Welcome to Monroe County, New York!

We’re a community of innovators on the cutting edge of scientific research and discovery; a community of artists featuring world-renowned performers, a top-flight orchestra and one of the nation’s premier schools of music; a community of entrepreneurs home to some of the world’s best known brands and fastest growing startups. But most importantly, we’re a community with limitless potential and endless possibilities.

We like to say we’re the best mid-sized community in America!

A Community of Innovators

Ever since George Eastman invented commercial photography, Monroe County has been a world leader in imaging technology. Today, we’re not only on the cutting edge of imaging, but biotechnology, telecommunications, optics, photonics, and much more. In fact, we rank among the top three communities in the nation in the number of patents granted per capita. Monroe County and the City of Rochester are home to the University of Rochester and the Rochester Institute of Technology, two of the finest research institutions in the nation. The discoveries made on the campuses and research centers in our community have led to the development of new medical treatments and more powerful computer chips, and have helped the scientific world move forward by enhancing understanding in the fields of physics, biology, and chemistry.

Our goal as a community is to turn these discoveries into new industries—creating jobs and enhancing our quality of life. See Related Links for information on how you or your business can help us to meet this goal.

A Community of Artists

The clatter of an orchestra tuning up, the grace and beauty of world-class dance, the laughter of an audience—these are the sights and sounds of Monroe County. We’re home to the world-renowned Garth Fagan Dance Company, the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, the Rochester Broadway Theater League, the Downstairs Cabaret, the Memorial Art Gallery, the Rochester City Ballet—well, you get the picture. We love the arts here and there’s always something to experience from the biggest shows to the latest up and coming artists.Our community is home to the Eastman School of Music, one of the top music schools in the country and many of its students perform in the historic and world-renowned Eastman Theatre.

Here in Monroe County, we are confident that our quality of life is second to none.

A Community of Entrepreneurs

Kodak, Xerox, Bausch & Lomb—some the world’s most recognizable names in business make their home in Monroe County. However, we’re also home to smaller and fast growing firms like PaeTec Communications and Harris Interactive. Most importantly, we have a diverse economy that’s fully integrated into the global marketplace–which is why companies from our area export more products to foreign markets than 40 entire states! As County Executive, I have been proud to lead a county government that is committed to keeping taxes stable and working with businesses to locate or expand here and create jobs. In Monroe County, we’ve put jobs first; working to keep property taxes stable for 10 straight years and developing a package of economic incentive programs that is one of the most competitive in the nation.

By the way, did I mention that we have five of the top 100 school districts in America and the typical commute is less than 21 minutes?

What are you waiting for? If you looking to expand or relocate your business, look no further than Monroe County.

Limitless Potential, Endless Possibilities

Monroe County is a great place to live, work and raise a family. But the best part about living in Monroe County is that our best is yet to come. We’re dedicated to improving our community and looking for new faces, new friends, and new ideas to keep our community moving forward.

Thanks for visiting the MonroeCounty.gov! Feel free to contact us to let us know what you think.

About County Executive Maggie Brooks

Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks has earned a reputation as a dedicated and
effective leader since she was sworn in as Monroe County’s fifth County Executive in
January 2004. The first woman to hold this position, she was re-elected to a second
term in 2007 by an historic 74 percent of the vote.

Maggie is well-known in the Greater Rochester area from her many years as a local
television news anchor and radio reporter. She previously served as Monroe County
Clerk and as Monroe County Legislator for the 17th District.

Her inclusive, collaborative leadership style has brought about a new era in County
government. Maggie has established positive and cooperative relationships with the
City of Rochester, local towns and villages, businesses and community organizations.

Maggie inherited extreme challenges when she took office, including a significant
budget deficit and the rising costs associated with unfunded state mandates. She
created a citizen Budget Advisory Team and the Center for Civic Entrepreneurship to
work with her in developing creative, out of the box solutions targeted toward
long-term fiscal stability in Monroe County. Maggie’s first three Monroe County
Budgets held the line on overall spending and kept the property tax rate flat. Her
fourth budget lifted the burden of Medicaid from the shoulders of County property
taxpayers and maintained quality of life services, while cutting the property tax
rate.

Maggie has also been a strong voice for Medicaid reform. In 2005, she was appointed
to the newly-created Federal Medicaid Commission. She was the only public official
from a local government to be appointed to the Commission.

Maggie’s top priority is strengthening the local economy through job creation. At
the start of her Administration, she convened an Economic Development Strategy Team
to work with her. She was instrumental in establishing the County and City
partnership with Greater Rochester Enterprise to streamline local economic
development efforts and attract new business investment. Shortly after taking
office, Maggie established the requirement that any company receiving county
financial incentives must use local labor for new construction or expansion. She
also increased the incentives available under the County’s GreatRate and GreatRebate
programs to encourage companies to purchase equipment and supplies locally. In 2006,
Maggie launched The Entrepreneurs Network to grow the region’s innovation economy.
Under her leadership, the County has assisted hundreds of companies in improving and
expanding their operations, retaining and creating thousands of local jobs.

Also under Maggie’s leadership, Monroe County has become a statewide leader in the
development of green energy resources and the promotion of renewable energy. Her
environmentally-friendly initiatives include establishing a green building policy
for all new County facilities of more than 5,000 square feet, constructing an
electricity-generating facility at the Mill Seat Landfill, installing LED bulbs on
all County traffic lights, and installing solar panels on the roof of the County
Office Building.

Maggie has brought an energizing new vision to County government, making it her
priority to involve the entire community in shaping the future of Monroe County.

Maggie resides in the Town of Webster with her husband, Robert Wiesner. She is a
graduate of Ithaca College where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree.

About Jerry Helfer

Assistant County Executive

Jerry J. Helfer is Assistant County Executive of Monroe County, a position he has held since January 1, 2004.

He previously served in Monroe County government as Assistant Deputy County Clerk for Downtown Operations (1998-2003) and, from 1996 to 1998, worked on the staff of New York State Senator James S. Alesi, most recently as Special Advisor. He also served as Legislative Director in the Majority Office of the Monroe County Legislature from 1992 to 1996.

Jerry has been a member of the Greece Town Board since 1998, representing the residents of the Third Ward as their elected Town Councilman. He is also a member of the Greece Chamber of Commerce and the Rochester Rotary Club.

Jerry is a lifelong Greece resident. He graduated from Greece Olympia High School and earned his B.A. degree from Concordia College in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Jerry and his wife, Devan, reside on Rye Road in Greece.