(ABC 6 News) — The City of Rochester has been selected as one of six cities nationwide to join an inaugural national small business initiative.

It is titled the “Regulatory Justice Initiative: Expanding Access to Small Business Opportunity” (RJI), and the initiative is led by the Mayors Innovation Project in partnership with Cities Work at the Institute for Justice.

The initiative is designed to help make it cheaper, faster, and simpler to start and grow small businesses.

Rochester’s team will include Mayor Kim Norton, Community Development Director Irene Woodward, Executive Director of Collider Foundation Amanda Leightner, and Executive Director of Rochester Downtown Alliance Shawn Fagan.

“Small businesses are a vital part of Rochester’s economy and identity,” said Mayor Kim Norton via a press release. “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.” 

The Rochester team will work with expers and peer cities to analyze the city’s regulatory environment and identify ways to streamline processes for entrepreneurs.

The participating cities will receive specific 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that small local businesses are the heart and soul of their communities, but in many places regulatory roadblocks and outdated procedures often complicate the process for entrepreneurs,” said Katya Spear, Managing Director of the Mayors Innovation Project, via a press release. “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 RJI will run through 2026, and results and lessons will be shared nationally to help other cities strengthen their small business ecosystems.

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