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TCGplayer, Everson Art Museum recognized at Downtown Committee annual meeting
The Downtown Committee honored TCGplayer with the Urban Innovation Award, “given for a trailblazing activity that’s brought new attention — and energy — to a

Syracuse basketball schedules Colgate for Nov. 13 non-conference game
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Syracuse basketball has played Colgate University more than any other opponent, and the schools will meet again next season. The Orange and
Small-business event at Griffiss Institute draws crowd of more than 100
ROME — More than 100 people attended a small-business event, titled “Introduction to Federal Small Business Programs and Opportunities” on June 12, at Griffiss Institute in Rome, organizers say. The Air Force Research Laboratory Information Directorate (AFRL/RI), together with Griffiss Institute, North Country Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC), and NYSTEC, put on the event. Attendees
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ROME — More than 100 people attended a small-business event, titled “Introduction to Federal Small Business Programs and Opportunities” on June 12, at Griffiss Institute in Rome, organizers say.
The Air Force Research Laboratory Information Directorate (AFRL/RI), together with Griffiss Institute, North Country Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC), and NYSTEC, put on the event.
Attendees learned from industry experts about government-provided services, small-business certifications, and AFRL Information Directorate procurement opportunities for small-business categories including:
• Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Program
• Women-Owned Small Business
• Small Disadvantaged Business/8(a) Program
• HubZone Program
The presenters included Amber Stevens, North Country PTAC; Steve Barr, U.S. Small Business Administration; and Michael Graniero, AFRL/RI Small Business Office.
Oneida County hotel occupancy rate falls more than 1 percent in April
UTICA — Hotels in Oneida County were slightly less full in April than in the year-ago month, according to a new report. The hotel occupancy rate (rooms sold as a percentage of rooms available) in the county declined 1.1 percent to 53.9 percent in April from 54.5 percent a year earlier, according to STR, a
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UTICA — Hotels in Oneida County were slightly less full in April than in the year-ago month, according to a new report.
The hotel occupancy rate (rooms sold as a percentage of rooms available) in the county declined 1.1 percent to 53.9 percent in April from 54.5 percent a year earlier, according to STR, a Tennessee–based hotel market data and analytics company. That followed occupancy increases of about 2 percent each in March and February.
Revenue per available room (RevPar), a key industry gauge that measures how much money hotels are bringing in per available room, fell 1.3 percent to $54.88 in April from $55.60 in April 2018. Oneida County’s RevPar had increased in both March and February, by 2.1 percent and 0.9 percent, respectively.
Average daily rate (or ADR), which represents the average rental rate for a sold room, edged down 0.2 percent to $101.83 in April from $102.07 a year prior.
Some recent tweets that came across the @cnybj Twitter feed, offering various small business, tech, HR, career, and personal tips. SBA @SBAgovThe SBA and @FTC have teamed up to offer resources to protect your small business against cyber threats and scams http://ow.ly/RpWV50umM5S Small Business Expo @SmallBizExpoThinking of Starting a Business? Make Sure You Have These
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Some recent tweets that came across the @cnybj Twitter feed, offering various small business, tech, HR, career, and personal tips.
SBA @SBAgov
The SBA and @FTC have teamed up to offer resources to protect your small business against cyber threats and scams http://ow.ly/RpWV50umM5S
Small Business Expo @SmallBizExpo
Thinking of Starting a Business? Make Sure You Have These Skills First http://twib.in/l/KxEjna7oe78K
NFIB @NFIB
Craft a vacation policy that doesn’t conflict with the needs of your #SmallBiz – here’s how: https://www.nfib.com/content/resources/economy/how-to-develop-a-vacation-policy-that-works-for-your-small-business/
Entrepreneur @Entrepreneur
Good networking is a learned skill, and all entrepreneurs have made mistakes with their networking at some point. https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/335014
Syracuse University @SyracuseU
More than 100 Central New York businesses attended #SyracuseU’s first-ever Procurement Fair as part of the new Building Local initiative: http://ow.ly/GvyP50uo7MV
Veterans Experience @VetsExperience
A library of over 14,000 business, technical, and creative courses are on @LinkedIn Learning. Veterans and transitioning military are eligible for a free year of premium service, get more info here: https://bddy.me/2KOWzLQ
PwC @PwC
#AI, blockchain and machine learning — how are they driving the future of business travel? https://pwc.to/2WU4Np9
Mitch Mitchell @Mitch_M
6 #Blogging Tips That You Need To Consider http://www.imjustsharing.com/6-blogging-tips-that-you-need-to-consider/ …
Hunter Heywood @HunterHeywood
“Five Rules Of Millennial Recruitment And Retention” – https://buff.ly/31rmcb4 (Via @Forbes)
Mark C. Crowley @MarkCCrowley
“Manager” & “Coach” Are Synonymous: “Great coaches lie awake at night thinking about how to make you better….Most people don’t spend a lot of time thinking about how they’re going to make someone else better. But that’s what coaches do.” — NFL Great, Ronnie Lott
Dave Ulrich @dave_ulrich
Over years of coaching 1000’s of people, I have discovered 5 questions that help leaders reflect on their next career move. These questions might help any employee make a more conscious choice about when to stay and when to go. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/should-i-stay-go-5-questions-manage-your-next-career-move-dave-ulrich/ …
Hannah Morgan @careersherpa
27 surprising things that affect whether you get hired after a job interview http://ow.ly/TlCt30oV3F8 by @ShanaDLebowitz and @IvanDeLuce1 via @businessinsider @phyllismufson
CBR Fitness @cbrfitness
Clean your fridge and pantry. Get rid of processed foods in the process. http://hlty.us/6uDS
Skillednursinginc @sninursinginc
Eat your greens! Every Single Day. You’ll find that the more you eat them, the more you like them and the better you’ll feel.

Oneida County highlights growth of College Corps internship program
UTICA — The internship program Oneida County College Corps has placed nearly 200 local college students with close to 50 area employers in 2019, representing an increase in both participating interns and employers. The College Corps program placed 190 students with 47 employers in such fields as technology, engineering, business, law, marketing, education, health, finance,
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UTICA — The internship program Oneida County College Corps has placed nearly 200 local college students with close to 50 area employers in 2019, representing an increase in both participating interns and employers.
The College Corps program placed 190 students with 47 employers in such fields as technology, engineering, business, law, marketing, education, health, finance, and human services.
The program attracted 116 interns and 40 employers in 2017. The following year, the number of interns increased to 170, working at 40 employers, Oneida County said in a June 17 news release.
“Our College Corps internship program gives Oneida County college students a golden opportunity to get hands-on experience with a variety of our community’s most successful and innovative employers,” Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente, Jr. contended. “Giving these bright young minds the chance to work at high-tech firms such as Black River Systems, not only gives them invaluable experience as they ready their career paths, but also provides them the possibility to stay here in our area and make a prosperous life for themselves.”
Oneida County held an event at Utica–based Black River Systems to highlight the program’s growth over the past three years. Black River Systems is an employee-owned company that specializes in advanced research and development.
“The College Corps program has helped Black River introduce student engineers to their future career, to our company, and to the local area,” Jeff Brandstadt, president of Black River Systems, said in the release. “Many of the interns supported by this program have gone on to become valuable members of Black River’s staff.”
The students interning in the program reside in 30 different county municipalities and attend more than 50 colleges throughout the country. They may work up to 200 hours, and half their compensation is paid by Oneida County, with the other half paid by the employer.

Former Rite Aid property in Clay sold for $1.4 million
CLAY — The property at 4975 Bear Road in Clay that was formerly home to a Rite Aid store was recently sold for $1.4 million. CGP Acquisition & Development purchased the 11,134-square-foot building, situated on 1.84 acres, from Syracuse Real Funding. CGP plans to redevelop the property, which is located at the corner of Buckley
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CLAY — The property at 4975 Bear Road in Clay that was formerly home to a Rite Aid store was recently sold for $1.4 million.
CGP Acquisition & Development purchased the 11,134-square-foot building, situated on 1.84 acres, from Syracuse Real Funding. CGP plans to redevelop the property, which is located at the corner of Buckley Road, into a Dollar General store, according to Cushman & Wakefield/Pyramid Brokerage Company.
William Evertz of Cushman & Wakefield/Pyramid Brokerage exclusively marketed the property and represented the seller in the transaction, while Troy Bullock represented the buyer.
The property was last sold in November 2012 for more than $1.65 million, according to Onondaga County’s online property records.

Crouse Hospital’s weight-loss surgery program re-accredited
SYRACUSE — The bariatric, or weight loss, surgery program at Crouse Health has been reaccredited as a “comprehensive center” under the metabolic and bariatric surgery accreditation and quality improvement program (MBSAQIP). MBSAQIP is a joint program of the Chicago–based American College of Surgeons and the Newberry, Florida–based American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. To
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SYRACUSE — The bariatric, or weight loss, surgery program at Crouse Health has been reaccredited as a “comprehensive center” under the metabolic and bariatric surgery accreditation and quality improvement program (MBSAQIP).
MBSAQIP is a joint program of the Chicago–based American College of Surgeons and the Newberry, Florida–based American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.
To earn the MBSAQIP designation, Crouse’s bariatric-surgery program met “strict” criteria for staffing, training and facility infrastructure, and protocols for care, “ensuring its ability to support patients with severe obesity,” the hospital said in a news release.
“This accreditation is the definitive ‘seal of approval’ in our field, and it tells patients that we meet the highest standards for patient safety and quality,” Dr. Jeffrey DeSimone, medical director of Crouse Hospital’s weight-loss surgery program, said.
The MBSAQIP standards ensure that a “multidisciplinary team of providers that strives to improve patient outcomes and long-term success” provides care for bariatric-surgery patients. MBSAQIP-accredited centers focus on tracking outcomes of patients who undergo bariatric surgery and providing “continuous quality-improvement processes to make sure patients receive the highest level of care.”
Crouse started its bariatric surgery program in late 2011. Since that time, Drs. DeSimone and Kenneth Cooper have performed an increasing number of weight-loss surgeries each year, the hospital said.
The Crouse Health program is a partnership with Central New York Surgical Physicians, PC. The practice, located at 739 Irving Ave. in Syracuse, includes Drs. DeSimone and Cooper, according to its website.

New kayak, canoe launch funded by Canal Corp. opens on Cazenovia Lake
CAZENOVIA — The New York State Canal Corporation and village of Cazenovia on June 13 dedicated a new launch for kayaks and canoes that provides a dedicated space for boaters in an increasingly popular park. The launch in Lakeland Park was funded by a $70,000 grant from the Canal Corporation as part of Gov. Andrew
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CAZENOVIA — The New York State Canal Corporation and village of Cazenovia on June 13 dedicated a new launch for kayaks and canoes that provides a dedicated space for boaters in an increasingly popular park.
The launch in Lakeland Park was funded by a $70,000 grant from the Canal Corporation as part of Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s Regional Economic Development Council program.
The park previously had a single access point for boaters and swimmers. The new launch will be situated at the park’s southern border away from swimmers and a small public beach.
“Beyond the beauty of Cazenovia Lake, this boat launch enables kayaks and canoes to connect to a wonderful section of Chittenango Creek,” Brian U. Stratton, Canal Corporation director said in a news release. “This launch will enable more boaters to explore a beautiful and historic stretch of the state Canal System.”
Cazenovia Lake is linked by a feeder canal to Chittenango Creek. The creek feeds into the historic Erie Canal and ends at Oneida Lake, which is part of the modern-day New York Canal System.
The funding also helped pay for the repair of a canal wall at the site of the launch.
“Increasing access to outdoor recreational opportunities has been identified as a local priority,” Cazenovia Mayor Kurt Wheeler said. “We have a wealth of natural resources located in and around Cazenovia and have increasingly become a destination to enjoy the outdoors. This project will enhance the ability of residents and visitors to enjoy the beauty of Cazenovia Lake and Chittenango Creek.”
The boat launch was funded through the state’s Canalway Grant Program, which includes up to $1 million in competitive grants available to eligible municipalities, and 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations along the New York State Canal System for canal-related capital projects. The minimum grant request amount is $25,000, and the maximum grant request is $150,000.
Proposed projects need to demonstrate how they will achieve some or all of the following goals: expand public access, increase visitation and recreational use, stimulate private investment, improve services and amenities for Canalway land and water trail users, and enhance the connections between the canal and the corresponding region, the release stated.
The Canal Corporation says priority this year will be given to projects that encourage canal-related tourism and stimulate private investment in tourism infrastructure. The deadline to apply is July 26. More information is available at: www.canals.ny.gov/community/grant.html.

UHS Binghamton General has new entrance after renovation work
BINGHAMTON — The main entrance to UHS Binghamton General Hospital on Mitchell Avenue has reopened. It follows two-and-a-half months of renovation work and facilities improvement, per the UHS website. The entrance closed April 8 so crews could begin work on the complete replacement of the entrance canopy. The project included replacement of the structured canopy
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BINGHAMTON — The main entrance to UHS Binghamton General Hospital on Mitchell Avenue has reopened.
It follows two-and-a-half months of renovation work and facilities improvement, per the UHS website.
The entrance closed April 8 so crews could begin work on the complete replacement of the entrance canopy. The project included replacement of the structured canopy and façade, creating a new entryway to the Binghamton facility’s main lobby and gift shop area.
As the work continued, the hospital used a temporary entrance for visitors to reach the hospital’s main area through the courtyard and physicians’ entrance, the hospital said.
UHS Binghamton General will continue offering valet parking at the newly remodeled entrance, the hospital added.
Stay up-to-date on the companies, people and issues that impact businesses in Syracuse, Central New York and beyond.