Alberto Cardelle

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SUNY Oneonta President Alberto Cardelle was one of five university presidents and chancellors recently elected to serve on the board of directors of the American

Syracuse National Veterans Resource Center

SU’s IVMF to use $3M from Micron to help vets pursue industry work

Construction, Design & Real Estate, Energy, Environment & Sustainability, Nonprofits, Subscriber Only

SYRACUSE — The D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) at Syracuse University (SU) will use a $3 million grant from Micron Technology Inc. (NASDAQ: MU) to help veterans and military families pursue careers in the semiconductor industry. The funding will support the development of a specialized semiconductor hub within the institute’s Onward to

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The funding will support the development of a specialized semiconductor hub within the institute’s Onward to Opportunity (O2O) career-training program. It’s designed to connect transitioning service members, veterans, and their families with careers in the semiconductor industry, SU said in its Dec. 12 announcement.

The initiative aligns with the CHIPS and Science Act, “underscoring a shared commitment” by the D’Aniello Institute, Syracuse University, and Micron to “create meaningful career opportunities” for veterans and the military-connected community, per the SU announcement.

Micron recently finalized its agreement with the U.S. Department of Commerce on its $6 billion funding award from through the CHIPS & Science Act, per the office of U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D–N.Y.). The Boise, Idaho–based Micron plans to build a semiconductor-manufacturing campus in the town of Clay.

The IVMF semiconductor hub will equip participants with the skills, resources, and connections to partners around the country required for success in semiconductor manufacturing and related fields, “ensuring that veterans and their families are at the forefront of this growing industry,” SU said.

“The D’Aniello Institute is proud to partner with Micron; the Semiconductor Hub is a testament to what’s possible when we align on a common goal,” Ray Toenniessen, deputy executive director of the D’Aniello Institute, said in the SU announcement. “Together, we’re not only addressing workforce needs but also empowering transitioning service members, veterans and their families to thrive in the private sector.”

Beyond technical training, the initiative addresses challenges faced by the military-connected community, such as underemployment and limited access to quality education. Through local and regional partnerships, Micron and the IVMF aim to create opportunities for veterans, women and individuals from underserved communities, SU said.

New York manufacturing index retreats 31 points in December

Manufacturing & Engineering, Banks & Credit Unions, Employee Benefits & Human Resources, New York News, Subscriber Only

It followed a huge gain in November The Empire State Manufacturing Survey general business conditions index fell 31 points to 0.2 in December after reaching its highest reading in nearly three years in November. The index climbed 43 points to 31.2 in November after dropping 23 points to -11.9 in October. The general business conditions

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It followed a huge gain in November

The Empire State Manufacturing Survey general business conditions index fell 31 points to 0.2 in December after reaching its highest reading in nearly three years in November.

The index climbed 43 points to 31.2 in November after dropping 23 points to -11.9 in October. The general business conditions index is the monthly gauge of New York’s manufacturing sector.

Based on firms responding to the survey, the December reading indicates business activity “held steady” in New York state, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York said in its Dec. 16 report.

A positive reading indicates expansion or growth in manufacturing activity, while a negative index number points to a decline in the sector.

The survey found new orders and shipments “increased modestly,” the New York Fed said. However, delivery times fell, and labor-market conditions declined.

It also found firms remained optimistic about the six-month outlook

Survey details

The Empire State Manufacturing Survey’s new orders and shipments indexes retreated, but remained positive at 6.1 and 9.4, respectively, pointing to modest gains in both orders and shipments.

Unfilled orders continued to fall. The inventories index climbed to 10.5, signaling that inventories grew.

The delivery times index fell 11 points to -7.4, suggesting that delivery times were shorter, and the supply-availability index came in at 1.1, a sign that supply availability was little changed.

Labor-market conditions “worsened somewhat,” the New York Fed said. The index for number of employees moved down to -5.8, and the average-workweek index fell to -3.9, pointing to a small decline in both employment and hours worked.

The prices-paid index fell 7 points to 21.1, and the prices-received index declined 8 points to 4.2, suggesting that both input and selling price increases moderated.

Firms were “fairly optimistic” that conditions would continue to improve in the months ahead, “though less so than they were in November,” the report stated.

The index for future business activity fell 9 points to 24.6, with 42 percent of respondents expecting conditions to improve over the next six months. Inventories are expected to continue to grow, and capital-spending plans remained modest.

The New York Fed distributes the Empire State Manufacturing Survey on the first day of each month to the same pool of about 200 manufacturing executives in New York. On average, about 100 executives return responses.

National Grid wraps up phase one of repairs to Syracuse building

Construction, Design & Real Estate, Energy, Environment & Sustainability, Subscriber Only

Company holds illumination ceremony to mark the occasion SYRACUSE — National Grid (NYSE: NGG) says the first phase of exterior upgrades and repairs to the company’s landmark building at 300 Erie Boulevard West in Syracuse are complete. The company on Dec. 17 marked

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Company holds illumination ceremony to mark the occasion

SYRACUSE — National Grid (NYSE: NGG) says the first phase of exterior upgrades and repairs to the company’s landmark building at 300 Erie Boulevard West in Syracuse are complete.

The company on Dec. 17 marked the occasion by lighting up the building for the first time in more than a year.

LightSpek, a Dallas, Texas–based architectural and commercial lighting and control company, designed the new lighting and control system; Connors-Haas of Ontario in Wayne County served as the general contractor on the project; Chicago, Illinois–based JLL managed the project in cooperation with National Grid’s facilities department; Nelson Associates Architectural Engineers of Clinton provided electrical-design services to the project; O’Connell Electric Co. of Syracuse worked on the electrical circuitry; Jerome R. Durr Studio in Syracuse repaired glass panels on the façade; and Integrated Marketing Services of Clay provided additional support for the project, per a Dec. 18 National Grid announcement.

The lighting upgrades were part of a multi-phase, exterior renovation of the building that will continue through 2025. The new lighting system can display millions of colors, as well as add motion and fading to lighting schemes.

And, in keeping with National Grid’s efforts to encourage smart energy use, the lighting system utilizes energy-efficient LED (light-emitting diode) fixtures, the company said in its announcement.

“Our Downtown Syracuse building is more than an office,” Alberto Bianchetti, regional director of customer and external affairs, said in the National Grid announcement. “It’s a point of civic pride for people in this community and a part of our region’s history and character, as one of our nation’s finest representations of art deco design.”

Representatives of the City of Syracuse, Onondaga County, downtown Syracuse businesses, and local historic preservation entities joined National Grid officials to throw the switch, turning on the building’s more than 600 LED light fixtures at 5:41 p.m. on Dec. 17.

National Grid says the illumination started with glowing white, eventually fading into National Grid’s identifying colors. The illumination then continued scrolling through a series of pre-programmed lighting schemes that will be used to celebrate holidays such as Independence Day and Christmas; celebrate local institutions including Syracuse University and Le Moyne College; and commemorate solemn events like the September 11th attacks and Pan Am 103 bombing.

About the structure

The historic Art Deco building on Erie Boulevard West was built in 1932 as the main office of the Niagara Hudson Power Company — a predecessor of Niagara Mohawk and, later, National Grid. Designed by the late Melvin King of Syracuse with consulting architects Bley & Lyman from Buffalo, the building is adorned with a 28-foot winged stainless-steel sculpture called “The Spirit of Light,” representing the spread of electricity during that era. The building is part of the National Registry of Historic Places.

Exterior lighting on the building was one of its original features, but its use was discontinued in 1939 for public safety during World War II as part of community blackouts, National Grid explained. A renovation completed in 2000 restored the lights, adding colors to the lighting capabilities.

DEC announces graduation of 26 new state ECOs

Energy, Environment & Sustainability, Education & Training, Subscriber Only

SYRACUSE — New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar recently welcomed 26 new graduates from the 24th Basic School for New York State environmental conservation police officers (ECOs), including nearly a dozen grads from Central New York. As part of DEC’s Division of Law Enforcement, ECOs enforce the 71 chapters

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As part of DEC’s Division of Law Enforcement, ECOs enforce the 71 chapters of New York’s Environmental Conservation Law that protect natural resources and public health. The ceremony, held in Syracuse, celebrated the graduates who successfully completed an intensive six-month law-enforcement training academy in the classroom and in the field.

For the last six months, recruits were immersed in grueling training at the ECO training academy in Pulaski in Oswego County, the DEC said. The department’s Division of Law Enforcement trains recruits in conventional areas of law enforcement, such as criminal-procedure law and vehicle and traffic law, as well as specialized courses in the Environmental Conservation Law, wildlife identification, and wildlife forensics. The recruits also engaged in physical training, defensive tactics, firearms, and emergency-vehicle operations, among other courses. The 26 graduates will join the state’s force for a total of 290 ECOs statewide.

Upon graduation, DEC assigns recruits to patrol areas across the state. In 2023, DEC’s Division of Law Enforcement ECOs and investigators responded to nearly 31,000 complaints. Cases resulted in almost 16,900 tickets or arrests for violations ranging from deer poaching to solid-waste dumping, illegal mining, and excessive emissions violations.

The graduates of DEC’s 24th Basic School for ECOs include the following 11 from Central New York:

• Mykaela Barrett — West Winfield, Herkimer County

• Kevin Bayne — Horseheads, Chemung County

• Hannah Bieber — Whitney Point, Broome County

• Thomas Griffin — Liverpool, Onondaga County

• Anna Heckler — Sodus, Wayne County

• Keenan Holliday — Milford, Otsego County

• Juthamas Kraiprasert — Auburn, Cayuga County

• Jayson Maxwell — Newport, Herkimer County

• Bryan Noble — Canton, St. Lawrence County

• Thomas Nolan — Westmoreland, Oneida County

• Mitchell Seabury — Manlius, Onondaga County

“I congratulate this new class of New York State ECOs for enduring a demanding training regimen to join one of the most elite police forces in the nation,” Interim Commissioner Mahar said in a DEC statement. “As these new Officers begin their careers, I am confident they will each carry on the rich legacy of protecting New York’s natural resources and public health and safety by holding lawbreakers accountable for environmental crimes and making a positive difference in communities across the state.”

Hockey tournament generates huge economic impact for Oneida County

Sports, Entertainment & Tourism, Mohawk Valley, Subscriber Only

UTICA — The IIHF Ice Hockey Women’s World Championship held in Utica from April 3–14, 2024 brought 70,000 more visitors to Oneida County and generated at least $3.4 million in consumer spending. That’s according to a recent report issued by Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente, Jr. “Hosting the 2024 IIHF Women’s World Championship in

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“Hosting the 2024 IIHF Women’s World Championship in Utica was an incredible success for Oneida County,” Picente said in a statement. “With the tournament helping to attract 70,000 more visitors to our region and an economic impact far exceeding the county’s investment, this event not only showcased our community on the international stage, but also strengthened our local businesses and reinforced our reputation as a premier destination for world-class events. We are proud of the teamwork and hospitality that made this achievement possible.”

The 12-day sporting event is the premier international tournament in women’s ice hockey. It featured 10 women’s national hockey teams from around the globe that competed in 29 games at the Adirondack Bank Center and University Nexus Center. Canada won the title, defeating USA in the final.

Adirondack Sports Council — the firm Oneida County used to help organize, execute, and promote the hockey tournament, compiled the economic impact report.

Total attendance across all 29 hockey games was 68.840, with an average per-game attendance of 2,373. Attendance at the Subaru World Championship Village fan zone totaled 11,352.

The Adirondack Bank Center broke its modern-day attendance record twice during the tournament, which was the highest-ever attended in the U.S.

From March 1 to April 30, 2024, Oneida County drew 1 million visitors, or 70,000 more than the 930,000 visitors for the same period in 2023. In the same timeframe, the Adirondack Bank Center and University Nexus Center welcomed 21,600 more visitors than the previous year.

Hotel occupancy rates were also higher in April 2024 than April 2023, showing a 6 percent increase in demand, 9 percent bump in occupancy, 16 percent rise in daily rate, and 22 percent jump in revenue.

Based on an average per-person spend of $50 per game, the hockey tournament generated $3,442,000 in spending. Bed tax revenue increased 6.7 percent to $701,372 for the quarter when the tournament took place when compared to the previous year.

Sales tax revenue was $12,488,148 for the reporting period ending May 7, 2024, up 4.3 percent from $11,969,900 the year before. As of December 2024, the entire second quarter (when the tournament took place) was the highest performing quarter for sales tax at $50,538,142, up 3.9 percent from the same quarter in 2023.

Visitor data is attributed to Placer.ai and does not include international visitors. Hotel occupancy data was provided by Oneida County Tourism.

The full report is available online at https://oneidacountyny.gov/assets/IIHF-Final-Report.pdf.

Independent colleges generate $97B statewide economic impact

Education & Training, Mohawk Valley, Southern Tier, Subscriber Only

Private, nonprofit colleges and universities have statewide economic impact of $97 billion, according to an economic impact study released by the Albany–based Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities (CICU). Institution impact comprises $70 billion of that, with student and visitor impact totaling $5 billion and academic medical center impact coming in at $22 billion, the

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Institution impact comprises $70 billion of that, with student and visitor impact totaling $5 billion and academic medical center impact coming in at $22 billion, the study showed.

Independent colleges supported 407,000 jobs in fiscal year 2022-2023, including 196,000 direct campus jobs that generated a payroll impact of $33 billion and about $2 billion in state personal income-tax revenue and state and local sales-tax revenue.

In the Mohawk Valley region, which includes Oneida, Herkimer, Otsego, Fulton, Montgomery, and Schoharie counties, the total regional impact is $641.2 million. That includes $572.5 million in institution impact and $68.7 million in student and visitor impact. Independent colleges support 4,000 jobs, including 2,000 direct campus jobs, with a total payroll of $219 million and personal and sales-tax impact of $14.9 million.

Hamilton College in Clinton announced it generates a total economic impact of $331 million, which includes spending on research and development, construction, technology, salaries, and other operating expenses along with student and visitor spending. It supported 1,800 jobs, including 900 jobs on campus, with a combined payroll of $117.3 million and a personal income and sales-tax impact of $8 million.

“Hamilton College has a very real direct economic impact on our communities in the Mohawk Valley every day,” Hamilton President Steven Tepper said in a news release. “As is true with other higher education institutions in our area, it also has a significant impact on the world through the businesses, innovations, and ideas advanced by its graduates over decades.”

Independent colleges in the Central New York region — Oswego, Cayuga, Onondaga, Cortland, and Madison counties — generated an economic impact of $3.1 billion on the region, including $2.8 billion in institution impact and $290.2 million in student and visitor impact. The colleges supported 18,000 jobs, including 9,000 direct campus jobs, with a payroll of $1.1 billion and $73.7 million in personal income and sales-tax revenue.

In the Southern Tier — Delaware, Broome, Chenango, Tioga, Chemung, Steuben, Schuyler, and Tompkins counties – independent colleges had a regional impact of $6.1 billion including $5.8 billion in institution impact and $304.5 million in student and visitor impact. They supported 35,000 jobs, including 17,000 direct campus jobs, with a total payroll of
$2.3 billion and tax impact of $155 million.

Independent colleges in the North Country — Lewis, Jefferson, St. Lawrence, Franklin, Clinton, Essex, and Hamilton counties — had a $606.5 million economic impact, including $543.5 million in institution impact and $63 million in student and visitor impact. They supported 4,000 jobs, including 2,000 direct campus jobs, with a payroll of $196 million and tax impact of $13.4 million.

The full study is available online at www.cicu.org/economic-impact/.

Founded in 1956, the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities in New York represents the public policy interests of chief executives of the state’s independent colleges and universities and works to develop a consensus among membership and to advance higher-education policy.

2024 CNY Legends Special Report

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Click here to read more about this year’s Honorees!

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Binghamton University grad reopens Chroma Café & Bakery

Construction, Design & Real Estate, Education & Training, Small Business, Southern Tier, Sports, Entertainment & Tourism, Subscriber Only

BINGHAMTON — Leighton Blackwood already had one successful food venture under his belt — the 2nd Heaven bubble tea store in the Marketplace at Binghamton University — and was looking to open another business when he came across the opportunity to purchase Chroma Café & Bakery. So, just three years after graduating from Binghamton University

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So, just three years after graduating from Binghamton University and opening his bubble tea shop, Blackwood took over Chroma, which he reopened this past July.

“It was perfect because it was turnkey,” he says of the café, located at 97 Court St. He had looked at a few sites around Binghamton before coming across the Chroma opportunity.

Blackwood hasn’t been going it alone though. Along with support — and recipes — from the previous owners, he is also a member of the Koffman Southern Tier Incubator, where he receives mentorship and participates in entrepreneurship programming, and utilized the Small Business Development Center (SBDC), located within the incubator.

Koffman and the SBDC helped Blackwood navigate issues like getting his business and sales-tax licenses as well as his health permit.

“It seems really daunting in the beginning,” he says of the business process.

Blackwood was familiar with the Koffman Southern Tier Incubator because his first college job was at a startup company that launched at the incubator. During his time there, he got to know Eric Krohn, director of business incubation programming.

When he first had the idea for 2nd Heaven, he went to his mentor Krohn for help, and “the rest is history.” Blackwood says.

Running Chroma is just a bit different than a bubble tea shop, he acknowledges. The café serves an array of sandwiches, while the bakery offers bread, cookies, pastries, cinnamon rolls, conchas, and custom orders. It wholesales pastries and breads to Binghamton University, providing a nice stable base income, Blackwood says.

The café and tea shop also cross-sell, with the café offering bubble teas and the tea shop selling pastries from Chroma.

Blackwood employs three bakers, one barista, and one cook at the café, and between 15 and 17 part-time student employees at the bubble tea shop.

“This is just the beginning,” he says. He hopes to expand the café menu soon, as well as launch at the farmer’s market in January, providing another location for people to grab some Chroma breads and pastries.

New York home sales slip nearly 5 percent in November 2024

Construction, Design & Real Estate, Subscriber Only

ALBANY — New York realtors closed on the sale of 8,660 previously owned homes in November 2024, a decline of 4.6 percent from the 9,079 homes they sold in November 2023. However, pending sales rose almost 4 percent in the 11th month of 2024, which could foreshadow increases in closed home sales in the next

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ALBANY — New York realtors closed on the sale of 8,660 previously owned homes in November 2024, a decline of 4.6 percent from the 9,079 homes they sold in November 2023.

However, pending sales rose almost 4 percent in the 11th month of 2024, which could foreshadow increases in closed home sales in the next couple of months. That’s according to the November housing report that the New York State Association of Realtors (NYSAR) issued on Dec. 19.

“Inventory of homes for sale across New York State dropped to the lowest point since March while interest rates continue to inch closer to seven percent,” NYSAR said to open its housing report.

NYSAR cites Freddie Mac as indicating interest rates in November “climbed once again,” averaging out to 6.81 percent on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage. That’s nearly a half point higher than the 6.43 percentage rate in October, yet still lower than November 2023, when rates were standing at 7.44 percent.

New York sales data

Pending home sales in New York state totaled 7,874 in November 2024, an increase of 3.6 percent from the 7,602 pending sales in the same month in 2023, according to the NYSAR data.

The total inventory of homes for sale in the Empire State totaled 26,152 in November 2024, down 11.3 percent from 29,499 in the year-prior month.

New listings of homes for sale also fell in the second to last month of 2024, slipping 8.6 percent to 8,455 from 9,252 in November 2023.

The months’ supply of homes for sale at the end of November 2024 stood at 2.9 months, down about 12 percent from the 3.3 months of supply a year earlier, per NYSAR’s report. A 6-month to 6.5-month supply is considered a balanced market, the association stipulates.

With such tight inventory, home prices continued to rise precipitously. The statewide median sales price in New York state jumped 9.5 percent to $405,000 in November 2024, compared to the November 2023 median sales price of $370,000.

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.

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Company holds illumination ceremony to mark the occasion

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