NYPA issues first solicitations for new nuclear power project

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ALBANY, N.Y. — The New York Power Authority (NYPA) on Thursday issued its first solicitations as part of a new initiative to develop 1 gigawatt

MOST, Micron launch new STEM fellowship program

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SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The Micron Teacher Fellowship at the MOST is a hands-on STEM program designed to “inspire and support the next generation of innovators” in Central New York. The Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science & Technology (MOST) and the Micron Foundation announced its launch on Thursday. STEM is short for science, technology, engineering,

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SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The Micron Teacher Fellowship at the MOST is a hands-on STEM program designed to “inspire and support the next generation of innovators” in Central New York.

The Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science & Technology (MOST) and the Micron Foundation announced its launch on Thursday. STEM is short for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

The Micron Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Boise, Idaho–based Micron Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ: MU), which plans to build a semiconductor-manufacturing campus at the White Pine Commerce Park along Route 31 in the town of Clay.

The new initiative is a first of its kind for the Central New York (CNY) community and made possible by a $100,000 grant from the Micron Foundation, the MOST said in its announcement. It will pay for year-long fellowships for two Central New York STEM educators.

Fellows will deliver programming and provide support in the areas of semiconductor and STEM education at K-12 schools, MOST programs and exhibits, and other key community events. They will also continue in their full-time positions with area school districts during the course of their fellowship.

Inaugural fellows

The program’s inaugural fellows — Alexis Williams from Syracuse and Brian Heffron from Clay — were selected for their leadership in STEM education and their “commitment to inspiring the next generation of innovators in CNY.”

Williams is a technology educator at North Syracuse Central School District, where she has led hands-on STEM and robotics instruction for middle and high school students. Williams has played a key role in developing curriculum for the Advanced Technology Framework, a “ground-breaking” curriculum-development partnership between Micron and educators’ unions that aims to broaden STEM and career and technical-education offerings in New York state, the MOST said.

Formerly an instructor and principal at Oswego County P-TECH, Heffron is the Administrator of Workforce Development and Community Relations at CiTi BOCES, where he leads county-wide STEM and workforce readiness initiatives.

“Micron’s partnership with the MOST, which began in 2023, has already introduced semiconductors and advanced manufacturing in an engaging and accessible way to tens of thousands of Central New York students,” April Arnzen, executive vice president and chief people officer at Micron and president of the Micron Foundation, said in the MOST announcement. “This new fellowship program will afford young people in the region even more opportunities to learn, explore, and see a future for themselves in the semiconductor industry by engaging with leaders already known in the academic community.”

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Martin Felicia III, CPA, has been promoted to tax supervisor at FustCharles, a downtown Syracuse–based professional services firm providing audit, tax, and advisory services to

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Alcoa signs new power-supply pact with NYPA for Massena plant

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MASSENA, N.Y. — One of the North Country’s largest employers has a new power-supply contract with the New York Power Authority (NYPA). Alcoa Corp. (NYSE: AA) signed the deal for its Massena smelting-plant operations in St. Lawrence County. Alcoa — an aluminum producer — is based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The pact includes a commitment of

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MASSENA, N.Y. — One of the North Country’s largest employers has a new power-supply contract with the New York Power Authority (NYPA).

Alcoa Corp. (NYSE: AA) signed the deal for its Massena smelting-plant operations in St. Lawrence County.

Alcoa — an aluminum producer — is based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

The pact includes a commitment of $30 million in capital investments and supports 500 jobs at Alcoa’s Massena plant for the next 10 years, the office of Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Oct. 22.

In addition to the contract, Alcoa is investing nearly $60 million through 2028 to rebuild and modernize a portion of the Massena facility.

This investment is made possible by the new energy contract as well as a $5.2 million capital grant and $1 million in Excelsior Jobs Program tax credits from Empire State Development (ESD). This improvement will “enable process stability and operational efficiency,” Hochul’s office said.

The Oct. 22 announcement of a signed contract by Alcoa and NYPA follows approval of the final agreement’s terms by the Power Authority’s board of trustees and Gov. Hochul.

“By securing good paying jobs and fostering investment, this agreement ensures Alcoa will continue to be a major presence in Massena while supporting New York families and communities,” the governor said in the announcement. “The aluminum manufacturing industry has played a significant role in the nation’s economic development, and New York’s Alcoa facility has been at the forefront, driving economic growth and opportunity in the North Country.”

The contract includes a 240-megawatt (MW) allocation of low-cost power through NYPA’s Preservation Power program to Alcoa for its Massena plant. This power allocation will support Alcoa’s operations through March 31, 2036, with options for two additional five-year extensions, contingent on maintaining a minimum of 500 full-time equivalent jobs and increased capital investments.

“Alcoa has been a vital part of the North Country economy for more than 120 years. With Governor Hochul’s support, this new contract with one of the Power Authority’s oldest customers secures essential jobs and significant capital investments in the region,” Justin Driscoll, president and CEO of the New York Power Authority, said. “We are proud to continue our partnership with Alcoa and to support their growth and investment in the community.”

Alcoa has also agreed to invest a minimum of $30 million in the plant’s operation over a period of 10 years. If market conditions permit, Alcoa may extend the contract an additional 10 years, which would foster capital investments totaling $145 million over a 20-year period.

“We are proud to make aluminum in New York and the United States. Long-term, competitively priced energy enables Alcoa to proceed with this important investment that will help us meet the demands of today while planning for tomorrow,” William Oplinger, president and CEO of Alcoa, said in a separate announcement on the company’s website. “We are extremely pleased to have worked with NYPA and ESD to achieve this outcome for our Massena Operations, which will bring economic benefits to the region and sustain American manufacturing.”

The contract provisions build on a seven-year agreement approved by NYPA in 2019. The 2019 agreement provided 240 MW of low-cost St. Lawrence-FDR hydropower in return for Alcoa’s commitment to retain 450 jobs at the aluminum company’s smelting plant in Massena. 

Downtown Committee fall progress event wraps 50th anniversary year

Subscriber Only, Construction, Design & Real Estate, Employee Benefits & Human Resources, Nonprofits, Small Business, Sports, Entertainment & Tourism

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The Downtown Committee of Syracuse, Inc. used its fall progress breakfast to conclude its 50th anniversary celebration. The event was held Thursday morning, Oct. 23, at the Marriott Syracuse Downtown and included three speakers who discussed history and storytelling. The progress-breakfast series — held twice a year — aims to “leave attendees

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SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The Downtown Committee of Syracuse, Inc. used its fall progress breakfast to conclude its 50th anniversary celebration.

The event was held Thursday morning, Oct. 23, at the Marriott Syracuse Downtown and included three speakers who discussed history and storytelling.

The progress-breakfast series — held twice a year — aims to “leave attendees feeling invigorated and more connected” to downtown Syracuse. This year’s event marked the conclusion of the Downtown Committee of Syracuse’s 50th anniversary celebration.

“Reflecting on the history of Downtown has provided valuable insights into not only the current landscape of Downtown Syracuse but also how we have leveraged these elements to create a truly exceptional district,” the Downtown Committee said in its announcement.

The progress breakfast speakers included Natalie Stetson, executive director of the Erie Canal Museum. In her remarks, Stetson discussed how the Erie Canal flowed directly through Syracuse two centuries ago (occupying what is now known as Erie Boulevard) and how it played a pivotal role in shaping downtown Syracuse.

Those gathered at the fall progress breakfast also heard from Robert Searing, curator of history at the Onondaga Historical Association (OHA), who led a virtual walking tour through downtown Syracuse, providing an understanding of the downtown district and its history.

In addition, Katrina Tulloch, editor of Syracuse.com’s life and culture department and editor-in-chief of This is CNY, discussed how she embraces storytelling to engage audiences of all ages and “create a meaningful impact” in downtown Syracuse, per the Downtown Committee announcement.

“As an organization whose mission is Downtown’s revitalization and continued vibrancy, today’s presentation was truly inspiring,” Merike Treier, executive director of the Downtown Committee of Syracuse, Inc. said. “It highlighted the vision and collaboration that have driven the evolution of Downtown Syracuse and will undoubtedly continue to do so.”

The Downtown Committee partners with National Grid (NYSE: NGG) in presenting the Progress Breakfast Series. Presenting sponsor National Grid is one of the largest investor-owned energy companies in the U.S., serving more than 20 million people throughout New York and Massachusetts.

“National Grid understands the value of a thriving city center, that’s why our commitment to Downtown Syracuse remains strong. We take pride in supporting local businesses and working with partners like the Downtown Committee of Syracuse who create initiatives that support Downtown Syracuse,” Alberto Bianchetti, CNY regional director, external affairs for National Grid and a Downtown Committee board member, said in the announcement.

The fall progress breakfast also included distribution of the “Revitalize Syracuse 2025” edition of The Central New York Business Journal, which served as a media partner for the event. Other sponsors of the breakfast included community sponsor: Canandaigua National Bank, and corporate sponsors: AmeriCU, CXtec, FustCharles, and Tompkins Community Bank.

The nonprofit Downtown Committee of Syracuse describes itself as a professional downtown-management organization representing all property owners and tenants within the central business district. The Downtown Committee says it undertakes programs to improve downtown’s image, strengthen its economic base, increase its attractiveness, and ensure that it’s clean, safe, and accessible.

NYSDOT to spend over $600M on road-paving projects in 2026

Construction, Design & Real Estate, Energy, Environment & Sustainability, New York News, Subscriber Only

ALBANY, N.Y. — New York State is set to spend more than $600 million on over 180 paving projects statewide that are set for completion in 2026. That includes $25.3 million for eight projects in Central New York, $37.6 million for 15 projects in the Mohawk Valley, $59.6 million for 18 projects in the Southern

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NIH awards Bassett Research Institute multimillion dollar grant

Health Care, Employee Benefits & Human Resources, Mohawk Valley, New York News, Southern Tier, Technology

COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. — The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has awarded the Bassett Research Institute’s Center for Rural Community Health a multi-year grant to study

NOCO continues installing energy efficient lighting at 45 Tops stores

Construction, Design & Real Estate, Energy, Environment & Sustainability, New York News, Small Business, Subscriber Only

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The Energy Solutions team at NOCO is working to install energy-efficient lighting at 45 stores of Tops Friendly Markets throughout New York state. NOCO is an energy company based in Tonawanda that has a local office at 1300 Wolf St. in Syracuse. The installation project, which started back in February and is

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SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The Energy Solutions team at NOCO is working to install energy-efficient lighting at 45 stores of Tops Friendly Markets throughout New York state.

NOCO is an energy company based in Tonawanda that has a local office at 1300 Wolf St. in Syracuse.

The installation project, which started back in February and is now more than halfway complete, includes converting all interior and exterior lighting to LED (light-emitting diode.), per the company’s Sept. 30 announcement.

Once these lighting upgrades are completed later this year, NOCO and Tops estimate annual savings of more than 16 million kilowatt hours or about $1.6 million on electricity costs.

“At Tops, we are deeply committed to sustainability and responsible energy use, and this partnership with NOCO is another step forward in reducing our environmental footprint while enhancing our in-store experience,” Ron Ferri, president of Tops Markets, said in the NOCO announcement. “The transition to energy-efficient LED lighting not only supports our long-term operational goals but also helps us create a brighter, more welcoming environment for our customers and associates. We’re proud to lead with initiatives that deliver real impact for our communities and the planet.”

The project in the impacted stores involves new lighting in customer-facing, backroom, and loading dock areas, including coolers, freezers, and deli cases.

With this current project, Tops is responsible for paying about 36 percent of the total $4.7 million project cost, offsetting the remaining balance with available energy incentives and rebates through utility-efficiency programs in the geographic areas where the stores are located.

“If you run a business, there are always factors outside of your control and rising electric prices are one of them, with no end in sight to continued rate increases,” Michael Casciano, president and COO of NOCO, said. “NOCO is committed to helping businesses optimize their energy usage while also reducing their energy costs. While Tops is already starting to see the cost benefits of their lighting conversion, these upgrades have also enhanced the quality of light within the stores, creating a more comfortable and appealing environment for their customers and employees.”

Since 2019, Tops has been working to retrofit stores to LED lighting in addition to converting its parking lot lights and fuel station canopies across the chain’s footprint to LED fixtures to reduce energy consumption. When the lighting conversion is completed at these 45 Tops stores, about 121 of the grocer’s stores will have been upgraded.

In recent years, Tops has reduced its electric consumption by 11.5 percent with various energy-saving initiatives involving mostly LED lighting, NOCO said.

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