Economy

Unskilled workers in the Greater Rochester area have seen a slight increase in pay in the past year.  More than 200 member companies of the Rochester Business Alliance responded to an annual wage survey, showing the average starting pay for unskilled workers rose to $10.59 an hour, compared to $10.24 in 2012. 

(AP) — The New York state canal system  officially opened Saturday for its 189th season during a ceremony at a waterfront festival in western New York.

State Canal Corp. Director Brian Stratton was  joined by local elected officials and other leaders when the canal's navigation season is opened  during Brockport's Low Bridge, High Water Festival at Harvester Park.

Filming of the Amazing Spider-Man 2 in downtown Rochester is expected to boost the local economy by at least $600,000.

But Pulitzer Prize winner, author and economics specialist David Cay Johnston tells WXXI there will be very little economic gain from the major motion picture.

Harris Corporation's locally-based RF Communications division says it has completed the workforce reductions that are part of the recently announced restructuring.

The number of jobs cut across the company were 200, with about 100 of those cuts happening in Rochester.  They are a combination of people who took a voluntary buyout as well as some layoffs.

Harris says the reductions were needed to improve the company's performance in the wake of fewer orders for military radios, partly due to the federal sequestration.

Groundbreaking today for the 100-million dollar College Town project in the Mt. Hope Avenue-University of Rochester area.
U of R President Joel Seligman says it will be a magnet to strengthen staff and faculty at the U of R, and the neighborhood.
14 acres of University of Rochester owned property in the Mt. Hope Avenue area will be redeveloped -- adding a hotel, retail, office and dining space, parking and housing.
20-million dollars in funding from the project comes from a federal HUD Section 108 loan, and another 4-million dollars comes from the state.