Governor announces that Terakeet and TCG Player will add 242 jobs

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Two Syracuse–based companies plan to create 242 jobs, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced during a stop in the city today.

Terakeet, a software development, marketing and brand-strategy company, is investing $2.4 million, creating about 200 jobs, and retaining 150 existing positions.

And, TCG/Ascension Gaming, an online-gaming marketplace, will invest $255,000 to expand its office and warehousing operations, creating 42 new jobs, and retaining 69 existing positions.

TCG is known online as TCGplayer.com, which is a trademark of the Syracuse–based Ascension Gaming Network, according to the website.

Both companies are receiving financial help from New York State for their expansions.

“Funding from the URI as well as our Excelsior job program tax credits are enabling and facilitating these investments,” Howard Zemsky, president and CEO of Empire State Development, said at the jobs announcement during a visit to the Marriott Syracuse Downtown (the former Hotel Syracuse) on Thursday.

URI is short for Upstate Revitalization Initiative, Cuomo’s 2015 Upstate economic-development contest. The Central New York regional economic-development council (REDC) captured one of the $500 million grand prizes in that contest back in December.

Terakeet jobs
Terakeet will add 200 jobs at its downtown Syracuse headquarters. These new positions focus on digital marketing, account management, sales, data analysis, web analytics, and software engineering, Cuomo’s office said.

The firm will use $600,000 from the URI contest funding, $4.3 million in performance-based Excelsior jobs program tax credits through Empire State Development, and $2.4 million in private investment, according to a news release from Cuomo’s office.

“We are extremely lucky to have the support of New York State as we embark on our next wave of growth. We are proud to be adding jobs in Syracuse, our home town, and are comfortable that these incentives require us to meet aggressive objectives before we benefit from them,” Mac Cummings, CEO of Terakeet, said in the release.

TCG expansion
TCG/Ascension Gaming operates an online marketplace for buyers and sellers of collectible trading cards and has invested about $255,000 to expand and equip its office and warehousing operations in downtown Syracuse.

The move supports the company’s efforts to enter the international marketplace, particularly Canada, England, and Australia.

As a result of this expansion, the company is adding 42 new jobs including web developers, U/I developers, customer-service representatives, and fulfillments specialists.

TCG/Ascension is using $50,000 in funding through the URI contest funding and $300,000 in performance-based Excelsior Jobs Program tax credits.

Additionally, the Global NY initiative is supporting the company’s international expansion.

Cuomo established Global NY to offer “one stop shopping” to both foreign businesses looking to invest in New York and to local businesses who want to export globally.

 “This investment by the governor and the Central New York REDC has made it possible for TCGplayer.com to develop new technologies, create high-paying jobs and attract new talent to the region. I’m excited to say that we’ve added the pledged 42 employees in only six months,” Chedy Hampson, a founder and CEO of TCGplayer.com, said in the release.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com