City of Rochester Summer Meals Needs Assessment: Informing a Community-Wide Strategy to Close the Summer Meals Gap

CGR was engaged by the Rochester Area Community Foundation to assess the Summer Meals program providing free meals to eligible Rochester youth at sites throughout the city. Our analysis found that less than a quarter of children who would benefit from the program are currently being served, leaving a gap...

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OCM BOCES and Oswego County School Library Systems Merger Study: Merger Task Force Report

For two school library systems in NYS – Onondaga-Cortland-Madison BOCES and Oswego BOCES – CGR helped explore the viability of pursuing a merged system. CGR studied the operations of the systems and facilitated meetings of a regional task force of library professionals, which recommended the boards pursue consolidation in order...

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Options for the Future of Cattaraugus County Nursing Homes

Cattaraugus County is one of only 2 NY counties to own and operate a pair of nursing homes. Due to concerns about current operating costs and uncertainties about future state and federal funding, the county engaged CGR to help weigh options concerning the future operation, management and ownership of the...

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Options for the Future of the Chautauqua County Nursing Home

Concerned about the cost of its nursing home, Chautauqua County requested bids for the facility from potential buyers, then decided to simultaneously assess what it could do to operate the home more cost effectively. In early 2012, CGR was engaged to determine the home’s financial viability and assess options for...

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Ontario County Regional High Schools Feasibility Study: Options for Addressing Rising Costs and Shrinking Enrollment

Eight of the nine districts in Ontario County have decreasing enrollment, a trend that is projected to continue through the next decade. The districts agreed to explore how regional high schools and/or regional collaborations could save taxpayer dollars and expand educational opportunities. CGR presents several models and finds that...

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Options for the Future for the Village of Hudson Falls and the Town of Kingsbury

Leadership in the Village of Hudson Falls agreed to assess options for increasing efficiency and promoting taxpayer savings - up to and including dissolution. A study committee, with support from CGR, identified a range of options from co-locating offices to coordinating capital planning and purchasing for fire services. As required...

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Village of Potsdam Dissolution Study and Dissolution Plan

Located in northern NYS, the Town of Potsdam includes two villages; with the majority of residents living in the Village of Potsdam, population 10,000. Home to two state universities, nearly 70% of village properties are tax-exempt – putting pressure on village residents to cover a large share of the costs...

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Nassau County Youth Board Assessment: Implications of Reduced Funding of the Nassau County Youth Board and Options for the Future.

In the midst of a major financial crisis facing Nassau County, the Rauch Foundation engaged CGR to assess the impacts the crisis and resulting proposed cuts would have on the County Youth Board’s ability to support a wide range of community-based youth services. CGR developed a three-phase blueprint to strategically...

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Rochester Housing Authority Strategic Plan 2010-2015

The Rochester Housing Authority (RHA) provides public housing, Section 8 and/or other housing-related services for more than 22,000 low income or disabled residents in the 5-county Rochester NY region. CGR provided consultant and facilitation services to assist the agency as it developed its first comprehensive strategic plan. The engagement...

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Village of Candor Dissolution Study and Dissolution Plan

The Village of Candor, population 794, is located in the Southern Tier of New York State and received a petition calling for a plan of dissolution of the village government. The village engaged CGR to assist a committee of residents in developing cost-effective options to deliver municipal services up to...

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Community Status Report on Children: Establishing Baseline Measures and Investments for the 2010 Community Action Plan for Greater Rochester's Children

In late 2009, The Children’s Agenda, a nonprofit advocate for Rochester NY children, released its Community Action Plan for Greater Rochester’s Children. After the report’s release, local government and community leaders asked CGR and the Children’s Agenda to provide baseline measures so they could better understand how well the community...

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An Evaluation and Enhancement Plan for the City of Rochester's Special Needs Housing Program: Emergency Shelter Grant and Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS

The City of Rochester NY seeks to target $1 million in special needs housing funds more strategically to best align with its Housing Policy and revitalization goals. CGR outlines a funding allocation model identifying priority funding categories and selection criteria. Our report also includes results from a community-wide survey of...

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Providing Effective Crisis and Financial Stability Services: a Strategy Paper to Inform the United Way of Greater Rochester’s Blueprint for Change Process

The United Way of Greater Rochester seeks to target community resources more strategically through a well regarded Blueprint for Change process. CGR developed a strategy paper to help the United Way in its efforts to provide more effective crisis and financial stability services in Rochester and Monroe County NY. CGR’s...

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Voices Together: A Community Conversation on Veterans' Reintegration in the Syracuse Region

Funding from Harris Beach law firm enabled CGR to conduct a day-long summit in fall 2009 on veteran’s reintegration issues in the Syracuse NY area. CGR's report on local priorities, service gaps and solutions are based on input provided by about 70 participants.

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Feasibility of Creating a Central Business Office for Sullivan County BOCES and Component Districts

Faced with enrollment declines, increased operating expenses, and steep reductions in state aid, the Sullivan County (NY) BOCES engaged CGR to determine whether there are cost savings and efficiencies from combining business office functions for any of 7 participating school districts. CGR provides 4 models that give the districts...

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Capital Region Community Profile

CGR designed and created an interactive website featuring data, charts and analysis on more than 70 indicators measuring the health and vitality of the Greater Capital Region surrounding Albany, NY. Funded by the United Way of the Greater Capital Region, the Community Indicators project tracks strengths and challenges in the...

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Planning Service Alternatives for the Town of Canandaigua

The Canandaigua NY Town Board asked CGR to review its planning services and suggest alternative models. A growing community navigating the tensions of expanding residential development and desires for preservation, the town has experienced a 130% increase in expenditures for its planning, code, and zoning functions since 2000. CGR conducted...

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