DASNY program to finance nearly $36 million in new medical equipment for Upstate Medical University

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SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY) on Friday announced the closing of $35.88 million in tax-exempt lease financing

FOCUS Greater Syracuse appoints new executive director

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

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The board of directors of FOCUS Greater Syracuse, Inc. has appointed Alicia Ernest as the organization’s new executive director. Ernest tells CNYBJ in an email that she started in her new role on May 9, succeeding Rita Reicher, who had served as acting executive director since 2020 while concurrently serving as president

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SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The board of directors of FOCUS Greater Syracuse, Inc. has appointed Alicia Ernest as the organization’s new executive director.

Ernest tells CNYBJ in an email that she started in her new role on May 9, succeeding Rita Reicher, who had served as acting executive director since 2020 while concurrently serving as president of the FOCUS Greater Syracuse board of directors. With a new executive director in place, Reicher continues serving as the board president, Ernest tells CNYBJ.

Ernest has been the FOCUS Greater Syracuse program director for the past two years. As executive director, she will guide strategic planning, oversee day-to-day operations, and champion the nonprofit’s mission to foster informed civic engagement.

Her priorities include strengthening program effectiveness, deepening community relationships, and increasing long-term organizational sustainability.

“Alicia is the perfect choice for Executive Director,” Reicher said in the announcement. “Over the last 2 years, Alicia has demonstrated her passion for our mission as well as the ability to juggle the many responsibilities that fall on staff of small organizations. Our Board unanimously and enthusiastically supports her appointment.”

“I’m honored to lead an organization that values community-based learning and collective action,” Ernest said in the announcement. “FOCUS is a space where people can come together around the issues that matter most to Central New Yorkers. “In a time when understanding and civic connection are more important than ever, I’m excited to enhance our capacity to carry out our mission with purpose and integrity.”

As executive director, Ernest plans to expand FOCUS’ community reach, grow its public programming, and strengthen the organization’s long-term sustainability through increased engagement and support.

In her previous role as program director, Ernest helped facilitate dozens of public forums, led the Citizens Academy, and worked to ensure that resident input “remained at the center” of FOCUS’ work.

With a background in nonprofit leadership and community collaboration, she is “well-positioned” to lead the organization into its next chapter, FOCUS Greater Syracuse said.

Founded in 1998, FOCUS Greater Syracuse describes itself as a nonpartisan, citizen-driven nonprofit that “connects people to information, ideas, and one another to strengthen Central New York.” Through free public forums and community-driven programs, FOCUS says it empowers residents to engage with local issues and take part in shaping the region’s future.

Cornhill Empowerment Center plans for June 18 formal opening

Mohawk Valley, Construction, Design & Real Estate, Employee Benefits & Human Resources, Featured, Law, Accounting & Taxes, Nonprofits

UTICA, N.Y. — The Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties, Mid-Utica Neighborhood Preservation Corporation (MUNPC), and the City of Utica will celebrate the opening

SUNY Poly and AIS expand research, innovation partnership

Education & Training, Employee Benefits & Human Resources, Mohawk Valley, Small Business, Technology

MARCY, N.Y. — SUNY Polytechnic Institute and Assured Information Security (AIS) have signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) marking an expansion of their partnership to

Community Financial System Q1 profit rises more than 21%

Banks & Credit Unions, Insurance & Financial Services, Mohawk Valley, New York News, North Country, Southern Tier, Subscriber Only

DeWITT, N.Y. — Community Financial System, Inc. (NYSE: CBU) — parent company of Community Bank, N.A. — recently reported net income of $49.6 million, or 93 cents per share, in the first quarter, up more than 21 percent from $40.9 million, or 76 cents, in the first quarter of 2024. Increases in net interest income

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Increases in net interest income (up more than 12 percent) and noninterest revenue (up over 8 percent) helped drive the profit gain. Total revenue at Community Financial System increased nearly 11 percent to $196.25 million in this year’s first quarter from almost $177.3 million in the year-ago quarter.

“Our Company had very solid core operating performance for the first quarter with meaningful growth in net income, operating net income and operating pre-tax, pre-provision net revenue (PPNR) over the prior year’s first quarter,” Dimitar A. Karaivanov, president and CEO of Community Financial System, said in the company’s earnings report issued on April 29. “The Company continues to execute on its focus to deliver sustainable growth and above average returns with below average risk as evidenced by our operating return on assets of 1.28% in the quarter. All four of our businesses — banking, employee benefit services, insurance services and wealth management services — achieved increases in revenues and improvements in core operating performance compared to last year’s first quarter…”

Community Financial System is a diversified financial services company headquartered in DeWitt. Community Bank is among the nation’s 100 largest banks with more than $16 billion in assets and operates about 200 branches across upstate New York, northeastern Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Western Massachusetts. The company’s Benefit Plans Administrative Services, Inc. subsidiary is a provider of employee-benefits administration, trust services, collective investment-fund administration, and actuarial consulting services to customers nationally. The company’s OneGroup NY, Inc. subsidiary is a top 66 U.S. insurance agency. Community Financial also offers comprehensive financial planning, trust administration and wealth-management services through its Nottingham Financial Group operating unit.

Pathfinder Bancorp profit rises more than 40 percent in Q1

Banks & Credit Unions, Insurance & Financial Services, Mohawk Valley, New York News, North Country, Small Business, Subscriber Only

OSWEGO, N.Y. — Pathfinder Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ: PBHC), the holding company for Pathfinder Bank, reported net income of $3 million, or 41 cents a share, in the first quarter of this year, up nearly 43 percent from $2.1 million or 34 cents, in the first quarter of 2024. Pathfinder attributed the growth to improving operating

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Berkshire Bank parent company to pay Q2 dividend of 18 cents a share in late May

Banks & Credit Unions, Insurance & Financial Services, Mohawk Valley, New York News, Subscriber Only

Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc. (NYSE: BHLB) — parent company of Berkshire Bank, which has a significant presence in the Mohawk Valley region — recently announced that its board of directors has approved a quarterly cash dividend of 18 cents per common share. The dividend is payable on May 29, to shareholders of record as of

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Future Farmers of America to get new facility at New York State Fairgrounds

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Recently broke ground on the project GEDDES, N.Y. — Future Farmers of America (FFA) is looking ahead to the New York State Fair in 2026 when it’s expecting to have a new building at the State Fairgrounds in the town of Geddes. FFA on May 8 broke ground on the new structure. The upcoming facility

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Recently broke ground on the project

GEDDES, N.Y. — Future Farmers of America (FFA) is looking ahead to the New York State Fair in 2026 when it’s expecting to have a new building at the State Fairgrounds in the town of Geddes.

FFA on May 8 broke ground on the new structure. The upcoming facility will “ensure FFA students can continue to showcase New York agriculture to New Yorkers visiting The New York State Fair,” the office of Gov. Kathy Hochul said in an announcement.

The 10,500-square-foot building will include a large exhibition space for FFA students to showcase their work, along with conference areas and more. Partners from Cornell College of Agriculture and Life Sciences; National FFA; and the New York State Legislature additionally joined to acknowledge the milestone in FFA history at the New York State Fair.

“For 100 years, New York FFA has empowered students to lead, serve, and grow in agriculture and beyond,” New York State FFA Director Juleah Tolosky said in the state’s announcement. “This new building at the Fairgrounds is more than a structure — it’s a symbol of what happens when we invest in young people and believe in their potential. We’re grateful to \and our partners across the state for supporting a vision that honors our past while building a stronger future for agricultural education.”

Administered by Cornell University, the New York State FFA Association is a youth organization that helps middle and high school students become leaders in a variety of career fields, including agriculture, Hochul’s office said. NY FFA develops leadership, personal growth, and career success through activities and opportunities nationwide, it added.

Hochul joined Richard Ball, commissioner of the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, Office of General Services Commissioner Jeanette Moy, New York State Fair Director Julie LaFave, and representatives from New York FFA to officially break ground on the new FFA building.

The new structure is part of a $34.7 million project to improve agricultural facilities at the State Fairgrounds that Hochul first announced in 2022. In addition to the FFA building, improvements will include a new show space for goats, which was completed last year. Also on tap is an upcoming new sheep barn and wool center and new horse barn, both of which are scheduled to be ready for this summer’s State Fair.

The governor’s executive budget this year includes $35 million in funding for the Fair’s Chevy Court and Suburban Park spaces to “enhance the Fair’s entertainment experiences for concertgoers,” Hochul’s office said.

Time capsule

As part of the groundbreaking ceremony, Ball announced the creation of a time capsule, which will be filled with historical items from FFA’s past and present and sealed when the ribbon is cut on the FFA building.

The commissioner dedicated the time capsule’s first entry, clips from several Agricultural Teacher Bulletins from 1926 to 1929, which showcase reports of the development of the Association of New York Young Farmers Club affiliation with FFA.

Ball additionally challenged each FFA chapter across the state to find or create an item meaningful to their chapter to go in the time capsule before it is sealed next year.

“There’s a long list of things that make The Great New York State Fair the best in the nation, but its continued focus on agriculture is what truly sets it apart, and its deep partnership with FFA has been a huge part of that,” Ball said in the state’s announcement. “I can’t think of a better way to celebrate this powerful program’s centennial than by breaking ground on a new building that will help introduce a whole new generation of young people to the value of our industry and inspire them to pursue meaningful careers in agriculture. I want to thank our Governor, our partners across the state, and of course our very own NY FFA who share this vision and make it a priority — because of their work, I know the future of agriculture is bright.”

ConMed announces executive changes

Manufacturing & Engineering, Mohawk Valley, Subscriber Only

ConMed Corp. (NYSE: CNMD), a surgical-device maker originally headquartered in the Utica region, recently announced some executive changes. On April 1, the company appointed Andrew Moller, 50, as principal accounting officer, according to ConMed’s Form 8-K filing with the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission. This came after Moller had on Jan. 27 started serving in

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Former Sears building in Syracuse to become first ON-RAMP center

Construction, Design & Real Estate, Education & Training, Employee Benefits & Human Resources, Law, Accounting & Taxes, Nonprofits, Subscriber Only

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The former Sears building at 1300 S. Salina St. in Syracuse will be the future home of the first ON-RAMP workforce-development center. The flagship hub will anchor a “broader revitalization” of the site, which the City of Syracuse and CenterState CEO will lead, the office of Gov. Kathy Hochul recently announced. ON-RAMP

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SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The former Sears building at 1300 S. Salina St. in Syracuse will be the future home of the first ON-RAMP workforce-development center.

The flagship hub will anchor a “broader revitalization” of the site, which the City of Syracuse and CenterState CEO will lead, the office of Gov. Kathy Hochul recently announced.

ON-RAMP is short for One Network for Regional Advanced Manufacturing Partnerships. The governor first proposed ON-RAMP in her 2024 State of the State address, and included it in the approved state budget.

The Syracuse location will serve as a “critical gateway” for both job seekers and manufacturing and construction firms, supporting the region’s growing demand for skilled workers, anchored by Micron Technology Inc.’s $100 billion commitment in Onondaga County, Hochul’s office said.

Empire State Development’s board of directors approved $8.5 million in funding for the flagship center, part of Hochul’s broader $200 million ON-RAMP initiative. The state will establish additional workforce-innovation hubs in the Capital Region, the Mohawk Valley, and the Finger Lakes.

Staff for the Central New York ON-RAMP center will be temporarily housed at CenterState CEO, located at 115 West Fayette St., while crews redevelop the South Salina Street site.

ON-RAMP is an initiative designed to expand workforce-development opportunities in advanced manufacturing for more New Yorkers.

Training provided through ON-RAMP will be based on the successful model developed by the Northland Workforce Development Training Center in Buffalo.

Northland’s model works to reduce the “major barriers” that prohibit students from enrolling and completing post-secondary education. Those barriers include transportation, child care, academic readiness, and affordability. Collectively, the four centers will combine industry, academia, social services, organized labor and community organizations to provide training and the “wraparound support necessary to empower more New Yorkers with the skills needed for careers in high growth industries,” Hochul’s office said.

Initial training programs will focus on career exploration, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), financial empowerment, and trade-specific skills for construction and manufacturing.

Construction training will include pathways to apprenticeship and trade-specific skills, and manufacturing training will focus on entry-level assembly and middle-skill technician training, including Onondaga Community College electrical mechanical technician training.

In the first year, training programs are expected to serve between 150 and 200 New Yorkers, per the governor’s office.

Upon completion of the new facility, the Syracuse location will offer flexible programs customized to employer skill and volume needs, create ways for community members to learn about the career that is right for them, and combine training with support to reduce barriers to employment.

The Central New York ON-RAMP hub will work with local partners to provide a “wide array of services in a single, central location,” Hochul’s office said.

Additionally, CenterState CEO plans to work with the City of Syracuse to explore how best to connect the new South Salina Street ON-RAMP location to the nearby City-owned lot, ensuring that these strategic properties are redeveloped with the community’s input. CenterState CEO will hold monthly virtual town-hall meetings to report on progress and hear from partners directly.

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