Clinton: Rochester is one of nation's top places for arts business and investment

Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton said she welcomed a study that showed that Rochester was among the top cities in the nation for attracting arts businesses and investment.

Americans for the Arts released Creative Industries 2005: The Congressional Report, which presents detailed analysis of arts-related businesses, institutions, and organizations in all 435 Congressional districts and the District of Columbia. The study reveals that arts-centric businesses represent 4.4 percent of all businesses and 2.2 percent of all jobs in the United States and are present in every Congressional district in the nation. When ranked by the number of employees in arts-centric businesses, institutions, and organizations, the 28th Congressional District, which includes Buffalo and Rochester, came 14th in the nation.

"This new ranking lends further credence to our efforts to tap into the artistic community as a creative way to foster economic development," Senator Clinton said. "I hope that we can support the city and the region as they seek to take advantage of arts-related business as a vehicle for economic growth."

Senator Clinton is working with local officials, area artists and business leaders across New York to promote the arts as a vehicle for economic development.

Maps and full ranking of every Congressional district in the nation are available at www.AmericansForTheArts.org/CreativeIndustries.

from submitted press release