KeyCorp (NYSE: KEY) — parent of KeyBank, the No. 2 bank ranked by deposit market share in the 16-county Central New York area — has declared a quarterly cash dividend of 17 cents per share of its common stock for the first quarter of 2019.

The dividend is payable on March 15, to holders of record as of the close of business on March 5.

The dividend is the same amount that Key paid in each of the last two quarters but that followed four increases in the dividend in 2017 and 2018. 

Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Key is one of the nation’s largest bank-based financial services companies, with assets of $138.8 billion as Sept. 30. Its roots trace back 190 years to Albany.

In the 16-county CNY region, KeyBank had 66 branches and $4.3 billion in deposits, good for a 14.73 percent market share, according to the latest FDIC statistics as of last June 30.

ITHACA — Taitem Engineering, PC announced it is closing its solar-panel contracting division, effective Feb. 29.

The unit has been open six years and has completed more than 300 solar PV (photovoltaic) system installations, the Ithaca–based firm said in a news release. It has installed nearly four megawatts of solar capacity at homes and businesses across Central New York

Taitem President Lou Vogel said “unstable regulatory conditions, decreasing state and federal support, and the increasing preference for community solar made it too difficult” to continue on with the solar-installation business. “Going forward, we will focus where Taitem can contribute best at this time, such as the design of zero-energy buildings for businesses, institutions and multifamily housing,” he said.

Though Taitem will no longer provide solar-panel installation services, it says it will maintain its solar engineering, commissioning, and service and warranty capabilities. The firm said its 10-year warranty for its work on solar PV arrays remains in place for all installed systems, and manufacturer-equipment warranties are not affected by the change. 

Taitem Engineering said closing the solar installation division will allow it to focus on growing the company’s primary business of providing engineering design and energy-efficiency and sustainability consulting services, which it has done since its start in 1989. Taitem serves architects, developers, property managers, and other commercial and institutional clients with mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection engineering, and helps to develop science-based, carbon-reducing systems for both new and existing buildings. 

Taitem’s solar-installation staff will be at work through February constructing solar PV systems already under contract. The company said some of the division’s employees will be able to keep their jobs with Taitem, but the release didn’t specify how many workers are staying and how many are not.