The Regional Revitalization Partnership in Action: Connected Communities Bus Tour Highlights Greenwood Project

On Thursday, March 27, 2025, OneROC had the opportunity to join the Connected Communities Bus Tour through Rochester’s EMMA and Beechwood neighborhoods, where transformative projects aimed at economic empowerment and community revitalization are taking shape, thanks to support by the Regional Revitalization Partnership (RRP).

The tour included visits to two critical sites: the Beechwood Neighborhood HUB at 616 N. Goodman St. and the Connect Lab at 360 Webster Ave. The Beechwood Neighborhood HUB is designed to be a welcoming “front door” where community members can access essential programs and services. Just a short distance away, the Connect Lab at 360 Webster Ave. is under development as a co-working space designed to empower neighborhood businesses, non-profits, and residents with wealth-building knowledge and opportunities. These projects are part of the Greenwood Project, a community-driven economic empowerment initiative by Connected Communities that revitalizes commercial properties, supports BIPOC entrepreneurs through business coaching and investment opportunities, and establishes community-owned assets in the Beechwood and EMMA neighborhoods.

The Neighborhood HUB and Connect Lab are supported by the RRP, a $300 million comprehensive economic development strategy and public-private partnership designed to build community wealth through multiple paths. Developed in collaboration with New York State Governor Kathy Hochul and Empire State Development (ESD), the RRP is supported by ESL, Evans Bank, Max and Marian Farash Charitable Foundation, Five Star Bank, John R. Oishei Foundation, KeyBank/First Niagara Foundation, William & Sheila Konar Foundation, M&T Bank, Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, and partners in the cities of Buffalo, Niagara Falls, and Rochester. The RRP focuses on revitalizing underserved neighborhoods through strategic investments in small business and commercial corridors, workforce development, and riverfront placemaking. OneROC is proud to serve as the intermediary for the RRP in Greater Rochester, helping to bring these projects to life through collaboration and strategic guidance.

Both the Beechwood Neighborhood HUB and the Connect Lab are still under construction, with openings planned for late spring and summer of this year.

Stay tuned for more updates on these and other exciting RRP projects!