CGR Briefs

Steps to Success Rochester: Coaching, Support, and Rewards for Progress

A new program is helping Rochester families move toward long-term stability through coaching, coordinated support, and financial rewards tied to progress. In Steps to Success Rochester, participants work with a coach to set goals related to education, employment, financial stability, and family well-being.

Navigating the New NYS EMS Mandate: An Opportunity for Strategic Modernization

A new state mandate requires all New York counties to establish a comprehensive EMS master plan by the end of the year.
The state initiative provides an opportunity for local leaders to address issues that they have been grappling with for years, from volunteer staffing shortages to sustainable funding models to cross-border cooperation.

Understanding Black & African American Participation in Health Survey

How to ensure Black and African American residents are well represented in a key health survey is the focus of a new CGR project. CGR was selected by the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) to conduct community focus groups exploring the beliefs and attitudes of Black and African American adults in Monroe County regarding government health surveys, specifically the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS).

Lewis County Poised to Improve EMS Following CGR Study

When an emergency strikes, every second counts. In 2025, rural Lewis County residents called for an ambulance 3,800 times. While a dedicated mix of career and volunteer EMS responders gave it their all, systemic gaps left crews overworked and response times delayed.

The community deserved better. That’s why Lewis County partnered with CGR to thoroughly evaluate and recommend improvements to the emergency response framework.

Village of Mamaroneck Examines Efficiency

At its core, government efficiency is about more than just numbers; it is about honoring public trust and ensuring tax dollars work harder for every resident. CGR is proud to announce a new partnership with the Village of Mamaroneck to conduct a comprehensive organizational assessment and fleet analysis.

A Commitment to Community Safety

Over the next four months, CGR will perform a “top-to-bottom” assessment of the W.F. Bruen Rescue Squad in the Town of East Greenbush (NY). This objective, data-driven study will cover all aspects of the organization from dispatch and emergency response to billing practices and capital planning.

The Future of Fire Protection in the Plymouth (NY) Fire District

The Plymouth Fire District (PFD), located in rural Chenango County, is facing a "perfect storm" of challenges: a shrinking, aging population, rising operational costs, and a decline in volunteer availability. CGR worked with the district to evaluate the volunteer fire service and identify viable options to pursue.

Reimagining Civic Engagement in Hopkinton, MA

Is your local government keeping up with its residents? CGR recently completed a comprehensive engagement study for the Town of Hopkinton, MA. By combining community-wide surveys with targeted focus groups, we helped the Town identify why residents weren't participating in local government—and how to change that.

Is Dissolution Right for the Village of South Dayton?

Changing the way government operates has a large impact on the community. The Village of South Dayton, NY, partnered with CGR to rigorously assess the impact of dissolving the village government and transitioning future services to the Town of Dayton. By methodically gathering and analyzing cross-municipal data, CGR established a crystal-clear, objective baseline of current operations and governance challenges.

One Year In and Going Strong: Sun Community News Spotlights Ticonderoga’s EMS District

When CGR worked with Ticonderoga in 2024 to evaluate EMS needs and outline a path toward sustainable service, the goal was simple: ensure residents could count on an ambulance when they needed one. One year into the new ambulance district, the district is doing just that—providing consistent, high-quality care backed by the stable funding model the Town adopted from CGR’s recommendations.

Charting a Course for Improved Service in Port Jefferson

How do you take a thriving seaside village like Port Jefferson, NY and make it even more effective and desirable?

Last year, CGR partnered with the Village of Port Jefferson to conduct an operational analysis of four key departments. Our mission was to evaluate staffing, core functions, and administrative roles to ensure the Village's infrastructure was as robust as its community.

State of Rochester’s Children Event Coming Up

ROC the Future, Rochester’s education collective, is hosting its 13th annual event examining progress toward improved outcomes for children at 2 p.m. February 26, 2026.