Rochester ED Commission Mission and Agendas

The mission of the REDC is to:

Develop Rochester’s potential as a business destination and hub of regional development activity.
Provide for the continued availability of marketable industrial and commercial sites within Rochester, including capital improvements, municipal programs and other actions in order to strengthen the City’s fiscal diversity and stabilize it’s tax base through sustainable growth and business retention.

The top 5 Priorities of the REDC (based on the Economic Development Strategic Plan and approved by City Council) are:

1. Granite Ridge Development District

• Implement the Route 11 Corridor Plan
• Frontage Road to maximize development potential
• Assess Tax Increment Financing for infrastructure improvements
• Market Rochester as a destination and Regional Center for office, hospitality and commercial activity

2. Granite State Business Park

• Acquire & expand business park
• Market to target industries and site selection professionals
• Leverage land assets to attract new users and facilitate expansions
• Maximize new employment and tax base
• Phase II infrastructure

3. Downtown Revitalization

• Support & Collaborate with the Rochester Main Street Program & the Rochester Opera House
• Invest in public infrastructure
• Expand target list for attraction efforts
• Online real estate vacancy list

4. Reposition Underperforming Properties

• Wallace Street Redevelopment Project
• Main Street Marketplace (Hoffman’s)
• Utilize Available Tools (like RSA 79E)
• Strategize for chronic vacancies

5. Economic Gardening

• “Grow” new opportunities & support expansions
• Become a regional incubation center
• Consider entrepreneur and start-up opportunities
• Increase available training & resources