Helio Health to use more than $400K in federal funding to expand behavioral-health training

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SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Helio Health, Inc. will use a federal grant of more than $414,000 to improve its Join It, Live It, Be It program.

Aquatrol Technologies leases office in DeWitt

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DeWITT — Aquatrol Technologies, Inc., a water-management services and energy consulting firm, recently leased 2,600 square feet of office-service space at 14 Corporate Circle in DeWitt. Gary Cottet of Cushman & Wakefield/Pyramid Brokerage Company represented the tenant in this lease transaction. Lease terms were not disclosed. Aquatrol’s space is part of a one-story, 27,000-square-foot building

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Syracuse law firm opens second office in Cortland

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CORTLAND — Josephine Yang-Patyi in May expanded her four-year-old Syracuse law firm to a second office in Cortland. With the addition of the Cortland office — which is located in the McNeil Building at 17-29 Main St. — the Yang-Patyi Law Firm has added attorney Scott Leuenberger as of counsel. Both attorneys are concentrating on

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Little Falls Hospital adds Powers to board of trustees

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LITTLE FALLS — Little Falls Hospital (LFH) announced it has appointed Laura Powers as a new member of the LFH Board of Trustees. Her three-year term began on July 27. Powers is a financial advisor at Strategic Financial Services, Inc. in Utica and has been with the company for 16 years. “My goal of being

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New York Forward Loan Fund is still accepting applications

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ALBANY — Businesses from qualifying industries can still apply for assistance from the New York Forward Loan Fund for COVID-19-related costs and expenses. Those qualifying industries include agriculture, construction, food services, retail, education services, manufacturing, and transportation, the office of Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Aug. 4. Cuomo has announced that more than $2.3 million

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ALBANY — Businesses from qualifying industries can still apply for assistance from the New York Forward Loan Fund for COVID-19-related costs and expenses.

Those qualifying industries include agriculture, construction, food services, retail, education services, manufacturing, and transportation, the office of Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Aug. 4.

Cuomo has announced that more than $2.3 million has been awarded to support 61 businesses and residential landlords through the New York Forward Loan Fund.

Of the 61 loans, 54 were provided to minority- and women-owned businesses (MWBEs), 10 loans were offered to residential landlords, two loans were awarded to veteran-owned businesses, and one loan supported a nonprofit organization.

About the fund

The New York Forward Loan Fund was created to provide working capital loans to small businesses. It focuses on MWBEs, small residential landlords, and nonprofit organizations that did not receive funding from the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury Disaster Loans.

The fund continues to accept and process applications; to date, more than 9,300 eligible applications have been received, and more than 60 percent which were from MWBEs.

Eligible small businesses and small residential landlords can apply for a 60-month, no-fee loan with a 3 percent fixed interest rate; while eligible nonprofits can apply for a 60-month, no-fee loan at 2 percent fixed interest. The maximum loan amount is $100,000. Loan funds can be used for working capital including payroll, operating and emergency maintenance, property taxes, utilities, and costs associated with refitting physical space to follow social-distancing guidelines.

More information is available online at nyloanfund.com.

Seven banks have pledged support for the New York Forward Loan Fund, including Buffalo–based M&T Bank (NYSE: MTB); London, England–based HSBC; New York City–based Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS), and San Francisco, California–based Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC). Additionally, the fund has received philanthropic commitments from the BlackRock Charitable Fund; Citi Foundation; Ford Foundation; and the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation.

The New York Forward Loan Fund was established with support from Bethesda, Maryland–based Calvert Impact Capital. The New York City–based Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) is administering the fund, and Connect2Capital, which is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, is hosting applications.

Contractor completes HVAC project at Auburn’s Schweinfurth Art Center

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AUBURN — The Schweinfurth Art Center in Auburn on Aug. 5 announced the completion of a project to install a new heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. The project added both elements to its second-floor gallery and studio classroom, the Schweinfurth Art Center said in a news release. Century Heating + Cooling of DeWitt

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AUBURN — The Schweinfurth Art Center in Auburn on Aug. 5 announced the completion of a project to install a new heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system.

The project added both elements to its second-floor gallery and studio classroom, the Schweinfurth Art Center said in a news release.

Century Heating + Cooling of DeWitt handled the work on the HVAC project. It completed that effort on July 30. The project was designed by Taitem Engineering of Ithaca in consultation with InSite Architecture, which has offices in Geneva and in Perry in Wyoming County, per its website.

“This project will enable us to offer more exhibits and classes, since it will allow us to use the second-floor facilities year-round,” Donna Lamb, executive director of the Schweinfurth Art Center, said. “Until now that area had inadequate heating and no air conditioning.”

Planning for the project began in 2017, when the art center’s board of trustees developed a long-term plan for the facility. The trustees chose the HVAC system as their “top priority” — the first of a three-part master plan — because it would allow the art center to expand its offerings.

In 2018, the art center won a $249,616 matching grant from the New York State Council on the Arts through the Regional Economic Development Council, and fundraising began “in earnest,” the art center said. The Schweinfurth also received funding from the Allyn Foundation, Cayuga Community Foundation, Columbian Foundation of Auburn, D.E. French Foundation of Auburn, Fred L. Emerson Foundation of Auburn, John Ben Snow Foundation of Syracuse, Osborne Memorial Association, Schwartz Foundation, and the Stanley W. Metcalf Foundation of Auburn.

Project timeline

The art center originally closed in mid-January for the construction, with plans to reopen in April. But the state-mandated shutdown in March due to COVID-19 placed the work on pause for two months until it restarted in May.

Since construction ended in July, art-center staff have been working to prepare the facility for reopening, including retrofitting the facility to meet pandemic safety protocols issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and New York State Department of Health.

The art-center staff have been cleaning and setting up the gallery and offices, preparing the facility to meet state guidelines, and installing its next exhibition, “Made in NY.”

The art center opened “Made in NY” to exhibiting artists on Aug. 7 and to the general public on Aug. 11. The Schweinfurth says it did not hold an opening reception for the exhibit due to COVID-19 concerns.

The Schweinfurth Art Center is a multi-arts center that opened in 1981 thanks to a bequest from Auburn–born architect Julius Schweinfurth. The art center’s programs include more than a dozen exhibitions each year and educational programs for children and adults, which feature local, national, and international artists.

Grant funds open to Onondaga County small businesses, nonprofits for pandemic-safety expenses

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SYRACUSE — Onondaga County small businesses and nonprofit organizations can pursue grant funding to help pay for out-of-pocket expenses related to COVID-19 health and safety requirements. Onondaga County on Aug. 10 announced a $500,000 grant program to assist small companies and nonprofit organizations operating within the county. The Onondaga County Office of Economic Development is

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SYRACUSE — Onondaga County small businesses and nonprofit organizations can pursue grant funding to help pay for out-of-pocket expenses related to COVID-19 health and safety requirements.

Onondaga County on Aug. 10 announced a $500,000 grant program to assist small companies and nonprofit organizations operating within the county.

The Onondaga County Office of Economic Development is providing the funding through the Onondaga County Industrial Development Agency (OCIDA).

The OCIDA board approved the funding during its Aug. 11 meeting, the office Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon tells CNYBJ.

“These grants are another important tool to help our small businesses and not-for-profits cover some of the expenses that they must incur to keep their employees and our community safe as we emerge on the other side of this global health pandemic.” McMahon said. “It is important for our small business and not-for-profit community to know that Onondaga County is prepared to do what we can to help them survive these uncertain economic times. Thank you, also, to the New York State legislature for heeding our call to action and passing this important legislation.”

Gov. Andrew Cuomo in June signed a bill that allows IDAs to approve grants and loans for businesses and nonprofits with 50 or fewer employees.

Recipients can use these funds to pay the cost of items such as — but not limited to — personal protective equipment and the purchase and installation of sanitizing fixtures to help reduce the spread or other necessary COVID-19-related costs incurred as part of reopening.

Grants may not exceed $10,000 and are awarded as a reimbursement.

Eligible applicants must be a business or nonprofit located in Onondaga County with fewer than 50 employees. Those pursuing funding can submit applications online via www.ongoved.com or by mail.

Supporting documentation of the goods that have been purchased is required. The OCIDA board will consider all applications on a “first come, first served basis,” McMahon’s office said.

Helio Health to use $400K in federal funding to expand behavioral-health training

Health Care, Small Business, Subscriber Only

SYRACUSE — Helio Health, Inc. will use a federal grant of more than $414,000 to improve its Join It, Live It, Be It program. The program creates training opportunities for Central New Yorkers seeking to work in behavioral health as a certified volunteer or counselor, the office of U.S. Representative John Katko (R–Camillus) said in

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Hummel’s Office Plus uses acquisition to expand to Albany area

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MOHAWK — Hummel’s Office Plus has expanded its footprint to the Capital Region with the Aug. 1 acquisition of the Albany–area office of Workplace Central. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. The Latham office of Workplace Central will change its name to Hummel’s Office Plus and continue to operate from its location at

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MOHAWK — Hummel’s Office Plus has expanded its footprint to the Capital Region with the Aug. 1 acquisition of the Albany–area office of Workplace Central.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The Latham office of Workplace Central will change its name to Hummel’s Office Plus and continue to operate from its location at 776C Watervliet-Shaker Road. Hummel’s will retain all Workplace Central’s Albany–area employees and continue to service commercial delivery accounts. The location has between six and 10 people, depending on the season, Hummel’s tells CNYBJ in an email.

Hummel’s Office Plus, headquartered in an 80,000-square-foot distribution center and office complex in Mohawk, operates retail stores in Herkimer, Rome, Cortland, and now Latham, and has a sales office in DeWitt. The firm describes itself as the “largest independently owned office products dealer in Central New York.”

“We believe that this merger is in the best interest of our customers and employees. We have been happy to provide superior service in the Capital Region over these many years and are confident that under the Hummel’s leadership the tradition will continue,” Norman White, president of Workplace Central, said in a statement.

The acquisition brings the Hummel’s Central New York employee count to nearly 100.

“We’re thrilled to have the Workplace Central-Albany employees join the Hummel’s team,” Justin Hummel, CEO of Hummel’s Office Plus, said in a statement. “Workplace Central–Albany customers will benefit from our extensive product offering and competitive pricing structure. We are equally excited that all Workplace Central–Albany employees will be staying to help us take care of our new customers.”

Workplace Central also has Pennsylvania offices in Newtown and Lancaster, per its website, but they are not part of this deal. White will continue overseeing the Pennsylvania locations, while Ray Seefeld, VP of the Latham office of Workplace Central and the employees at that location will run Albany branch for Hummel’s.

Founded in 1934 by Harrison J. Hummel as a typewriter repair and supply business, Hummel’s Office Plus has grown into a full supplier of office products from copy paper to furniture.

St. Lawrence University searches for next president

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CANTON — The St. Lawrence University board of trustees “in the near future” will appoint a committee to begin a search for the school’s next president. That committee will begin its work “this fall.” St. Lawrence University President William L. Fox on Aug. 4 announced his plan to retire on June 30, 2021, after 12

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CANTON — The St. Lawrence University board of trustees “in the near future” will appoint a committee to begin a search for the school’s next president.

That committee will begin its work “this fall.”

St. Lawrence University President William L. Fox on Aug. 4 announced his plan to retire on June 30, 2021, after 12 years at the helm of his undergraduate alma mater.

“Bill Fox’s inspiring leadership for more than a decade deserves the highest praise,” Michael Ranger, chairman of the St. Lawrence University board of trustees, said in a release. “While we have known for some time that Bill intended to retire in 2021, it doesn’t make this moment any easier. Bill’s legacy is one that will be felt by every future generation of Laurentians.”

Under his leadership, St. Lawrence’s endowment has grown nearly 70 percent to about $320 million, in addition to producing nearly $140 million in endowment income, the university said. He has led the university to “record” fundraising results as the Campaign for Every Laurentian has raised more than 80 percent of its $225 million goal. The campaign will continue to be a priority during his final year.

During Fox’s tenure, St. Lawrence’s sprawling campus grew to include new buildings and renovated historical spaces spanning academics, athletics, and the arts. This effort included Kirk Douglas Hall, Appleton Arena, the Center for Student Achievement, Peterson-Kermani Performance Hall, Herring-Cole Hall, Owen D. Young Library, the Richard F. Brush ‘52 University Quad, and the Class of 1975 Promenade.

The university also notes that the community will also be saying goodbye to one of its “strongest supporters” in Lynn Fox.

As presidential spouse, she brought “decades of communications experience working at the highest levels” of Washington, D.C., public policy, and strategic leadership, and found ways to leverage her professional expertise into collaborations with alumni, parents, faculty, and students at St. Lawrence.

She has worked with trustees on a program of outreach to alumnae; co-teaches a course about the Federal Reserve; and is a founding board member of the North Country Women’s Leadership Initiative, a partnership among four universities in Northern New York.

“The invitation to serve St. Lawrence is the greatest honor of my life,” William Fox wrote in his message to the community. “There is every reason, whether the lines are difficult or pleasant, for us to believe together that this year, this year, can be the best of the many Lynn and I have shared with you.”

Fox became the 18th president and senior lecturer in the history of his undergraduate alma mater on July 1, 2009, after serving as president and senior lecturer in philosophy, religion, and history at Culver-Stockton College in Canton, Missouri between 2003 and 2009.

In the previous five years, Fox was special assistant to the president at Goucher College in Towson, Maryland.

Earlier in his career, he served as a faculty member at Claremont School of Theology in California; Montgomery College in Rockville, Maryland; and Howard University in Washington, D.C.

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