Madison County solar project gets final siting permit

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FENNER, N.Y. — A 140-megawatt solar array by Cypress Creek Renewables has received the go-ahead from the New York State Office of Renewable Energy Siting

CenterState CEO appoints CEO for ON-RAMP Syracuse workforce-development program

Employee Benefits & Human Resources, Education & Training, Manufacturing & Engineering, Nonprofits, Subscriber Only

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — CenterState CEO on Thursday announced the appointment of Carlene Lacey as the inaugural CEO of workforce program ON-RAMP Syracuse. ON-RAMP is short for One Network for Regional Advanced Manufacturing Projects. Lacey brings extensive expertise in leadership, workforce development, grant writing, and community engagement, “all critical to advancing ON-RAMP Syracuse’s mission,” CenterState CEO

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SYRACUSE, N.Y. — CenterState CEO on Thursday announced the appointment of Carlene Lacey as the inaugural CEO of workforce program ON-RAMP Syracuse.

ON-RAMP is short for One Network for Regional Advanced Manufacturing Projects.

Lacey brings extensive expertise in leadership, workforce development, grant writing, and community engagement, “all critical to advancing ON-RAMP Syracuse’s mission,” CenterState CEO said in its announcement.

Lacey started her new role on Tuesday, July 8, and her appointment followed a national search. She most recently served as director of strategic workforce development, partnership and government for National Grid.

ON-RAMP Syracuse is a newly established workforce-innovation hub focused on addressing workforce skill gaps in the advanced manufacturing and construction industries in Central New York. Its mission is to create a skilled, talent pipeline for local employers while “ensuring equitable access to training and employment for historically underserved communities,” CenterState CEO said.

Gov. Kathy Hochul on March 28 announced the former Sears building at 1300 S. Salina St. in Syracuse was chosen for the first ON-RAMP workforce-development center.

As CEO, Lacey will focus on building a workforce development hub that ensures local residents — especially those from underserved communities — can access the job opportunities coming to Central New York. She will oversee day-to-day operations, lead fundraising efforts, and collaborate with staff, volunteers and industry partners to advance ON-RAMP’s mission and impact.

In her role, Lacey will establish a team to lead the nonprofit, create innovative collaborative programming, engage employers, and drive growth to create a “more inclusive, skilled workforce.”

“Dr. Lacey emerged as the top candidate from a highly competitive national search,” Ben Sio, interim president and CEO of CenterState CEO, said in the announcement. “As a Central New York native with deep roots in the community, she represents the tremendous talent already present in our region. In hiring her we were reminded what we already know – that we have plenty of the best and brightest leaders in the country right here in Central New York. Finding such incredible local talent is a metaphor for what ON-RAMP’s all about. Ensuring that people from this community have access to new jobs and opportunity is critically important to our collective success.”

Lacey holds a bachelor’s degree in human resource management from SUNY Empire State College, an MBA in human resource management, and a doctor of management degree from the University of Phoenix.

Alexander Henn

People on the Move

The Reading League — a Syracuse–based national nonprofit whose mission is to advance the awareness, understanding, and use of evidence-aligned reading instruction — has appointed

Smith Brothers Insurance acquires Connecticut agency

Insurance & Financial Services, Construction, Design & Real Estate, Employee Benefits & Human Resources, Featured, New York News, Small Business, Southern Tier

Connecticut–based Smith Brothers Insurance, LLC, which operates offices in Owego, Vestal, Waverly, and Albany, has acquired Charter Oak Agency effective July 1, the company announced.

Homewood Suites by Hilton Syracuse/Liverpool

People on the Move

Homewood Suites by Hilton Syracuse/Liverpool has been recognized as a Make it Right Award winner for the first quarter of 2025. This Hilton award honors

Broome County hotels see decline in guests in May, but other indicators rise

Southern Tier, Construction, Design & Real Estate, New York News, Small Business, Sports, Entertainment & Tourism, Subscriber Only

BINGHAMTON, N.Y. — Broome County hotels registered a drop in overnight guests in May, while two other benchmarks of business performance increased in the month. The hotel-occupancy rate (rooms sold as a percentage of rooms available) in the county fell 4.6 percent to 59.1 percent in the fifth month of 2025, compared to May 2024,

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Contractor to demolish fire-damaged convent at former Maria Regina College in Syracuse

Construction, Design & Real Estate, Education & Training, Energy, Environment & Sustainability, Featured, Law, Accounting & Taxes, Nonprofits

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Demolition of the fire-ravaged Motherhouse on the campus of the former Maria Regina College will begin this week. The Kimberly on Grant

Rome Health formally opens new surgical center

Construction, Design & Real Estate, Health Care, Mohawk Valley, New York News, Nonprofits, Subscriber Only

ROME, N.Y. — Rome Health formally opened its new Kaplan Center for Surgical Services on Monday, July 7, according to a post on the health organization’s Facebook page. The center opened earlier than planned after state Health Department approval on Thursday, July 3. “Thanks to the close collaboration between our construction team, the New York

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“Thanks to the close collaboration between our construction team, the New York State Department of Health, and the incredible agility and flexibility of our staff, we were able to accelerate the transition to our new facility,” Chief Nursing Officer Ahsley Edwards said in the post. “This move comes at a critical time as we’ve recently experienced inconsistencies with heating and humidity in the existing ORs that have disrupted case flow. Transitioning sooner ensures we continue caring for our patients in the safest possible environment.”

Rome Health also recently opened its new main entrance and intensive care unit (ICU). Both are part of the organization’s $45.7 million capital-improvement project to modernize surgical and critical-care services to ensure patients have access to care close to home.

Funding for the project comes from a mix of public support and private philanthropy, including a $26 million New York State Healthcare Facility Transformation Grant, $3 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds from the City of Rome, and $500,000 in ARPA funds from Oneida County. The Kaplan Center for Surgical Services is named in honor of Charles and Florence Kaplan, whose $5 million gift stands as the largest donation in Rome Health’s history.

“This is more than just a new space,” Rome Health President/CEO AnneMarie Czyz said. “It’s a major investment in the health and wellbeing of our community. The Kaplan Center for Surgical Services is built for the future of surgery, combining clinical excellence, innovative technology, and a healing environment that puts patients first.”

The center includes four spacious, state-of-the-art operating rooms designed to accommodate advanced surgical procedures, including minimally-invasive and robotic-assisted surgeries, and two procedure rooms.

The new nine-bed ICU, which opened on June 18, offers private rooms, family accommodations, specialty care rooms, and modern infection-control systems.

The new main entrance includes expanded parking and a more welcoming arrival experience.

The next phases of the project, which will focus on renovating former operating rooms and constructing modern clinical-support spaces, are on track for completion in 2026.

Syracuse Crunch head coach to also become general manager

Subscriber Only, Employee Benefits & Human Resources, Sports, Entertainment & Tourism

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The Tampa Bay Lightning have named Joel Bouchard as general manager of the Syracuse Crunch. He will also remain head coach of the Crunch. Bouchard, 51, was named as the 10th head coach in Crunch franchise history on June 26, 2023. In the past two seasons, he has guided the Crunch to

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SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The Tampa Bay Lightning have named Joel Bouchard as general manager of the Syracuse Crunch. He will also remain head coach of the Crunch.

Bouchard, 51, was named as the 10th head coach in Crunch franchise history on June 26, 2023. In the past two seasons, he has guided the Crunch to a 76-47-12-9 record with back-to-back appearances and first-round byes in the Calder Cup Playoffs. Under his guidance, the Crunch advanced to the North Division Finals of the Calder Cup Playoffs in 2024 for the first time since the 2017-18 season.

“Joel has a wide bandwidth for work and he is used to the dual general manager and head coach role from his time with the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada,” Tampa Bay Lightning VP and General Manager Julien BriseBois said in an announcement. The Crunch are the top minor-league affiliate of the NHL’s Lightning. “He is a strong and enthusiastic leader with a track record of helping players and teams reach their full potential. He will work closely with myself and Tampa Bay Lightning Assistant General Manager and Director of Player Personnel Jamie Pushor in maintaining a competitive and winning culture with the Crunch.”

A native of Montreal, Quebec, Bouchard previously served as general manager of the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada of the QMJHL from 2011-2018. In addition to his duties as general manager, he also worked behind the bench as head coach of the Armada from 2014-2018.

Bouchard also served as the general manager of the Canadian National Junior Team for the 2018 and 2017 IIHF World Junior Championships, winning gold and silver medals, respectively.

Bouchard has coached in 386 career AHL games with the Crunch, San Diego Gulls, and Laval Rocket, posting a 187-147-30-22 record.

As a player, Bouchard played in 364 career NHL games, and recorded 22 goals and 75 points while playing for the Calgary Flames, Nashville Predators, Dallas Stars, Arizona Coyotes, New Jersey Devils, New York Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and New York Islanders. He also played in 293 career AHL games and was named an All-Star during both the 1994-95 and 1995-96 seasons.

Tompkins County has $45K in tourism grants available

Nonprofits, Law, Accounting & Taxes, New York News, Small Business, Southern Tier, Sports, Entertainment & Tourism

ITHACA, N.Y. — The Tompkins County Tourism Program is accepting applications for its fall 2025 funding rounds from two of its established grant programs designed

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