Local restaurant patrons can “round up” their bill to benefit SU NIL collective

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SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Syracuse–area independent restaurant owners say they’re partnering with Syracuse University (SU) Athletics, giving patrons the chance to “round up” their bill to benefit SU student-athletes. Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon announced the partnership on Thursday. Surrounded by local restaurant owners, McMahon made the announcement outside the John A. Lally Athletics Complex on […]

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Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon announced the partnership on Thursday.

Surrounded by local restaurant owners, McMahon made the announcement outside the John A. Lally Athletics Complex on Syracuse’s South campus. SU men’s basketball coach Adrian Autry and SU football coach Fran Brown both attended the announcement.

Patrons at participating restaurants will have the opportunity to “round up” when paying the bill, McMahon said.

“And whether you’re rounding up to the dollar or rounding up with a couple of dollars, that would be the patron’s choice,” he noted.

The extra dollars and cents would benefit Orange United, and the student-athletes involved in the NIL program. Syracuse University (SU) Athletics back in September unveiled Orange United, which the school describes as the “preferred” NIL collective for Syracuse student-athletes to leverage their name, image, and likeness (NIL) opportunitiesto earn money. Orange United is “powered” by Atlanta, Georgia–based Student Athlete NIL, or SANIL, SU said in its announcement.

NIL is playing a major role in college sports recruiting these days with mostuniversities deploying collectives to help compete as the average NIL deal needed to attract high-level recruits to commit to a university continues to rise in value.

The initiative also seeks to benefit area restaurant businesses and the local economyand community.

“Syracuse Athletics drives the hospitality industry,” McMahon said. “Coach Autry knows this and Coach Brown is learning this, when we are doing well in Syracuse athletics, the mental health of this community is much better.”

Some of the participating restaurants in the pilot program include Apizza Regionale; Emerald Cocktail Kitchen; Kitty Hoynes; Scotch ‘N Sirloin; Noble Cellar; King David’sRestaurant; Middle Ages Brewing Company; Trappers II Pizza & Pub; The Taphouse on Walton; Buried Acorn; Pavone’s Pizza; and Willow Rock Brewing Company.

The program begins June 1 and continues through Aug. 1, Mark Hayes, general manager of Orange United, said in his remarks at the Thursday morning announcement.

“We want to drive awareness. We want to drive foot traffic to these local establishments … and also supporting the mission to help our student-athletes,” Hayes added.

He also noted that selected SU student-athletes will provide their own engagement with the restaurants involved, including social-media posts and meet-and-greet events.

In answering questions from local reporters, McMahon also acknowledged that Onondaga County operates on sales taxes and could generate increased revenue as a result of the initiative.

“Every service we provide this community is driven by sales tax,” McMahon said. “[It’s a] $1.5 billion operation … our property taxes only make up about $150 million of the $1.5 billion. Everything else is from consumer spending. We need a competitive entertainment infrastructure.”

Schedule set for Jazz in the City, a series of concerts with a public-health focus

Health Care, Sports, Entertainment & Tourism

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The 20th season of Jazz in the City, a series of summer concerts with a focus on public health, begins in mid-June

Chobani founder to speak at World Refugee Day celebration in Utica

Mohawk Valley

UTICA, N.Y. — Chobani Founder and CEO Hamdi Ulukaya will be the keynote speaker at The Center’s celebration of World Refugee Day on June 8.

Ithaca startup receives Launch NY funding

Small Business, Nonprofits, Southern Tier, Subscriber Only

ITHACA, N.Y. — An Ithaca–based startup is one of three companies that will receive a seed-fund investment from Launch NY through its InvestLocal financing programs to support scaled-up manufacturing for products that show potential. Caretech Human received $175,000 from Launch NY which includes $75,000 from its nonprofit seed fund and $100,000 from the Launch NY

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ITHACA, N.Y. — An Ithaca–based startup is one of three companies that will receive a seed–fund investment from Launch NY through its InvestLocal financing programs to support scaled-up manufacturing for products that show potential.

Caretech Human received $175,000 from Launch NY which includes $75,000 from its nonprofit seed fund and $100,000 from the Launch NY Seed Fund II, a new for-profit limited partner fund that started making investments in 2023.

“We are pleased to bring exciting new companies into the Launch NY portfolio, especially as they prepare to enter commercial manufacturing and begin to truly scale their innovative products,” Launch NY CEO Marnie LaVigne said in a press release.Launch NY is nonprofit venture–development organization that operates in the 27westernmost counties of upstate New York, including Tompkins County, as well as Broome, Onondaga, and Oneida counties. “These investments represent our region’s belief and experience showing that putting seed stage capital into these upstate New York startup companies can create market-leading products competitive not only on a local, but national scale and beyond.”

Based at Cornell University’s Center for Life Science Ventures business incubator, Caretech Human has developed a small device that users can install above the waterline in their toilet to provide continuous health monitoring for urological diseases.

The non-invasive, passive monitoring system has the potential to create screening and early detection for diseases. The Launch NY funding will allow the company to enter commercial production in preparation for entering the market.

“In some health domains, patients have tools for self-monitoring at home such as blood pressure devices, cardio holders, or glucometers,” Caretech Human CEO Dan Matsui said. “However, in urology there is no convenient way to assess the severity of symptoms and disease progression at home. Launch NY funding helped the company stay focused on its goals during this exciting time, and we’re excited to begin manufacturing and selling our device.”

TelosAir in Rochester and Edenesque in Buffalo also received funding from Launch NY, which supports startup companies through mentorship and investment.

Projects announced for CNY communities under state’s DRI, NY Forward programs

Construction, Design & Real Estate, Subscriber Only

New York State recently announced a total of 35 projects for Central New York communities that were announced as winners in economic-development programs. Eleven projects were announced for the village of Homer, the round six winner of a $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) award, the office of Gov. Kathy Hochul announced May 22. In

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New York State recently announced a total of 35 projects for Central New York communities that were announced as winners in economic-development programs.

Eleven projects were announced for the village of Homer, the round six winner of a $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) award, the office of Gov. Kathy Hochul announced May 22.

In addition, Hochul announced six projects for Moravia, a round one winner of a $2.25 million NY Forward award; seven projects were announced for Hamilton, also a round one winner of a $2.25 million NY Forward award; and 11 projects for Phoenix, a round one winner of a $4.5 million NY Forward award.

Homer

The village of Homer was named the Central New York winner in the sixth round of the DRI in 2023. The 11 projects selected will further historic Homer’s role as a premier arts and cultural destination in Central New York, strengthening opportunities for mixed-use development and niche retail, and encouraging regional connections.

The 11 projects, totaling $9.7 million, include improving the Homer festival grounds; restoring the interior of the village food market; redevelopment of the historic little white church; developing a boutique hotel; administering a small-projects fund; creating a downtown marketing and signage program; developing a wellness spa; developing a commercial space on Wall Street; constructing a riverwalk overlook; developing a commercial kitchen, community center, and year-round farmers market; and restoring the Water Street bridge

Moravia

The six projects for the village of Moravia, totaling more than $2 million, include converting the vacant former Elmira Savings Bank at 142 Main St. into the “Main Street Tavern;” and renovating a vacant former medical office at 66 Central St. into Rowan’s Bar & Grill, a restaurant, bar, and event space with outdoor seating and an event lawn.

Hamilton

The seven projects for the village of Hamilton, totaling $2.25 million, includerenovating the Village Green; building out and furnishing the Hub’s new community room; and creating a New York–focused winery & tasting room.

Phoenix

The 11 projects for the village of Phoenix, totaling $4.5 million, include a project turning North Island into canalside entertainment venue and recreational area; creating outdoor event space with pavilion adjacent to Lock 1 Distillery; renovating the property at 73 State St. for mixed-use development; constructing a new primary care and behavioral health facility; and building a daycare facility at 102 Volney St. and adding 10-15 new jobs.

SUNY ESF, St. Lawrence University awarded $5K recycling grants for campus projects

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

The SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY ESF) in Syracuse and St. Lawrence University in Canton will each use $5,000 in grant funding for recycling projects on their respective campuses. The New York State Pollution Prevention Institute (NYSP2I) and the New York State Association for Reduction, Reuse and Recycling (NYSAR3) awarded the grants.

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The New York State Pollution Prevention Institute (NYSP2I) and the New York State Association for Reduction, Reuse and Recycling (NYSAR3) awarded the grants. The grants go to campuses that have projects that focus on source reduction, reuse, recycling,and pollution prevention.

NYSP2I is located at the Rochester Institute of Technology, while NYSAR3 is based in Albany.

Each year, NYSAR3 and NYSP2I provide two $5,000 awards to New York State universities and colleges who are members of the NYSAR3 College Council.

NYSP2I awarded a grant to SUNY ESF for its project titled, “SUNY ESF’s Path to Zero Waste: Integrated Indoor Compost System on a Rural College Campus.” At the same time, NYSAR3 provided funding for the St. Lawrence University project called“Approaching Economic Sustainability at the Barn Good Thrift Store”.

SUNY ESF

The SUNY ESF project involved installing an indoor composting system at its remote Ranger School in Wanakena in St. Lawrence County, which does not have centralized garbage pickup or composting infrastructure. The project will increase the ESF Ranger School’s organic waste diversion rate through formalizing an ongoing compost program, expanding agricultural opportunities on-campus, and engaging local communities with a model for successful end-to-end composting.

The composting system will prevent organic waste from going into the landfill and,instead, recycle it into usable material that will be used on campus as a soil amendment for future edible gardens, and to support current, established pollinator gardens and educational and experiential learning components for students. The project should be complete by the end of 2024.

St. Lawrence University

The St. Lawrence University student club, “Close the Loop,” has been managing the onsite campus thrift store “Barn Good” that is open to community members. The club will use the $5,000 award to pay for upgrades and make targeted purchases of equipment and supplies to bring the business to “economic sustainability,” per the announcement.

The goal of this proposal is to upgrade the thrift–store space to support upcyclingevents, reduce campus waste, increase re-use of clothing and other residential items, and provide low-cost retail items to students and the community.

Le Moyne College athletic complex rendering

Le Moyne College to renovate athletics complex in $45 million project over five years

Construction, Design & Real Estate, Education & Training, Subscriber Only

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Le Moyne College says its Thomas J. Niland Jr. Athletic Complexwill undergo a $45 million expansion and renovation over the next five years. The college also noted that it will use $12 million in state funding to help pay for the project. The planned expansion comes as the Le Moyne Dolphins just

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CABVI announces new board leader, officers

Nonprofits, Subscriber Only

UTICA — The Central Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (CABVI) said goodbye to a longtime leader and named a new chair of the board of directors at its annual meeting held May 14 at Monarch Banquets in Yorkville. At the meeting, Jim Turnbull IV stepped down as board chair, a role he has

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At the meeting, Jim Turnbull IV stepped down as board chair, a role he has filled since 2019. Among his accomplishments are raising $14.7 million toward the construction of CABVI’s Vision Health and Wellness Center and supporting renovations to the agency’s Syracuse Industries location and the Kenneth Thayer Production and Distribution Center in Utica.

He was the second generation of his family to serve in the role. His father James B. Turnbull III also served as chair, as well as treasurer for many years.

“Jim has been a lifelong supporter of CABVI,” agency President/CEO Ed Welsh said in a news release. “Jim brought unique perspective and experience to the board. As chair, he helped lead us through COVID, opened our new Vision Health and Wellness Center, and supported the renovations to both our Dwyer Avenue and Syracuse facilities. Jim has a great passion for Camp Abilities and our kids. I suspect we will see him at the lake this summer on Turnbull Tubing Day. I am grateful for his friendship and leadership. He will always be an important part of the CABVI family.”

At the meeting, George Nehme was voted in as Turnbull’s successor as board chair. He has served in the nonprofit and academic communities for more than 40 years and joined the CABVI board in 2021.

“I’m deeply honored, as a person who is legally blind,” Nehme said. “Just being on the board alone has been an incredible privilege, and now to become the next chair, I’m deeply moved by that and appreciate the trust that all of you have placed in me.”

During the meeting, Ralph Eannace was named first vice chair, Richard Dewar appointed second vice chair, Barry Sinnott named treasurer, and Deborah Kessler designated secretary.

Established in 1929, CABVI is a social enterprise that provides services and employment to people who are blind or visually impaired. The organization serves more than 1,800 people of all ages, generally free of charge, in a 10-county region of Central New York.

Berkshire Hills Bancorp announces CFO changeup

Banks & Credit Unions, Mohawk Valley, Subscriber Only

Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc. (NYSE: BHLB), parent of Berkshire Bank, recently announced the departure of R. David Rosato as chief financial officer (CFO) and the appointment of Brett Brbovic, currently chief accounting officer, to the CFO role effective June 14. Rosato joined Berkshire in February 2023 after working for 15 years at People’s United Financial,

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Rosato joined Berkshire in February 2023 after working for 15 years at People’s United Financial, Inc., including eight years as CFO there. He is stepping down to pursue other interests, but will stay on at Berkshire through June 14 as responsibilities transition to Brbovic.

“We’re grateful for the contributions that David has made in his service as CFO, and we wish him well in his future pursuits,” Berkshire CEO Nitin Mhatre said in a press release announcing the news. “[Rosato] has been instrumental in developing the bench strength for our finance group that has enabled us to transition to a new leadership team, including Brett, who will be assuming the CFO role.”

Brbovic joined Berkshire in 2012 from KPMG LLP and has served as chief accounting officer since 2015. He also served as interim CFO from Oct. 7, 2022, through Feb. 6, 2023.

“Brett is a 12-year Berkshire Bank veteran with a strong track record and deep institutional knowledge,” Mhatre said. “I’m confident in his ability to lead our finance team and build on the changes that David has implemented. Berkshire’s leadership is committed to maintaining recent momentum and our entire team is focused on the goal to be a high-performing, relationship-drive, community-focused bank.”

Boston–based Berkshire announced in March it would sell 10 branches in upstate and eastern New York, including the sale of its East Syracuse branch to Pathfinder Bank. Hudson Valley Credit Union is buying eight branches in Albany, Saratoga, Schenectady, and Columbia counties while Glens Falls National Bank and Trust Company is purchasing the Whitehall branch.

Berkshire Bank has $12.1 billion in assets and 96 branches across New York state and New England.

SU plans new Center for Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing

Construction, Design & Real Estate, Education & Training, Manufacturing & Engineering, Subscriber Only, Technology

SYRACUSE — The technology behind modern semiconductor manufacturing is among the most intricate and sophisticated on the planet. That’s how Gretchen Ritter, vice chancellor and provost, at Syracuse University (SU) opened her remarks on May 16 as SU announced plans to launch its Center for Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing. SU plans to spend $10 million to

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SYRACUSE — The technology behind modern semiconductor manufacturing is among the most intricate and sophisticated on the planet.

That’s how Gretchen Ritter, vice chancellor and provost, at Syracuse University (SU) opened her remarks on May 16 as SU announced plans to launch its Center for Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing.

SU plans to spend $10 million to help pay for the center, and Onondaga County will also provide a $10 million grant.

“It’s awe inspiring. It’s captivating,” Ritter said in reference to the technology. “And thanks to this investment by Onondaga County, we have an opportunity to open exciting, fulfilling, and well-paid jobs in advanced manufacturing to generations of Syracuse students.”

Ritter went on to say that the Center for Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing will “demystify” careers in chip manufacturing for the Syracuse community and “inspire students of all ages to join this rewarding field.”

“Embracing these students is critical, given the palpable regional and national need for a far more robust and diverse STEM workforce,” Ritter said in her remarks. “These students will build today’s chips and design the next generation that will maintain U.S. leadership in semiconductors for decades to come.”

STEM is short for science, technology, engineering, mathematics.

It’s described as a center that will bring together expertise in artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, manufacturing processes, optimization, and robotics to “advance the science of semiconductor manufacturing,” per the university.

Syracuse University (SU) Chancellor Kent Syverud on May 16 addressed the gathering at SU’s National Veterans Resource Center announcing the upcoming Center for Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing.
ERIC REINHARDT / CNYBJ

“The state-of-the-art teaching and research facility we’re building as part of this will replicate an autonomous advanced-manufacturing floor; will enable research and design,” Syracuse University Chancellor Kent Syverud said in his remarks. “The center will provide the very definition of hands-on learning and training that students need to meet the needs and meet the moment.”

Officials announced details of the new Center for Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing in an event at the National Veterans Resource Center at 101 Waverly Ave. on the SU campus.

“To support that work, we are going to be hiring many new faculty scholars over the next five years, and, in particular, we expect to grow our student enrollment in the College of Engineering and Computer Science by 50 percent in the next four years,” Syverud said. “And that’s to keep up with the market demands created by Micron and the burgeoning U.S. chips industry. We will be especially focused on recruiting from area high schools, including the new STEAM high school that has had such hard work behind it.”

Micron Technology Inc. (NASDAQ: MU) plans to invest up to $100 billion over the next 20-plus years on a semiconductor manufacturing campus at the White Pine Commerce Park in the town of Clay.

The Center for Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing is part of a more than $100 million investment in “strategically transforming” STEM and expanding SU’s College of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS) over the next five years, the university noted.

SU will house the center in its Center of Science and Technology, and it will be situated within ECS. Syracuse University believes the new center will position it and the CNY region as a global leader in research and education on the intelligent manufacturing of semiconductors.

Work on renovating existing space into the new facility is already underway, Syverud told reporters during the announcement event. The center should be completed in two years, Ritter told Syverud in response to a reporter’s question about the construction timeline.

“As we transition from an amazing site-selection process and an amazing planning process to executing, it is critical for us to meet the moment that you’ve heard from the vice chancellor and chancellor that we have all of the tools in the toolbox,” Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon said in his remarks. “One of the major tools in recruiting Micron to get here was this facility and what this represents and what this represents specifically for veteran labor and that’s a critical tool.”

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