Equity Alliance Equity Series

How can we use lessons from past investments and community voices to shape a more equitable future for Rochester’s small businesses?

Join us for a special November Equity Series during DMC Exchange Week, featuring Patrick Seeb, Executive Director of DMC EDA, for a conversation exploring the Main Street Economic Revitalization Grant (MSG) assessment and the role of community co-design in shaping future economic development strategies.

This session will go beyond a traditional recap of the MSG program to examine its successes, challenges, and lessons learned. We will explore how these insights, combined with meaningful community engagement and co-design, can help us better understand the needs of small businesses, address barriers to accessing resources, and develop more inclusive and responsive economic development programs.

As Rochester enters the next decade of the DMC initiative, this conversation will highlight the importance of moving from community input to shared decision-making, ensuring that small business owners, entrepreneurs, and historically underserved communities have a meaningful role in shaping the programs and investments that affect them.

Together, we will explore how lessons learned, community partnerships, and co-design principles can strengthen Rochester’s small business ecosystem and expand opportunities for long-term economic growth.