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

FOCUS Greater Syracuse names three new board members
SYRACUSE — FOCUS Greater Syracuse, Inc. — a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, bipartisan, citizen-driven organization — announced that it recently welcomed three new members to its board of directors: Reginald T. Braggs, Ryan R. Delao, and Emily Minnoe. Braggs, Ph.D., is the director of Central New York partnerships at Onondaga Community College (OCC). His responsibilities include serving […]

Utica–area construction company wins $22M Army contract for stone-masonry restoration services
UTICA — Lupini Construction Inc., of the Utica area, was recently awarded a $22.1 million firm-fixed-price contract from the U.S. Army for stone-masonry restoration services. Bids were solicited via the internet with three bids received, as Lupini beat out two other firms for the pact. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order,

LeadSafeCNY program wins another $400,000 for prevention efforts
SYRACUSE — The LeadSafeCNY initiative of the Central New York Community Foundation will continue its outreach and community engagement with the help of some additional grant money. The Mother Cabrini Health Foundation of New York City awarded the program $400,000 in funding for activity over the next two years, according to the Community Foundation’s Jan.

N.Y. manufacturing index turns positive in February
New orders, shipments provided a boost Increases in new orders and shipments helped push the general business conditions index of the Empire State Manufacturing Survey into positive territory in February, rising 18 points to 5.7. It was a strong rebound as the index

7 Brew brings new coffee option to Rome
ROME — Rome has a new coffee option — more than 20,000 coffee options, actually — now that 7 Brew has opened its newest drive-through coffee stand at 201 Erie Blvd. The location marks the fifth for franchise group Brew Team NY, LLC, says Nick Vidal, director of operations and operating partner for the group.

Number of NY farms dipped slightly in 2024
The number of farms in New York state fell in 2024 compared to a year earlier, the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) reported on Feb. 14. NASS estimated that the number of farms in the state totaled 30,500 last year, down less than 1 percent from 30,700 farms in 2023. Total land on farms

McFarland Johnson looks ahead to growth
BINGHAMTON, N.Y. — McFarland Johnson, Inc. recently announced some leadership changes, but those are not the only exciting initiatives at the growing employee-owned company. “We have grown by double digits every year for the last five years,” President Chad Nixon says of the engineering firm. With that growth comes change, especially with the retirement of

Former West Carthage treasurer charged with $3,000 theft
WEST CARTHAGE — Authorities are accusing the former deputy clerk-treasurer of the Village of West Carthage in Jefferson County of stealing more than $3,000 from the village. Kaytlin Ennis is charged with grand larceny in the third degree; corrupting the government in the third degree; and tampering with records, New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli,

Local sales-tax collection growth in N.Y. slowed in 2024
ALBANY, N.Y. — Local government sales-tax collections across New York state increased in 2024 but the rise was the lowest in four years. The collections totaled $23.4 billion in calendar-year 2024, up by 1.6 percent, or $376 million, from 2023 levels, New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli said in a report issued on Feb. 7.

Coughlin & Gerhart expands Pennsylvania presence
BINGHAMTON, N.Y. — Southern Tier law firm Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP has expanded its presence into the Keystone State with a new office in Honesdale, located in Pennsylvania’s Wayne County. Zachary Morahan, partner, and Jeremy Yzeik, associate — both natives of Wayne County — work from the new office. Morahan is the location’s lead attorney.
Stay up-to-date on the companies, people and issues that impact businesses in Syracuse, Central New York and beyond.