Educational Workforce/Personal Finance Development Program is the First of its Kind in New York State
Investment Complements “Finger Lakes Forward” – The Region’s Comprehensive Strategy to Revitalize Communities and Grow the Economy
See Inside the New Paychex JA Discovery Center Here
Empire State Development (ESD) today announced that Junior Achievement of Central Upstate has officially opened the state-of-the art, Paychex Junior Achievement Discovery Center in Rochester. The West Ridge Road facility offers hands-on experiences in work force readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy to area students. The program facility is housed within Kodak Center at Eastman Business Park. Construction was completed in late 2023 and the first cohort of students were welcomed last month. All told, JA anticipates serving 4,000 students through June 2024, reaching 12,000 students annually at full capacity. The hands-on facility was identified as a priority project in 2017 by the Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development Council (FLREDC) and was awarded a grant of a little more than $560,0000 for the project. The total project cost was placed at close to $4 million. The Center is based on a proven JA program model that currently operates in over 40 U.S. cities, impacting more than 500,000 annually. It is the first center of its kind in New York State.
Empire State Development President, CEO & Commissioner Hope Knight, said, “This state-of-the-art learning lab is providing area youth with opportunities to explore and broaden their future career options by instilling the skills necessary to be successful in jobs available throughout the Finger Lakes region. The targeted programs offered at the Paychex JA Discovery Center are also reinforcing the importance of staying in school and ensuring students’ financial self-sufficiency down the road.”
The new center is an engaging student learning lab that focuses on career awareness, work readiness, financial self-sufficiency, and entrepreneurship. Two cumulative age-appropriate JA programs- JA Biz Town and JA Finance Park (with an entry and advanced level) - are being run out of the facility. Each program contains 13 in-classroom lessons, followed by a day-long visit to the Discovery Center. There, the lessons learned are put to the real-life test as the student becomes a citizen in a simulated “mini city” that resembles the real businesses and organizations in Rochester.
In JA Biz Town, 6th grade students take on the jobs and activities available in our local economy, such as running businesses, making products, borrowing money, making buying decisions and even electing a mayor. 7th and 8th graders attending JA Finance Park learn about personal finance as they are given an adult life scenario in the mini-city, complete with a job, credit score, housing, family and financial obligations. The students then visit 18 sponsored storefronts to make a series of personal financial decisions that support the lifestyle they envision.
Junior Achievement of Central Upstate New York President & CEO Patricia Leva, said, “Financial capability provides the foundation for a better life. The Discovery Center programs offer students a memorable authentic experience to practice being an adult in our economy, fostering the skills and confidence for financial `self-sufficiency. They also offer youth the opportunity to explore the careers available in our region and to learn about the skills needed for their individual success. We are grateful to Empire State Development and the Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development Council, the Paychex Charitable Foundation, NYS Senator Jeremy Cooney, our storefront sponsors and our other donors for creating opportunity and prosperity for our young people and our community.”
Paychex President and CEO John Gibson, said, “Paychex is proud to join Empire State Development and the Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development Council in bringing the first Junior Achievement Discovery Center to New York State. The Paychex JA Discovery Center will provide thousands of students with the foundational skills and opportunities necessary to carry forward the entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to building vibrant communities that Rochester and the Finger Lakes region is known for.”
Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development Council Co-Chairs and Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Bob Duffy and Geneseo President Denise Battles, said, “The Paychex JA Discovery Center is a truly a game-changer for middle and high school students in our community. This hands-on learning center will help to enrich their lives, helping them to become more engaged citizens as they strive to learn about the in-demand careers available in the area. The regional council is so very pleased to have supported the creation of this important facility, and we are so excited to see what the future holds for all of these wonderful young people.”
State Senator Jeremy Cooney, said, “I’m eager to see the Paychex Junior Achievement Discovery Center prepare the next generation of Rochesterians. This national model program ensures students of today have the resources they need to become the entrepreneurs of tomorrow. By prioritizing workforce development through experiential learning, we are ensuring young people play a vital role in the region’s future growth.”
State Assemblymember Sarah Clark, said, "Being the first of its kind in the state, the new Paychex Junior Achievement Discovery Center will be yet another nation-leading greater Rochester initiative putting us on the map. As we continue to address some of the challenges our youth face, it is more important than ever that we invest in their personal and professional development. We need to support increased workforce readiness, entrepreneurship skills and exposure to more career opportunities to augment the traditional classroom education. Thank you to ESD and all of the partners involved in getting this exciting project over the finish line, ensuring one less barrier for all our students to achieve financial security and ultimately thrive here in our region for years to come."
Monroe County Executive Adam Bello, said, “The new Paychex Junior Achievement Discovery Center gives young people career readiness and financial literacy skills that they can take with them for the rest of their lives. Junior Achievement is bringing a proven model to Monroe County, providing our youth valuable workforce development opportunities to help them find success in our growing economy.”
Rochester Mayor Malik D. Evans, said, "Understanding financial discipline and income management are vital skills. Thanks to the new Paychex Junior Achievement Center, our youth have access to hands-on learning experiences that will reinforce these essential skills, which are crucial for future economic self-sufficiency. Coupled with the City’s financial empowerment programs and initiatives, Rochester’s youth will be better prepared to enter the workforce, become entrepreneurs, and achieve financial success. I am proud join with JA as we provide hope and deliver opportunity for our residents."
For more about the Paychex JA Discovery Center visit: https://cuny.ja.org/about-ja/opportunity/paychex-junior-achievement-discovery-center
About Junior Achievement ® (JA)
Junior Achievement is the world's largest organization dedicated to giving young people the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success, plan for their future, and make smart academic and economic choices. JA programs are delivered by corporate and community volunteers, and provide relevant, hands-on experiences that give students from kindergarten through high school knowledge and skills in financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship. Today, JA reaches more than 4.4 million students annually in 100 markets across the United States. Junior Achievement of Central Upstate New York (JACUNY) delivers programming to students in a 25-county region throughout Central and Update New York State. To learn more about JACUNY , visit https://cuny.ja.org/.
Accelerating Finger Lakes Forward
Today’s announcement complements “Finger Lakes Forward,” the region’s comprehensive strategy to generate robust economic growth and community development. The regionally designed plan focuses on investing in key industries including photonics, agriculture and food production, and advanced manufacturing. More information is available here.
About the Regional Economic Development Councils
The Regional Economic Development Council initiative is a key component of the State's approach to State investment and economic development. In 2011, 10 Regional Councils were established to develop long-term strategic plans for economic growth for their regions. The Councils are public-private partnerships made up of local experts and stakeholders from business, academia, local government, and non-governmental organizations. The Regional Councils have redefined the way New York invests in jobs and economic growth by putting in place a community-based, bottom-up approach and establishing a competitive process for State resources. Learn more at regionalcouncils.ny.gov.
About Empire State Development
Empire State Development (ESD) is New York’s chief economic development agency (www.esd.ny.gov). The mission of ESD is to promote a vigorous and growing economy, encourage the creation of new job and economic opportunities, increase revenues to the State and its municipalities, and achieve stable and diversified local economies. Through the use of loans, grants, tax credits and other forms of financial assistance, ESD strives to enhance private business investment and growth to spur job creation and support prosperous communities across New York State. ESD is also the primary administrative agency overseeing the Regional Economic Development Councils and the marketing of “I LOVE NY" the State’s iconic tourism brand. For more information on Regional Councils and Empire State Development, visit www.regionalcouncils.ny.gov and www.esd.ny.gov.
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