MCC News

County Executive Bello Re-Envisions Monroe in State of the County Address

May 13, 2022

The following news release was issued by the Monroe County Department of Communications on Friday, May 13, 2022:

Proposals include violence initiative, opioids, zoo investment and county workforce incentives

Monroe County Executive Adam Bello was joined by elected officials, business and community leaders, the labor community, concerned citizens and representatives from Rochester’s Ukrainian community as he delivered his 2022 State of the County address last night at Monroe Community College in Brighton.

To view the full address, visit www.monroecounty.gov/executive-sotc2022

The address, the second State of the County Bello has delivered, focused on re-envisioning the future of Monroe County to create a community that ensures equitable opportunities for all residents and positions the county as the best place to live, work and raise a family. Delivering that future requires focusing on four pillars: economic and workforce development, public safety, public health and wellness, and infrastructure.

“Looking back over the last year, I’m proud of what we accomplished: businesses are bouncing back; there are construction projects all over the county; our credit rating is the best it has been this century; and the City and county have a true partnership,” said County Executive Bello. “Our future is filled with promising opportunities, but now we need to focus on making those opportunities actionable. Throughout COVID, the county acted as a Great Convener – a hub that facilitated a coordinated community response, connecting the systems that too often work in isolation and re-thinking how we work together. If we continue to do this — we can find solutions, create the future we want, and re-envision Monroe.”

Bello unveiled numerous new initiatives falling under the four pillars, including:

• A $35 million Applied Technology Education Center on the Monroe Community College Brighton campus to provide a state-of-the-art facility to train students for high-demand jobs in skilled trades including automotive technician, precision tooling, solar photovoltaic panel installation and heating, ventilation, air conditioning service technician and mechanic.
• $400,000 from COMIDA to the Young Adult Manufacturing Training Employment Program (YAMTEP) for a pilot program to recruit, train and connect individuals with employment
• A Rochester Emerging Talent and Innovations Network (RETAIN) program pilot that will provide four-year graduates in high-demand fields a $2,000 bonus if they live and work in Monroe County for at least one year.
• A recruitment and retention initiative for county employees that includes a 2% raise for all workers and a $3,000 retention incentive to be paid out in quarterly increments over the next 18 months.
• A five-year, $8.5 million investment to help reduce violent crime in the City of Rochester by funding 11 additional deputies for the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office; providing increased support to the Rochester Police Department; connecting law enforcement, clergy and social workers to conduct supportive home visits for families after gun arrests; and expanded intervention and reentry services for people in custody.
• An ATV enforcement team that will help combat illegal use of dirt bikes on public roads and sidewalks.
• A new command center that will coordinate community efforts and facilitate opioid settlement dollars as the community collectively addresses the opioid crisis. This center will follow an emergency incident control model and will leverage the work of everyone in the field and bring together resources to fight this battle in every corner of Monroe County.
• A $10 million investment in county parks that includes a synthetic ice rink and spray park at Ontario Beach Park, new drainage and player amenities in the county’s golf courses, pickle ball courts at Black Creek and Mendon Ponds Parks, an accessible canoe and kayak launch in Churchville Park, a new playground in Powder Mills Park and renovations at Kanatota Lodge in Webster Park.
• A $121 million project at the Seneca Park Zoo that includes a new front entry complex and conference center, the largest indoor tropics complex of its kind in the United States, and a 220,000-gallon aquarium.

DeAnna R. Burt-Nanna, Ph.D.

“This is a pivotal moment for Monroe County. As we celebrate our county’s Bicentennial, this is the time to plan for our future and make our next 200 years even better than the last,” said County Executive Bello. “We have unlimited possibilities before us. And I know that by working together, we can meet every challenge and when anyone asks the hard questions whether our children will want to live here, whether our children can succeed here, the answer will be a resounding YES.”

“Through support and investment in Monroe Community College, Monroe County Executive Adam Bello is building a model for how higher education adapts and meets the changing needs and expectations of students and partners from all backgrounds, especially those in historically underrepresented communities,” said Monroe Community College President Dr. DeAnna R. Burt-Nanna. “The County Executive’s bold and ambitious agenda will expand opportunity and access to higher education and training to lift up Monroe County residents, build employer partnerships in key growth fields, and revitalize our economy.”