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

DRI to help downtown Norwich get a new boutique hotel
NORWICH, N.Y. — The upcoming Principle Hotel, an $8.3 million boutique hotel in downtown Norwich, is among the projects that the community is developing as part of its funding award in the state’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI). Officials in Norwich held an Oct. 23 groundbreaking for the hotel. The Principle Hotel will have 61 rooms […]

Visions FCU, SU launch financial-literacy program
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Syracuse University (SU) is set to launch the Student-Athlete Financial Empowerment Program in January. It’s an initiative designed to prepare Orange student-athletes for long-term financial success during and beyond their college careers. The program will also be open to all SU students, the university said in its Oct. 20 announcement. SU’s Martin

Beginnings Credit Union formally opens North Syracuse branch
NORTH SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The Beginnings Credit Union branch in the village of North Syracuse has transitioned to its new branding. Formerly CFCU Community Credit Union, Beginnings Credit Union on Oct. 21 held a ribbon cutting at the North Syracuse branch, marking the completion of the building’s update. Beginnings Credit Union says it is updating

AmeriCU, Mountain Valley FCU merger expected to get state approval by year’s end
ROME, N.Y. — The New York State Department of Financial Services is expected to issue a final approval of the proposed merger between credit unions in the Mohawk Valley and the North Country by the end of the year. The members of Mountain Valley Federal Credit Union in the northeastern part of New York have

AmeriCU appoints senior VP of marketing
ROME, N.Y. — AmeriCU Credit Union recently announced it has hired Amber Cooleen as its new senior VP of marketing. She recently spent four years serving as chief marketing officer for a credit union based in the Capital Region. Throughout her career, Cooleen has held key marketing roles across various industries, from business-to-business startups to

New Visions FCU chief HR officer wants to listen and learn
ENDWELL, N.Y. — Visions Federal Credit Union (FCU) has a new VP/chief human resources officer (CHRO), who started her new duties back in the summer. For Aoife Quinn, the priority early on has been to listen and learn. “After getting a sense of who we are, where we are, and where we want to be,

CNY banking leader sees solid area business conditions, outlook
Region is buoyed by Micron project SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Even as stock markets continue to make all-time highs, there has been a lot of chatter about national economic uncertainty this year with slowing job growth and concern about the potential impact of tariffs, continued inflation, and most recently the federal-government shutdown. But current conditions and

Five Star Bank parent reports Q3 net income jumped 52 percent
WARSAW, N.Y. — Financial Institutions, Inc. (NASDAQ: FISI), parent company of Five Star Bank, recently reported net income of nearly $20.5 million in the third quarter of this year, up 52 percent from almost $13.5 million in the third quarter of 2024. The company, in its Oct. 23 earnings report, cited strong performance in each

Corning Inc. donates $185K to school food centers in Chemung and Steuben Counties
CORNING, N.Y. — Corning Incorporated (NYSE: GLW) has awarded a $185,000 grant to the Food Bank of the Southern Tier to support eight school food centers in Chemung and Steuben counties. Each school will receive $22,500 to sustain school-based food pantries, with an additional $5,000 allocated for project management, Corning Inc. said in an Oct.

Tompkins Chamber names new VP who will help lead key initiatives
ITHACA, N.Y. — The Tompkins Chamber recently announced it has chosen Rob Montana to serve as its new vice president. Montana has 25 years of community-focused experience in communications, stakeholder engagement, and organizational leadership, including the last four years as communications manager for Visit Ithaca, a division of Tompkins Chamber. His ability to foster strong
Stay up-to-date on the companies, people and issues that impact businesses in Syracuse, Central New York and beyond.