FLLT awarded state funding of $4.5 million for water-protection projects

Get our email updates

Stay up-to-date on the companies, people and issues that impact businesses in Syracuse, Central New York and beyond.

ITHACA, N.Y. — The Finger Lakes Land Trust (FLLT) will use nearly $4.5 million in state–grant funding for conservation projects within the Skaneateles, Owasco, Seneca,

Former Utica school superintendent Karam pleads guilty to public corruption charge

Law, Accounting & Taxes, Regional News, Subscriber Only

UTICA, N.Y. — Former Utica City School District (UCSD) Superintendent Bruce Karam pleaded guilty to one felony charge of public corruption in connection with using taxpayer funds to help support a political campaign relating to the 2021 Utica City School Board election and a non-school related fundraiser, State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli announced. As part

Already an Subcriber? Log in

Get Instant Access to This Article

Become a Central New York Business Journal subscriber and get immediate access to all of our subscriber-only content and much more.

Learn More and Become a Subscriber

As part of the agreement, Karam will serve five years of probation, pay restitution of $12,000, and complete 250 hours of community service. He also agreed to a consent order to reduce his pension benefits.

He pleaded guilty in Oneida County Court before Judge Michael L. Dwyer and will be sentenced April 19.

“Karam took vital funds meant to support the education of students and instead used them to serve his own needs,” DiNapoli said in his announcement. “As a consequence of his actions, he is now a convicted felon and has been held accountable for his crimes.”

Karam and co-defendant Louis LaPolla, former Utica mayor and UCSD School Board president, were both arrested last November. An investigation by DiNapoli’s office, Oneida County District Attorney Todd Carville, and the New York State Police determined Karam was using taxpayer money and school resources including labor, stamps, envelopes, and other supplies to send election mailers in support of a school-board candidate.

He was also accused of using school resources to send invitations for a non-school-related fundraiser for a charity run by LaPolla. School–district employees prepared the fliers for mailing during school hours, using envelopes and stamps paid for by the school district.

Karam served as UCSD superintendent from 2011 until he was put on leave in October 2022. The district fired him shortly after his arrest.

“It is imperative that local leaders understand the responsibility and trust that the public has in the work they do,” Carville said. “Those who chose to abuse that trust are not fit to serve and will be held accountable.”

LaPolla will next appear in court April 10.

“This case demonstrates the hard work of all our law-enforcement partners who are focused on the same goal – holding those who break our laws accountable,” New York State Police Acting Superintendent Steven G. James said in the announcement. “Mr. Karam violated the public trust by stealing taxpayer money intended to provide a quality education for students at the Utica City School District.”

Finger Lakes Tourism Alliance launches new brand campaign

Sports, Entertainment & Tourism

PENN YAN, N.Y. — The Finger Lakes Tourism Alliance has rolled out a new brand campaign, called “Explore Finger Lakes,” designed to better convey the

Syracuse Mets announce three-year extension of broadcast contract with Cumulus Media

Sports, Entertainment & Tourism, Subscriber Only

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Syracuse Mets baseball games will remain on Cumulus Media’s The Score 1260 for the next three years. The minor-league baseball club announced the extension of the broadcast contract on Thursday. Radio and internet listeners will again hear the voices of Michael Tricarico and Evan Stockton, who will team up for the third

Already an Subcriber? Log in

Get Instant Access to This Article

Become a Central New York Business Journal subscriber and get immediate access to all of our subscriber-only content and much more.

Learn More and Become a Subscriber

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Syracuse Mets baseball games will remain on Cumulus Media’s The Score 1260 for the next three years.

The minor-league baseball club announced the extension of the broadcast contract on Thursday.

Radio and internet listeners will again hear the voices of Michael Tricarico and Evan Stockton, who will team up for the third straight season as the Syracuse Mets play-by-play announcers in 2024.

Fans will hear the duo on The Score 1260 (WSKO 1260 AM), TheScore1260.com, and on the TuneIn app for all 150 Syracuse Mets games, including 75 home games that will also be broadcast on MiLB.tv, the team said.

“Cumulus has been a great partner for us since we got back on the radio for the 2014 season,” Jason Smorol, general manager of the Syracuse Mets, said in the team’s news release. “Our fans want us on the radio, and working with Cumulus here locally has been a great benefit for our team. In addition to having our games broadcast, our partnership extends to marketing and events that also help our club through the great value we get from Cumulus.”

The Syracuse Mets open the 2024 baseball season on March 29 at NBT Bank Stadium against the Rochester Red Wings. First pitch is at 2:05 p.m., and radio coverage begins with the Syracuse Mets pregame show at 1:50 p.m., the team said.

About Tricarico

Tricarico returns for his sixth full season in the Syracuse broadcast booth and his fifth season as the lead play-by-play voice of the Syracuse Mets, not including the 2020 minor-league season that was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He is a North Syracuse native who graduated from Cicero-North Syracuse High School in 2013 and from Syracuse University (SU) in 2017. As an SU student, he called Orange sporting events for WAER 88.3 FM and WJPZ 89.1 FM.

About Stockton

Stockton enters his third season in the Syracuse Mets broadcast booth. The 28-year-old is also quite familiar with Central New York, having graduated from SU in the spring of 2018.

Stockton has broadcast nearly every level of baseball, starting his professional broadcasting career when he was just a sophomore in college. He has now spent the past four seasons working at the Triple-A level, serving as the voice of the Memphis Redbirds (Triple-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals) during the 2021 season.

Second phase of construction starts on main terminal at Ogdensburg airport

Construction, Design & Real Estate, Regional News, Sports, Entertainment & Tourism

OSWEGATCHIE, N.Y. — The second phase of construction on a $22 million project at the Ogdensburg International Airport is getting underway, the office of Gov.

The Agency to receive $11.2 million to prep former BAE site for future development

Construction, Design & Real Estate, Regional News

BINGHAMTON, N.Y. — The Agency announced it will receive $11.2 million in funding from the state’s Focused Attraction of Strategic Tracts, or FAST NY, program

New OCC agreement targets students performing gap-year community service in Buffalo, NYC

Education & Training

ONONDAGA, N.Y. — Under a new agreement, students who complete a gap year of community service in either Buffalo or New York City can have

Construction begins on $28.5 million expansion project at Syracuse airport

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

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Construction has started on a $28.5 million project to expand the north concourse at Syracuse Hancock International Airport (SYR) to provide additional seating and concession areas while also improving passenger flow. The project will also include the renovation of the terminal building’s second floor,near gate 15, to expand the federal-inspection station facility

Already an Subcriber? Log in

Get Instant Access to This Article

Become a Central New York Business Journal subscriber and get immediate access to all of our subscriber-only content and much more.

Learn More and Become a Subscriber

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Construction has started on a $28.5 million project to

expand the north concourse at Syracuse Hancock International Airport (SYR) to provide additional seating and concession areas while also improving passenger flow.

The project will also include the renovation of the terminal building’s second floor,near gate 15, to expand the federal–inspection station facility — ensuring the airport retains its international designation.

The effort is meant to “enhance the passenger experience” and provide Central New York with a “world-class travel hub,” the office of Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Thursday.

The state awarded the project $20 million from the governor’s $230 million Upstate Airport Economic Development and Revitalization Competition. New York Department of Transportation officials announced the funding at a press conference at SYR on Thursday afternoon.

The Syracuse airport was one of nine upstate New York airports awarded a total of $230 million in the latest round of the competition that Hochul announced in 2022.

The awards are intended to “promote, revitalize and accelerate” investments in Upstate commercial–passenger service airports, “helping to create airports for the 21st century,”Hochul’s office said.

Project details

The new improvement project will add about 4,700 square feet to the north concourse, which serves about 40 percent of the passengers traveling through the facility each year.The expansion will provide room for improved passenger flow, additional seating areas,and concession space.

The design supports optimal natural ventilation for improved air quality, promotes energy efficiency through the installation of “dynamic” window panels to increase natural lighting, and new lighting controls and sensors that reduce nonessential lighting during off-times.

High–efficiency building equipment will also “improve the airport’s sustainability,”Hochul’s office noted.

Besides the concourse expansion, the plan also calls for upgrades to the airport’s Customs and Border Protection (CBP) federal inspection station (FIS).

That project seeks to ensure the facility meets the latest CBP standards and preserve the airport’s international designation, including its ability to handle both international passengers and cargo operations.

The project will install the latest FIS equipment for international operations that will allow for the processing of 200 passengers per hour, replacement of a jet bridge,installation of a new elevator tower and baggage carousel, and the creation of an additional hold room and boarding space.

The project also includes the installation of a wayfinding lighting–control system and support for hearing-impaired passengers.

Sports retailer with a Midwest origin to open its first New York store at Destiny USA

Sports, Entertainment & Tourism, Subscriber Only

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Rally House, a sports and merchandise retailer, plans to open its first store in New York at Destiny USA this spring. The retailer will offer sports fans officially licensed team apparel and localized merchandise in a 5,700-square-foot store on level 2 next to Five Below, Destiny USA said in a release. Rally

Already an Subcriber? Log in

Get Instant Access to This Article

Become a Central New York Business Journal subscriber and get immediate access to all of our subscriber-only content and much more.

Learn More and Become a Subscriber

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Rally House, a sports and merchandise retailer, plans to open its first store in New York at Destiny USA this spring.

The retailer will offer sports fans officially licensed team apparel and localized merchandise in a 5,700–square-foot store on level 2 next to Five Below, Destiny USA said in a release.

Rally House carries authentic pro and college team gear and apparel from top brand names such as Nike, ‘47, Mitchell and Ness, Adidas, and New Era. The store at Destiny USA will also provide customers with an assortment of team gear, collectibles, and gifts.

Rally House hopes to hire various full and part-time positions including a store manager; assistant store manager; assistant manager in training; senior team sales lead;team sales; lead, receiving and inventory specialist; sales associates; and seasonal sales associates.

Those interested can review open positions at Rally House Destiny USA and apply online at www.rallyhouse.com/careers.

Company history

As described on its website, the company’s origin dates back to 1989 when Tim and Mabel “Peg” Liebert “established their vision,” and “many considered Peg’s concept to be nothing more than wishful thinking on behalf of an ambitious woman seeking to compete with major stores in the local area.”

It started as “Mabel’s Kitchen,” catalogue with apparel, gifts, and other merchandise related to all-things Kansas. It was called Kansas Sampler. The catalogue eventually became five stores selling Kansas Jayhawks, Kansas State Wildcats, Kansas City Chiefs and Kansas City Royals gear. In the late 2000s, the Lieberts appointed their son, Aaron, as company CEO. After the “highs and lows” that Kansas Sampler endured in 2008, the Lieberts decided to expand outside Kansas and the firm evolved into Rally House.

With the Destiny USA store still to come, Rally House is currently operating in 13 states, per its website. They include Kansas, Missouri, Texas, Illinois, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky, Nebraska, New Jersey, Iowa, Indiana and Oklahoma, per the website.

Mohawk Valley EDGE announces death of longtime leader DiMeo

Regional News, Subscriber Only

ROME, N.Y. — Mohawk Valley EDGE President Steven DiMeo passed away suddenly on Wednesday morning, March 6, the economic-development organization posted on its Facebook page. “Steve was more than just our president; he was the guiding force behind EDGE, the Marcy Nanocenter, Griffiss Business and Technology Park, and the entire region’s economic trajectory for the

Already an Subcriber? Log in

Get Instant Access to This Article

Become a Central New York Business Journal subscriber and get immediate access to all of our subscriber-only content and much more.

Learn More and Become a Subscriber

ROME, N.Y. — Mohawk Valley EDGE President Steven DiMeo passed away suddenly on Wednesday morning, March 6, the economic-development organization posted on its Facebook page.

“Steve was more than just our president; he was the guiding force behind EDGE, the Marcy Nanocenter, Griffiss Business and Technology Park, and the entire region’s economic trajectory for the past 30 years,” the statement read. “He led with a tenacious commitment to our mission, constantly driving those privileged to work alongside him.”

Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente Jr., who worked closely with DiMeo over the years, expressed his sorrow for the loss of his friend and colleague on his own Facebook page.

“Steve has been by my side for over 30 years working tirelessly to make Oneida County a better place,” he wrote. “Whether it was fighting BRAC to save Griffiss Air Force Base or leaving no stone unturned to bring a chip fab to the Marcy Nanosite, his brilliance and passion constantly elevated this entire region. I have depended on him in countless matters that have been crucial to the success of Oneida County, and his loss will be impossible to replace. I will miss his wit and humor and our endless conversations analyzing the Yankees.”

Prior to serving as president of EDGE, DiMeo was the commissioner of urban and economic development for Utica from 1984–1993, according to his LinkedIn profile.

“Steve achieved remarkable milestones during his tenure with EDGE, steering the organization through challenges and triumphs with the utmost resilience and eye always set on the endgame,” EDGE added in its Facebook post. “Beyond his professional accomplishments, Steve was a family man, a friend, someone who could tell you the batting average of the Yankees’ third baseman from 1967 or a piece of American history trivia. While always unsung, his legacy of kindness, humility, and generosity will continue to guide us as we honor his memory. As we mourn the loss of Steve, let us also celebrate his remarkable life and his profound impact on our organization, the Mohawk Valley, and the countless lives he touched.”

Get our email updates

Stay up-to-date on the companies, people and issues that impact businesses in Syracuse, Central New York and beyond.

Get our email updates

What's New

Upcoming Events

Project Homecoming Job & Career Fair 2025

Annual Nonprofit Conference 2026

2026 CenterState CEO Economic Forecast Breakfast

CNYBJ Job Board

Get Instant Access to This Article

Get Instant Access to This Article

About Tricarico

About Stockton

Get Instant Access to This Article

Project details

Get Instant Access to This Article

Company history

Get Instant Access to This Article

Get our email updates