Demolition begins at former IBM campus in Endicott

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ENDICOTT, N.Y. — Broome County on Tuesday launched the largest demolition project in the county’s history as work began to tear down the former IBM

NYS paid family leave and workers' comp changes

NYS: Increased benefits for paid family leave, workers’ compensation in 2025

New York News, Employee Benefits & Human Resources, Law, Accounting & Taxes

ALBANY, N.Y. — The new year will include increased workers’ compensation and paid family leave benefits for workers, along with some “savings for businesses.” Effective

BAE Systems ACUs for JetZero demonstrator

BAE Systems to provide actuator control units for JetZero’s sustainable jet demonstrator

Manufacturing & Engineering, Energy, Environment & Sustainability, Regional News, Southern Tier, Subscriber Only, Technology

ENDICOTT, N.Y. — BAE Systems says it will provide and integrate actuator control units (ACUs) for JetZero’s next-generation blended wing body aircraft demonstrator. The Long Beach, California–based company’s demonstrator is designed to “deliver enhanced energy efficiency and reduced emissions,” per the BAE Systems announcement. BAE’s locations in Endicott in Broome County and in Fort Wayne,

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ENDICOTT, N.Y. — BAE Systems says it will provide and integrate actuator control units (ACUs) for JetZero’s next-generation blended wing body aircraft demonstrator.

The Long Beach, California–based company’s demonstrator is designed to “deliver enhanced energy efficiency and reduced emissions,” per the BAE Systems announcement.

BAE’s locations in Endicott in Broome County and in Fort Wayne, Indiana will design and produce the ACUs, the company said.

BAE Systems specializes in flight-control technology with more than 40 years of experience designing and certifying fly-by-wire systems for commercial and military

platforms. Headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, BAE Systems, Inc. is the U.S. subsidiary of UK–based BAE Systems plc, a global defense, security, and aerospace company.

As part of the flight-control system, BAE Systems’ ACUs interpret flight-control signals, including pilot commands from active-control sticks, which the company will also provide for the demonstrator. The advanced ACUs function as remote actuators within a distributed flight control system, BAE Systems noted.

The units’ localized flight surface management capabilities “deliver enhanced flight control with reliable, precise coordination and responsiveness,” per the company announcement.

“Our mature, highly capable actuator control units play a vital role in our shared vision of sustainable aviation with JetZero, seamlessly integrating with the flight control system,” Gary Battestin, director of air transport systems for controls and avionics Solutions at BAE Systems, said in the announcement. “This technology enhances overall flight performance, supporting a cleaner and more efficient future for air travel.”

By providing both the ACUs and the pilot-control inceptors, BAE Systems says it will minimize the integration time for the aircraft. The actuation controllers are “proven, reliable, and previously certified systems” that reduce customer risk, “reinforcing the company’s leadership in stick-to-surface flight control solutions, from pilot input to surface response,” the company said.

ITT plans growth with help from Empire State Development

Construction, Design & Real Estate, Employee Benefits & Human Resources, Manufacturing & Engineering, New York News, Technology

Empire State Development (ESD) on Monday said it will partner with ITT Inc. (NYSE: ITT) to support growth at the company’s locations in Onondaga, Seneca,

Donation to SU’s ECS to create endowed chair in engineering and computer science

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SYRACUSE, N.Y. — A donation from a 1980 graduate of Syracuse University (SU) will benefit the school’s College of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS) “and the region.” The donation from William “Ted” Frantz will establish the William T. Frantz Endowed Chair in Engineering and Computer Science, SU said in its Dec. 20 announcement. The school

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SYRACUSE, N.Y. — A donation from a 1980 graduate of Syracuse University (SU) will benefit the school’s College of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS) “and the region.”

The donation from William “Ted” Frantz will establish the William T. Frantz Endowed Chair in Engineering and Computer Science, SU said in its Dec. 20 announcement.

The school will partially match the donation through the Forever Orange Faculty Excellence Program. SU didn’t disclose the dollar amount of the Frantz donation.

Frantz earned an undergraduate degree in mechanical and aerospace engineering from SU’s ECS. He has donated annually to the school “for many years,” SU noted.

“The idea for this gift has been simmering for nearly 20 years,” Frantz said in the SU announcement.

The engineer-turned-investor — who has studied and invested in many promising concepts and companies — says his newest investment in ECS as part of the Forever Orange campaign was a “matter of just-the-right timing,” SU said.

“The timing is ideal, coming on the heels of Micron Technology’s $100 billion commitment to the region,” Frantz said, noting the partnership opportunities between the technology company and SU are a “boon” for students, faculty and the wider community. “It’s a great time to invest in the University, the expansion of the engineering program and in the region. These things tend to build on each other.”

Frantz draws similarities to the success of Silicon Valley, where he once worked for Hewlett-Packard.

“I witnessed the growth of Silicon Valley and how nearby universities like Stanford, Berkeley and Santa Clara provided the intellectual expertise, engineering and research,” he says.

Forward-looking investors seized opportunities brought about by the region’s dynamic partnerships and ingenuity, he added.

“Ted is a visionary in his approach to philanthropy,” Cole Smith, dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science, said in the SU announcement. “His background as both an engineer and investor allows him to look far into the future, to see where technology and creativity can take the next generation of engineers and computer scientists. His generosity is literally helping us shape the future of our program as we address the challenges facing our globe.”

SUNY Oswego faculty member named to SUNY’s Hispanic Leadership Institute

Education & Training, Employee Benefits & Human Resources, Featured, Nonprofits, Technology

OSWEGO, N.Y. — Francisco Suárez, a communication studies faculty member at SUNY Oswego, was recently named one of 10 emerging Hispanic leaders and allies who

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Syracuse National Veterans Resource Center

SU’s IVMF to use $3M from Micron to help vets pursue industry work

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SYRACUSE — The D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) at Syracuse University (SU) will use a $3 million grant from Micron Technology Inc. (NASDAQ: MU) to help veterans and military families pursue careers in the semiconductor industry. The funding will support the development of a specialized semiconductor hub within the institute’s Onward to

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The funding will support the development of a specialized semiconductor hub within the institute’s Onward to Opportunity (O2O) career-training program. It’s designed to connect transitioning service members, veterans, and their families with careers in the semiconductor industry, SU said in its Dec. 12 announcement.

The initiative aligns with the CHIPS and Science Act, “underscoring a shared commitment” by the D’Aniello Institute, Syracuse University, and Micron to “create meaningful career opportunities” for veterans and the military-connected community, per the SU announcement.

Micron recently finalized its agreement with the U.S. Department of Commerce on its $6 billion funding award from through the CHIPS & Science Act, per the office of U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D–N.Y.). The Boise, Idaho–based Micron plans to build a semiconductor-manufacturing campus in the town of Clay.

The IVMF semiconductor hub will equip participants with the skills, resources, and connections to partners around the country required for success in semiconductor manufacturing and related fields, “ensuring that veterans and their families are at the forefront of this growing industry,” SU said.

“The D’Aniello Institute is proud to partner with Micron; the Semiconductor Hub is a testament to what’s possible when we align on a common goal,” Ray Toenniessen, deputy executive director of the D’Aniello Institute, said in the SU announcement. “Together, we’re not only addressing workforce needs but also empowering transitioning service members, veterans and their families to thrive in the private sector.”

Beyond technical training, the initiative addresses challenges faced by the military-connected community, such as underemployment and limited access to quality education. Through local and regional partnerships, Micron and the IVMF aim to create opportunities for veterans, women and individuals from underserved communities, SU said.

New York manufacturing index retreats 31 points in December

Manufacturing & Engineering, Banks & Credit Unions, Employee Benefits & Human Resources, New York News, Subscriber Only

It followed a huge gain in November The Empire State Manufacturing Survey general business conditions index fell 31 points to 0.2 in December after reaching its highest reading in nearly three years in November. The index climbed 43 points to 31.2 in November after dropping 23 points to -11.9 in October. The general business conditions

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It followed a huge gain in November

The Empire State Manufacturing Survey general business conditions index fell 31 points to 0.2 in December after reaching its highest reading in nearly three years in November.

The index climbed 43 points to 31.2 in November after dropping 23 points to -11.9 in October. The general business conditions index is the monthly gauge of New York’s manufacturing sector.

Based on firms responding to the survey, the December reading indicates business activity “held steady” in New York state, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York said in its Dec. 16 report.

A positive reading indicates expansion or growth in manufacturing activity, while a negative index number points to a decline in the sector.

The survey found new orders and shipments “increased modestly,” the New York Fed said. However, delivery times fell, and labor-market conditions declined.

It also found firms remained optimistic about the six-month outlook

Survey details

The Empire State Manufacturing Survey’s new orders and shipments indexes retreated, but remained positive at 6.1 and 9.4, respectively, pointing to modest gains in both orders and shipments.

Unfilled orders continued to fall. The inventories index climbed to 10.5, signaling that inventories grew.

The delivery times index fell 11 points to -7.4, suggesting that delivery times were shorter, and the supply-availability index came in at 1.1, a sign that supply availability was little changed.

Labor-market conditions “worsened somewhat,” the New York Fed said. The index for number of employees moved down to -5.8, and the average-workweek index fell to -3.9, pointing to a small decline in both employment and hours worked.

The prices-paid index fell 7 points to 21.1, and the prices-received index declined 8 points to 4.2, suggesting that both input and selling price increases moderated.

Firms were “fairly optimistic” that conditions would continue to improve in the months ahead, “though less so than they were in November,” the report stated.

The index for future business activity fell 9 points to 24.6, with 42 percent of respondents expecting conditions to improve over the next six months. Inventories are expected to continue to grow, and capital-spending plans remained modest.

The New York Fed distributes the Empire State Manufacturing Survey on the first day of each month to the same pool of about 200 manufacturing executives in New York. On average, about 100 executives return responses.

National Grid wraps up phase one of repairs to Syracuse building

Construction, Design & Real Estate, Energy, Environment & Sustainability, Subscriber Only

Company holds illumination ceremony to mark the occasion SYRACUSE — National Grid (NYSE: NGG) says the first phase of exterior upgrades and repairs to the company’s landmark building at 300 Erie Boulevard West in Syracuse are complete. The company on Dec. 17 marked

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Company holds illumination ceremony to mark the occasion

SYRACUSE — National Grid (NYSE: NGG) says the first phase of exterior upgrades and repairs to the company’s landmark building at 300 Erie Boulevard West in Syracuse are complete.

The company on Dec. 17 marked the occasion by lighting up the building for the first time in more than a year.

LightSpek, a Dallas, Texas–based architectural and commercial lighting and control company, designed the new lighting and control system; Connors-Haas of Ontario in Wayne County served as the general contractor on the project; Chicago, Illinois–based JLL managed the project in cooperation with National Grid’s facilities department; Nelson Associates Architectural Engineers of Clinton provided electrical-design services to the project; O’Connell Electric Co. of Syracuse worked on the electrical circuitry; Jerome R. Durr Studio in Syracuse repaired glass panels on the façade; and Integrated Marketing Services of Clay provided additional support for the project, per a Dec. 18 National Grid announcement.

The lighting upgrades were part of a multi-phase, exterior renovation of the building that will continue through 2025. The new lighting system can display millions of colors, as well as add motion and fading to lighting schemes.

And, in keeping with National Grid’s efforts to encourage smart energy use, the lighting system utilizes energy-efficient LED (light-emitting diode) fixtures, the company said in its announcement.

“Our Downtown Syracuse building is more than an office,” Alberto Bianchetti, regional director of customer and external affairs, said in the National Grid announcement. “It’s a point of civic pride for people in this community and a part of our region’s history and character, as one of our nation’s finest representations of art deco design.”

Representatives of the City of Syracuse, Onondaga County, downtown Syracuse businesses, and local historic preservation entities joined National Grid officials to throw the switch, turning on the building’s more than 600 LED light fixtures at 5:41 p.m. on Dec. 17.

National Grid says the illumination started with glowing white, eventually fading into National Grid’s identifying colors. The illumination then continued scrolling through a series of pre-programmed lighting schemes that will be used to celebrate holidays such as Independence Day and Christmas; celebrate local institutions including Syracuse University and Le Moyne College; and commemorate solemn events like the September 11th attacks and Pan Am 103 bombing.

About the structure

The historic Art Deco building on Erie Boulevard West was built in 1932 as the main office of the Niagara Hudson Power Company — a predecessor of Niagara Mohawk and, later, National Grid. Designed by the late Melvin King of Syracuse with consulting architects Bley & Lyman from Buffalo, the building is adorned with a 28-foot winged stainless-steel sculpture called “The Spirit of Light,” representing the spread of electricity during that era. The building is part of the National Registry of Historic Places.

Exterior lighting on the building was one of its original features, but its use was discontinued in 1939 for public safety during World War II as part of community blackouts, National Grid explained. A renovation completed in 2000 restored the lights, adding colors to the lighting capabilities.

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It followed a huge gain in November

Survey details

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Company holds illumination ceremony to mark the occasion

About the structure

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