New York home sales rise nearly 4 percent in December

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ALBANY — New York realtors sold 9,138 previously owned homes in December, up 3.7 percent from the 8,814 existing homes sold in December 2023. The increase came despite a record-low inventory of homes available for sale in the state. Pending sales also rose by a similar amount in the latest month, foreshadowing further gains in […]

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Pending sales also rose by a similar amount in the latest month, foreshadowing further gains in closed sales in the next couple of months, the New York State Association of Realtors (NYSAR) said in its December housing report issued on Jan. 24.

“Home sales inched upwards in December despite housing inventory reaching its lowest point in recorded history,” NYSAR said to open its report.

NYSAR cites Freddie Mac as indicating interest rates dropped slightly in December. The average rate on a 30-year fixed rate mortgage ended the month at 6.72 percent, which is lower than the November average rate of 6.81 percent. For comparison, a year ago, the interest rate stood close to November’s average rate of 6.82 percent.

Freddie Mac is the more common way of referring to the Virginia–based Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation.

New York sales data

The total inventory of homes for sale in the Empire State totaled 23,198 in December, down 2.6 percent from the December 2023 figure of 23,808.

The months’ supply of homes for sale at the end of December stood at 2.6 months of supply, down from 2.7 months’ supply a year earlier, per NYSAR’s report. A 6 month to 6.5-month supply is considered a balanced market, the association said.

Pending sales in the state totaled 6,423 in December, an increase of 3.5 percent from the 6,207 pending sales in the same month in 2023, according to the NYSAR data.

As home supply remained tight in New York, home prices continued to rise, with the December 2024 statewide median sales price hitting $420,000, up more than 10 percent from the December 2023 median sales price of $380,000.

All home-sales data is compiled from multiple-listing services in New York, and it includes townhomes and condominiums in addition to existing single-family homes, according to NYSAR.

Greater Utica Chamber plans women’s summit in late March

Mohawk Valley, Subscriber Only

UTICA — The Greater Utica Chamber of Commerce is bringing a new event to the region, aimed at empowering, inspiring, and connecting women. The Experience LeadHERship event takes place March 26 from 12-5 p.m. at Delta Hotels Utica. “We felt that there was a need to bring an event like this to Utica,” Greater Utica

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UTICA — The Greater Utica Chamber of Commerce is bringing a new event to the region, aimed at empowering, inspiring, and connecting women.

The Experience LeadHERship event takes place March 26 from 12-5 p.m. at Delta Hotels Utica.

“We felt that there was a need to bring an event like this to Utica,” Greater Utica Chamber Executive Director Kari Puleo tells CNYBJ.

Based on the reaction since announcing the event on Jan. 21, the Utica area agrees. The chamber sold 50 tickets on the day of the announcement. “We only have 300,” Puleo adds.

The Experience LeadHERship event includes an opportunity to have a headshot taken by Colleen Winschel Photography, as well as panel discussions and breakout sessions focusing on topics including mentorship, branding, and creating work-life harmony. “Work-life balance is not a thing,” Puleo notes. “We bring work everywhere.”

Holly Cafiero, former chief people officer at Newsela, will be the keynote speaker.

“We really felt that she was genuine,” Puleo says of Cafiero. Along with sharing the wisdom of her experience, Cafiero has promised to be really open and honest not just about her successes, but also about her struggles. That’s something that is important for other women to hear and learn from, Puleo says.

Cafiero will also be accessible during the event, attending the networking cocktail hour, Puleo adds. “You’re going to be able to interact with her.”

The Greater Utica Chamber leader says the event also provides an opportunity for women in all stages of their careers to meet and interact with and learn from each other.

“We don’t all struggle with the exact same things, but we all struggle with similar things,” Puleo says. The event will give women the chance to connect and discuss ways to overcome those struggles.

Even the timing of Experience LeadHERship is designed to overcome a struggle, she says. That’s why it’s just a half-day event, allowing women to head home after 5 p.m. for other obligations like kids’ sporting events or whatever else is on their calendar.

While geared toward women, men are also welcome and encouraged to attend the event, Puleo says. “They need to hear the message of what women experience in the workplace.”

Her hope is that everyone who attends takes away something valuable from the gathering and that it becomes an annual signature event for the chamber.

“It’s going to be really fun,” Puleo says.

Tickets for Experience LeadHERship are $65 per person, or $600 for a table of 10.

The chamber is partnering with the Sentinel Media Company, the Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties, and Lennon’s W. B. Wilcox Jewelers for the event.

More information about the event is available online at https://greateruticachamberofcommerce.growthzoneapp.com/chamber-events/Details/experience-leadhership-1301337.

UHS spine program receives Joint Commission certification

Health Care, Mohawk Valley, Subscriber Only

BINGHAMTON — United Health Services, Inc. (UHS) recently received the Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for Core Certification in Spine Surgery. UHS — a locally owned, not-for-profit hospital and health-care system serving greater Binghamton and surrounding counties — says it is the first program in upstate New York to earn the certification. The Joint

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BINGHAMTON — United Health Services, Inc. (UHS) recently received the Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for Core Certification in Spine Surgery.

UHS — a locally owned, not-for-profit hospital and health-care system serving greater Binghamton and surrounding counties — says it is the first program in upstate New York to earn the certification.

The Joint Commission, an independent nonprofit organization that accredits and certifies health-care organizations and programs in the U.S., offers the certification in collaboration with the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons.

In its efforts toward achieving the certification, UHS formed a multidisciplinary team under the leadership of Chief of Neurosciences Simone Betchen last year. The team includes representatives from various patient-care areas including nursing, quality management, and neurosurgery, along with members of the spine surgery program, UHS said in its announcement. Their efforts concentrated on key initiatives aimed at providing evidence-based care and treatment plans, enhancing patient satisfaction, and improving patient education programs.

“Earning the Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for Core Certification in Spine Surgery underscores the commitment of the UHS Spine Surgery Program to deliver high-quality, compassionate care to our community,” Betchen said. “At UHS, we offer comprehensive operative and non-operative spine care that is evidence-based and tailored to each patient’s needs. We pursued this certification to externally validate the quality of our care and enhance our ability to provide the level of care our community deserves.”

The UHS Spine Surgery Program is part of the neurosciences service line, which includes the neurosurgery team, advanced-practice providers, health-care providers, therapists, and nurses. It assists patients in identifying the most suitable treatment options including non-operative care, pain management, physical medicine, rehabilitation, and surgical care, UHS said.

Hamilton College Town-Gown Fund awards $123,000 in grants

Construction, Design & Real Estate, Nonprofits, Subscriber Only

CLINTON — The Hamilton College Town-Gown Fund recently awarded $123,000 to 13 local nonprofits and public-safety organizations that serve the town of Kirkland and village of Clinton. Grants ranged from $2,285 to $19,175 and supported an array of programs, projects, and services, the college announced. Recipients include the following organizations: • The Clinton Central School

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CLINTON — The Hamilton College Town-Gown Fund recently awarded $123,000 to 13 local nonprofits and public-safety organizations that serve the town of Kirkland and village of Clinton.

Grants ranged from $2,285 to $19,175 and supported an array of programs, projects, and services, the college announced.

Recipients include the following organizations:

• The Clinton Central School District — $19,175 to create sensory paths for the elementary school, buy 50 graphing calculators for the high school, and purchase a camera package to stream events from the school’s new stadium.

• The Clinton Central School District Foundation — $13,000 for the 2025 elementary school summer program.

• Kirkland Town Library — $7,500 to supplement a state construction grant to remove an underutilized room and install energy-efficient HVAC systems in three offices.

• Clinton Fire Department — $10,777 for wall-mounted pressure washers for its two fire stations.

• Clinton Historical Society — $7,450 to refurbish its front entrance.

• Kirkland Police Department — $2,500 to update the department’s speed trailer with a solar-powered charging system.

• Clinton Kirkland Improvement Corporation — $15,000 to support Downtown Revitalization Initiative work and promote future economic development.

• COCVAC — $12,000 for tuition to train two new paramedics.

• Clinton Early Learning Center — $11,455 for outdoor play equipment.

• Clark Mills Historical Society — $2,285 for technology upgrades and a recruitment campaign.

• The Country Pantry — $7,800 for general operations.

The Hamilton College Town-Gown Fund committee that makes the awards also agreed to pay for a grant writer to work with Clinton to pursue a large grant to replace existing sewer interceptors and Kirland to apply for a Smart Growth Planning Grant.

Created in 2001 by anonymous donors to foster goodwill and communication among Hamilton College and residents of Kirkland and Clinton, the fund has invested $1.38 million in the local community with support for public safety along with gifts or grants to organizations with a primary focus on education.

“We’re grateful for the services and programs our grant recipients provide to residents in the village of Clinton and town of Kirkland,” Hamilton College President Steven Tepper, who chairs the Hamilton College Town-Gown Fund grant committee, said in a grant announcement. “They enrich our community immeasurably, and they do so often despite limited resources. It’s a pleasure to provide these extra funds to help ensure the vitality of the organizations and the community they serve.”

Unity House adds two new members to board of directors

Nonprofits, Southern Tier, Subscriber Only

AUBURN — Unity House of Cayuga County, Inc. recently announced that two new community leaders have joined the nonprofit’s board of directors. Taylor Symes and Jessica Janssen, both of Auburn, began their board duties in November. Symes is a licensed benefits consultant for AFLAC, in addition to being a sales rep for Peaceful Living Home

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Bank’s business leaders survey shows positive outlook for 25

Banks & Credit Unions, Subscriber Only

SYRACUSE — Business leaders — including those in Central New York — are feeling a lot more optimistic heading in 2025 than they have in years, according to JPMorganChase’s 2025 Business Leaders Outlook survey. More than half of New York state business leaders are feeling confident in the national economy as fears of an impending

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More than half of New York state business leaders are feeling confident in the national economy as fears of an impending recession subsided, the survey showed. Those feelings carry over into Central New York, John Huhtala, market executive for middle-market banking and specialized industries at JPMorgan Chase in Syracuse, says.

While less than half of businesses surveyed feel as confident in their local/regional economy, New York state business leaders are still feeling pretty bullish about the coming year, Huhtala notes. “It just continues to gain steam as far as the momentum and the optimism.”

Indeed, optimism levels are at a five-year high and rival pre-COVID levels, Huhtala adds.

According to the survey, 69 percent of small businesses and 71 percent of midsize businesses either don’t expect a recession this year or are uncertain about one, while 55 percent of small-business owners and 65 percent of midsize-business leaders are confident in the national economy.

In New York, 60 percent of business leaders are optimistic about the national economy and 44 percent are optimistic about the local economy. However, that pessimism doesn’t extend to their specific industry or their own business. The survey showed that 60 percent of New York business leaders are confident in their industry’s performance, and 74 percent are confident in their company’s performance.

Across New York state, 78 percent of survey respondents expect sales/revenue increases this year, 67 percent expect higher profits, and 49 percent expect to increase staffing.

“It’s all the great things we have going on in the local economy,” that bolster confidence, Huhtala says.

That doesn’t mean there still aren’t concerns. Inflation remains a top concern, even with reductions in the interest rate in 2024.

Just over 80 percent of New York businesses are worried about rising costs, 27 percent are concerned with international tariffs, and 37 percent are stressing about uncertain economic conditions.

About 40 percent of small businesses and 46 percent of midsize businesses say labor shortages, retention, and recruitment remain a challenge, including in Central New York.

“I do feel like there is definite concern on labor and talent,” Huhtala says. The area is fortunate with many community partners and resources at work to build worker pipelines in growing employment areas like advanced manufacturing.

“We do need more housing; that’s for sure,” Huhtala adds.

Overall, business leaders have their eye on growth strategies whether through entering new markets or via mergers and acquisitions, he notes.

More than half of small businesses plan to increase spending while 64 percent expect to invest more to support sales by adding products, funding more advertising, and increasing social-media campaigns, among other strategies.

Midsize businesses are also looking to grow, with 51 percent planning to increase employment and 38 percent forecasting higher capital expenditures.

That increased capital spending is likely a result of the lower interest rates, Huhtala explains. While more rate cuts are needed, a more favorable borrowing market may have companies pulling the trigger on capital projects this year, he says.

“We have certainly navigated through these challenging times to land where we have,” Huhtala says. “It’s exciting for the region, it’s exciting for the country.”

The full-survey findings are available at: www.jpmorgan.com/insights/outlook/business-leaders-outlook/2025-us-business-leaders-outlook.

JPMorganChase (NYSE: JPM) conducted the survey online from Nov. 11-15, 2024, for small businesses — defined in the survey as those firms generating annual revenue between $100,000 and $20 million — and from Nov. 12 to Dec. 4 for midsize businesses — defined as those with annual revenue between $20 million and $500 million. A total of 2,644 business owners and leaders participated in the survey.

Adirondack Bank blog offers tips on outsmarting phishing scams

Banks & Credit Unions, Employee Benefits & Human Resources, Insurance & Financial Services, Law, Accounting & Taxes, Mohawk Valley, Technology

UTICA, N.Y. — In its Jan. 28 website blog, Adirondack Bank tackles a subject affecting many financial-services clients and consumers: phishing. Most people are familiar

AmeriCU Credit Union launches charitable foundation

Banks & Credit Unions, Mohawk Valley, Nonprofits, Subscriber Only

ROME — AmeriCU Credit Union has formed AmeriCU Charitable Foundation, effective on Jan. 1, to support community-driven programs and work to improve the quality of life across its service areas. The foundation will also strengthen the credit union’s impact on the communities it serves and create lasting positive change, AmeriCU contends. “Our communities are the

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Klein starts as KeyBank’s retail leader for CNY market

Banks & Credit Unions, Subscriber Only

SYRACUSE — A veteran of the banking industry is now KeyBank’s (NYSE: KEY) retail leader for its Central New York market. Based in Syracuse, Ronald Klein, Jr. will lead sales, service, and talent-development efforts at all of KeyBank’s branches in the Central New York region, the bank said. Klein will also work with KeyBank’s line

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ACMG Federal Credit Union rebranding to Salt City FCU

Banks & Credit Unions, Subscriber Only

SOLVAY — ACMG Federal Credit Union on Jan. 22 announced it is rebranding and moving forward as Salt City Federal Credit Union (Salt City FCU). “Our new name honors Syracuse’s industrious past, the economic and natural resilience of our region and celebrates the growth, success and staying power of the credit union,” Bill Lester, chair

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SOLVAY — ACMG Federal Credit Union on Jan. 22 announced it is rebranding and moving forward as Salt City Federal Credit Union (Salt City FCU).

“Our new name honors Syracuse’s industrious past, the economic and natural resilience of our region and celebrates the growth, success and staying power of the credit union,” Bill Lester, chair of the Salt City FCU board of directors, contended in the announcement. “The name also pays tribute to generations of strong leadership and loyal members who define who we are today.”

Salt mining near Onondaga Lake “sparked the region’s industrial prowess” at the turn of the 20th century, and how Syracuse got its nickname, per the credit union’s announcement. The salt was mined near where the credit union was founded in 1953 by a handful of Solvay Process employees with 28 members and $124 on deposit.

“In our 70-plus years, we have never wavered from our core mission of improving financial lives. Our commitment to personalized service is something only a truly local financial institution can provide, and we’re proud of that,” Salt City’s CEO Brian May noted in the announcement. “We’re large enough to deliver all the services members need and small enough to care.”

The credit union’s leaders emphasized this is simply a name change and not the result of a merger or partnership with another financial institution.

“We wanted a new name and image that is more familiar and approachable for current and prospective members. We think we accomplished that,” May said in the announcement.

Salt City FCU is headquartered at 1753 Milton Ave. in Solvay, and it operates a branch at 4800 S. Salina St. in Syracuse’s Valley section. The credit union has 24 employees between both locations, says May, who spoke with CNYBJ in a Jan. 28 phone interview.

He also says Salt City FCU used its own financial resources to work on the rebranding process.

Along with the new name, a logo has been developed featuring an eagle soaring over Onondaga Lake. It’s a metaphor for the resilience of the credit union and the region, as Onondaga Lake is making a historic come back and the eagle population is growing, Salt City FCU noted.

Renovation

Besides the name change and rebrand, Salt City FCU is also in the middle of a full renovation of its Solvay headquarters, which is expected to be completed this spring.

“We started in mid-September, and we anticipated being done [in] mid-April,” says May.

JW Construction Services, Inc. of DeWitt is the general contractor on the project. May also noted the credit union is working with Milwaukee, Wisconsin–based LaMacchia Group, a design-build firm that services credit unions and banks, on the effort.

May declined to provide a specific project-cost figure, but he described it as a “significant investment.”

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