Colgate to host entrepreneurship showcase in early April

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HAMILTON, N.Y. — Colgate University’s Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation will host its 13th annual TIA Entrepreneurship Showcase on April 5. The event, which takes

Community Bank donates $10,000 to WISE Women’s Business Center to support financial-management program

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New parking-shuttle service now available at Syracuse airport

Sports, Entertainment & Tourism, Subscriber Only

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Syracuse Hancock International Airport (SYR) is now offering a new parking-shuttle service. The Syracuse Regional Airport Authority (SRAA), which operates the Syracuse airport, says the service runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week, per its Feb. 19 announcement. The shuttles, which are Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-compliant, provide complimentary service

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SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Syracuse Hancock International Airport (SYR) is now offering a new parking-shuttle service.

The Syracuse Regional Airport Authority (SRAA), which operates the Syracuse airport, says the service runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week, per its Feb. 19 announcement.

The shuttles, which are Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-compliant, provide complimentary service between the Economy Parking Lot and Arrivals A bus lane near door 1 of the south arrivals curbline, the SRAA said.

The airport authority went on to say that as demand for parking at SYR has grown, so has the footprint of parking offerings across the 2,300-acre airport property.

To better accommodate customers parking a greater distance from the airport terminal, discussions began in early 2024 to bring a parking-shuttle service to the Syracuse airport, SRAA said. As parking further expands away from the terminal building this year, the shuttle will also provide service to the newly planned Overflow Parking Lot, which will be relocated along Air Cargo Road from its current location near terminal B.

Operating on a round-trip loop, the SRAA says the shuttles feature perimeter seating versus forward-facing seating. That type of seating allows easier passenger boarding and more space for luggage, strollers, and other belongings.

The four shuttles comprising the service will each feature the SmartDrive system, “allowing enhanced safety” through artificial intelligence (AI)-powered driver monitoring and real-time feedback.

“We’re incredibly excited to introduce this shuttle service for travelers using the Economy Lot,” Jason Mehl, SRAA chief commercial officer, said in the announcement. “Our goal is to make airport parking as seamless and stress-free as possible, and this shuttle provides a convenient, reliable, and comfortable way for passengers to get to and from the terminal. We know traveling can be hectic, so we’re always looking for ways to make the journey easier — and this shuttle is another step toward improving the overall travel experience at SYR.”

The Village Graze brings charcuterie to Clinton

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CLINTON, N.Y. — Charcuterie fans have a new option in Clinton with the opening of The Village Graze, a charcuterie-focused eatery and catering business operated by Melissa and Devyn Morgan. The couple, who were living in Washington state, bought a house in Clinton three years ago and have been splitting their time between the two

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CLINTON, N.Y. — Charcuterie fans have a new option in Clinton with the opening of The Village Graze, a charcuterie-focused eatery and catering business operated by Melissa and Devyn Morgan.

The couple, who were living in Washington state, bought a house in Clinton three years ago and have been splitting their time between the two states, wintering in New York.

After having children, they decided they really wanted to make Clinton their full-time home, Melissa Morgan tells CNYBJ.

“We wanted to plant roots in the community,” she says.

The Morgans are no strangers to the restaurant industry. They began their food ventures in Washington with a pizza truck and currently operate a fleet of three hot-dog trucks there.

It’s no surprise that while driving around Clinton late last year, the couple saw some space for lease and immediately thought it would be a great spot for an eatery.

By December, they had an idea of what they wanted to do — mixing things up from their other food operations — and The Village Graze officially opened on Feb. 7.

For those dining in, the eatery offers custom-designed charcuterie boards featuring an array of curated meats, cheese, and fruits; a selection of sandwiches; waffles; pancakes; and more. Customers can also place to-go orders online.

The space features tables handmade by Devyn Morgan’s father. He also makes the charcuterie boards they use in the restaurant and crafts additional ones for sale on site. Devyn did most of the renovations on the space, which can seat 14 people at six tables.

“The eatery is almost like a tasting room,” Melissa says. Of course, it’s a place where customers can stop to grab a bite to eat, but it also gives them the option to sample the food for catering.

The catering options are pretty wide-ranging, she says. “We can tailor it to the person who is hosting. It’s not just a set menu.”

The Village Graze specializes in grazing tables – larger scale charcuterie spreads – that can be customized to the event. “The opportunity seems to be endless with how much food you can put on there,” Melissa adds. They can handle events of all sizes from showers to weddings or corporate events.

The Morgans are also working on partnering with local farmers to use local produce in their menu.

Currently, the couple staffs The Village Graze on their own, but they are looking to add a paid intern to the staff. The only requirements are having an entrepreneurial mindset, a passion for food, and an artistic streak.

The Village Graze celebrated its grand opening on Feb. 13 with a ribbon-cutting event.

Response since the opening has been great, Melissa says. “We had no idea people were excited for a new business.” While the heavy snow has impacted things a little bit, The Village Graze has already attracted a handful of regulars, she adds.

Currently, the eatery is open Fridays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Mondays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Morgans hope to add some dinner hours in the future, perhaps through events like a paint and snack event with a local artist or a make-your-own charcuterie board class.

Launch NY to use $5M in ESD funds to support Upstate entrepreneurs

Small Business, Law, Accounting & Taxes, New York News, Nonprofits, Subscriber Only, Technology

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Launch NY says it will use $5 million in state funding to expand its support for entrepreneurs across upstate New York. Empire State Development (ESD) awarded the funding through its NY Ventures Community and Regional Partner Fund. Launch NY says the money will help it in “furthering its mission to catalyze high-growth

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BUFFALO, N.Y. — Launch NY says it will use $5 million in state funding to expand its support for entrepreneurs across upstate New York.

Empire State Development (ESD) awarded the funding through its NY Ventures Community and Regional Partner Fund.

Launch NY says the money will help it in “furthering its mission to catalyze high-growth startups and drive economic prosperity in the region,” per its early February announcement.

ESD’s NY Ventures Community and Regional Partner Fund is designed to provide up to $5 million in matching funds to accelerators, venture studios, and incubators that offer structured programmatic support for entrepreneurs with “high growth potential” in New York state.

The fund is supported by $52 million in State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) money, Launch NY said.

The Fund requires a minimum of 1-to-1 matching capital from private sources, which Launch NY is fulfilling through its second limited-partner fund (Launch NY Seed Fund II, LP) whose lead investor, MetLife, announced its commitment in 2023.

“This $5 million investment is a testament to New York’s ongoing commitment to supporting high-growth startups, offering an incredible opportunity for Launch NY to build on our mission of catalyzing economic growth through high-impact entrepreneurship,” Marnie LaVigne, president and CEO of Buffalo–based Launch NY, said in the announcement. “We are grateful for the confidence Empire State Development has placed in us, and we look forward to continuing our work of empowering our promising entrepreneurs to drive innovation and create jobs and wealth for our economic renaissance across Upstate New York.”

NY Ventures — a division of Empire State Development — strategically invests in high-growth companies that leverage technology to solve critical challenges across New York State. Through targeted investments and partnerships, the division expands access to venture capital for underserved regions and traditionally underrepresented entrepreneurs, including women and minority founders and fund managers, Launch NY said.

“This strategic investment in Launch NY represents a pivotal step in our mission to transform Upstate New York’s entrepreneurial landscape,” Hope Knight, president, CEO, and commissioner of Empire State Development, said in the Launch NY announcement. “By providing both structured education and vital funding to high-potential startups, we’re not just supporting individual entrepreneurs – we’re building a sustainable ecosystem that will drive innovation, create quality jobs, and establish the region as a leading hub for technological advancement. This partnership exemplifies our commitment to fostering the next generation of business leaders who will shape New York’s economic future.”

Launch NY describes itself as the only nonprofit venture-development organization and U.S. Treasury-designated community development financial institution (CDFI) that serves and directly funds startups in upstate New York.

The organization says it has invested nearly $15 million in over 100 startup companies to date and has been the “most active seed fund capitalizing New York state startups for the past 6 years.” The ESD funding will “catalyze even greater reach and impact” throughout the upstate New York region, through Launch NY’s model of pro bono, tailored mentorship paired with seed-capital financing for scalable businesses.

Paige’s Butterfly Run names executive director, makes board changes

Nonprofits, Subscriber Only

SYRACUSE — Paige’s Butterfly Run, Inc., a nonprofit organization that helps local children and families fighting childhood cancer, recently announced the appointment of a new executive director and board changes. Jennifer Huntley has assumed the role of executive director of Paige’s Butterfly Run. She has been with the organization since 2022, and has more than

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Jennifer Huntley has assumed the role of executive director of Paige’s Butterfly Run. She has been with the organization since 2022, and has more than 15 years’ experience in the nonprofit sector. Huntley has played a pivotal role in leading the organization through a strategic-planning process that has set the stage for both sustainability and growth, Paige’s Butterfly Run stated.

Huntley says she looks forward to building upon the nonprofit’s nearly 30-year legacy of supporting local families and leading it into the future. There are even more exciting changes on the horizon, the charitable organization said.

Additionally, the board of directors of Paige’s Butterfly Run has chosen new leadership and brought on new members.

The board-leadership changes are as follows:

• Chris Arnold, co-founder of Paige’s Butterfly Run, now serves as co-chair

• Kevin M. Bernstein, member at Bond, Schoeneck & King PLLC, has moved to the position of board VP

• Ralph Simone, partner at Emergent, has moved to the position of board president

• Ellen Yeomans, co-founder of Paige’s Butterfly Run, now serves as co-chair

The new board members are:

• Elijah Conte, financial advisor at Stifel

• Katie Heaton, senior client success manager at Terakeet

• Kevin Visconti, partner at Diversified Capital Management

• Timothy Perez, transportation specialist, partner at Reagan Companies

Paige’s Butterfly Run is a charitable organization that offers comfort and hope to patients and families in their fight against childhood cancer and blood disorders by funding programs and vital research at Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital in Syracuse. Since 1997, Paige’s Butterfly Run has raised almost $5 million in support of pediatric-cancer care at Upstate.

Paige’s Butterfly Run honors Paige Yeomans Arnold, a student at Palmer Elementary School in Baldwinsville who was diagnosed with leukemia in 1993 when she was age 6. She died a year later from complications from a bone-marrow transplant in an effort to cure her leukemia at Boston Children’s Hospital, according to Upstate. The namesake charity raises money through a variety of events throughout the year, such as Paige’s Butterfly Run, an annual running race and walk that is held in June.

Binghamton arena rebounds with support from credit union

Banks & Credit Unions, Law, Accounting & Taxes, Southern Tier, Sports, Entertainment & Tourism, Subscriber Only

Visions FCU begins fifth year as naming sponsor ENDWELL, N.Y. — Visions Federal Credit Union (FCU) recently began its fifth year as a naming sponsor of the Visions Veterans Memorial Arena in Binghamton. With support from Visions, the venue has overcome challenges brought by the pandemic and now enjoys increased attendance and community engagement, the

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Visions FCU begins fifth year as naming sponsor

ENDWELL, N.Y. — Visions Federal Credit Union (FCU) recently began its fifth year as a naming sponsor of the Visions Veterans Memorial Arena in Binghamton.

With support from Visions, the venue has overcome challenges brought by the pandemic and now enjoys increased attendance and community engagement, the credit union announced.

“Over the past four years, our partnership with Visions has brought much-needed new events and opportunities to our community following the challenges of the pandemic that halted live entertainment,” Broome County Executive Jason Garnar said in the announcement. “Their support has given people more ways to come together and enjoy these experiences, and we are grateful for their continued commitment to Broome County.”

Visions began its sponsorship during the pandemic, which had forced the arena to close for an extended period. Between March 9, 2020 and March 11, 2021, the venue hosted only a handful of events for a total attendance of less than 300 patrons.

In 2021, the arena underwent renovations to its aging infrastructure and HVAC systems while the Visions Federal Credit Union brand was installed outside and painted throughout the building.

By that summer, Visions became a principal sponsor of the Binghamton Black Bears to help keep professional hockey in the community. Within the first two seasons, attendance at hockey games reached an average of nearly 3,000 spectators per night. The team now averages about 4,100 spectators per home game.

With the sponsorship, Visions also developed a strategic partnership with Mirabito Energy Products to expand its impact. Mirabito became naming sponsor of the box offices for both the Visions Veterans Memorial Arena and Broome County Forum Theatre.

The two sponsors have supported the venues by tapping into their networks of members, customers, and locations and supporting initiatives to bring new events, local artists, and major performing acts to the community. They also provide exclusive access to discounted tickets, pre-sale offers, and special promotions that have encouraged attendance at events.

Part of Visions’ sponsorship included the creation of a Naming Rights Fund to help cover the cost of programming at both the arena and the Forum Theatre. Jeff Dunham, Jerry Seinfeld, Walker Hayes, and World Wresting Entertainment (WWE) are among the popular acts that were drawn to the arena in the past few years, with assistance from the fund.

Visions has also hosted events that offer free attendance for the community including the Visions Summer Concert that evolved into the Bands & Brews Block Party. The Visions Veterans Program has hosted an annual Veterans Expo since 2022, providing veterans and military-connected community members the opportunity to network with veteran service providers.

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Visions FCU begins fifth year as naming sponsor

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