INSPYRE Innovation Hub is now open for entrepreneurs, the public to see

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The first in a series of monthly open-house events at the INSPYRE Innovation Hub (the expanded former Tech Garden) is set for Oct. 30 at 11 a.m. The 90-minute event allows those interested to “explore our startup services and programs and learn how we support entrepreneurs in Central [New York!],” per the events page on the facility’s website. Those interested are asked to register at https://inspyrehub.com/events/ CenterState CEO on Sept. 18 formally opened the expanded INSPYRE Innovation Hub at 235 Harrison St. in Syracuse. The ribbon cutting followed a two-year, $32 million expansion project. Empire State Development provided up to $16.6 million for the initiative through the region’s CNY Rising Upstate Revitalization Initiative. The project included a two-story addition to the existing building, renovations to the facility’s existing space, updates to the on-site mechanical and security systems, a new 5,000-square-foot roof terrace accessible to clients, 3,000-square-foot meeting room, private tenant offices for 35 additional resident startups, coworking areas, an expanded hardware space for prototype and product development and a new entrance. Hueber-Breuer Construction Co., Inc. served as the contractor on the project. Besides Hueber-Breuer, Eli Smith of E. Smith Contractors of Syracuse also contributed, and QPK Design of Syracuse handled the design work. The expanded facility serves to anchor Syracuse’s City Center Innovation Hub, a core component of the Syracuse Surge economic-development strategy and will serve as the gateway to the “Innovation Alley” on Warren Street in Syracuse, the office of Gov. Kathy Hochul said in its Sept. 18 announcement. The multi-story facility is the largest business incubator in New York State, Hochul’s office added. INSPYRE will continue to be the central hub for the Genius NY program, described as the world’s largest business accelerator for the uncrewed systems and robotics industry. Since 2017, Genius NY has invested nearly $24 million in 42 companies from around the world and the companies who have taken part have raised more than $350 million in follow-on funding and created hundreds of new jobs in New York state.

“The building for us and the building for me encapsulates where Syracuse is right now as a community, right?” Ben Sio, acting president of CenterState CEO, said in his remarks to open the event Thursday morning. “We’re on the cusp of something big [not only] as an organization but as a community... This is a 90,000-square-foot facility now. It’s the largest accelerator and incubator in New York State.” Sio went on to say, “I think what’s more important about this facility is what got us here today. We’ve been working on tech startups and supporting a small-business ecosystem before CenterState was a thing. For over 20 years, our organizations have focused on investing in the smallest of small businesses and helping make sure that they’re successful, and we’ve been really successful in doing that.” Sio also acknowledged the attendance of former U.S. Representative Jim Walsh, who is also the father of current Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh. Just over two decades ago, as chair of the House Appropriations Committee, Jim Walsh secured some of the initial funding to renovate the original facility from a collapsed parking garage into what was the Tech Garden. “Your vision helped us get here today. Thank you,” Sio said to Walsh, a comment that was greeted with applause. Besides Sio, those speaking at the event included New York State Senator Rachel May (D–Syracuse); New York State Assemblyman Al Stirpe (D–Cicero); New York State Senator Chris Ryan (D–Geddes); Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh; Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon; Katie Newcombe, director of economic development for New York at National Grid; John Liddy, VP of innovation and entrepreneurship at CenterState CEO; and Steve Gorczynski, Central New York regional president for Buffalo–based M&T Bank (NYSE: MTB), which on Sept. 9 said it signed a seven-year deal with CenterState CEO to serve as the founding sponsor of the INSPYRE Innovation Hub. In his remarks, Stirpe recalled Robert Simpson, president and CEO of CenterState CEO, telling him about the expansion idea in 2017 and seeing the facility’s design about a year later. A few years later, Simpson notified Stirpe that the renovation would cost about $32 million, up from the initial figure of $24 million. Stirpe then noted that it took some work, but Syracuse–area state lawmakers were able to secure the funding. Stirpe went on to say he’s a big believer in the “pursuit of wow!” “Why have something that’s just like everybody else’s? You want to have something that … you don’t even need a sign on the front,” Stirpe said. “When people drive around, they say, where’s the Innovation Hub? All they have to do is look up, and they’ll know that’s this building, and that’s what I’m most proud of.”