Rochester Selected as One of Six U.S. Cities for National Small Business Initiative

The City of Rochester has been selected as one of six cities nationwide to join the inaugural Regulatory Justice Initiative: Expanding Access to Small Business Opportunity (RJI). The initiative, led by the Mayors Innovation Project in partnership with Cities Work at the Institute for Justice, is designed to make it cheaper, faster and simpler to start and grow small businesses.

The Rochester team includes Mayor Kim Norton, Irene Woodward, Community Development Director, Amanda Leightner, Executive Director of Collider Foundation, and Shawn Fagan, Executive Director of Rochester Downtown Alliance.

"Small businesses are a vital part of Rochester's economy and identity," said Mayor Kim Norton. "We are honored to be part of this national effort to identify and remove unnecessary barriers that make it harder for entrepreneurs to launch and grow their ideas. This work supports our goal of creating a more accessible, equitable and thriving local economy."

Through this initiative, the Rochester team will work with experts and peer cities to analyze the city's regulatory environment and identify ways to streamline processes for entrepreneurs. Participating cities will receive tailored recommendations and an implementation plan to make local regulations more supportive of small business growth.

"Mayors know that small local businesses are the heart and soul of their communities, but in many places regulatory roadblocks and outdated procedures often complicate the process for entrepreneurs," said Katya Spear, Managing Director of the Mayors Innovation Project. "We are thrilled to work with these cities and their committed leaders to reduce regulatory barriers and expand opportunities for entrepreneurship."

The six cities selected for the inaugural cohort are

• Hartford, Connecticut

• Honolulu, Hawaii

• Laredo, Texas

• Rochester, Minnesota

• San Bernardino, California

• Thornton, Colorado

The Regulatory Justice Initiative will run through 2026 with results and lessons shared nationally to help other cities strengthen their small business ecosystems.