Stay up-to-date on the companies, people and issues that impact businesses in Syracuse, Central New York and beyond.
2024 40 under Forty Awards Event Photos
Photos from the 2024 40 under Forty Awards, held in November at the Oncenter. Photography courtesy of Ana Gil Photography.
Binghamton University to use federal grant for school-based mental-health workers in Chenango County
VESTAL — The U.S. Department of Education has awarded Binghamton University Community Schools (BUCS) a five-year grant totaling more than $4.5 million to expand mental-health services in Chenango County. The effort is part of the Mental Health Service Provider Demonstration grant program, Binghamton University said in its announcement. The initiative — entitled Empowering Rural Communities:
Become a Central New York Business Journal subscriber and get immediate access to all of our subscriber-only content and much more.
Click here to purchase a paywall bypass link for this article.
VESTAL — The U.S. Department of Education has awarded Binghamton University Community Schools (BUCS) a five-year grant totaling more than $4.5 million to expand mental-health services in Chenango County.
The effort is part of the Mental Health Service Provider Demonstration grant program, Binghamton University said in its announcement.
The initiative — entitled Empowering Rural Communities: Promoting Mental Health, Equity, and Wellbeing Through a University-assisted Community Schools Approach — will expand social-work support to students and families in the Norwich and Oxford school districts. The project will serve 2,310 students and their families.
Binghamton University cites the Chenango County Community Health Assessment as indicating Chenango County has been designated a Health Professional Shortage Area.
The lack of primary care and mental-health services leaves families, school systems, and community agencies with the task of addressing complex student needs with limited resources. Connecting this need to the university-assisted community school approach that mobilizes higher education in partnership with schools, families and community members “provided a strong foundation for this successful proposal,” the SUNY school said.
Laura Bronstein, founding director of BUCS and dean of Binghamton University’s College of Community and Public Affairs, said she is excited to expand this program to Chenango County.
“As a leader in university-assisted community schools for small cities and rural communities, BUCS works with communities locally and beyond to support success for all students through out-of-classroom support in collaboration with institutions of higher education and community partners,” Bronstein said in the Binghamton announcement. “Increasingly, children are being left behind due to challenges that even the best teachers can’t address on their own. This includes issues like anxiety and depression, violence, poverty and many others that interfere with students’ abilities to focus on learning in the classroom. This new grant allows us to expand our support for mental health challenges that have been skyrocketing among youth, especially since the pandemic, and to have Binghamton’s community school faculty guide this work with evidence-based knowledge.”
Funding from the Empowering Rural Communities program will pay for a full-time project director and two full-time community-schools coordinators, one for each district. The director will serve Chenango County, working with partners to join current efforts to understand resources.
They’ll also explore ways in which university-assisted community school strategies can support a regional approach to enhancing mental health and well-being. Community school coordinators will be placed on site with up to four social-work interns each to work with school staff to identify areas of strength and explore ways in which social-work interns can fill unmet needs, Binghamton University said.
Five Star Bank parent company to pay Q4 dividend of 30 cents a share in early January
WARSAW, N.Y. — Financial Institutions, Inc. (NASDAQ: FISI), parent company of Five Star Bank, recently announced that its board of directors has approved a quarterly cash dividend of 30 cents per share of its common stock outstanding. The banking company will pay the fourth-quarter dividend on Jan. 2, to shareholders of record as of Dec.
Become a Central New York Business Journal subscriber and get immediate access to all of our subscriber-only content and much more.
Click here to purchase a paywall bypass link for this article.
WARSAW, N.Y. — Financial Institutions, Inc. (NASDAQ: FISI), parent company of Five Star Bank, recently announced that its board of directors has approved a quarterly cash dividend of 30 cents per share of its common stock outstanding.
The banking company will pay the fourth-quarter dividend on Jan. 2, to shareholders of record as of Dec. 13.
At Financial Institutions’ current stock price, the dividend yields more than 4.3 percent on an annual basis.
Financial Institutions is a financial holding company, based in Warsaw in New York’s Wyoming County, with about $6.2 billion in assets, offering banking and wealth-management products and services. Its Five Star Bank subsidiary provides consumer and commercial banking and lending services to individuals, municipalities, and businesses through banking locations spanning Western and Central New York and a commercial-loan production office serving the Mid-Atlantic region. Five Star Bank’s Central New York offices include a commercial-loan production office in Syracuse and retail branches in Auburn, Waterloo, and Geneva.
Jefferson County hotels register another strong month in October
WATERTOWN — Jefferson County hotels posted substantial improvement in three important indicators of hotel-business performance in October, following up solid gains in September and August. The hotel-occupancy rate (rooms sold as a percentage of rooms available) in the North Country’s most populous county rose 7 percent to 56.8 percent in the 10th month of this
Become a Central New York Business Journal subscriber and get immediate access to all of our subscriber-only content and much more.
Click here to purchase a paywall bypass link for this article.
WATERTOWN — Jefferson County hotels posted substantial improvement in three important indicators of hotel-business performance in October, following up solid gains in September and August.
The hotel-occupancy rate (rooms sold as a percentage of rooms available) in the North Country’s most populous county rose 7 percent to 56.8 percent in the 10th month of this year from October 2023, according to STR, a Tennessee–based hotel market data and analytics company. Year to date, hotel occupancy is up 2.6 percent to 55.1 percent.
Revenue per available room (RevPar), a key industry gauge that measures how much money hotels are bringing in per available room, jumped 15.2 percent in Jefferson County to $69.78 in October, compared to the year-ago month. Through Oct. 31, RevPar was up 7.4 percent to $67.69.
The average daily rate (ADR), which represents the average rental rate for a sold room, went up 7.7 percent to $122.78 in October from the same month in 2023, per STR. Through the first 10 months of 2024, ADR gained 4.6 percent to $122.87 in the county.
Oneida County hotel occupancy falls 3 percent in October
UTICA — Oneida County hotels registered a decline in overnight guests in October, as two other key indicators of business performance improved. The hotel-occupancy rate (rooms sold as a percentage of rooms available) dipped 3 percent to 66.4 percent in the 10th month of this year compared to the year-ago month, according to a report
Become a Central New York Business Journal subscriber and get immediate access to all of our subscriber-only content and much more.
Click here to purchase a paywall bypass link for this article.
UTICA — Oneida County hotels registered a decline in overnight guests in October, as two other key indicators of business performance improved.
The hotel-occupancy rate (rooms sold as a percentage of rooms available) dipped 3 percent to 66.4 percent in the 10th month of this year compared to the year-ago month, according to a report from STR, a Tennessee–based hotel-market data and analytics company. Year to date, occupancy was down 0.3 percent to 62.4 percent.
Revenue per available room (RevPar), a key industry gauge that measures how much money hotels are bringing in per available room, edged up 0.4 percent to $98.73 this October in the Mohawk Valley’s largest county versus October 2023. Through the first 10 months of this year, RevPar has gained 5.7 percent to $89.30.
Average daily rate (ADR), which represents the average rental rate for a sold room, rose 3.5 percent to $148.60 in Oneida County in October 2024, compared to the same month a year prior. Through Oct. 31 of this year, ADR had increased 6 percent to $143.21.
Winter Fair brings “Summer Fun” to Expo Center in late January
GEDDES — Advance-sale tickets are now available for the 6th annual Winter Fair, which returns to the Expo Center at the New York State Fairgrounds in 2025 — at the end of January and the start of February. Winter Fair is scheduled for Friday, Jan. 31 from 3-9 p.m.; Saturday, Feb. 1 from 11 a.m.-9
Become a Central New York Business Journal subscriber and get immediate access to all of our subscriber-only content and much more.
Click here to purchase a paywall bypass link for this article.
GEDDES — Advance-sale tickets are now available for the 6th annual Winter Fair, which returns to the Expo Center at the New York State Fairgrounds in 2025 — at the end of January and the start of February.
Winter Fair is scheduled for Friday, Jan. 31 from 3-9 p.m.; Saturday, Feb. 1 from 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; and Sunday, Feb. 2 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Advance tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for teens/pre-teens and seniors. Children aged 10 and under will be admitted free of charge. At the door, admission is $8 for adults and $6 for teens/pre-teens and seniors, but children aged 10 and under will still get in for free.
Premier Promotions, which promotes the Winter Fair, announced details on Nov. 20 at the Marriott Syracuse Downtown.
With the theme, “Summer Fun,” the event includes the food, rides, music, and entertainment that people enjoy throughout the summer, including at events like the Great New York State Fair in late August and early September.
“We want to give people a chance to have some summer fun in the middle of winter. It’s great to have an event for all ages, where you can bring your friends and family to enjoy themselves,” Steve Becker of Premier Promotions, the Promoter of Winter Fair 2025, said in the announcement. “The New York State Fairgrounds have great year around events and Winter Fair has become an annual tradition in ‘Making Memories.’”
In addition to serving as a community event for Central New York, the Winter Fair also provides the area an “economic boost,” attracting people from across New York State, other states, and even Canada.
“The Winter Fair in Syracuse has become a beacon of seasonal celebration, drawing in thousands of families and offering a unique blend of entertainment, cuisine, and cultural showcases,” Danny Liedka, president & CEO of Visit Syracuse, said in the Winter Fair announcement. “Beyond the vibrant experiences it provides, the fair injects significant economic value into the community, boosting local businesses, creating jobs, and enhancing tourism. This annual event highlights the resilience and warmth of Syracuse, even in the coldest season, and strengthens our community by bringing people together from all around the region.”
Winter Fair 2025 will also include chances to help give back to the Central New York community.
The Price Chopper/Market 32 Winter Fair Hoops will be back with attendees shooting baskets and winning prizes for donations to the Boys and Girls Club of Syracuse. Various Syracuse University athletes will be there to meet and greet attendees in the Winter Fair hoops area. The past five Winter Fairs have raised more than $12,000 for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Syracuse.
“We appreciate the wonderful support & partnership with Steve Becker and the Syracuse Winter Fair,” Jenni Gratien, executive director of the Boys and Girls Clubs, said. “The money raised in the last five years has been to support youth in our after-school programs at all three Clubs in Syracuse. We look forward to returning for our sixth year at the Syracuse Winter Fair!”
A new feature this year will be the Winter Fair reindeer. Attendees will have a chance to have their photo taken with a reindeer from Hanggi’s Tree Farm in Naples in Ontario County. This no-charge feature will take place outside in front of the walkway to the Expo Center on Feb. 1 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Your Local IT Dept. of DeWitt is sponsoring the Winter Fair reindeer.
Additional sponsors for Winter Fair 2025 include AmeriCU, which will be providing free parking at the Expo Center, and Amazon, which will be sponsoring the Winter Fair Stage.
Onondaga County will be presenting the Winter Fair Fireworks on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1 at 8:45 p.m. by the Expo Center.
“Onondaga County is proud to once again be a sponsor of the Syracuse Winter Fair! From great entertainment and delicious food to a mini midway and spectacular fireworks show, there is something for everyone,” Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon said in the Winter Fair announcement. “Our community is fortunate to host such great events like the Syracuse Winter Fair and I look forward to another successful year!”
“The Winter Fair provides the opportunity to enjoy the spirit of summer during the heart of a Syracuse winter,” Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh added. “The Winter Fair has grown into an annual tradition that brings together local businesses and nonprofits, entertainment, and beloved fair favorites for a weekend everyone can enjoy.”
Le Moyne, Meier’s Creek Brewing Company team up on 2nd beer
Heights Honey Ale is the new beer SYRACUSE — Le Moyne College was set to launch its second beer on Nov. 22, a beverage that is part of its collaboration with Meier’s Creek Brewing Company. Heights Honey Ale will be available for a limited holiday season run in retail stores throughout the Central New York
Become a Central New York Business Journal subscriber and get immediate access to all of our subscriber-only content and much more.
Click here to purchase a paywall bypass link for this article.
SYRACUSE — Le Moyne College was set to launch its second beer on Nov. 22, a beverage that is part of its collaboration with Meier’s Creek Brewing Company.
Heights Honey Ale will be available for a limited holiday season run in retail stores throughout the Central New York region and at Meier’s Creek brewery/restaurant locations in Cazenovia and the Syracuse Inner Harbor, Le Moyne said in its Nov. 15 announcement.
“We collectively decided to offer a special edition beer with fresh ingredients including Meier’s Creek’s own honey, harvested from bees on the Cazenovia property,” Crystal Paolelli, director of marketing for Meier’s Creek Brewing, tells CNYBJ in an email. “Many of our beers are offered seasonally to give a greater variety of options all year long. It will be available until it is sold out; at this time we are unsure of a timeframe for availability.”
Meier’s Creek Brewing will brew Heights Honey Ale at the company’s Cazenovia brewery using honey from Meier’s Creek Farm Apiary bees. The rollout comes 10 months after the debut of Dolphy Day IPA, the first collaboration between Meier’s Creek Brewing and Le Moyne.
As part of the agreement, the college receives 20 percent of all sales, with funds raised going to the Le Moyne College Fund in support of the college’s wellness initiatives and student scholarship to help offset the cost of attendance.
For both beers, members of the Le Moyne student marketing firm Heights Global Marketing (HGM) took the lead in several areas, including researching the style of craft beer to produce, selecting the name, and working on the design of the beer’s label. The label features Grewen Hall, Le Moyne’s “most recognizable building,” along with a background design element that includes a Dolphin (the Le Moyne mascot), honeycomb and bees, and St. Ignatius, the founder of the Jesuit order.
“I have no doubt that Heights Honey Ale will prove to be just as popular as Dolphy Day IPA, which has become a favorite not only with our alumni, but for anyone who enjoys craft beer,” Jim Joseph, Le Moyne’s VP for advancement and innovation and dean of the Madden College of Business and Economics, said in the school’s announcement. “I’m grateful for this partnership with Meier’s Creek and the ongoing collaboration with students in Heights Global Marketing.”
The beer name pays homage to Le Moyne’s location on a hill on the east side of Syracuse, referred to as “the Heights,” the school explained in the announcement. The Jesuit institution has been located on the Heights since 1948, two years after it was founded, with the opening of the college’s original two buildings.
“Honey ales are extremely popular in the craft brew industry and our talented brewers have developed a beer that will appeal to a wide range of craft beer fans, ” Paolelli said in the Le Moyne announcement. “We are excited to launch the second beer in this partnership and the opportunity to once again work with HGM students at Le Moyne on this project.”
New York home sales slide nearly 4 percent in October
ALBANY — New York realtors sold 9,609 previously owned homes in October, a drop of 3.8 percent from the 9,989 existing homes sold in the
Oswego Health announces new directors to enhance mental-health services
OSWEGO — Oswego Health recently announced it has promoted Elizabeth Rice to director of inpatient services at the Lobdell Center for Mental Health & Wellness at Lakeview and the hiring of Heather Cosgrove as director of outpatient mental health services. These strategic appointments underscore Oswego Health’s commitment to providing comprehensive mental health care to Central
Become a Central New York Business Journal subscriber and get immediate access to all of our subscriber-only content and much more.
Click here to purchase a paywall bypass link for this article.
OSWEGO — Oswego Health recently announced it has promoted Elizabeth Rice to director of inpatient services at the Lobdell Center for Mental Health & Wellness at Lakeview and the hiring of Heather Cosgrove as director of outpatient mental health services.
These strategic appointments underscore Oswego Health’s commitment to providing comprehensive mental health care to Central New York, the health system said.
With more than a decade of experience, Rice brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her position. After earning her master’s degree in nursing from SUNY Polytechnic in 2022, Rice served as the assistant director of inpatient mental health & wellness at Oswego Health. In this role, she was instrumental in planning and coordinating activities for the Inpatient Psychiatric Unit, demonstrating her ability to lead and innovate in a complex health-care environment, according to Oswego Health.
Cosgrove brings significant experience in counseling psychology. She earned her Ph.D. from the University at Buffalo, where she honed her expertise in mental-health services and counseling. Her career includes significant leadership roles, most recently as the training director at the Barnes Center at The Arch Counseling in Syracuse. Before her role at the Barnes Center, Cosgrove served as the assistant director and staff psychologist at the Hamilton College Counseling Center, per the Oswego Health announcement.
Greater Utica Chamber names Business of the Year nominees
UTICA — It’s time for the Greater Utica Chamber of Commerce’s 2024 Business of the Year Awards, and this year, more than two dozen businesses are vying for awards in five different categories. The chamber will present the awards on Dec. 12 at the Delta Hotel by Marriott Utica. The event begins at 11 a.m.
Become a Central New York Business Journal subscriber and get immediate access to all of our subscriber-only content and much more.
Click here to purchase a paywall bypass link for this article.
UTICA — It’s time for the Greater Utica Chamber of Commerce’s 2024 Business of the Year Awards, and this year, more than two dozen businesses are vying for awards in five different categories.
The chamber will present the awards on Dec. 12 at the Delta Hotel by Marriott Utica. The event begins at 11 a.m. with networking, beverage tasting, and holiday music, with the awards presentations at noon.
“The Greater Utica Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year Awards not only celebrate excellence but also inspire innovation, collaboration, and growth within our community,” Chamber Executive Director Kari Puleo says. “Recognizing outstanding businesses underscores the vital role they play in driving economic prosperity, creating jobs, and shaping a vibrant future for us all.”
This year, there is strong competition in the For-Profit Business with 50 Employees or Fewer category. The nominees are BME Company, C & D Advertising, Coldwell Banker Faith Properties, Delta by Marriott Utica, Fahy Kitchens and Baths, Greenscapes, Hale Manufacturing, Home Sweet Home Cleaning and Gardening LLC, Inizio Technology Solutions, Mohawk Valley Cash Register, Total Solutions, Transworld Business Advisors of the Mohawk Valley, and Utica Coffee Roasting.
“C & D is deeply honored to be nominated for the Utica Chamber Business of the Year,” President Jenn Brillante says. “We are incredibly grateful for the unwavering support of our community, especially after the challenges we faced following the tornado in July. It’s truly inspiring to live and work in such a wonderful place and being a nominee makes our journey even more rewarding.”
The nominees in the For-Profit Business Over 50 Employees category are Hale Transportation, Indium Corporation, Pacemaker Steel and Piping, and PJ Green.
Five organizations are nominated in the Not-For-Profit Business with 50 Employees or Fewer category. They are American Heart Association of the Mohawk Valley, Liberty Affordable Housing, The Stanley Theatre, The United Way of the Mohawk Valley, and Utica Public Library.
The nominees in the Not-For-Profit Business with Over 50 Employees are AmeriCU Credit Union, Arc Oneida-Lewis Chapter, CNY Quest, First Source Federal Credit Union, Masonic Medical Research Institute, and Munson.
Finally, the nominees for the Catalyst Rising Business award are 3 Brothers Sealcoating, Brockway-Carpenter Real Estate, and Upstate Ink & Thread.
“We are deeply honored and incredibly grateful to be selected as a nominee for the Greater Utica Chamber Business of the Year award,” Upstate Ink & Thread co-owner CaSandra Packard said, adding thanks to her team and the supportive community. “We are proud to be part of such a vibrant and supportive community, and we could not have reached this milestone without the trust and loyalty of our amazing customers and the invaluable partnerships we’ve built along the way. This nomination is not just a reflection of our efforts, but of the collective spirit of everyone who has supported us on our journey. We look forward to continuing to grow, contribute, and give back to the community that has given us so much.”
Nominees are evaluated and winners selected based on staying power, response to challenges, product/service innovation, and growth within their industry; commitment to the Mohawk Valley region including longevity, public service, and business leadership; and involvement in the chamber.
More information about the awards luncheon, including tickets and sponsorship packages, is available at www.greateruticachamber.org.
Stay up-to-date on the companies, people and issues that impact businesses in Syracuse, Central New York and beyond.