.?
WHEN IS THE PUBLIC AND ROCHESTER
GOING TO START SAYING CAN G.R.E.
REALLY PLAY THE MAJOR ROLE AS
THE PRINCIPAL ADVOCATOR FOR OUR
AREA?
>> OKAY.
SO RIGHT NOW WE'RE IN THE
FUND-RAISING PROCESS AND WE'RE
REALLY PLEASED TO SAY THAT WE'VE
HIT OUR FIRST GOAL OF THE FIRST
MILLION DOLLARS.
>> Gary: A MILLION-DOLLAR
COMMITMENT.
>> WE HAVE THAT COMMITMENT AND
WE HOPE TO RAISE ANOTHER
MILLION.
THAT WILL TAKE CARE OF THE FIRST
YEAR'S BUDGET.
AND WE HOPE, BY SOMETIME IN
APRIL, TO BE ABLE TO ROLL OUT A
MARKETING STRATEGY THAT WE ARE
DEVELOPING IN CONJUNCTION WITH
THE COUNTY, THE CITY, THE
I.M.C., THE CHAMBER AND
G.R.V.A., GREATER ROCHESTER
VISITORS ASSOCIATION AS WELL.
AND TOGETHER THIS GROUP WILL PUT
FORTH A STRATEGY WITH A CAMPAIGN
AND A SLOGAN AND THEN WE'LL BE
ABLE TO ROLL IT OUT TO THE
COMMUNITY.
AND WE'LL HAVE A NEW EXECUTIVE
HIRED TO REALLY LEAD THAT
CAMPAIGN.
>> Gary: WHICH IS VERY
IMPORTANT.
>> VERY IMPORTANT.
>> Gary: SO LET ME JUST ASK YOU
THIS IN OUR TIME LEFT.
SUCCESS: A MEASUREMENT FOR
G.R.E.
WHAT WILL MAKE G.R.E. A SUCCESS
IN YOUR MIND?
WHAT GOAL WOULD YOU SAY?
WHAT MEASUREMENT?
WHAT SHOULD IT ATTAIN?
TOM, WE'LL START WITH YOU.
>> I WOULD SAY THAT SURVEYS OF
OUT-OF-TOWN CONSULTANTS AND
OUT-OF-TOWN EXECUTIVES AND WHAT
THEIR PERCEPTION IS OF THE
ROCHESTER AREA, CHANGING THAT
PERCEPTION.
ROCHESTER NEEDS A PUBLICIST MORE
THAN IT NEEDS A MARKETING
CAMPAIGN OR AN ADVERTISING
CAMPAIGN.
>> Gary: SANDRA PARKER, WHAT
ABOUT SUCCESS?
>> I WOULD SAY PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF
THE ROCHESTER AREA BEING ABLE TO
IDENTIFY WITH SOME OF THOSE KEY
ELEMENTS THAT WE WANT THEM TO
RECOGNIZE ROCHESTER FOR.
>> Gary: DAVID, WHAT WOULD YOU
SAY?
>> WELL, I'D SAY THAT, FROM WHAT
I'M TOLD FROM TALKING TO OTHER
PEOPLE, YOU HAVE TO PICK A GOAL
AND STICK TO IT.
AND RICHMOND, VIRGINIA SAID MY
NUMBERS MAY NOT BE GOOD THIS
YEAR BUT WE HAVE THIS GOAL AND
I'M GOING TO STAND AND FALL ON
THOSE NUMBERS.
>> Gary: THANK YOU, DAVID.
YOU HAVE THE FINAL WORD,
CHRISTINE.
SUCCESS?
>> OKAY.
SUCCESS IS BOTH POPULATION AND
JOB GROWTH IN THE REGION.
>> Gary: STAY TUNED.
GREATER ROCHESTER ENTERPRISE IS
JUST GETTING UNDER WAY.
UNFORTUNATELY THAT IS ALL THE
TIME WE HAVE FOR THIS
DISCUSSION.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE
GREATER ROCHESTER ENTERPRISE,
LOG ONTO OUR WEB SITE AT
WXXI.ORG/NTK.
WHILE YOU ARE THERE, YOU CAN
ALSO TAKE PART IN OUR WEEKLY
SURVEY QUESTION.
AND FOR COMPREHENSIVE DAILY
COVERAGE OF STATE ISSUES AND
NEWS, IT'S NYCITIZENS.ORG.
TOUGH WEEK FOR ROCHESTER'S
TELECOM BUSINESS.
IT'S TIME FOR THIS WEEK'S
EDITION OF "THE BUSINESS SECTION
WITH THE DEMOCRAT AND
CHRONICLE."
(Music)
JOINING US NOW IN STUDIO IS
ELLEN ROSEN, THE BUSINESS EDITOR
FOR THE "THE
DEMOCRAT
AND CHRONICLE."
ELLEN, THANKS FOR JOINING US.
YOU NOTICE TONIGHT WE'VE TALKING
LOTS ABOUT PROMOTING ROCHESTER.
WE TOOK A PRETTY GOOD BODY BLOW
THIS WEEK IN THE TELECOM
INDUSTRY WITH GLOBAL CROSSING
GOING BANKRUPT.
I HAVE TO ASK YOU, I MEAN, LOCAL
JOBS ARE GOING TO CONTINUE FOR
AWHILE.
BUT IS THE REAL EFFECT OF THIS
JUST THE LOCAL STOCKHOLDERS'
LOSS?
>> WELL, THERE ARE TWO EFFECTS.
I MEAN THE LOCAL STOCKHOLDERS
REALLY DID TAKE A BIG HIT.
THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT
HAD ORIGINAL ROCHESTER TELEPHONE
COMPANY STOCK THAT HAD ROLLED
OVER AND BECOME FRONTIER STOCK
AND THEN BECOME GLOBAL STOCK.
FOR AWHILE THAT PEOPLE WENT
THROUGH THAT PERIOD THAT GLOBAL
OWNED FRONTIER.
SO THESE PEOPLE ENDED UP WITH
THIS IN THEIR PORTFOLIOS.
NOW, SOME OF THEM COULD HAVE
DUMPED IT AT ANY PARTICULAR
TIME, AND THE WARNING SIGNS WERE
SURE THERE.
I MEAN, THE GLOBAL STOCK HAS
BEEN DROPPING PRECIPITOUSLY, BUT
A LOT OF PEOPLE REALLY LOST THAT
WAS BROUGHT ON PAPER.
>> Gary: BECAUSE IT'S A GLOBAL
COMPANY, GLOBAL CROSSING.
HOWEVER, THAT'S A REALLY GOOD
POINT YOU BRING UP, THAT PEOPLE
WHO HAVE BEEN WITH THAT COMPANY
WHEN IT WAS A LOCAL COMPANY ALL
THE WAY THROUGH PROBABLY A LOT
OF 401-Ks.
>> AND A LOT OF RETIREES THAT
ARE VERY ANGRY BECAUSE YOU HAD
THIS LITTLE TINY -- GLOBAL GOT
TO THE SIZE IT WAS BY ACQUIRING
OTHER COMPANIES, AND IT ACQUIRED
-- WHEN IT ACQUIRED FRONTIER
TELEPHONE, IT WAS A VERY -- IT
WAS FRESH AND THE SIZE OF
FRONTIER.
THEY HAD THIS LITTLE TINY
COMPANY COMING IN AND TAKING
OVER THIS BIG COMPANY.
IN THE END, GLOBAL IS THE FOURTH
LARGEST BANKRUPTCY IN U.S.
HISTORY, BEAT OUT K-MART JUST
THROUGH ACQUISITIONS.
>> Gary: UNBELIEVABLE.
I REMEMBER SOME COMMUNITY
LEADERS, EDUCATIONAL LEADERS ALL
GOT TOGETHER AND THEY ENVISIONED
ROCHESTER TELECOM ALLEY, AND
YOUR PAPER HAS REPORTED THAT.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN AND HOW'S
GLOBAL CROSSING GOING TO AFFECT
IT?
>> THE DREAM OF TELECOM ALLEY
WAS TO REALLY DEVELOP US AS
WE'RE LOOKING FOR A FALL-BACK
FROM THE MANUFACTURING JOBS
CONTINUED TO DECLINE IN KODAK
AND XEROX DOWNSIZED.
THEY'RE LOOKING FOR ANOTHER
INDUSTRY THAT WILL GROW.
SO THE IDEA OF TELECOM ALLEY WAS
TO CREATE A CONCENTRATION OF
TELECOM COMPANIES.
ON ONE LEVEL THAT HAS WORKED
VERY SUCCESSFULLY BETWEEN 1990
AND 2000.
IT GREW EXPONENTIALLY AND THE
PAYROLL TRIPLED, SOMETHING LIKE
-- MORE THAN $300 MILLION IN
PAYROLL AND SOMETHING LIKE 84
TELECOM COMPANIES OPERATING IN
THIS AREA.
>> Gary: GIVE ME SOME EXAMPLES.
>> PAYTEC, EMPOWER, CHOICE ONE,
VARIOUS ONES.
THOSE ARE THE BIG ONES PEOPLE
KNOW ABOUT.
BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF THEM.
BUT ONE OF THE IMPACTS THAT
GLOBAL WILL HAVE IS WHAT ALL OF
THESE COMPANIES SUFFERED FROM,
THE DIFFICULTY GETTING CAPITAL.
ALL OF THEM SAY THEY HAVEN'T HAD
ENOUGH MONEY, INVESTOR CAPITAL
TO REALLY GET TO THE POINT THEY
WANT TO BE.
THAT STARTED RIGHT UP LAST YEAR
AS INVESTORS STARTED GETTING
NERVOUS ABOUT THE STOCK MARKET.
GLOBAL GOING UNDER, GOING
BANKRUPT, LEAVING ALL THESE
PEOPLE WITH ALL THIS DEBT,
ALL THESE PEOPLE ARE NEVER GOING
TO GET PAID BACK IS REALLY GOING
TO FREEZE THAT MONEY UP EVEN
MORE; SO COMPANIES LIKE EMPOWER
AND CHOICE ONE THAT HAVE BEEN
STRUGGLING, STANDARD AND POOR'S
SAYS CHOICE ONE DOESN'T HAVE
ENOUGH MONEY TO MEET ITS
LONG-TERM GOALS.
CHOICE ONE DISAGREES, BUT ALL OF
THESE COMPANIES THAT HAVE BEEN
OUT THERE LOOKING FOR MONEY ARE
GOING TO HAVE EVEN MORE
DIFFICULTY.
>> Gary: SO TELECOM ALLEY IS IN
JEOPARDY?
>> WELL, WHAT WE'RE HEARING,
WE'VE HAD MY REPORTER RICH
MULLAND HAS BEEN LOOKING AT THIS
ALL WEEK FOR A STORY THAT WILL
APPEAR SUNDAY IN THE BUSINESS
PAGES.
WHAT WE'RE HEARING IS KIND OF A
MIXED BAG.
IT'S A WAIT-AND-SEE.
A LOT OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS
STILL THERE.
R.I.T. IS CONTINUING TO BUILD
ITS TELECOM LAB.
AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE
ENVISION ARE STILL GOING, BUT
THE FUTURE OF THESE COMPANIES IS
A LITTLE IFFY RIGHT NOW.
>> Gary: LET ME GO BACK TO
GLOBAL.
THAT'S THIS SUNDAY?
GREAT.
LET ME GO BACK TO GLOBAL
QUICKLY, BECAUSE WE'RE HEARING A
REPORT IN YOUR PAPER TODAY THAT
THERE'S SOME QUESTIONING ABOUT
ACCOUNTING, QUESTIONING ABOUT
BOOKKEEPING AND ABOUT REPORTING
SALES, AND AGAIN ALL THE 401-K's
HAVE HOLES IN THEM RIGHT NOW.
IS THIS AKIN TO ENRON?
>> WELL, EVERYBODY'S LOOKING AT
EVERYTHING THROUGH THE ENRON
GLASS RIGHT NOW.
EVERYTHING IS GETTING THE ENRON
CAST.
THERE PROBABLY ARE SOME
SIMILARITIES IN TERMS OF THE
PEOPLE THAT ENDED UP WITH THIS
IN THEIR 401-K IN TERMS OF THE
FACT THAT -- PEOPLE FEELING THE
COMPANY WAS NOT HONEST AND OPEN
ABOUT WHERE IT WAS GOING
FINANCIALLY, ALTHOUGH THE
REPORTS YOU COULD SEE FROM THE
QUARTERLY REPORTS THAT THINGS
WEREN'T GOING WELL.
BUT THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE THAT
ARE MAKING SOME COMPARISONS.
>> Gary: AND SPEAKING OF A HOLD
ON 401-K's, THE STATE ITSELF,
THE --
>> YES, BETWEEN ENRON.
63 MILLION ON GLOBAL AND ANOTHER
50-SOMETHING ON ENRON, YEAH.
SO A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE REALLY --
AND THE OTHER COMPARISON PEOPLE
ARE MAKING IS THAT THE TOP
EXECUTIVES OF GLOBAL CROSSINGS
HAVE DONE VERY WELL FOR THE
COMPANY.
THEY'VE MADE A LOT OF MONEY.
GARY WINEK SOLD A LOT OF STOCK
EARLIER ON, STOCK OPTIONS, AND
MADE A LOT OF MONEY; SO THE
PEOPLE ON THE LOWER END THAT
HAD, YOU KNOW, A FEW THOUSAND
SHARES OF STOCK ARE REALLY
FEELING BURNED.
>> Gary: VERY MUCH IN THE NEWS.
WE CAN READ ABOUT IT IN THE
"DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE"
BUSINESS SECTION.
ELLEN ROSEN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH
FOR JOINING US.
YOU MAY HAVE SEEN THE PBS
SPECIAL "WAR LETTERS" RECENTLY.
WELL, WXXI TV HAS CREATED ITS
OWN VERSION WITH A LOCAL SPIN.
"WAR LETTERS: ROCHESTER WRITES
HOME," FEATURES CORRESPONDENCE
TO AND FROM LOCAL SOLDIERS WHO
SERVED IN EVERY CONFLICT AMERICA
HAS ENTERED.
HERE'S A LOOK.
(Music)
>> JULY 3rd, 1918, SOMEWHERE IN
FRANCE.
"MY DEAR MOTHER AND FATHER,
THESE DAYS ARE THE MOST VIVID
INSIGHTFUL ONES I'VE EVER
EXPERIENCED.
THINK OF THE MOST EXCITING
MOMENT IN YOUR LIFE AND MULTIPLY
IT BY 1,000.
SEE WHAT I HAVE EVERY MOMENT OF
THE DAY.
MY NERVES GET RATHER UNSUNG AT
TIMES."
(Music)
"THE NEARER A MAN IS RELATED TO
A BRUTE, THE BETTER HE STANDS."
(Music)
>> Gary: FOR MORE INFORMATION
ON "WAR LETTERS" AND THIS WEEK'S
EDITION OF "NEED TO KNOW" OR TO
DISCUSS ANY OF THESE TOPICS, LOG
ONTO wxxi.org/ntk.
THAT'S ALL FOR TODAY.
WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK WHEN
WE'LL DISCUSS THE REPERCUSSIONS
OF TONIGHT'S CITY SCHOOL
DISTRICT BUDGET VOTE.
(Music)