At a press conference Thursday, community leaders addressed the needs of local government, education, and revitalization of downtown Rochester.

Sandy Parker, president and CEO of the Rochester Business Alliance, spoke on behalf of the coalition of 20 partners representing business, education, faith communities, labor and nonprofits. Parker appealed to Albany to fund projects ranging from $1 million to $65 million.

"The Rochester Community Coalition is unprecedented in this region. It was born out of necessity, and out of a recognition that standing united is our best chance of being recognized and supported," said Parker.

Below are the seven requests for 2008 state funding:

• $38.4 million in Aid and Incentives to Municipalities funding for Rochester
• $10 million investment in Monroe County government through mandate relief
• $1 million to expand the Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection
• $50 million for the Golisano Institute for Sustainability at Rochester Institute of Technology
• $1 million for the Rochester Area Colleges Center for Excellence in Math and Science
• $50 million for the Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute at the University of Rochester
• $65 million to make the Midtown Plaza site shovel-ready for PAETEC corporate headquarters

Click here for a pdf of the Top Priorities for State Investment 2007-2008.
The coalition recently sent a letter to Albany lawmakers outlining the funding requests. The coalition is working with legislators of both parties to secure funding for the projects.