Broome County sets plans for 40th annual Spiedie Fest and Balloon Rally in early August

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DICKINSON, N.Y. — The Spiedie Fest and Balloon Rally turns 40 this year and takes place Aug. 2-4 at Otsiningo Park in the town of Dickinson, Broome County Executive Jason Garnar and event organizers announced on May 29. Attracting more than 100,000 people to the region, the three-day event is considered one of the top […]

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Recapping the Greater Binghamton Chamber’s annual meeting and awards

Southern Tier, Employee Benefits & Human Resources, Nonprofits, Small Business, Sports, Entertainment & Tourism, Subscriber Only

BINGHAMTON, N.Y. — The Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce held its 60th annual dinner and meeting on May 21 at the DoubleTree by Hilton on Water Street, honoring a slate of award recipients. Tanya Williams, owner of Caribbean Patty World, was honored as the 2024 Entrepreneur of the Year for her leadership and entrepreneurial skills,

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BINGHAMTON, N.Y. — The Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce held its 60th annual dinner and meeting on May 21 at the DoubleTree by Hilton on Water Street, honoring a slate of award recipients.

Tanya Williams, owner of Caribbean Patty World, was honored as the 2024 Entrepreneur of the Year for her leadership and entrepreneurial skills, according to a chamber news release. Her entrepreneurial portfolio includes upwards of 10 businesses ranging from beauty service and supplies to food and beverage. Williams has prioritized diversity in employment with more than
60 people on her payroll.

Stephanie Krummenacker, owner of MediaBrush Marketing, was honored with the 2024 Small Business Person of the Year Award for the growth her business has seen over the past three to five years, the Greater Binghamton Chamber said. The full-service marketing and advertising agency opened in 2019 with Krummenacker as the sole employee, working from her home. Today, MediaBrush Marketing has eight full-time employees, one part-time employee, and four part-time interns — along with an office in the Kilmer Building. Revenue at the agency has grown from year to year, and today it serves more than 40 clients across the country.

The 2024 Distinguished Chamber Volunteer of the Year award went to Kelly Grace, firm liaison and certified payroll specialist with Davidson Fox & Company, LLP, for her work with the chamber’s ambassadors group including helping with monthly luncheons, setting up job fairs, taking photos at job fairs, and selling raffle tickets at the annual clambake.

Amy Howard, executive director of ACHIEVE, received the Greater Binghamton Chamber’s 2024 Civic Leader of the Year Award, which honors those who have had a long-term beneficial impact on the community. With more than 30 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, Howard leads ACHIEVE in its mission of advocating for an enhanced quality of life through skill advancements, inclusions, integrations, and independence of persons with intellectual developmental disabilities. The organization serves more than 2,000 individuals and provides services in Broome, Chenango, and Tioga counties.

New York egg production drops in April

Energy, Environment & Sustainability

Farms in New York state produced 141.3 million eggs in April, down 2.2 percent from 144.5 million eggs in the year-ago month, according to a

Clinton’s Ditch plans $40M expansion of Cicero plant, adding nearly two dozen jobs

Manufacturing & Engineering, Subscriber Only

CICERO — The Cicero company that markets itself as “The Pepsi Place” will soon become a bigger place. Clinton’s Ditch Co-Operative Company, Inc. plans to add 100,000 square feet to its existing 274,000 plant on Pardee Road in the town of Cicero. It’s part of a $40.7 million expansion of the current facility, the office

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CICERO — The Cicero company that markets itself as “The Pepsi Place” will soon become a bigger place.

Clinton’s Ditch Co-Operative Company, Inc. plans to add 100,000 square feet to its existing 274,000 plant on Pardee Road in the town of Cicero.

It’s part of a $40.7 million expansion of the current facility, the office of Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon announced May 7.

The expansion will allow the firm to retain nearly 300 jobs and to create nearly two dozen additional positions.

The proposal also calls for the creation of a new 19,520-square-foot truck-repair facility, along with wastewater improvements.

“Clinton’s Ditch has been a staple in our local business community for nearly 60 years. While there is plenty to celebrate with all of the new investments taking place, it is important that we continue to support our local companies such as Clinton’s Ditch.” McMahon said in the announcement. “This planned expansion will not only allow the company to grow their number of employees, but further build upon their already impressive growth. I applaud and thank the team at Clinton’s Ditch for their partnership and commitment to Onondaga County and Central New York.”

Founded in 1967 as a New York State cooperative, Clinton’s Ditch started as an independent bottler of Pepsi Cola, following its groundbreaking in 1968 on the 150th anniversary of the Erie Canal.

Originally, it was launched by 18 independent New York Pepsi-Cola bottlers with the goal of producing Pepsi in aluminum cans, eventually expanding to bottling, per McMahon’s office. With successive expansions, the plant grew from 47,000 square feet to 274,000 square feet, becoming a major producer of carbonated soft drinks, seltzers, energy drinks, and purified water.

The company uses “The Pepsi Place” marketing moniker on its website and some of its signage.

Structured as a cooperative, Clinton’s Ditch operates under a unique model where customers are also owners. All profits, except those necessary to meet debt obligations, are annually returned to the owners.

While four of the owners are multi-generational family businesses, the fifth, PepsiCo, Inc. maintains no direct affiliation beyond being a supplier, with no potential for assistance from the corporation, McMahon’s office said.

Le Moyne’s athletic complex to get a $45 million overhaul

Construction, Design & Real Estate, Education & Training, Subscriber Only

It’s a five-year project for the new Division I program SYRACUSE — Le Moyne College says it plans to renovate and expand its Thomas J. Niland Jr. Athletic Complex in a $45 million project spanning five years. The college also notes that it will use $12 million in state funding to help pay for the

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It’s a five-year project for the new Division I program

SYRACUSE — Le Moyne College says it plans to renovate and expand its Thomas J. Niland Jr. Athletic Complex in a $45 million project spanning five years.

The college also notes that it will use $12 million in state funding to help pay for the project. The planned expansion comes as the Le Moyne Dolphins just completed their first year in NCAA Division I athletics, as a member of the Northeast Conference, after previously competing in Division II. Colleges and universities often make significant facility upgrades when stepping up in class.

Besides improvements to Le Moyne’s existing facilities, the effort will include the addition of a track and field and tennis complex, a team community center including locker rooms and sports-medicine facilities, a strength and conditioning facility for student-athletes, and the addition of a new fitness center.

The Vincent B. Ryan, S.J. Pool will also undergo improvements as part of the project, Le Moyne said in its announcement.

The college notes that New York Assemblymember Pam Hunter (D–Syracuse) led the effort to secure a two-year, $10 million commitment from the state to “renew and expand” Le Moyne’s athletic facilities, which will be available to the community in addition to Le Moyne’s Division I athletes, students, and employees.

Hunter secured $5 million in capital funds this year to design and construct a tennis and track and field facility with another $5 million to follow in 2025 to renovate the Recreation Center and other public-facing facilities, Le Moyne said. In addition, New York State Senator John Mannion (D–Syracuse) secured $2 million for the project. Le Moyne is likely to use that funding to renovate the pool and supporting facilities, as well as other facilities that could be used by the public, per the announcement.

“As a neighbor of Le Moyne College, Pam Hunter understands the recreational desert that exists in the neighborhoods surrounding our campus,” Le Moyne President Linda LeMura said in the school’s announcement. “John Mannion has been an advocate for the vital role educational institutions play in supporting communities. We are extraordinarily grateful to both Pam and John for this funding, which follows the recent commitments Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh and the Common Council have made to improving the Salt Springs neighborhood.”

LeMura also said that Le Moyne is raising private and corporate funds to complete the
$45 million project.

Hunter recognized other members of the Syracuse delegation for its support of this project including Assemblymembers Al Stirpe (D–Cicero) and Bill Magnarelli (D–Syracuse), and New York State Senator Rachel May (D–Syracuse) in addition to Mannion. Hunter also expressed her gratitude to Speaker of the Assembly Carl Heastie, whose support for this project allowed it to move forward.

The Le Moyne pool is currently used by a number of outside groups, including high schools, the Syracuse Chargers Swim Club, and others. Once the facilities are renovated and completed, the college will be offering free summer sports camps and other educational programs to neighborhood groups.

A number of entities have already indicated interest in using the new and upgraded facilities, including residents of Springfield Gardens and Swiss Village, Tillie’s Touch, Clear Path for Veterans, On Point for College, the North Side Learning Center, Elmcrest Children’s Center, as well as participants of Le Moyne’s ERIE21 program, the school said.

Binghamton aims to redevelop Collier Street parking lot

Construction, Design & Real Estate, Southern Tier, Sports, Entertainment & Tourism, Subscriber Only

Developer proposals due in early October BINGHAMTON, N.Y. — Those interested in buying and redeveloping the property at 69 Collier St. in downtown Binghamton have until early October to submit a plan to the City of Binghamton. It’s the site of the former Collier Street parking ramp now operating

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Developer proposals due in early October

BINGHAMTON, N.Y. — Those interested in buying and redeveloping the property at 69 Collier St. in downtown Binghamton have until early October to submit a plan to the City of Binghamton.

It’s the site of the former Collier Street parking ramp now operating as a surface-parking lot, the office of Binghamton Mayor Jared Kraham said in a May 10 announcement.

The city has issued a formal request for proposals (RFP) for redevelopment of the downtown site. Responses are due to Binghamton by 10:30 a.m. on Oct. 2.

The 0.8-acre parcel on the corner of Collier and State streets has served as a parking lot since 2016, when the city demolished the five-story parking ramp that had opened there in the 1960s. The Collier Street ramp had been permanently closed due to structural concerns prior to its demolition, Kraham’s office said.

“Imagine the potential to transform a key property in downtown Binghamton with a project that better serves residents and supports our nearby small businesses,” Kraham said. “We’re seeking creative ideas to get this property back on the tax rolls, create jobs, activate the streetscape and build on the momentum downtown Binghamton has seen in recent years.”

Through the RFP, the city is seeking proposals including — but not limited to — the development of a mixed-use building that responds to housing and commercial demands; provides streetscape improvements and supports a walkable downtown business district; maximizes new jobs and economic impact; and incorporates 21st century, sustainable building practices and smart growth principles, per Kraham’s office.

The office went on to say that “preferred proposals” will display a proven ability to provide “creative and inclusive” land use and development strategies, increase Binghamton’s tax base by returning the site to the tax rolls, and create permanent job opportunities for Binghamton residents.

A full copy of the RFP can be found on the city’s website (www.binghamton-ny.gov/Home/Components/RFP/RFP/266/90).

New York closed, pending home sales rise in April

Construction, Design & Real Estate, New York News, Small Business, Sports, Entertainment & Tourism, Subscriber Only

ALBANY, N.Y. — New York realtors closed on the sale of 7,155 previously owned homes in April, up 1.5 percent from the 7,046 existing homes they sold in April 2023. Pending sales climbed more than 6 percent in April, pointing to further increases in closed home sales in the next couple months, according to the

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ALBANY, N.Y. — New York realtors closed on the sale of 7,155 previously owned homes in April, up 1.5 percent from the 7,046 existing homes they sold in April 2023.

Pending sales climbed more than 6 percent in April, pointing to further increases in closed home sales in the next couple months, according to the April housing report that the New York State Association of Realtors (NYSAR) issued on May 22.

“Home sales and new listings showed new life, rising across the Empire State in April, despite mortgage rates exceeding seven percent for the first time this year,” NYSAR said to open its housing report.

NYSAR cited Freddie Mac as indicating mortgage rates exceeded 7 percent in April for the first time in 2024. Interest rates peaked at 7.17 percent in April, settling on an average monthly rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage of 6.99 percent. A year ago at this time, the interest rate stood at 6.34 percent. Freddie Mac is the more common way of referring to the Virginia–based Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation.

New York sales data

Pending sales totaled 9,946 in April, a rise of 6.3 percent compared to the 9,357 pending sales in the same month in 2023, according to the NYSAR data.

New listings jumped an even 10 percent to 13,725 this April from 12,481 in the year-ago month.

The months’ supply of homes for sale at the end of April stood at 2.8 months, down from 2.9 months’ supply at the end of April 2023, per NYSAR’s report. A 6-month to 6.5-month supply is considered a balanced market, the association stipulates.

The inventory of homes for sale across New York state totaled 25,524 in April, a decline of 9.4 percent compared to the April 2023 inventory figure of 28,179.

Amid the still tight inventory, home prices continued to rise in the Empire State. The April 2024 statewide median sales price hit $413,750, up 9.5 percent from the April 2023 median sales price of $378,000.

All home-sales data is compiled from multiple-listing services in New York, and it includes townhomes and condominiums in addition to existing single-family homes, according to NYSAR.

Rock City Development looks to lift Little Falls community

Construction, Design & Real Estate, Mohawk Valley, Small Business, Sports, Entertainment & Tourism, Subscriber Only

LITTLE FALLS — From housing to future leaders, Rock City Development is going all in on Little Falls, investing in the community to build its future. Rock City Development said it was formed in 2018 as a partnership between local business leaders, vested in the community, who envisioned a management company that would acquire, develop,

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LITTLE FALLS — From housing to future leaders, Rock City Development is going all in on Little Falls, investing in the community to build its future.

Rock City Development said it was formed in 2018 as a partnership between local business leaders, vested in the community, who envisioned a management company that would acquire, develop, and grow complementary businesses in the Little Falls area. That includes operating a number of businesses in the community, as well as several housing projects in the works or planned for the near future.

The notable Stone Mill building near the Erie Canal was one of the first acquisitions that Rock City Development made, recalls Neil Rosenbaum, company president.

The first floor of the building is home to a UPS Store, also owned by Rock City, along with Mangia Macrina’s Wood Fired Pizza and Just Dance Studio, while Northstar Recycling rents the entire second floor. The Inn at Stone Mill, which offers nine rooms and a conference room, occupies the third floor.

Last fall, Rock City held a grand reopening event to unveil The Venue, an event space it opened on the renovated fourth floor of the Stone Mill building.

“That was completely vacant,” Rosenbaum says of the space, which also houses Timeless Salon & Brial, Inter Light Transformation Coaching and Craniosacral Therapy with Kelly, Root Cause Wellness, and Tina Maria Interiors. Daneli Partners, the leadership-development arm of Rock City Development, also maintains offices on the fourth floor of the mill building, which was built in 1839 and once served as a textile mill.

“We’re having a lot of events in the event center which is bringing people to the area,” Rosenbaum says. “It overlooks the river. It’s just absolutely stunning.”

Rock City Development also owns and operates the nearby Canal Side Inn and along with the Little Falls UPS Store, operates UPS locations in Amsterdam, Rome, and a newly opened one in downtown Syracuse.

The company also includes Rock City Construction, LLC and landscaping and lawn-maintenance company Rock City Services, LLC. A partnership with Nexamp developed a 2-megawatt community solar project that will provide power for up to 300 homes.

“We have a living laboratory,” Rosenbaum says of the various business enterprises. They help the company provide not only jobs but opportunities to build a career as Rosenbaum and his business partner, CEO David Casullo, mentor their employees.

The ultimate goal, he says, is for those employees to eventually become owners — either of some of the Rock City subsidiaries or businesses of their own design.

Casullo, who grew up in Little Falls, is on a mission to mentor people. “We recall the types of people who impacted us growing up,” he says. Now it’s time to pay it forward to the next generation.

Through Daneli Partners, that mentoring is being provided to area residents and businesses, and even to more than 7,000 students through appearances at 19 area schools, he says.

“All of this together is really making a difference,” Casullo says. Eventually, the business partners hope to build a leadership institute in the area, providing development education to even more people.

Another mission at Rock City Development is providing housing opportunities in Little Falls. It has already developed Overlook Ridge, a single-family home community on the hills overlooking the city and is at work on several other projects.

Partnering with Philadelphia–based Pennrose Management Co., Rock City Development plans to transform the M&T Bank building into senior living with 67 one-bedroom apartments — a project included in the city’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative.

“There is a large number of elderly in the city that are locked into homes that are too big, too expensive, and in need of major repair,” Rosenbaum says. “There are no quality options for them.”

The second project it hopes to develop is a 138-unit apartment building with one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and three-bedroom units on the northwest side of the city.

Rock City Development is providing community education on the projects and hopes to move forward with both projects in 2025 — with financing in place by mid-year and construction underway by the end of the year.

New York State unveils Youth Workers Bill of Rights

Law, Accounting & Taxes, Employee Benefits & Human Resources, Nonprofits, Small Business, Subscriber Only

New York State unveiled its first ever Youth Workers Bill of Rights, part of a state effort to bolster protections for the state’s youngest workers, just as they get ready to seek out summer jobs, Gov. Kathy Hochul recently announced. The Youth Workers Bill of Rights aims to educate first-time workers as they prepare to

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The Youth Workers Bill of Rights aims to educate first-time workers as they prepare to enter the labor market by explaining the rights of all New York workers as well as the protections in place specific to workers under age 18.

Young workers will receive a copy of the bill of rights along with their working papers. Additional formats are available including a print pocket guide and downloadable poster for schools and career centers.

The bill of rights is also available online at the New York State Department of Labor’s new Youth Worker Information Hub at dol.ny.gov/youthworkers. The hub is an educational resource for young people entering the workforce and contains information about how many working hours are permitted during the school day, a list of prohibited occupations, how youth can be sure they are being paid the correct minimum wage, and more.

“Every worker in our state deserves a fair, safe work environment, especially our young people,” Hochul said in a statement. “My administration is taking action to ensure our youngest workers feel empowered, protected, and well-informed, and by fulfilling my State of the State commitment to creating our first-ever Youth Workers Bill of Rights, we are continuing to make strides toward making New York the safest and most worker-friendly state in the nation.”

Some of the key information outlined in the bill of rights includes listing the minimum wage, requirements for a safe and discrimination-free workplace, and noting that workers should be able to file a complaint against an employer without any fear of retaliation.

“This comprehensive document educates young people about their rights in the workplace and equips them with the knowledge and tools to address violations of their labor rights,” New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said. “By outlining clear guidelines and standards, the Youth Workers Bill of Rights aims to empower young workers and raise awareness about their rights as valuable members of the workforce.”

The Youth Workers Bill of Rights follows the Protect Youth Workers Pledge for businesses that launched in 2023. By taking the pledge, businesses affirm they will consider the safety and wellbeing of minors, report suspected child-labor violations to the Child Labor Taskforce, and have educated their employees on labor rights and signs of labor trafficking.

The measures come after a reported 68 percent increase in reports of child-labor violations in 2022. Since 2023, the state Labor Department’s labor standards team has conducted more than 300 targeted inspections at businesses employing youth workers including food service, retail, and seasonal businesses. The inspections uncovered numerous violations related to employment certificates, prohibited hours, and posting of hours, the department says.

VIEWPOINT: OSHA Issues Final Rule on HazCom Standard

Business Mentors, Energy, Environment & Sustainability, News, Subscriber Only

On May 20, 2024, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) announced a final rule updating the Hazard Communication Standard (HCS). The amended rule (29 CFR 1910) better aligns with the United Nations’ Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS). The HCS requires employers to provide information to their employees about the

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The HCS requires employers to provide information to their employees about the hazardous chemicals to which they are exposed, by means of a hazard-communication program, labels and other forms of warning, safety data sheets (SDSs), and information and training, also known as the “right-to-know” regulation.

The amended rule (1) revises criteria for classification of certain health and physical hazards; (2) revises provisions for updating labels; (3) provides new labeling provisions for small containers; and (4) provides new provisions related to trade secrets and technical amendments related to the contents of SDSs, including requiring a specified 16-section format for SDSs. The updated standard makes changes to help ensure trade secrets no longer prevent workers and first responders from receiving critical hazard information on SDSs. Employers who use chemical products that have SDSs will also have to update their training and chemical hazard communication programs for workers.

While the regulation goes into effect on July 19, 2024, OSHA is giving chemical manufacturers, importers, and distributors from Jan. 19, 2026 to July 19, 2027, to comply with the new rules, depending on if they are evaluating substances or mixtures.

Employers using products covered under the standard must update their HazCom programs, labeling and employee training by July 20, 2026, or Jan. 19, 2028 — again, depending on substances or mixtures. Until those dates, employers and chemical manufacturers, distributors and importers can comply with either the old or new standard — or both — during the transition period.

Michael D. Billok is a member (partner) in the Saratoga Springs and Albany offices of the Syracuse–based law firm of Bond, Schoeneck & King PLLC. Contact him at mbillok@bsk.com. Rebecca J. LaPoint is an associate attorney in Bond’s Albany office. She is a is a management-side labor and employment attorney, serving employers in all aspects of labor and employment law, including employment litigation and counseling. Contact LaPoint at rlapoint@bsk.com.

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