NORDTECH awarded more than $27 million in federal funding for projects

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U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D–N.Y.) last week announced more than $27 million in U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) funding for the Northeast Regional

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ALBANY — The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has awarded FuzeHub $375,000 in funding to support entrepreneurs in underserved communities.

FuzeHub, an Albany–based nonprofit, says it works to help New York State manufacturing and technology companies increase competitiveness and growth.

FuzeHub’s funding includes two grants — $322,000 for its Equity in Manufacturing Innovation (EIM) program and $50,000 through the SBA’s 2024 Growth Accelerator Fund Competition (GAFC).

The initiatives will enable FuzeHub to ramp up its capabilities in engaging and supporting underserved entrepreneurs in the manufacturing and technology sectors across several areas of New York state.

“This federal investment will allow us to expand our reach and impact. FuzeHub has assisted thousands of manufacturing and tech firms over the 10 years since we first launched, and now we’ll have added backing to ensure that every manufacturer knows how to access New York State’s robust innovation resources,” Elena Garuc, executive director of FuzeHub, said in its announcement. “We will keep building our capacity to provide intensive, wrap-around support to innovators who have historically faced barriers to accessing these vital resources. We’re grateful to Senate Majority Leader Schumer and Senator Gillibrand for helping us secure the funding necessary to fuel this important work.”

The EIM program will provide entrepreneurial training and services to 30 entrepreneurs across the Central New York, Southern Tier, and North Country regions. Complementing this, the GAFC award will support the development of a pre-accelerator program and new collaborations with 20-30 organizations to address the needs of entrepreneurs with advanced-manufacturing research and development projects.

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D–N.Y.) and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D–N.Y.) were influential in securing the federal funding for FuzeHub’s expanded efforts, the organization noted.

Working with NY MEP

FuzeHub — which serves as the statewide center for the New York Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NY MEP) — will spearhead these initiatives in partnership with multiple regional NY MEP centers. They include the Alliance for Manufacturing and Technology (AMT) in the Southern Tier, CITEC Business Solutions in the North Country, and TDO in Central New York.

“This initiative is another game-changer for Central New York’s manufacturing landscape. By focusing on underserved entrepreneurs, we’re tapping into a wealth of innovation potential that is too often overlooked,” Jim D’Agostino, CEO & MEP Center Director, TDO, said, in the FuzeHub announcement. We’re grateful to Senators Schumer and Gillibrand for their support in securing this funding, which will allow us to provide critical resources and mentorship to more manufacturers in our communities.”

The nonprofit TDO, which is short for Train, Develop, Optimize, is located at 445 Electronics Parkway in the town of Salina. The organization launched in 1988 as the Central New York Technology Development Organization, or CNY TDO, per its website.

“The North Country’s entrepreneurial spirit is strong, but access to resources has often been a challenge, especially for underserved rural communities that don’t have the density of resources and advisors typical of more urban areas,” Steven Lockwood, executive director at CITEC Business Solutions, said in the FuzeHub announcement. “This FuzeHub-led, SBA-funded program will bridge that gap, providing our innovators with the tools they need to turn their ideas into successful manufacturing ventures. We thank our federal representatives for recognizing the importance of investing in diverse entrepreneurial talent across all regions of our state.”

CITEC says it offers “consulting and training services to help businesses grow.” CITEC developed out of the Northern Technology Council and the Northern Advanced Technology Corporation, which were founded in 1983 through a New York State program to advance technology-based businesses, the website says.

This funding is a “significant boost” for the Southern Tier’s manufacturing ecosystem, Carol Miller, AMT executive director, said in the announcement.

“It will allow us to nurture a more diverse group of entrepreneurs, bringing fresh perspectives and innovations to our region’s industrial base,” Miller said. “We’re thankful for the support of Senators Gillibrand and Schumer in championing this initiative, which will undoubtedly contribute to job creation and economic growth in our communities.”

AMT operates at Five South College Drive in the town of Dickinson, near Binghamton.

New co-working space provides modern facility to tenants

Construction, Design & Real Estate, Employee Benefits & Human Resources, Featured, Mohawk Valley, Small Business, Subscriber Only, Technology

NEW HARTFORD, N.Y. — The Network at 600 French is a new professional working space designed to serve as a permanent home for businesses looking for a modern space without the burden of owning and maintaining their own building. The space is the idea of Matt Wilson of MPW Marketing and Bill Matteson of Upstate

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The space is the idea of Matt Wilson of MPW Marketing and Bill Matteson of Upstate Wealth Consulting. The two businesses were sharing space at 8378 Seneca Turnpike but were looking for something a little newer, Wilson says.

“We saw an opportunity to do something a little more impressive,” he says. It’s all about wanting clients to have a top-notch experience, he adds. When Matteson suggested they look for a space big enough to house their businesses and others, Wilson was on board with the idea.

After looking around for about five months, the pair discovered the former Prudential Carrucci Real Estate space at 600 French Road.

“It had been vacant for a while,” Wilson says, but was perfect for what he and Matteson had in mind.

Work involved gutting the 4,500-square-foot space down to the studs and working with ROI Office Interiors in Rome and Uniquely Yours Interior Design to layout and furnish a sleek, modern office space.

The result is the Network at 600 French, which serves as the new headquarters for MPW Marketing and Upstate Wealth Consulting and offers space for lease to other businesses.

Unlike a more traditional co-working space, however, the Network at 600 French isn’t intended to be transient space, Wilson says. Tenants can lease desk space or private office space, and they all share the conference and meeting rooms, kitchen, and huddle rooms, using a software system to reserve the spaces. There’s even a podcast/audio production suite.

The setup is ideal for a small business, say a one- or two-person professional office that needs a professional space, he notes.

There are already several tenants in the space, including Albany–based CSArch, which found the location ideal when it was looking to open a Utica area office. Human resources-consulting firm Empower Business Strategies is also a tenant. The Network at 600 French donated space for the Center for Leadership Excellence to use as well.

The response to the space, which opened in August, has been overwhelmingly positive, Wilson says. CSArch and Empower signed on before the space was even completed. With MPW and Upstate Wealth also renting space, there is only one office and a couple of desks that are still available as of press time.

On top of having a new space he’s excited to welcome clients to, Wilson says it also costs MPW only about one-third of what the space on Seneca Turnpike cost, so it’s been a win-win. Upstate Wealth, the largest tenant in the space, is saving about 40 percent, he estimates.

Beyond the impressive space and the savings, Wilson is also finding he’s enjoying the bustling office after years of remote working during the pandemic.

“What I didn’t expect was the connectivity, the conversations with tenants,” he says. “Not only have we got this great space, we’re building new relationships.”

Work starts on ED renovation at Guthrie Cortland Medical Center

Construction, Design & Real Estate, Health Care, Southern Tier, Subscriber Only

CORTLAND — Guthrie Cortland Medical Center (GCMC) says work is beginning on what it describes as a “long-awaited,” $7.2 million renovation project at its emergency department (ED). Some internal work has been underway in recent weeks, but the public-facing portion of the 18-month project starts on Sept. 23. The project includes multiple phases. The facility’s

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CORTLAND — Guthrie Cortland Medical Center (GCMC) says work is beginning on what it describes as a “long-awaited,” $7.2 million renovation project at its emergency department (ED).

Some internal work has been underway in recent weeks, but the public-facing portion of the 18-month project starts on Sept. 23.

Guthrie Cortland emergency dept rendering — A rendering of the exterior of the emergency department at Guthrie Cortland Medical Center (GCMC), which is beginning a $7.2 million renovation project at the department. Some internal work is already underway, but the public-facing portion gets started on Sept. 23, GCMC said.
RENDERING CREDIT: GUTHRIE CLINIC

The project includes multiple phases. The facility’s ambulance bay will be redesigned with the addition of a permanent decontamination area and adjoining rooms in the event of an emergency.

The renovation will also focus on patient rooms. The medical center needed more space to accommodate the more than 28,000 visits to the ED each year. The number of rooms will increase from 14 to 23, and all existing and new rooms will now be private, GCMC said.

Another project phase will target the waiting room and triage. The space will be redesigned for “patient comfort and flow,” with the addition of a “Nurse First” triage model, which means every patient will initially be evaluated by a nurse to determine the best course of action, reducing wait times, GCMC notes.

The project will also focus on behavioral-health space, including three new patient rooms, an activity room for parent or counselor meetings, and a separate nurses station.

“This will be especially critical for our pediatric population with mental health concerns,” Wendy Kolodziejczyk, director of critical-care services at Guthrie Cortland Medical Center, says in a statement. “This new space, away from the chaos of an emergency department, will offer our behavioral health population a safe, calm space to heal while they wait for long-term placement.”

The phased approach is designed for “minimal impact” to the hospital’s patients and the emergency department will remain open during the entire project. The facility will post signage to “ensure easy navigation” for patients throughout this process and will post updates through traditional and social media.

“The Emergency Department is the face of any hospital,” Jennifeer Yartym, president of Guthrie Cortland Medical Center, says. “We are committed to upgrading and elevating the look and feel of our facility to meet the high level of care being offered by our teams inside.”

Barclay Damon adds partner to health-care controversies team

Health Care, Law, Accounting & Taxes, Subscriber Only

SYRACUSE — Barclay Damon recently announced that Christina Verone Juliano, partner, has joined the law firm’s health-care controversies team, based in its Syracuse office. She is also part of the firm’s commercial litigation & complex trials and torts & products-liability defense practice areas. With more than 15 years of experience trying cases in both state

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VIEWPOINT: Strategies to help N.Y employers improve employees’ mental health

Business Mentors, Health Care, Subscriber Only

A recent survey [from the American psychological Association] revealed that 90 percent of Americans believe the U.S. is in the midst of a mental-health crisis, and one-third of Americans reported they found it difficult to access help. In New York state, 15.4 percent adults experience frequent mental distress, according to the 2023 America’s Health Rankings

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In New York state, 15.4 percent adults experience frequent mental distress, according to the 2023 America’s Health Rankings report. Notably, low-acuity conditions, like mild and moderate stress or anxiety, account for a significant portion of behavioral-health claims.

Whether low- or high-acuity, unaddressed mental-health conditions can create long-term and near-term impacts in the workforce, including detrimental effects on employee motivation, according to Psychology Today. As behavioral-health needs continue to increase, many are looking to their employers for support — and employers are seeking to reduce the prevalence of mental-health concerns among employees, to help nurture a healthier workplace culture.

During September’s National Suicide Prevention Month, it is an opportune time for employers and benefits managers to evaluate ways to better meet the behavioral-health needs of their workforces. Here are four strategies to consider.

Support a full continuum of care needs. Mental and physical health are interconnected; having poor mental health can negatively impact physical health, and vice versa. Focusing too heavily on one side of the spectrum does not address the full picture of employee wellbeing, and a “one size fits all” approach to offerings can be harmful to employees. Integrate both physical and behavioral-health benefits across a full spectrum of care needs to ensure your benefits strategy encompasses a holistic, whole-person approach to health care.

Select a network that meets members where they are. There are still barriers to accessing care — in fact, nearly half of Americans live in areas with mental-health workforce shortages, according to the World Health Organization. Although efforts are underway at the state and national levels to expand the number of mental-health care providers, increasing the number of providers within a network is not currently enough. Virtual health options and digital tools help employers address these gaps by allowing members to access care when and where they want.

Some health plans, such as UnitedHealthcare, offer virtual programs aimed specifically at increasing access to care and reducing cost barriers. For example, virtual behavioral coaching provides individualized coaching and mental-health support for adults experiencing symptoms of mild depression, stress, and anxiety through digital modules and one-on-one video or telephonic conferencing and messaging with trained, dedicated coaches.

Offer a guided experience to help employees navigate care options. Ensuring employees feel connected and supported while navigating the health system is as important as crafting a benefits strategy that encompasses the right balance of offerings. A robust digital experience allowing employees to navigate care with a single sign-on to search for providers, pharmacies, costs and more enhances the member journey and presents more opportunities for personalization. Also, some health plans and employers offer advocacy programs to connect consumers to advanced care and resources, and predictive tools that help segment and identify high-risk members and make suggestions for care.

Reduce the stigma. While discussing mental health has become more accepted in recent years, some employees may not feel comfortable speaking about it with their employer. Therefore, explore different avenues of internal communications, such as targeted campaigns, to highlight available resources and services, without requiring individuals to share information beyond their comfort zone.

Mental or behavioral-health conditions can have a large impact on a company’s workforce and on individual employees. By designing programs with employees’ whole-person health needs in mind, employers can help nurture a healthier workplace culture, reduce workplace stigma, and improve people’s lives and productivity.

Dr. Greg Carnevale is chief medical officer at UnitedHealthcare.

Rome Health adds practitioner to primary care practice

Health Care, Mohawk Valley, Subscriber Only

ROME — Rome Health has recently added family practitioner Michael Parslow, D.O., to its primary care practice, located in the medical center on the main campus of Rome Health. Dr. Parslow is the first of four new primary care providers who will be joining the practice over the next four months, the health system said

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Oswego Health adds robotically assisted surgical system

Health Care, Subscriber Only, Technology

OSWEGO — Oswego Health says it recently purchased the da Vinci Xi surgical system for use in its surgery center. Dr. Kenneth Cooper — a robotically trained bariatric surgeon with the Center for Weight Loss & Surgery — was the first to use the da Vinci Xi system at Oswego Health’s surgery center in early

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OSWEGO — Oswego Health says it recently purchased the da Vinci Xi surgical system for use in its surgery center.

Dr. Kenneth Cooper — a robotically trained bariatric surgeon with the Center for Weight Loss & Surgery — was the first to use the da Vinci Xi system at Oswego Health’s surgery center in early July, the health system announced.

“This additional surgical option will improve clinical outcomes and has significant advantages to our patients,” Cooper said in the announcement. “I’m thrilled that Oswego Health has made this investment as we strive to improve the health and well-being of the communities we serve.”

Its creator designed the da Vinci Xi system to further advance the technology used in minimally invasive surgery. A surgeon can use the system across a spectrum of minimally invasive surgical procedures. It has also been optimized for multi-quadrant surgeries performed at Oswego Health in the areas of bariatric, general surgery, and urology, the health system noted.

The da Vinci Xi system provides the precision and visibility needed to take on more complex procedures via remotely operated surgical tools that are inserted through small incisions in the patient. Benefits of robotic surgery include shorter post-surgery hospital stays, faster recovery times, lower probability of complications, and less need for opioid painkillers.

“At Oswego Health, we care about making investments in patient care. The da Vinci System is state-of-the-art technology that will extend our surgeons’ capabilities in a way that will be safer, less invasive, and more efficient,” Michael Backus, president & CEO of Oswego Health, said in the health system’s announcement. “I expect that our patients will notice the results and this will be another step for Oswego Health to demonstrate the quality of healthcare offered in our hospital. Expanding into robotic surgery at Oswego Health allows us to continue our commitment to be the very best for our patients.”

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