A new report from the Center for Governmental Research indicates the University of Rochester continues to grow and its economic impact expands across the state.
It indicates it employs nearly 29,000 people, and overall, the university is responsible for generating about 56,000 jobs and $3.2 billion in total wages across New York state.
"The numbers speak for themselves," said UR President Joel Seligman. "We've grown by approximately 11 percent in the last two years, we now have total full time and part-time employees of 28,617."
Seligman credits that growth to the transformation of the institution being affiliated with two hospitals, to one that is now affiliated with a regional health system.
And there's internal growth through planned projects and ones that are already underway, including the completion of the Wegmans' Data Science Building, Phase II of the Golisano Children's Hospital, the Laboratory for Laser Energetics Pulsed Power Initiative, and the new High Tech Rochester Business Accelerator in Sibley Square downtown.
Seligman, who recently stepped down from the Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development Council, says challenges remain for the city and the region, including job creation, improving K-12 education, and fighting poverty.
"Our number of employees is growing, and with that comes an increased, at least moral responsibility, to be leaders in helping revitalize our community," he said.
He adds some are making great progress in the greater Rochester community.
Now the challenge is how do all of us make progress, and how do we do it together.
Looking forward, Seligman says one constant at a research university is life is constant flux and its constant challenges.
He says their job is to solve problems, and as long as the university has the kind of partnerships and the quality of leadership it has, he's very confident about their future.
Here's Seligman talking about the report, which he tied to his recent "Garden Party Address:"