Cornell Cooperative Extension to co-host MWBE info session on March 8 in Auburn

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AUBURN, N.Y. — Women and minority business owners are invited to a free information session on New York State’s Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise (MWBE)

Old Forge’s Enchanted Forest Water Safari sold to Florida company

Sports, Entertainment & Tourism, Regional News, Subscriber Only

OLD FORGE, N.Y. — Summertime staple Enchanted Forest Water Safari in Old Forge has a new owner. Innovative Attraction Management (IAM), of Windermere, Florida, acquired Water Safari Resort — including Enchanted Forest Water Safari, Calypso’s Cove, Old Forge Camping Resort, and Water’s Edge Inn — in a transaction that closed on March 1, according to

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OLD FORGE, N.Y. — Summertime staple Enchanted Forest Water Safari in Old Forge has a new owner.

Innovative Attraction Management (IAM), of Windermere, Florida, acquired Water Safari Resort — including Enchanted Forest Water Safari, Calypso’s Cove, Old Forge Camping Resort, and Water’s Edge Inn — in a transaction that closed on March 1, according to a press release from IAM, and previous owners K&K of Old Forge, Inc. and the Noonan family.

“We are thrilled to welcome Water Safari Resort, including Enchanted Forest Water Safari, Calypso’s Cove, Old Forge Camping Resort, and Water’s Edge Inn to the IAM family,” IAM President Mike Friscia said in the release. “This iconic destination in Central New York holds a special place in the hearts of families and adventure-seekers alike.”

IAM CEO Jams Harhi stated the company is “committed to preserving its great legacy developed” by the Noonan family while also enhancing the experience. The release did not expand on what those plans are, nor provide transaction financial details.

IAM said it will honor all previously purchased tickets along with current hotel and campground reservations.

The Florida company’s portfolio of properties includes Cowabunga Bay Water Parkwith locations in Utah and Nevada; Daytona Lagoon Waterpark in Daytona Beach, Florida; Five Islands Water & Amusement Park in Trinidad & Tobago; Island H2O Waterpark in Kissimmee, Florida, Myrtle Waves Water Park in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; and El Dorado Park: The Water Temple in the Dominican Republic.

“We are thrilled to pass the torch on to IAM for the next chapter in Water Safari Resort’s future,” Katie Wojdyla of the Noonan family and K&K said. “Our family is so grateful to have served family fun to guests for the past 46 years. The great team and amazing guests are the backbone of this business, and we look forward to what the future has in store for this iconic resort.”

For more on this story, see the April 1 issue of The Central New York Business Journal.

Oneida County receives nearly $24M state grant for semiconductor supply-chain campus site prep

Construction, Design & Real Estate, Manufacturing & Engineering, Nonprofits, Regional News, Technology

UTICA, N.Y. — Oneida County has been awarded $23.6 million in state funding to help develop a 332-acre parcel at Griffiss International Airport in Rome,

State funds help Centro revamp public transit in Rome

Construction, Design & Real Estate, Manufacturing & Engineering, Regional News, Sports, Entertainment & Tourism, Technology

ROME, N.Y. — The City of Rome in Oneida County will have new and improved public-transit services, thanks to $1 million in state funding as

Grow-NY food, beverage, and agribusiness competition seeks applicants for this year’s program

Small Business

ITHACA, N.Y. — Empire State Development (ESD) has announced it is seeking applicants for the sixth year of the Grow-NY food, beverage, and agriculture businesscompetition.

Fayetteville–area realtor wins NYSAR Community Service Award

Construction, Design & Real Estate, Subscriber Only

ALBANY — The New York State Association of Realtors (NYSAR) recently honored Don Radke, of Fayetteville, as one of two recipients of its 2023 Community Service Award. The honor recognized Radke, of FM Realty Group, for his dedication and commitment to various organizations and causes in Central New York. He was presented with the award

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ALBANY — The New York State Association of Realtors (NYSAR) recently honored Don Radke, of Fayetteville, as one of two recipients of its 2023 Community Service Award.

The honor recognized Radke, of FM Realty Group, for his dedication and commitment to various organizations and causes in Central New York. He was presented with the award during the association’s recent “Opportunity Awaits” Mid-Winter Business Meetings at the Crowne Plaza Albany – Desmond Hotel in Albany, NYSAR said in a recent news release.

A member of the Greater Syracuse Association of Realtors, Radke helped save the George and Rebecca Barnes Foundation mansion and secured a $400,000 grant to help renovate the historic building. For this effort, he was selected as nonprofit President of the Year in Syracuse.

Radke’s involvement at Focus Greater Syracuse helped enhance this vital citizen-engagement organization that has made an impact throughout Central New York, NYSAR stated. As a board member and chair of the City of Syracuse Landmark Preservation Board, Radke was responsible for securing the preservation of countless historic structures across the city, including the cleaning and restoration of Onondaga Lake.

“I am humbled but very proud,” Radke said in the release. “If this can be an inspiration to somebody else in our industry, for them to take the next step and volunteer in their community, it’s what it’s all about. I am truly honored to accept this award.”

The NYSAR Community Service Award honors realtors for community involvement supporting initiatives aimed at a community’s youth, improving the quality of education, quality of life for older Americans, homelessness prevention, as well as efforts following natural disasters and other community needs.

Along with an inscribed award, a grant of $1,500 will also be made in Radke’s name to a charity of his choice.

NYSAR is a not-for-profit trade organization representing more than 63,000 of New York state’s real-estate professionals.

St. Elizabeth College of Nursing plans March 29 open house

Education & Training, Subscriber Only

UTICA — The St. Elizabeth College of Nursing (SECON) will hold an open house for prospective students on March 29 from 3-5 p.m. at the college, located at 2215 Genesee St. in Utica. The event will include tours along with question-and-answer sessions. SECON offers a nursing-education loan program that provides students with the opportunity to

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MACNY names manager of workforce operations and advancement

Manufacturing & Engineering, Subscriber Only

DeWITT — MACNY, The Manufacturers Association of Central New York, says it has promoted Amanda Rice to manager of workforce operations and advancement. She first joined MACNY in February 2022 as the association’s finance and contract administration specialist. In this role, Rice has managed MACNY’s state and federal grants in addition to sourcing and administering

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DeWITT — MACNY, The Manufacturers Association of Central New York, says it has promoted Amanda Rice to manager of workforce operations and advancement.

She first joined MACNY in February 2022 as the association’s finance and contract administration specialist. In this role, Rice has managed MACNY’s state and federal grants in addition to sourcing and administering various funding opportunities. She has been an “integral part of developing and implementing new processes that impact multiple departments as well as internal and external reporting activities,” MACNY said in a recent release.

In her new role, Rice will use her skills in managing essential elements of MACNY’s workforce-development initiatives to lead efforts to research, develop, and apply for new grant-funding opportunities, while also collaborating closely with the organization’s finance team to optimize how grant money is allocated and used. She will also oversee key initiatives including the development and maintenance of both data and time- tracking systems and other relevant technologies.

“Amanda has consistently demonstrated remarkable dedication to optimizing processes with a keen understanding of the intricacies involved in managing our workforce development portfolio. We are confident Amanda will continue to excel in her new role and significantly contribute to the success of our programs and the broader mission to serve the manufacturing community and the MACNY membership,” Mike Frame, MACNY executive VP, said in the release.

Prior to joining MACNY, Rice worked as an economic-development specialist at the Fulton Community Development Agency (FCDA), and also previously interned with NYSERDA’s market characterization & evaluation team. Rice holds an MPA degree, with a dual concentration in public economics & finance and environmental politics & policy from the Rockefeller College of Public Affairs & Policy at SUNY Albany. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in economics and political science from SUNY Geneseo.

Broome County hotels post solid business gains in January

Sports, Entertainment & Tourism, Regional News, Subscriber Only

BINGHAMTON — Broome County hotels registered increases in three separate key indicators of business performance in January. The hotel-occupancy rate (rooms sold as a percentage of rooms available) in the county rose 11.1 percent to 47.7 percent in the first month of 2024 versus January 2023. Revenue per available room (RevPar), an industry gauge that

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Chemung Financial to pay Q1 dividend of 31 cents

Banks & Credit Unions, Regional News, Subscriber Only

ELMIRA — Chemung Financial Corp. (NASDAQ: CHMG) said its board of directors has approved a cash dividend of 31 cents per share of its common stock for the first quarter. The Elmira– based banking company will pay the dividend on April 1, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on March 18,

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