Berkshire Hills Bancorp elects Dunlaevy as board chairman

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Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc. (NYSE: BHLB) — the Boston–based parent of Berkshire Bank, which has a major presence in the Mohawk Valley — announced that its board of directors has unanimously elected J. Williar (Bill) Dunlaevy as its chairman, effective Dec. 1. A former bank CEO, Dunlaevy has served as a Berkshire director since 2011 […]

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A former bank CEO, Dunlaevy has served as a Berkshire director since 2011 and is designated as independent as well as a financial expert by the board of directors under the rules of the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission and the New York Stock Exchange. Berkshire Bank has also elected Dunlaevy as board chair.

“I’m honored to have been chosen to succeed Bill Ryan as Chairman, and I look forward to continuing to work with the management team and the entire Board to deliver on our commitment to our shareholders, customers, and communities. I want to thank Bill for his leadership, friendship and tremendous contributions to Berkshire as chairman over the past five years. I’m pleased that he’ll remain as a director so the board may continue to benefit from his substantial banking experience and valued judgement. Our Board and management team remain dedicated to our vision of building a 21st century community bank.” Dunlaevy said in a news release.

Ryan said he stepped down from the chairman role as he scales back his commitments for health reasons.

Dunlaevy is the former CEO and chairman of the board of Legacy Bancorp, Inc. and Legacy Banks, where he served from 1996 until their merger with Berkshire in 2011. Dunlaevy also currently serves as a director of the Berkshire Bank Foundation and previously was chairman of the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation. He has also been a director of the Depositors Insurance Fund, Massachusetts Bankers Association, and Savings Bank Life Insurance Company of Massachusetts.

Berkshire Bank ranks No. 5 in the Utica–Rome market in deposit market share with a 13.2 percent share of all deposits in the area. Berkshire Bank has nine branches in Oneida County and three offices in Herkimer County.

Lasnicki Laminates leases nearly 3,000-square-foot warehouse in Cicero

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CICERO — Lasnicki Laminates recently leased 2,960 square feet at the industrial warehouse located at 6078 E. Taft Road in Cicero. Joyce Mawhinney MacKnight and Stephen Scuderi of Cushman & Wakefield/Pyramid Brokerage Company represented the tenant in this lease transaction, according to a news release from the real-estate firm. Blue Water Holdings, LLC of Syracuse

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CNY Tweets-November 4, 2019

Business Mentors, Subscriber Only

Some recent tweets that came across the @cnybj Twitter feed, offering various small business, marketing, HR, and career tips. Clay Sanford @Sanford_IRSIf you’re a #smallbiz owner who employs a spouse: #IRS has important tax information you need to know. https://go.usa.gov/xVvek SBA @SBAgov#DidYouKnow out of the $500 billion in U.S. government contracts awarded every year, 23%

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Some recent tweets that came across the @cnybj Twitter feed, offering various small business, marketing, HR, and career tips.

Clay Sanford @Sanford_IRS
If you’re a #smallbiz owner who employs a spouse: #IRS has important tax information you need to know. https://go.usa.gov/xVvek

SBA @SBAgov
#DidYouKnow out of the $500 billion in U.S. government contracts awarded every year, 23% are set aside for small businesses? Learn how it works. https://sba.gov/contracting

NFIB @NFIB
A new point of sale (POS) system can offer #smallbiz a variety of benefits. @TSYSmerchant lists five ways a modern POS system could help your business: https://www.nfib.com/content/benefits/money/five-ways-a-pos-can-help-your-business/

SBA Mid-Atlantic @SBAmidatlantic
@AdvocacySBA defines a #smallbusiness as an independent business having fewer than 500 employees. For industry-level definitions of #smallbiz used in gov’t programs & contracting, visit: https://www.sba.gov/document/support–table-size-standards

Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency @CISAgov
If you’re a business, chances are your customers have questions about what you’re doing to protect their data. #BeCyberSmart and learn more about how you can protect your business and customers: https://niccs.us-cert.gov/national-cybersecurity-awareness-month-2019

Shadi @slyshadi
How Social Media Marketers Are Using AI To Improve Their Performance https://growth-hackers.net/how-social-media-marketers-using-ai-improve-performance/ via @StartGrowthHack

Ithaca College @IthacaCollege
A five-year, $650,000 grant will allow IC to award 14 scholarships to low-income, academically talented computer science, mathematics, and physics/astronomy students. Read more: https://ithaca.edu/news/nsf-grant-awarded-increase-inclusivity-stem

Entrepreneur @Entrepreneur
How to Hire and Win the War for Talent: https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/340740 #SmallBusinessHeroes

BambooHR @bamboohr
Many payroll errors are the result of #payroll admins not having enough information, or not having the correct information. https://www.bamboohr.com/blog/payroll-mistakes-how-to-avoid/?utm_source=CM&utm_medium=OSO&utm_campaign=TWIT-MS-NotApplica-20191022-01&utm_content=blank&utm_term=blank

Mark C. Crowley @MarkCCrowley
When you interview job candidates, ask them to describe times when they thought they were performing at their very best. It gives you a glimpse into their potential greatness & what makes them come alive.

Hannah Morgan @careersherpa
#LinkedInTips – Very smart! Use #LinkedIn status updates to attract recruiters! Here’s how by recruiter @ed_han on @JobHuntOrg: http://buff.ly/2Qm5p3U

MACNY @MACNY_MfgAssoc
Leadership isn’t based on position. In today’s President’s Message, Randy shares more on how influence is the essence of leadership. https://www.macny.org/leadership-is-primarily-about-influence/

Christopher Kurtz @PeerThru
Too many leaders fear making mistakes more than they fear making decisions. No one gets it all right all of the time. That’s how we learn and grow. The leaders we should emulate and follow decide and move, admit error, and course-correct as needed.

Cy Wakeman @CyWakeman
As leaders, we can’t please everyone and we’re always going to be upsetting someone. Just make sure you’re upsetting the right people.

Byrne Dairy sale of Syracuse milk-bottling plant should close by early December

Manufacturing & Engineering, Subscriber Only

SYRACUSE — The Western New York company that has agreed to acquire Byrne Dairy’s fluid-milk plant in Syracuse expects the deal to be finalized by early December. Buffalo–based Upstate Niagara Cooperative, Inc. has signed an agreement to purchase the Byrne Dairy fluid-milk operations, including the fluid-milk plant located in Syracuse, and “several” distribution centers throughout

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SYRACUSE — The Western New York company that has agreed to acquire Byrne Dairy’s fluid-milk plant in Syracuse expects the deal to be finalized by early December.

Buffalo–based Upstate Niagara Cooperative, Inc. has signed an agreement to purchase the Byrne Dairy fluid-milk operations, including the fluid-milk plant located in Syracuse, and “several” distribution centers throughout New York state, per its Oct. 28 news release. The firm said the deal should close within 40 days of that date.

A cooperative of more than 310 family-owned farms, Upstate Niagara Cooperative is a food and beverage company that has been offering dairy products since 1965.

In the deal, Upstate Niagara will purchase and operate Byrne’s milk-bottling plant at 240 Oneida St. in Syracuse and Byrne’s direct store delivery operation, Byrne Dairy said in its own release.

The companies did not disclose the acquisition price.

Byrne Dairy noted that its extended shelf-life plant in DeWitt, cultured dairy plant in Cortlandville, ice cream plant in Syracuse, warehouse operations in Syracuse and DeWitt, and all of the Byrne Dairy & Deli stores “are not affected by the sale.”

Under the terms of the agreement, Byrne will grant a license to Upstate to package fresh milk, including glass bottles, under the Byrne Dairy name. Byrne Dairy will join the lineup of the company’s brands that include Upstate Farms; Intense Milk; Milk for Life; Bison; and Valley Farms, Upstate Niagara said.

Byrne will also continue to supply milk to the Oneida Street facility from its farms throughout Central New York, the LaFayette–based firm said.

Byrne currently employs about 250 people in the production and distribution of milk. Upstate Niagara expects to retain “nearly all” of Byrne’s current employees, according to Byrne.

“We’re excited that Upstate Niagara Cooperative will carry on the fresh milk portion of the business that my grandfather started in 1933,” Carl Byrne, president of Byrne Dairy, said in his company’s release. “This sale is good for our farmers, the employees, and the customers of Byrne Dairy, as well as the Syracuse community. We will continue to invest in our remaining facilities, like the $25 million expansion we just completed at our extended shelf-life plant in DeWitt.”

The dairy will be the ninth manufacturing facility for Upstate Niagara Cooperative, and its fourth fluid-milk plant, “allowing the company to be able to better serve its existing customers and to establish a stronger presence in the region,” Upstate Niagara said.

Existing employees will manage operations and the facility will continue to service all Byrne Dairy customers, the company added.

“This acquisition is a strategic investment by our member-owners toward continued and long-term growth for our cooperative and will strengthen our ability to continue to provide award-winning products and exceptional customer service while expanding our reach into adjoining markets,” Lawrence Webster, Upstate Niagara Cooperative CEO, said in the release.

New York home sales rise nearly 2 percent in September

Construction, Design & Real Estate, Subscriber Only

ALBANY — New York realtors sold 11,467 previously owned homes in September, up 1.6 percent from the 11,289 homes sold in September 2018. That’s according to the New York State Association of Realtors (NYSAR)’s September housing-market report issued on Oct. 22. “Buoyed by a strong economy and continued low mortgage rates, the New York State

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ALBANY — New York realtors sold 11,467 previously owned homes in September, up 1.6 percent from the 11,289 homes sold in September 2018.

That’s according to the New York State Association of Realtors (NYSAR)’s September housing-market report issued on Oct. 22.

“Buoyed by a strong economy and continued low mortgage rates, the New York State housing market showed an upward climb in sales and listings in September,” NYSAR said in its report,

Sales data

The September 2019 statewide median sales price was $280,000, up 5.6 percent from the September 2018 median of $265,028, according to the NYSAR data.

Pending sales totaled 11,182 homes in September, up 7.6 percent from 10,394 homes a year prior.

The months’ supply of homes for sale at the end of September was 6.4 months, per NYSAR’s report. It stood at 6.6 months at the end of September 2018.

A 6-month to 6.5-month supply is considered to be a balanced market.

The number of homes for sale totaled 71,737 in September, down 2.9 percent from 73,857 homes in September 2018.

Central New York data

Realtors in Onondaga County sold 479 previously owned homes in September, up 3.5 percent from the 463 homes sold in the same month in 2018. The median sales price rose 2.5 percent to $153,700 from $150,000 a year prior, according to the NYSAR report.

The association also reports that realtors sold 172 homes in Oneida County in September, down 17.7 percent from the 209 homes sold in in the year-ago month. The median sales price rose almost 4 percent to $132,000 from more than $127,000 a year ago.

Realtors in Broome County sold 151 existing homes in September, down 5 percent from the 159 homes sold during the same month in 2018, according to the NYSAR report. The median sales price increased 5 percent to $125,000 from $119,000 a year ago.

In Jefferson County, realtors closed on 104 homes in September, down from 105 a year earlier, and the median sales price of more than $152,000 was up 12 percent from $136,000 in September 2018, according to the NYSAR data.

All home-sales data is compiled from multiple-listing services in New York state and it includes townhomes and condominiums in addition to existing single-family homes, according to NYSAR.

Most Central New York jobless rates rose in September

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Unemployment rates in the Syracuse, Utica–Rome, Watertown–Fort Drum, Binghamton, and Ithaca regions all rose in September compared to a year ago. At the same time, the jobless rate in the Elmira area remained unchanged in the last 12 months. The figures are part of the latest New York State Department of Labor data released Oct.

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Unemployment rates in the Syracuse, Utica–Rome, Watertown–Fort Drum, Binghamton, and Ithaca regions all rose in September compared to a year ago.

At the same time, the jobless rate in the Elmira area remained unchanged in the last 12 months. The figures are part of the latest New York State Department of Labor data released Oct. 22.

On the job-growth side, the Syracuse, Utica–Rome, Ithaca, and Elmira regions gained jobs between September 2018 and this past September.

Meanwhile, the Binghamton area lost jobs in the same period, while the Watertown–Fort Drum region had no change in jobs in the last year.

That’s according to the latest monthly employment report that the New York State Department of Labor issued Oct. 17.

Regional unemployment rates

The jobless rate in the Syracuse area was 3.9 percent in September, up from 3.6 percent in September 2018.

The Utica–Rome region’s rate in September was 3.9 percent, up from 3.7 percent a year prior; in the Watertown–Fort Drum area, the rate rose to 4.7 percent from 4.1 percent; in the Binghamton region, it increased to 4.2 percent from 3.9 percent; the Ithaca region saw unemployment rise to 3.5 percent from 3.3 percent in the same month in 2018; and the Elmira area saw its rate hold steady at 4 percent in September.

The local unemployment data isn’t seasonally adjusted, meaning the figures don’t reflect seasonal influences such as holiday hires.

The unemployment rates are calculated following procedures prescribed by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the state Labor Department said.

State unemployment rate

New York state’s unemployment rate decreased from 4 percent in August to 3.9 percent in September, the department said. Still, that was higher than the U.S. unemployment rate of 3.5 percent in September.

Also, the August statewide unemployment figure of 3.9 percent was up compared to the 3.8 percent number reported a year prior, according to department figures.

The federal government calculates New York’s unemployment rate partly based upon the results of a monthly telephone survey of 3,100 state households that the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics conducts.

September jobs data

The Syracuse region gained 8,800 jobs in the past year, a gain of 2.7 percent.

The Utica–Rome metro area picked up 500 jobs, an increase of 0.4 percent; the Ithaca area added 4,200 jobs, an increase of 6.5 percent; the Elmira region gained 100 jobs, a rise of 0.3 percent; and the Watertown–Fort Drum region saw no change in jobs in the past year, per the state Labor Department data.

Bucking the trend, the Binghamton region lost 200 jobs, a decrease of 0.2 percent, in the last 12 months.

New York state as a whole gained more than 123,000 jobs, an increase of 1.3 percent, in the past year. The state economy gained 7,200 jobs, or 0.1 percent, in September from August, the labor department said.

Helio Health’s Klemanski elected board president of state association

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The New York Association of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Providers (ASAP) recently announced the election of Jeremy Klemanski as the association’s new board president. He will serve a two-year term and succeeds Anne Constantino, CEO of Buffalo–based Horizon Health Services, as the ASAP board’s leader. Klemanski has served for 15 years as president and CEO

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Landmark Theatre to replace the marquee, auditorium seats in 2020 project

Construction, Design & Real Estate, Subscriber Only

SYRACUSE — Syracuse’s Landmark Theatre is set for interior and exterior improvement projects beginning in June 2020. The facility will use a $2 million state grant to replace the Salina Street marquee and all the seats in the venue’s auditorium. The theatre will close in the second week of June and stay closed until just

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SYRACUSE — Syracuse’s Landmark Theatre is set for interior and exterior improvement projects beginning in June 2020.

The facility will use a $2 million state grant to replace the Salina Street marquee and all the seats in the venue’s auditorium. The theatre will close in the second week of June and stay closed until just after Labor Day, according to Mike Intaglietta, executive director of the Landmark Theatre.

“That’s a down time for the Landmark. A lot of people want to be outside during the summer. We figured that was the best time to do it,” Intaglietta said in speaking with reporters after the Oct. 23 formal announcement about the funding for the project.

New York State Assemblyman William Magnarelli (D–Syracuse) announced the state funding inside the downtown venue. He noted that the seat-replacement project is “long overdue.”

“These important capital improvements will help to sustain the historical and iconic building for years to come,” Magnarelli said in his remarks.

The Dormitory Authority of State of New York will administer the $2 million in grant funding, per a Landmark Theatre news release about the project. The Landmark anticipates crews will complete both projects in the summer of 2020.

The total cost for both projects and all the ancillary projects that surround them is about $2.5 million, so the Landmark has about 80 percent of its funding, Intaglietta also told reporters after the formal announcement.

“We’ll be … seeking support from the community, grant funding from foundations to meet the goal. I’m very optimistic this is going to generate a lot of enthusiasm,” he said.

Crews will replace the current marquee with a replica of the Landmark’s original 1928 marquee, with the addition of video displays and “high-efficiency” LED lamps.

The project also involves the replacement of the current seats in all sections of the theatre with more “ergonomic and comfortable” models, adding extra legroom per seat while retaining the historical color scheme and upholstery styles.

The project will also include additional ADA compliant seats will be added to layout as well. ADA is short for the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

“This investment acknowledges the important role that our arts institutions play in our regional economy, and these improvements help us to preserve a treasured and historic performing arts venue right here in the heart of our downtown,” Andy Breuer, President of the Landmark Theatre board of directors, said.

The Oct. 23 announcement focused on the future of the Landmark Theatre, but Intaglietta opened the event acknowledging that the downtown facility has had an active and “very successful” 2019.

“By year’s end, we will have well over 100,000 guests walk through those doors to enjoy our concerts, comedy, family shows, and touring Broadway productions,” Intaglietta said. “But we still have room to improve and better serve downtown Syracuse and the county of Onondaga.”

Self-Storage Solutions buys Solvay building for $325,000

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SOLVAY — The 21,600-square-foot retail building located at 511 Charles Avenue in Solvay was recently sold. Self-Storage Solutions purchased the property from Richard Ladouceur, of Camillus, in September for $325,000. Lee Salvetti, of Cushman & Wakefield/Pyramid Brokerage Company, exclusively marketed the property, and represented the seller in this sale transaction, according to a news release

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Construction continues on mixed-use housing project at Griffiss Park in Rome

Construction, Design & Real Estate, Regional News, Subscriber Only

ROME — Saratoga Springs–based Bonacio Construction Inc. has started work on the Air City Lofts project at Griffiss Business and Technology Park on the former site of Building 240 (B240). Air City Lofts is a new mixed-use apartment community with first floor office/amenity-oriented space, Bonacio said in an Oct. 8 news release. The estimated cost

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ROME — Saratoga Springs–based Bonacio Construction Inc. has started work on the Air City Lofts project at Griffiss Business and Technology Park on the former site of Building 240 (B240).

Air City Lofts is a new mixed-use apartment community with first floor office/amenity-oriented space, Bonacio said in an Oct. 8 news release.

The estimated cost of the project is $20 million and Bonacio expects construction to last about one year.

Bonacio Construction purchased 4.3 acres of land on State Route 825 from the Griffiss Local Development Corporation (GLDC) for the project’s first phase. It will include two, four-story, mixed-use buildings with ground-floor commercial space and 84 units of upper level market rate apartments.

Empire State Development awarded GLDC a $1.25 million grant to help pay for the mixed-use development, Bonacio said.

“Over the past 24 years, Griffiss Park has steadily grown to over 72 companies and 5,800 employees. To complement the growth of business and industry, GLDC has deliberately sought out new and exciting lifestyle and residential amenities that were requested by park tenants,” Elis DeLia, chair of the Griffiss Local Development Corporation, said in the Bonacio release. “The construction of Air City Lofts at Griffiss will bring a new dynamic to the Park and we look forward to having people not only work at Griffiss, but to live here as well.”

Project background

The City of Rome and GLDC issued a request for expression of interest (RFEI) for the redevelopment of three key areas in Rome this past year, which included the B240 site at Griffiss. The city and GLDC worked to present development opportunities that would attract developer interest that is “aligned with the community’s vision” — to support the prospects of “high-wage job growth by key employers” located at Griffiss and the City of Rome, per the release.

Key employers in Rome and at Griffiss have cited a “lack of quality apartments and life-style amenities as an impediment” in their recruiting efforts for employees. Bonacio Construction submitted its expression of interest for the B240 site as part of that RFEI process.

“We heard loud and clear from the companies [at] Griffiss that creating an amenity-rich apartment community was so important for recruiting and keeping talent at the park,” Sonny Bonacio, president of Bonacio Construction, said. “Thanks to the City and the GLDC paving the way, this project is the first step to this community become a reality. Bonacio Construction is proud to be a part of redevelopment efforts, helping to increase overall employee quality of life, and keep critical dollars in the local Rome economy.”

GLDC had previously undertaken development work at the site, which included demolition of the former B240 building that was used by the Air Force Research Laboratory, and built an access road to support the planned development of the 25-acre site. The state recently completed construction of the Route 825 highway that fronts along this development site.

Traditionally, business and industrial parks were designed exclusively for offices and light industry. Griffiss Business and Technology Park is using a “different method,” as it is starting to combine residential, recreation, education, manufacturing and research and development all in one place.

The B240 redevelopment project that Bonacio Construction is undertaking “continues this approach,” the company said.

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