Stay up-to-date on the companies, people and issues that impact businesses in Syracuse, Central New York and beyond.

Eastern Shore Associates acquires Cronk Agency of Central Square
FULTON, N.Y. — Eastern Shore Associates Insurance (ESA) has announced its acquisition of the Cronk Agency, Inc., which operates at 647 S. Main St. in
Standard & Poor’s upgrades N.Y. credit rating to AA+
Standard & Poor’s (S&P) Ratings Services last week upgraded New York’s general-obligation (GO) bonds to “AA+” with stable outlook from the previous rating of “AA.”
Five businesses to expand or locate in Binghamton under START-UP NY program
BINGHAMTON, N.Y. — Five businesses will expand or locate in Binghamton through the START-UP NY program, the initiative that creates tax-free areas associated with colleges

State forms craft-brewer work group to develop ideas to expand the industry
A new craft-brewer work group will pursue recommendations on ways that New York’s craft-beer industry can pursue additional growth. Gov. Andrew Cuomo made the announcement

N.Y. AG: Tebb’s Head Shops owner pleads guilty in tax-evasion scheme
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — John Tebbetts, the former owner and operator of Tebb’s Headshops, today pleaded guilty to felony charges related to a five-year scheme to

Senators: Upstate steel jobs could benefit from DOC’s move against “unfairly” priced foreign imports
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is collecting cash deposits for estimated antidumping duties, making it costly for companies found dumping to export into the U.S.

OCC signs partnership agreement, offers manufacturing certificate
ONONDAGA — Onondaga Community College (OCC) and Cazenovia College on July 22 signed a “2+2” partnership agreement. The pact allows students at OCC who earn
N.Y. manufacturing index rises in July to highest mark in four years
The Federal Reserve Bank of New York reported July 15 that its Empire State Manufacturing Survey general business-conditions index climbed more than six points to
Owner of Albany, Buffalo New Horizons teams up with brother to buy DeWitt location
DeWITT, N.Y. — The DeWitt location of New Horizons Computer Learning Center has new owners. Jason Krolak, the owner of the firm’s locations in Albany
POMCO trains 65 new employees to service CO-OP plan
SYRACUSE — POMCO Group, a Syracuse–based third-party administrator of self-funded health-care and risk-management plans, has added 65 new employees at its corporate headquarters as it