Being a nature girl who enjoys hiking, trees and waterfalls, Lia Burt was ready to move on from the crowds and noise of New York City and explore greener and more tranquil spaces. So she came to Greater ROC from Queens a year ago to make a fresh start. Here, she’s been able to afford a bigger apartment and a puppy that gets her out to the area’s many parks and natural attractions.
Initially, Lia’s family thought she was relocating to “the middle of nowhere” with nothing to do, but they quickly changed their POV of the region once they visited and experienced its range of delicious food, enriching culture and seasonal activities.
“I've been enjoying the art scene. I’ve been to a few art and fashion shows downtown. The Rochester Art Collaborative is a very unique group that supports different artists and funds their opportunities … I also go to the Public Market and The Lucky Flea. Those vendors are really diverse and have a lot of different skill sets I’ve learned from.”
Lia has found networking in Rochester to be easier and more accessible than in NYC. This has inspired her to revisit her art endeavors and grow professionally as an entrepreneur.
"Launching my own startup, looking into buying a property. These are things that are possible here in Rochester …"
She recently went to a ROC on Tech conference and learned about the expanding landscape of businesses and local startups in our area. At an event hosted by Startup Grind, Lia spoke to people in various stages of their careers and running their businesses to gauge her next steps.
“The Rochester Young Professionals Group hosts networking events where people are very welcoming and kind … It’s great to be able to work a room and talk to a lot of people who know my name at the end of the event.”
One promising connection Lia made happened serendipitously after a Garth Fagan dance performance. She met the owner of a startup that created the National Black Health Directory who asked for her help building the organization’s social media presence.
“I’m looking forward to continuing to collaborate with her to help that business take off because it could really be something great.”
Lia’s aspirations don’t stop there.
“Launching my own startup, looking into buying a property. These are things that are possible here in Rochester, so I’m excited for that in the future.”
Considering Greater ROC is the #1 Top Metro for Future Growth according to MIT Economics and ranks better than most in the US for overall cost of living, she’s got the right idea.