Imperium3 New York to set up lithium-ion battery giga-factory in Endicott

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ENDICOTT — A consortium of businesses, led by three Southern Tier companies, plans to establish research and development and production operations at the Huron Campus in Endicott. The group, called Imperium3 New York, Inc. (Imperium3NY), will spend more than $130 million and create at least 230 new jobs over the next five years, the office […]

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ENDICOTT — A consortium of businesses, led by three Southern Tier companies, plans to establish research and development and production operations at the Huron Campus in Endicott.

The group, called Imperium3 New York, Inc. (Imperium3NY), will spend more than $130 million and create at least 230 new jobs over the next five years, the office of Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a news release issued Oct. 4. Cuomo visited Endicott to make the announcement.

Imperium3 New York plans to launch a lithium-ion battery production giga-plant, “ultimately ramping to 15 giga-watts of production and hundreds more jobs,” Cuomo’s office said.

To encourage this effort, Empire State Development has offered performance-based incentives totaling $7.5 million, including a $4 million Upstate Revitalization Initiative grant and $3.5 million in Excelsior Jobs Program tax credits.

Additionally, Imperium3NY is expected to qualify for an estimated $5.75 million in New York investment tax credits.

“This consortium of local businesses is choosing to stay and invest their next generation technology right here in the Southern Tier, breathing new life into vacant facilities and creating hundreds of good jobs for New Yorkers,” Cuomo said in the news release. “Our investments to improve the business climate and spur economic development across Upstate New York are paying off, and this innovative project is yet another example of how the Southern Tier is soaring.”

The work, those involved

Imperium3NY will commercialize a technology for making “more efficient and less expensive” lithium-ion batteries while operating the state’s first giga-factory. It’ll make lithium-ion batteries, producing three gigawatts of batteries by the fourth quarter of 2019 and growing to 15 gigawatts.

Nearly 10 companies formed the Imperium3NY consortium, which includes three Southern Tier companies that serve “as its backbone.”

Those firms include C4V of Binghamton, which will provide the core intellectual property; C&D Assembly of Groton, which is supplying electronic board assembly and battery testing; and Primet Precision Materials of Ithaca, which is offering advanced processing of materials

Other New York state companies involved include Rochester–based Kodak (NYSE: KODK) and the Binghamton location of Chateauguay, Quebec–based CMP Advanced Mechanical Solutions.

The general market for lithium-ion batteries “continues to grow daily” and serves multiple industries, including renewable-energy projects, electric-vehicle manufacturers, cell phone and other electronic-product makers, among many others. Industry experts consider C4V’s batteries to be “more efficient and less costly” than other lithium-ion batteries on the market today, according to Cuomo’s office.

C4V in 2016 won $500,000 in New York State’s first 76West clean-energy competition, recognized for its “innovative” battery-storage technology. Administered by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, 76West is “one of the largest” competitions in the country that focuses on “supporting and growing” clean-energy businesses and expanding “innovative” entrepreneurship in the Southern Tier, as described in the news release.

Additional consortium participants include Magnis Resources, Ltd., a publicly traded Australian company. It will provide anode materials needed for the consortium to make the lithium-ion batteries.

Boston Energy and Innovation, another Australian business specializing in clean energy, will provide international sales and marketing opportunities.

More than 20 international companies have been qualified by C4V as “strategic suppliers of high-quality” lithium, electrolyte, separator, and other “critical” raw ingredients to Imperium3 New York.

del Lago generates more than $100 million in gross gaming revenue since opening

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TYRE — Del Lago Resort & Casino has generated $100.4 million in gross gaming revenue since opening on Feb. 1, according to the latest numbers posted by the New York State Gaming Commission. The $440 million casino, located just off exit 41 (Waterloo–Clyde exit) of the New York State Thruway in the town of Tyre

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TYRE — Del Lago Resort & Casino has generated $100.4 million in gross gaming revenue since opening on Feb. 1, according to the latest numbers posted by the New York State Gaming Commission.

The $440 million casino, located just off exit 41 (Waterloo–Clyde exit) of the New York State Thruway in the town of Tyre in Seneca County, has been steadily producing $12 million to $13.5 million in gross gaming revenue in seven of its first eight months — the only exception was June with $11.1 million in gaming revenue.

The casino — which has 1,956 slot machines and 99 gaming tables, including 14 poker tables — has paid more than $30 million in gaming taxes to New York State and local governments since opening, according to the Gaming Commission.

Del Lago Resort & Casino opened its 205-room hotel and the Spa del Lago on July 1. The hotel and spa opened two weeks ahead of schedule.

The resort says its strategy from the start has been to position itself as “a gateway to the Finger Lakes region.” That includes partnering with area wineries, breweries, cheesemakers, and local shops in the region. To that end, del Lago announced in September that it was “celebrating the fall grape harvest” by buying 3,000 bottles of wine (250 cases) each from Thirsty Owl Wine Company on Cayuga Lake and Glenora Wine Cellars on Seneca Lake. The purchases are the largest single sales that the wineries have received, according to a del Lago news release. It said that the it gave the wine as “gifts” to the resort and casino’s “top guests” that month.

“The sale of 250 cases of Lot 99 to del Lago Resort & Casino is the single largest one time drop we have made to one single account in the history of Thirsty Owl Wine Company,” Jon Cupp, president, said in the release. “We look forward to the synergies between Finger Lakes wineries and del Lago Resort & Casino as we believe it will drive many more visitors to our region.”

Rochester–based Wilmorite, Inc. owns and operates del Lago Resort & Casino.

Trade group touts gaming industry’s impact on small-business job growth

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The casino-gaming industry supports 50,000 small-business jobs nationwide and “thousands” of them are in New York, the Washington, D.C.–based American Gaming Association (AGA) said during a recent appearance at the Rivers Casino & Resort Schenectady as part of the American Gaming small-business jobs tour. The event was part of AGA’s “Get to Know Gaming” tour, which

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The event was part of AGA’s “Get to Know Gaming” tour, which aims to educate communities about gaming’s role as a “community partner” in 40 states across the country, AGA said in a news release issued Sept. 19.

“Casino gaming is a strong community partner in New York and across the country where hundreds of thousands of small-business jobs are supported,” Geoff Freeman, president and CEO of AGA, said. “We are particularly proud of our support for minority and women-owned businesses and the unique opportunities that our industry makes possible.”

The casino industry is a $240 billion-a-year industry that supports 1.7 million jobs nationwide, according to the AGA. In New York, gaming employs 14,000 people, supports $827 million in wages and generates $3.6 billion in economic impact, the trade group said.

“Rivers Casino has fast become an important part of our community,” Schenectady Mayor Gary McCarthy said in the release. “Not only does the casino provide jobs, but the entire facility enhances the hard work we’ve put in to making downtown Schenectady a fun place to be and a great place to do business.

Report on small-business impact

Gaming’s “widespread” impact is felt in markets across the country, but has larger impacts in small- to mid-sized communities where local businesses work to “integrate” into gaming operations.

That’s according to a report that the AGA released in February.

In the report, entitled “The Gaming Industry’s Impact on Small Business Development in the United States,” researchers examined nearly a dozen U.S. gaming markets and assessed casino gaming’s direct and indirect impact on local, small businesses.

None of the markets were in New York, and the closest was in Plainville, Massachusetts.

Nationwide, the report concluded that the casino-gaming industry generates $52 billion in annual revenues for American small businesses and supports $13 billion in small-business employee wages.

In addition, $52 billion in annual small-business revenues target real estate, finance, health care, STEM, manufacturing, information technology, and other industries. STEM is short for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

The AGA says its members include commercial and tribal-casino operators, suppliers, and other entities affiliated with the gaming industry.

Oneida Nation training table-game dealers for Point Place Casino in Sullivan

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SULLIVAN — Central New Yorkers interested in training to be among the first table-game dealers at the upcoming Point Place Casino were scheduled to begin training on Oct. 16. Those interested signed up for the Professional Casino Dealer School, a 16-week course set scheduled in the Bridgeport area of Sullivan, the Oneida Nation said in

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Tioga Downs prepares for new hotel opening in November

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NICHOLS — The owner of Tioga Downs says he plans to open the 161-room hotel that’s under construction in early November. The venue will open Nov. 3 “most likely for just our … top customers,” says Jeff Gural, chairman of American Racing and Entertainment. “And then we’ll probably begin taking reservations … a few days

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Turning Stone, Syracuse Crunch renew marketing partnership for 3 seasons

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SYRACUSE — Turning Stone Resort Casino has returned as the “official resort casino” of the Syracuse Crunch through the 2019-20 season, the organizations recently announced. They didn’t release terms of the three-year marketing partnership. The pact kicked off with the annual “Welcome to Town” event on Oct. 4 in the atrium of Turning Stone’s Exit

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St. Joseph’s Health Foundation’s annual golf classic at Turning Stone nets more than $187,000

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VERONA, N.Y. — St. Joseph’s Health Foundation announced that it netted more than $187,000 at its 25th annual golf classic, held Sept. 8 on three golf courses at the Turning Stone Resort in Verona. Proceeds from this year’s event will help fund the St. Joseph’s Health Cardiovascular Center of Excellence. Since its inception, the foundation’s

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Cortland, Watertown win $10M in state funding in downtown revitalization initiative

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New York has awarded both the cities of Cortland and Watertown $10 million in funding and investments in the second round of the downtown revitalization initiative (DRI). Cortland was chosen as the second-round winner in the Central New York region, and Watertown earned the same distinction for the North Country region. Cortland and Watertown will

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New York has awarded both the cities of Cortland and Watertown $10 million in funding and investments in the second round of the downtown revitalization initiative (DRI).

Cortland was chosen as the second-round winner in the Central New York region, and Watertown earned the same distinction for the North Country region.

Cortland and Watertown will use their $10 million in state funding and investments to “revitalize” their downtown neighborhoods and “generate new opportunities for long-term growth,” the office of Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in separate news releases about each city’s award.

Cuomo on Oct. 4 visited the Watertown Masonic Temple to announce the funding and announced the Cortland award two days later at Cortland Repertory Theatre.

Watertown now joins the City of Plattsburgh as a DRI award winner. Plattsburgh was the North Country region’s winner in the first DRI round.

“Watertown’s $10 million downtown-revitalization initiative award is a great step forward in our efforts to continue the North Country’s economic resurgence,” Cuomo said. “Investing in this local community will attract jobs, private investment and future development to transform downtown Watertown into an economic engine for the entire region.”

Cortland now joins the City of Oswego as a DRI award winner in the Central New York region. Oswego was the region’s winner in the first DRI round.

“New York continues to invest in our communities to attract the next generation of leaders and spur businesses development in downtowns across the state,” Cuomo said. “This funding will bring new life to downtown Cortland and [assist] in its transformation into an economic engine for the entire region.”

Developing a plan

Cortland and Watertown will now begin the process of developing a strategic-investment plan to revitalize their downtown areas with up to $300,000 in planning funds from the $10 million DRI grant.

A local planning committee in each community made up of municipal representatives, community leaders, and other stakeholders will lead the effort. A team of private sector experts and state planners will support the work, Cuomo’s office said.

The strategic-investment plans for the Cortland and Watertown downtown areas will examine local assets and opportunities and identify economic development, transportation, housing, and community projects that align with the community’s vision for downtown revitalization and that are “poised for implementation.”

The “strategic” investment plan for the downtown areas of both communities will “guide the investment” of DRI grant funds in revitalization projects that will “advance” each community’s vision for its downtown and that can “leverage and expand” upon the state’s $10 million investment, Cuomo’s office said.

Plans for DRI’s second round for both Cortland and Watertown will be complete in early 2018.

Selection process

As in the first round of the DRI, the state will select one municipality from each of the state’s 10 regional economic-development regions as a $10 million winner.

The state is awarding a total of $100 million in DRI funding and investments to help communities identify “catalytic downtown projects to boost the local economy,” Cuomo’s office said.

Both the Central New York and the North Country regional economic-development councils went through a “competitive” review process of proposals from communities throughout the region and considered eight criteria before recommending Cortland and Watertown as their respective nominees for the DRI funding award.

The criteria included the stipulation that the downtown area should be “compact, with well-defined boundaries,” according to the state. In addition, the municipality should be of “sufficient size to support a vibrant, year-round downtown.”

The criteria also require that the downtown area can “capitalize on prior or catalyze future” private and public investment in the neighborhood and its surrounding areas. The municipality should have identified “transformative” projects that will be ready for implementation with an infusion of DRI funds within the first one to two years, Cuomo’s office noted.

It’s Time for More Reporting and Less Distorting by Media

Opinion, Subscriber Only

Big media, methinks you do a disservice to Americans in your coverage of the Puerto Rican hurricane damage. You carry a lot of criticism of Washington’s rescue efforts. Too little, too late you tell us. You are quick to show us people who lost their homes wailing that nobody was helping. You lace your coverage

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Big media, methinks you do a disservice to Americans in your coverage of the Puerto Rican hurricane damage.

You carry a lot of criticism of Washington’s rescue efforts. Too little, too late you tell us. You are quick to show us people who lost their homes wailing that nobody was helping. You lace your coverage with endless criticisms.

Your commentators claim racism and deliberate neglect by President Trump and his people.

Methinks you do not have a clue about how much the U.S. government can quickly do — or not do — to help an island in this disaster. You could find out with a few phone calls. To people who know this stuff, it’s obvious you never made the calls.

First, FEMA is not a huge agency. It can only work with local governments. In Puerto Rico, the local government was wiped out for several days. So there was not much to work with. First-responders could not respond and could not travel. No petrol, no electricity, and no homes for many of them.

Second, FEMA had already been strained to the max dealing with Hurricane Harvey’s destruction in Houston.

Next, you suggest government do this or that. When this or that is utterly impossible. You insist government should have been prepared. Should have had ships ready to sail in with emergency supplies. Should have flown in more supplies. Should have sent in many thousand more troops.

Right. Do you think Navy ships cruise around loaded with diapers and emergency rations? Do you think they hang around an island when a hurricane approaches? Ships get sunk by hurricanes too, you know. They steer well clear of them. Which means they cannot cruise in the next day to offer help.

And then Navy ships are full of ammunition and military equipment, not emergency supplies. Nobody loads ships with emergency supplies expecting a hurricane may or may not strike an island.

So, ships have to go to a port. It takes hours. They load supplies, which also takes hours. They sail to Puerto Rico. Last I looked, Miami to San Juan was 1,000 miles. The speed of most cargo ships is 25 mph. Do the math. They finally offload supplies. Who delivers the supplies? Trucks that are not running. Because there is no fuel.

Well then, fly in the supplies. Okay, but San Juan’s airport was out of commission. Where do you land the planes?

Well then, use helicopters. Yes, but they carry one or two pallets at a time. For 3.5 million people; oh boy.

You media guys wave your magic wand and move ships and men about as if in a Hollywood production.

Do you have any idea how tiny the amount of supplies ships on a rescue mission can deliver? Compared to the needs of 3.5 million people? A few containers a day. Puerto Rico consumes many hundreds of containers of supplies every day in normal times.

And troops? Suppose we land another 5,000 troops tomorrow. And what will they do? The same work hundreds of thousands of local men and women are doing. How will they be fed? Food is in short supply on the island. Where will they get water? Water is short. Who will feed them next week? How will they travel across the island? Fuel is short.

Meanwhile the Navy lands 10 bulldozers. Little wow, because the island needs the work of thousands of bulldozers.

I recognize Big Media types who suggest we send in troops. They also think we should order up 10,000 troops for Afghanistan next week. Poof, send them by FedEx.

I wish more reporters would do more reporting. And less distorting. It would be refreshing.

From Tom…as in Morgan

Tom Morgan writes about political, financial, and other subjects from his home near Oneonta. You can write to Tom at tomasinmorgan@yahoo.com. You can read more of his writing at tomasinmorgan.com

Let’s Amend New York’s ATV Law to Increase Tourism in Upstate

Opinion, Subscriber Only

New York’s tourism industry is alive and showing signs of growth. A recent study estimated that 239 million visitors traveled to New York state in 2016. These visitors had an estimated economic impact of $104.8 billion and $64.8 billion in direct spending. While the number of visitors and spending was up from 2015, the state can

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A simple way to draw more visitors to New York and particularly to upstate New York is to amend the state’s vehicle and traffic laws to allow side-by-side ATVs to be registered with the state Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Side-by-sides are often used in farm operations, but are also growing in popularity for recreational use. Unlike a traditional ATV, a side-by-side, sometimes referred to as a utility task vehicle (UTV), enables the passenger to sit next to the driver rather than behind the driver. As a result, they are slightly heavier, more technologically advanced, and safer by some industry standards. To enable more riders to enjoy the scenic beauty and encourage more people to visit our local businesses, New York should raise the weight limit from 1,000 to 1,500 pounds to allow for side-by-sides on public trails. I sponsored legislation that would enact this change and bring the current weight limit up to date.

Unfortunately, the bill has stalled in the Assembly due to a general misconception that riders are uncaring about the environment when in fact many are conservationists who take rides to appreciate nature and the area’s scenic beauty. Opponents also claim the increase will cause erosion. There are ways, however, to prevent erosion and the state should use some of the ATV registration fees — an estimated $1.5 million a year — collected at the DMV to pay for general trail maintenance. In fact, for many years the state collected an additional fee from registered riders with the understanding that the fee would help pay for trail development and maintenance. Those trails, however, were never developed and riders lost out on a promised investment. The state should make good on that promise by finally creating the trails on state land, similar to the trail system created for snowmobilers. This would help make vast areas of land owned by the state accessible to the public. Instead, New York’s current policy is helping to drive visitors elsewhere and encouraging some of its own residents to go to other states.

Because of current policy, we are losing out on registration fees at the DMV and UTV owners are losing out on access to public trails. More importantly, local businesses are losing revenue that could be generated by more visitors on trails that are specifically designed and built to handle the off-road experience that all-terrain vehicles offer. Finally, this change in law would be more consistent with other state efforts to promote and increase tourism. ATV and snowmobile trails are promoted on the “I Love NY” website and through other local tourism outreach efforts, yet our laws are not consistent with some of the tourism messaging. It is time to update our laws that have not been changed since 1997 to be more in step with the changing vehicles in order to bring more people here to experience our area. Our region has incredible beauty and the ATV trails traverse through creek-side views and wooded terrain that can only be safely accessed with an off-road vehicle.

Anyone who owns an ATV must register the vehicle with the DMV even if the vehicle is only being used on the owner’s property. ATV dealers are required to register every ATV they sell to New York state residents before the buyer receives the vehicle. Certain exemptions do apply such as when the vehicles are used for agricultural purposes. To learn more about ATVs and current regulations, visit https://dmv.ny.gov/brochure/atvs-information-owners-and-operators.

William (Will) A. Barclay is the Republican representative of the 120th New York Assembly District, which encompasses most of Oswego County, including the cities of Oswego and Fulton, as well as the town of Lysander in Onondaga County and town of Ellisburg in Jefferson County. Contact him at barclaw@assembly.state.ny.us, or (315) 598-5185.

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