Oakdale Commons project wins up to $18M in state funding for next two phases

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JOHNSON CITY — The effort to renovate the former Oakdale Mall into a mixed-use development in Johnson City is getting a boost from the state. The New York State government is providing up to $18 million for the next two phases of the project, the office of Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Aug. 12. Now […]

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JOHNSON CITY — The effort to renovate the former Oakdale Mall into a mixed-use development in Johnson City is getting a boost from the state.

The New York State government is providing up to $18 million for the next two phases of the project, the office of Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Aug. 12.

Now known as Oakdale Commons, the project’s second and third phases will include the construction of an 85,000-square-foot, regional medical campus, per Hochul’s office.

The phases also include the construction of a new 22,000-square-foot child-care center, administered by Broome County and operated by a contracted provider. The center will serve up to 208 children — including infant, toddler, preschool, Pre-K and school-age slots — and the creation of up to 45 new jobs, Hochul’s office said.

“This award underscores New York State’s dedication to investing in the revitalization of the Southern Tier and the commitment to improving the health of its communities,” Dr. Edmund Sabanegh, president & CEO of the Guthrie Clinic, said in the announcement. “These infrastructure improvements at the Oakdale Commons will enable Guthrie to provide an orthopedic and spine center of excellence. This will be anchored by an ambulatory surgery center that will offer our community clinical excellence in a state-of-the-art facility at lower costs.”

The project will also involve the construction of 125 residential units, located on the adjacent parcel, that will cater to the projected job growth in the greater Binghamton area.

Empire State Development is providing up to $18 million through the Upstate Revitalization Initiative. The total project cost is $200 million. Now underway, construction is expected to be completed in early 2026.

“We are tremendously appreciative of Empire State Development’s and Governor Kathy Hochul’s support of the Oakdale Commons project and their recognition that Oakdale is a transformative development for the region,” Marc Newman, managing member of the Newman Development Group, said in the governor’s announcement. “With ESD and the Governor’s assistance, we can continue to build on the progress we have made in our initial Phase and bring much needed child care, workforce housing and world class medical services to the Southern Tier. We are thrilled to be a part of the Community and look forward to completing a project that we all can take great pride in for many years to come.”

“ESD is proud to support Newman Development in its reimagining of this formerly distressed mall, which — with the addition of much-needed affordable housing, medical and child-care facilities — will further increase this community’s economic potential,” Hope Knight, president, CEO, and commissioner of Empire State Development, said in the release.

The first phase involved the redevelopment of the former Sears store into the Lourdes Pavilion, which included a health, wellness and fitness center, physical therapy, primary care, a drive-through pharmacy, and lab services. Other projects involved an aquatic swim center featuring three pools and group studios, among other things.

Also included was the addition of the two-story Beer Tree restaurant and brewery, and Broome County is utilizing on-site office space, with more than 200 employees working at the location. All told, the redeveloped building now has over new 500 employees and “attracts thousands of daily visitors.”

Still home to several successful retail outlets, the former Oakdale Mall, which opened in 1975, has close to 964,000 square feet of usable space.

Johnson City, which was also a round six winner in the state’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative and was among the first communities to be certified under the governor’s Pro-Housing Communities program, Hochul’s office noted.

Key hotel business indicators in Onondaga County improve in July

Sports, Entertainment & Tourism, Subscriber Only

SYRACUSE — Onondaga County hotels welcomed an increase in overnight guests in July, as well as improvement in two other key benchmarks of business performance in the month. The hotel-occupancy rate (rooms sold as a percentage of rooms available) in Central New York’s largest county rose 1.9 percent to 69.2 percent in the seventh month

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Raymond focuses on advanced energy solutions in new Kirkwood facility

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

KIRKWOOD — The Raymond Corporation will use its building at 196 Corporate Drive in Kirkwood, purchased earlier this year, as an advanced manufacturing facility for energy solutions as it works to continue to improve and innovate its electric materials-handling trucks. “It’s a culmination of many years’ worth of work,” Jennifer Lupo, Raymond’s VP of energy

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“It’s a culmination of many years’ worth of work,” Jennifer Lupo, Raymond’s VP of energy solutions, supply chain, and leasing, tells CNYBJ. The advanced manufacturing facility will work closely Toyota Material Handling North America’s (TMHNA) advanced energy-storage solutions development, prototyping and test center near Rochester. Raymond is a TMHNA company.

“This will allow us to transition technology from ideation to commercialization,” Lupo notes. In other words, the Rochester center can dream up the ideas, and the Kirkwood facility can turn it into reality — at least when it comes to energy technology for powering the trucks.

The focus is on lithium-ion batteries as well as TPPL, which is a next-generation lead-acid battery solution.

The goal is to create a smaller yet more efficient power source for the trucks, which Raymond’s customers rely on to move goods in their warehouses and distribution centers.

While Raymond’s trucks have been electric for about 70 years, the current lead-acid batteries are bulky and heavy, Lupo says. They must be removed from the trucks to charge, which means customers need to own several of them if they want to keep the trucks running. They just aren’t as efficient as today’s operations need them to be.

“When you’re talking about lithium, many of those things go away,” Lupo says.

Lithium-ion batteries are smaller, which opens up new truck design options, she says.

The lithium-ion batteries can also be charged on demand because they don’t need to be removed. An operator can plug the truck in during lunch break, ensuring it’s fully charged for the rest of the shift, Lupo says.

Raymond Corp new building — Pictured is the building in Kirkwood that the Raymond Corporation recently purchased to expand its presence in Broome County. The company says it is using the property as an advanced manufacturing facility for energy solutions as it works to continue to improve and innovate its electric materials-handling trucks.
PHOTO CREDIT: RAYMOND CORPORATION

To scale up the advanced-manufacturing center, Raymond transferred some employees from its Greene headquarters and has plans to hire more, Lupo says.

“We are excited to welcome The Raymond Corporation to Broome County and are grateful for their decision to expand here, bringing new jobs, cutting-edge technology, and a boost to our local economy,” Broome County Executive Jason Garnar said in a news release issued by The Agency. “Raymond’s expansion is a strong vote of confidence in our community, and we look forward to support their growth and success for years to come.”

Raymond is proud to be part of the region’s battery technology hub and clean energy tech corridor, Lupo says. “For us, it’s very exciting to be in a position to support that narrative.”

Electric is the future, she says, whether people are ready for it or not. “For 70 years, we’ve been electric,” she says. “I think it’s time for people to understand this is not an if from us, it’s a when.”

Raymond will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new facility on Sept. 9.

Headquartered in Greene, Raymond is a member of the Toyota Industries family of companies. It delivers solutions to material handling and logistics with material-handling products and intralogistics solutions.

MACNY to expand workforce programs to Onondaga, Oswego counties

Manufacturing & Engineering, Subscriber Only

State grant funding is aiding the effort DeWITT — MACNY, the Manufacturers Association will use a state grant to expand two workforce-development programs to both Onondaga and Oswego counties. The organization plans to expand the Real Life Rosies and the Advance 2 Apprenticeship direct entry pre-apprenticeship program to those counties.

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State grant funding is aiding the effort

DeWITT — MACNY, the Manufacturers Association will use a state grant to expand two workforce-development programs to both Onondaga and Oswego counties.

The organization plans to expand the Real Life Rosies and the Advance 2 Apprenticeship direct entry pre-apprenticeship program to those counties.

The New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) has awarded DeWitt–based MACNY $195,000 under the Direct Entry Pre-Apprenticeship (DEPA) program to help in the expansion, MACNY said in its Aug. 15 announcement.

“Registered Apprenticeships and Direct Entry Pre-Apprenticeships empower New Yorkers to get the skills they need to thrive in new careers while also helping businesses succeed,” Roberta Reardon, commissioner of the New York State Department of Labor, said in the MACNY announcement. “I applaud MACNY for expanding these essential workforce development programs to help more New Yorkers make their career dreams a reality.”

As part of the effort, MACNY is partnering with employers, education providers, and community-based organizations, such as Berry Global; Constellation; Giovanni Foods Company; JMA Wireless; N.E.T. & Die, Inc.; Cayuga Community College; Onondaga Community College; Refugee & Immigration Self-Empowerment (RISE); and the Oswego Workforce Development Board.

“Berry Global Syracuse is excited to launch the Real Life Rosies program in Onondaga county. Through our partnership with MACNY, we’re pleased to help create a training pathway through pre-apprenticeship to support women interested in exploring careers in manufacturing. With Berry Global, you can be it if you can see it!” the Berry global leadership team said in the MACNY announcement.

Real Life Rosies is the first NYSDOL-approved, direct-entry, pre-apprenticeship program in New York state for advanced manufacturing, according to MACNY. The program supports the training and skill development of women and individuals in underrepresented populations looking to pursue careers in advanced manufacturing. Through company tours and guaranteed job interviews, the initiative helps connect employers with skilled and job-ready individuals.

The Real Life Rosies program was launched in the Mohawk Valley in collaboration with Mohawk Valley Community College (MVCC); The Workforce Development Board, Herkimer, Madison, Oneida Counties, Inc.; and community partners, with funding from Empire State Development’s Office of Strategic Workforce Development.

In partnership with MVCC and the Strong Center for Developmental Disabilities at the University of Rochester, the Advance 2 Apprenticeship program is designed to increase access to apprenticeship, catering to individuals with and without disabilities who may benefit from additional support.

“As the first two direct-entry programs in New York State, we’re excited to announce the expansion of the Real Life Rosies and Advance 2 Apprenticeship programs into Onondaga and Oswego counties,” Randy Wolken, president & CEO of MACNY, said. “By providing supportive services, such as transportation and childcare, these programs are designed to address the real-life challenges that individuals face when trying to join the manufacturing workforce. With teamwork and collaboration between community partners, educational institutions, and local manufacturers, Real Life Rosies and Advance 2 Apprenticeship exemplify an innovative approach to diversify and strengthen the manufacturing industry.”

“Oswego County Workforce New York (OCWNY) is excited to be a partner on this endeavor to introduce more women to advanced manufacturing,” Rachel Pierce, director of the Oswego County Department of Workforce Development said. “Manufacturing is such a prominent industry in Oswego County and will continue to strengthen the local economy as more and more community members enter the field. We look forward to partnering with MACNY, Cayuga Community College, and local businesses, welcoming women to the industry, and providing workforce support to ensure program success.”

Upstate Defense Initiative recaps 2024 Microelectronics Forum

Manufacturing & Engineering, Mohawk Valley, Technology

ROME, N.Y. — The Upstate Defense Initiative — a collaboration launched this year between Empire State Development’s Division of Science, Technology and Innovation (NYSTAR), FuzeHub,

Lockheed Martin’s Syracuse–area plant wins nearly $114 million modication to Navy contract

Manufacturing & Engineering, Subscriber Only, Technology

SALINA — The Lockheed Martin Corp. (NYSE: LMT) plant in Salina has been awarded a $113.6 million modification to a previously awarded U.S. Navy contract to exercise an option for full-rate production of Surface Electronic Warfare Improvement Program AN/SLQ-32(V)6 and AN/SLQ-32C(V) six systems. This pact combines purchases for the Navy (80 percent), and the government

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NYS, TILT land purchase to protect Jefferson County water quality

Energy, Environment & Sustainability, Manufacturing & Engineering, Subscriber Only

CLAYTON — New York State and the Thousand Islands Land Trust (TILT) have acquired nearly 1,000 acres in Jefferson County through 17 projects focused on protecting the region’s drinking-water sources. The partnership will have “lasting impacts” on the water quality and habitats of the St. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office said

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The partnership will have “lasting impacts” on the water quality and habitats of the St. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office said in an Aug. 13 announcement.

“The St. Lawrence and Lake Ontario watersheds provide invaluable benefits to the region and New York State is making critical investments to ensure our drinking water is protected for generations to come,” Hochul said in the announcement. “The Thousand Islands Land Trust is effectively putting State resources to work by acquiring critical buffers throughout Jefferson County, which will be instrumental in continuing our progress to keep water clean and protected for New Yorkers and our environment.”

The agreement is supported with more than $5.8 million in state grants through the Water Quality Improvement Project (WQIP) program. Gov. Hochul signed the agreement on Aug. 13 while visiting the North Country.

The TILT received grants from 2017 through 2021 to help acquire 988 acres in Jefferson County and protect two drinking-water sources in the region — the St. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario. Those two bodies of water serve as a drinking- water supply for a number of communities in the Thousand Islands region.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) Water Quality Improvement Project (WQIP) program provided the funding.

The 988 acres consist of a mix of conservation easement and outright purchase of lands acting as great natural buffers for potential pollutants that could enter waterbodies through events such as stormwater runoff.

“Lake Ontario, the St. Lawrence River and their tributaries provide drinking water for hundreds of thousands of people across countless municipalities in the US and Canada. As shoreline development and habitat degradation continues at a record pace, these widely used surface water sources are becoming more susceptible to water contamination,” Jake Tibbles, executive director of the Thousand Islands Land Trust, said in the announcement. “To safeguard these waterbodies and the communities that rely on them, the Thousand Island Land Trust and its conservation partners have turned to New York State’s WQIP program to conserve some of the region’s last remaining and most sensitive riparian habitats. With Governor Hochul’s support, and through these land and easement projects, the State and TILT will be permanently protecting these invaluable natural resources now, and for generations to come.”

Woody wetlands, mixed forest, and marsh land make up a majority of the land that TILT acquired, with many of the properties including shoreline frontage, Hochul’s office said.

The properties will now be protected from development pressures and remain in their native vegetative states to continue to protect two “vital” drinking water resources. Protection of the source water resources also provides the co-benefits of protecting endangered species, wetlands, and historical areas on these properties.

MACNY appoints finance & contracts administration specialist

Manufacturing & Engineering, Subscriber Only

DeWITT — MACNY, the Manufacturers Association recently added Crystal Ward as its finance and contracts administration specialist. In this role, she will support the nonprofit association’s finance department with various administrative and clerical tasks, such financial record-keeping, data entry, and invoice processing. Ward will also be responsible for establishing data-reporting priorities, ensuring compliance with data-reporting

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New York oat production projected to fall almost 8 percent this year, per August forecast

Energy, Environment & Sustainability, Subscriber Only

New York farms are predicted to have produced 2.43 million bushels of oats in 2024, down 7.9 percent from 2.64 million bushels last year, according to an Aug. 12 report from the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). Yield per acre for oats in New York state is estimated at 64 bushels this year, up

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Syracuse mayor appoints Lead Paint Program coordinator

Energy, Environment & Sustainability, Subscriber Only

SYRACUSE — Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh recently announced Mujahid Muhammad as Lead Paint Program coordinator for the City of Syracuse Division of Code Enforcement. In this position, Muhammad will manage the city’s Lead Paint Program and provide oversight of lead code violations under the requirements set by the Lead Abatement and Control Ordinance. His responsibilities

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State grant funding is aiding the effort

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