Oneida County reports more than 30 new COVID-19 cases, one death, in weekend updates

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UTICA, N.Y. — Oneida County reported 31 new COVID-19 infections in its weekend updates, including 25 new cases on Saturday, bring the current case total

MOST to reopen on weekends only beginning Aug. 1

Employee Benefits & Human Resources, Energy, Environment & Sustainability, Health Care, Nonprofits, Sports, Entertainment & Tourism

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science and Technology (MOST) will be reopening to the public for weekends only on Aug. 1

Oneida Indian Nation says casino sports books to reopen July 22

Employee Benefits & Human Resources, Energy, Environment & Sustainability, Health Care, New York News, Regional News, Sports, Entertainment & Tourism

The Oneida Indian Nation on Thursday announced a July 22 reopening of the Lounge with Caesars Sports, its casino sports books for sports betting. The

CNY Tweets — July 20, 2020

Business Mentors, Subscriber Only

Here are some recent tweets that came across the @cnybj Twitter feed, offering small business, COVID-19, HR, leadership, and career tips. NFIB @NFIBFrom @NFIBResearch’s newest #COVID19 #smallbiz loan program survey: “As owners finish using their loan, more are finding that economic conditions are unable to support current staffing levels.” Full survey results here: https://on.nfib.com/2ZW4EEn Small

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Here are some recent tweets that came across the @cnybj Twitter feed, offering small business, COVID-19, HR, leadership, and career tips.

NFIB @NFIB
From @NFIBResearch’s newest #COVID19 #smallbiz loan program survey: “As owners finish using their loan, more are finding that economic conditions are unable to support current staffing levels.” Full survey results here: https://on.nfib.com/2ZW4EEn

Small Business Expo @SmallBizExpo
This Time-Tracking App Is a Must-Have Tool for Entrepreneurs and Freelancers Alike http://twib.in/l/nqoBgRpnyen8

Business Booster @Business__Boost
How to Find Opportunity Within a Crisis http://dlvr.it/Rb41Ky #Entrepreneur #BusinessGrowth #SmallBiz

Melinda Emerson @SmallBizLady
During this pandemic, make sure your #smallbiz is focusing on these areas. https://bit.ly/38FNQ8h #newpost

Bond Schoeneck King @BondLawFirm
Bond attorney Howard Miller explains in @LIBN that Dunder Mifflin may not be the best post-#COVID19 #HR role model. Read “Don’t let your office become ‘The Office’” here: https://bit.ly/2Vk0O6i.

HR Dive @hrdive
How leave and PTO policies have had to adapt due to the pandemic: https://www.hrdive.com/news/employer-vacation-pto-policies-worked-then-came-the-covid-19-stress-test/581256/

SHRM HR Magazine @HRMagSHRM
How businesses are responding to the coronavirus pandemic with innovation https://bit.ly/3gSmlLX @SHRM

The Bonadio Group @bonadiogroup
For those impacted by #COVID-19, retirement accounts can be a source of funds desperately needed as a last resort. The IRS recently issued some new reporting guidelines. To learn more, [visit]: https://bit.ly/2D3yj6I

PayScale @payscale
Changing conflict to collaboration demands that those who are engaging in conflict recognize that the world doesn’t look the same to any two people.

Mark C. Crowley @MarkCCrowley
#Leadership #empathy requires two key skills: (1) The ability to sense & know what another person is feeling in any given moment; (2) The ability to then appropriately & supportively respond.

Lolly Daskal @LollyDaskal
Leadership Has to Be Earned Not Demanded — @LollyDaskal: http://bit.ly/2liv6Uz

Hannah Morgan @careersherpa
3 Options To Update Your LinkedIn Job Title and Employer When Unemployed — https://buff.ly/3ew5T39 #LinkedIn #unemployed

Oneida County reports rise in virus cases from church testing site in Utica

Employee Benefits & Human Resources, Energy, Environment & Sustainability, Health Care, New York News, Nonprofits, Regional News

UTICA, N.Y. — Oneida County on Friday reported that 38 people tested positive for the coronavirus, up from 10 the day before. The county says

Central New York Community Foundation announces three new board members

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SYRACUSE — The Central New York Community Foundation board of directors recently elected three new board members. The following people were appointed to serve their first three-year term: • William H. Brower, VP of communications and advancement at Le Moyne College. Brower has 32 years of experience working in higher-education advancement. He is skilled in board development,

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New York oat production projected to decline 10 percent this year

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New York oat production is forecasted to drop 10 percent to nearly 2.11 million bushels in 2020 from 2.34 million bushels last year, the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) reported on July 10. The Empire State’s yield per acre is projected at 54 bushels this year, down 6 bushels (or 10 percent), from 60

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Hourigan goes from employee to owner of MoonDance Restaurant

Business Mentors, Small Business, Sports, Entertainment & Tourism, Subscriber Only

MARCELLUS — The coronavirus pandemic has crippled the hospitality and food industries. While struggling to stay afloat financially, many local restaurants have relied on their loyal customer base. Offering take-out options has been an essential tool for these small businesses to maintain their cash flows, until the public can gather once again and enjoy all

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MARCELLUS — The coronavirus pandemic has crippled the hospitality and food industries. While struggling to stay afloat financially, many local restaurants have relied on their loyal customer base.

Offering take-out options has been an essential tool for these small businesses to maintain their cash flows, until the public can gather once again and enjoy all the culinary options the Syracuse area has to offer. Hope seems nearly here as New York state slowly reopens in a strategically phased approach.

Courtney Hourigan has been an employee of MoonDance Restaurant & Tavern in Marcellus for the past 11 years now. She began working there at the age of 18, and she has learned every facet of the business over the past decade. When the owner, Frank Mincolla, was ready to sell the business and move into retirement, Hourigan saw her opportunity. But Courtney had no idea how she would proceed with the purchase, or even where to start.

After searching online, Hourigan found the Onondaga Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and started to work with me in 2018.

“Keyona [Kelly] was great from the very beginning. She gave us really simple, easy examples and instructions that laid out the steps for us to take in order for us to start buying a business. She led us to the legal, CPA, and insurance professionals we needed for the purchase to get us on the right path to where we are today,” Hourigan said.

I worked with Courtney and her husband to develop a business plan and financial projections. I helped them understand the profitability and assess the value of the business before pursuing the purchase.

Hourigan and her husband closed on the purchase of the business on April 15, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. “In my eyes, it was the perfect opportunity to watch my dreams fall into place. We are taking this time to get some remodeling and updating done, while planning for reopening under the new social-distancing protocols,” she said.

The purchase of the business was a combination of lender and owner financing of the 1,876-square-foot location at 2512 Cherry Valley Turnpike (Route 20) in Marcellus. By purchasing this business, Courtney and her husband have been able to save the jobs of 11 employees, and they plan to add two more positions once MoonDance Restaurant & Tavern reopens at full capacity.

The MoonDance menu includes BBQ chicken, pulled pork, BBQ ribs, prime- rib sandwiches, clams, shrimp, fish dinners and sandwiches, chicken parmigiana, meatballs, pasta, tacos, chicken wings, and more. Check out the restaurant on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Moondance-235004333989386/ or call MoonDance at (315) 673-1135.

Advisor’s Business Tip: The purchase of an already-established business can have many financial benefits and can also minimize the entrepreneurial risk.

Keyona Kelly is a certified business advisor at the SBDC, located at Onondaga Community College. Contact her at k.r.kelly@sunyocc.edu

New York manufacturing index turns positive in July

Manufacturing & Engineering, Subscriber Only

The Empire State Manufacturing Survey general business-conditions index jumped to 17.2 in July from -0.2 a month before, as new orders and shipments both expanded substantially. This was the first time the Empire State index was in positive territory since February, before the coronavirus shutdowns started in March. Economists had anticipated a July reading of

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The Empire State Manufacturing Survey general business-conditions index jumped to 17.2 in July from -0.2 a month before, as new orders and shipments both expanded substantially.

This was the first time the Empire State index was in positive territory since February, before the coronavirus shutdowns started in March.

Economists had anticipated a July reading of 8.9, according to Marketwatch, citing a survey by Econoday.

The July index number, based on firms responding to the survey, indicates business activity “increased in New York for the first time in several months,” the Federal Reserve Bank of New York said in its July 15 report. The Empire State index staged a massive 48-point comeback in June to climb to -0.2, after “breaching” record lows in April and May. July’s jump completed the New York manufacturing industry’s round trip back to expansionary conditions.

A positive reading indicates expansion or growth in manufacturing activity, while a negative index number points to a sector decline.

The survey found 41 percent of respondents reported that conditions had improved over the month, while 24 percent reported that conditions had worsened, the New York Fed said.

Survey details

The Empire State new-orders index rose 15 points to 13.9, indicating that orders increased, and the shipments index climbed 15 points to 18.5, pointing to a “solid increase” in shipments, the New York Fed said.

Unfilled orders were unchanged. Delivery times were “slightly longer,” and inventories declined.

The index for number of employees edged up to 0.4, signaling that employment levels were steady. Notably, 22 percent of firms said that employment levels increased in July, the same proportion that reported a decrease.

The average workweek index increased 9 points to -2.6, pointing to a small decline in hours worked.

The prices-paid index was little changed at 14.9, indicating that input prices increased at about the same pace as the prior month. The prices-received index moved down to -4.5, indicating that selling prices declined.

Future indexes

After rising sharply the previous month to a multi-year high, the index for future business conditions fell 18 points to 38.4, suggesting that firms remained optimistic about future conditions, “though less so than in June,” the New York Fed said.

The indexes for future new orders and future shipments fell “somewhat,” but remained near 40. The index for future employment rose to 21.1, suggesting manufacturers expect to increase employment in the months ahead.

The capital-expenditures index rose to 9.1, a sign that firms, on net, planned to increase capital spending.

The New York Fed distributes the Empire State Manufacturing Survey on the first day of each month to the same pool of about 200 manufacturing executives in New York state. On average, about 100 executives return responses.

Hamilton College elects three alumni to board of trustees

Health Care, Subscriber Only

CLINTON — Hamilton College announced that its Alumni Council has nominated and elected three candidates to serve as members of the college’s board of trustees for four-year terms beginning on July 1. The new trustees are Elizabeth G. Bacot-Aigner, Aditya Bhasin, and Daniel I. Rifkin. Bacot-Aigner is a “generous supporter,” both of Hamilton College’s annual

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