Firms can apply for COVID capital costs tax-credit program until Sept. 30

Get our email updates

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

Business owners interested in Empire State Development’s (ESD) $250 million COVID-19 capital costs tax-credit program have until the end of September to submit an application. ESD on June 5 announced that it had extended the application deadline. To apply, visit the ESD website (esd.ny.gov) Under the program, New York small businesses that made investments to […]

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

Business owners interested in Empire State Development’s (ESD) $250 million COVID-19 capital costs tax-credit program have until the end of September to submit an application.

ESD on June 5 announced that it had extended the application deadline. To apply, visit the ESD website (esd.ny.gov)

Under the program, New York small businesses that made investments to comply with emergency orders and regulations in response to COVID-19 can apply for a refundable tax credit of up to $25,000.

Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the launch of the program back on Oct. 25, 2022 and secured an extension of the program’s application deadline through September as part of the new state budget, ESD said.

“By extending the application deadline for the COVID-19 Capital Costs Tax Credit Program to September 30th, we are expanding the reach of our support, ensuring that more New York small businesses receive the financial relief they need to bounce back and thrive once again,” Hope Knight, president, CEO, and commissioner of ESD, contended in a news release.

Small businesses with qualifying COVID-19-related expenses are eligible for a refundable tax credit of up to $25,000 based on qualifying expenses of $50,000. Qualifying expenses are related to building upgrades, structural changes, or supplies to comply with public health or other emergency-related orders and regulations to increase public safety through infectious disease mitigation during 2021 and 2022.

Expenses can also include hand-sanitizer stations, supplies to disinfect against COVID-19 transmission, equipment for social distancing, air purifiers, contactless point-of-sale equipment and more.

Businesses independently owned and operated in the state of New York with fewer than 100 full-time employees and gross receipts of less than $2.5 million are eligible. Small businesses are encouraged to apply through the pre-screening tool.

If businesses receive a tax-credit certificate in 2023, they can claim the credit on their 2023 tax return.

Didio to become Dannible & McKee audit partner July 1

Employee Benefits & Human Resources, Law, Accounting & Taxes, People on the Move, Subscriber Only

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Certified public accountant (CPA) Kevin Didio will become an audit partner at Dannible & McKee, LLP in a promotion that takes effect July 1. Didio works in the firm’s assurance and audit practice, providing accounting, assurance, and advisory services to both private and publicly held domestic and foreign companies, the firm said.

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

Bond, Schoeneck & King opens new office in Elmira

Construction, Design & Real Estate, Law, Accounting & Taxes, Regional News, Subscriber Only

ELMIRA, N.Y. — Bond, Schoeneck & King PLLC member (partner) Daniel Pautz is returning to his roots by heading up a new Elmira office for the Syracuse–based law firm. Pautz grew up in Elmira, where his father had a solo practice law firm, before heading off to Niagara University followed by the University at Buffalo

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

ELMIRA, N.Y. — Bond, Schoeneck & King PLLC member (partner) Daniel Pautz is returning to his roots by heading up a new Elmira office for the Syracuse–based law firm.

Pautz grew up in Elmira, where his father had a solo practice law firm, before heading off to Niagara University followed by the University at Buffalo School of Law.

“Growing up, watching him, that was all I ever wanted to do,” Pautz says of becoming a lawyer. After graduating in 2008, Pautz eventually joined the Bond law firm, where he serves as a trial attorney.

While he was working in Syracuse, Elmira was never far from his mind — or his caseload as it turns out. Over the past five years, Pautz has seen an increasing number of cases and clients from the Elmira area.

“The demand for competent legal services was really starting to outpace the demand,” he notes.

The idea for Bond to open an office in Elmira really came out of the pandemic when everyone was working, holding meetings, and conducting business remotely, Pautz says. “The concept of having a 300-person law firm in 600 square feet of office space didn’t seem like such a crazy concept,” he says.

About a year ago, Pautz approached the managing partners at Bond with the idea. They told him to put together a business plan, and they’d give it a look, he recalls. “I just thought it was really important to have boots on the ground down there,” he says.

Pautz spent about nine months meeting with clients and potential clients along with real-estate brokers to put together his plan, which he presented to the partners three months ago.

“They were gracious enough to approve it, and we were off and running,” he says.

As of June 1, Bond, Schoeneck & King leased a little less than 1,000 square feet of space at 100 West Water Street in downtown Elmira, and its 16th and newest office is now open.

While things are still being set up, the office is open for business and Pautz spends three to four days a week there.

The firm already serves a number of clients in the area, including Chemung County, but there is plenty of opportunity for growth, Pautz says. “There are sophisticated, viable small businesses down there,” he says. “I enjoy working with small businesses particularly. It’s really professionally rewarding to help them out.”

While the office is small, with Pautz as the only employee there right now, it packs the power of the entire law firm behind it, he notes. Bond, Schoeneck & King employs almost 300 lawyers in more than 30 different practice areas.

Pautz hopes to be an asset to the community and is already planning ways the law firm can serve the Elmira area. He hopes to launch a small business series, working with his colleagues at the firm, to present either in-person or virtually to address emerging legal issues. He also hopes to establish an annual continuing legal education (CLE) and networking event for local legal practitioners.

“I want to be part of the community,” Pautz says.

Founded in Syracuse in 1897, Bond, Schoeneck & King also has offices in Albany, Buffalo, Garden City, Melville, New York City, Rochester, Saratoga Springs, Utica, and White Plains (Westchester County). The firm has additional offices in New Jersey, Massachusetts, Florida, and Kansas.

Dannible & McKee tax accountant receives state CPA license

Employee Benefits & Human Resources, Insurance & Financial Services, Law, Accounting & Taxes, New York News, Subscriber Only

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The certified public accounting (CPA) and consulting firm Dannible & McKee, LLP hired Sean Micho as a full-time tax staff accountant in January, after he had served as an intern with the firm’s tax department since 2022. Now, the firm announces that Micho has taken the next step in his career by

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

After rebranding, firm now known as Bowers CPAs & Advisors

Insurance & Financial Services, Law, Accounting & Taxes, Small Business, Subscriber Only

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — A longtime Syracuse–based accounting firm has rebranded and is now operating as Bowers CPAs & Advisors. It had been known as Bowers & Company CPAs, PLLC. The firm says the new Bowers brand “highlights the value of partnership, and how the team at Bowers prioritizes it to provide creative solutions and powerful

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

FustCharles rebrands, relocates to downtown Syracuse

Construction, Design & Real Estate, Law, Accounting & Taxes, Small Business, Subscriber Only

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — A regional accounting firm that has operated for more than 35 years has rebranded and relocated to downtown Syracuse. The firm is now known as FustCharles and has moved to a new office at 220 South Warren St. in Merchant Commons in Syracuse. It was previously known as Fust Charles Chambers. 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

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — A regional accounting firm that has operated for more than 35 years has rebranded and relocated to downtown Syracuse.

The firm is now known as FustCharles and has moved to a new office at 220 South Warren St. in Merchant Commons in Syracuse. It was previously known as Fust Charles Chambers.

The firm’s relocation will allow FustCharles to be “closer to business and thought leaders in the community and better position itself as experts” in audit, tax and consulting, per its news release. The firm will continue its community-engagement initiatives and use its new image to “attract the next generation of accounting professionals.”

FustCharles also says the new location and the new brand will introduce a “fresh and modern look” for the firm, “matching its culture, people and clients.” It will also appeal to the current workforce’s preference for an urban setting, the company said.

Offering a hybrid work environment, the business intends to offer employees the flexibility to work in the office combined with opportunities for remote work.

“Our relocation and rebrand infuses new energy into FustCharles, signifying a new chapter for the Firm while expanding our growth and client service offerings,” Jackie Al-Nwiran, marketing specialist at FustCharles, said in the firm’s release. “The Firm’s commitment to talent development, innovation and teamwork in this competitive and fast-paced industry is evident with this move and through the excitement in our new brand strategy.”

The accounting firm’s history includes operating from various locations, starting from its inception downtown at 250 Harrison St. and later moving to DeWitt in 1992, where it occupied two different buildings over a 30-year period.

When the space on Warren Street presented itself, the firm realized it would be an “ideal opportunity to join the vibrant downtown Syracuse community and revitalize their brand at the same time,” which will be the focus of a year-long campaign called “NewFace. NewPlace.”

Herkimer College swears in Trask as new peace officer

Health Care, Law, Accounting & Taxes, Regional News, Subscriber Only

HERKIMER, N.Y. — Herkimer County Community College has appointed Nicholas M. Trask of Herkimer as a campus peace officer. According to the college’s website, campus peace officers perform security and law-enforcement-related functions at the college to maintain order for the security of college property and safety of students, visitors, and staff. Prior to joining Herkimer

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

IAED annual report details private investments, new property taxes

Employee Benefits & Human Resources, Law, Accounting & Taxes, New York News, Nonprofits, Regional News, Sports, Entertainment & Tourism, Subscriber Only

ITHACA, N.Y. — In its newly released 2022 annual report to the community, Ithaca Area Economic Development (IAED) reported stimulating $72.6 million in private investment last year. IAED — which administers the Tompkins County Industrial Development Agency (TCIDA) and Tompkins County Development Corporation (TCDC) — says its achievements last year also included helping generate $2.7

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

ITHACA, N.Y. — In its newly released 2022 annual report to the community, Ithaca Area Economic Development (IAED) reported stimulating $72.6 million in private investment last year.

IAED — which administers the Tompkins County Industrial Development Agency (TCIDA) and Tompkins County Development Corporation (TCDC) — says its achievements last year also included helping generate $2.7 million in new property tax payments and $874,400 in new payroll.

IAED facilitated the construction of 113 housing units and payments of $280,000 into the Community Housing Development Fund to support affordable housing through Tompkins County.

Other highlights of the report included data from 2022 annual state reporting indicating that there were 59 active TCIDA/TCDC projects in 2022 that contributed more than $4 million in new property tax payments and created or retained over 2,200 jobs.

IAED released the annual report during its annual meeting held May 3 at Hotel Ithaca. The 100 attendees included business leaders, community partners, and elected officials. The full report is available at: https://ithacaareaed.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/IAED_AnnualReport.pdf.

IAED also presented figures from an ongoing broadband-infrastructure project and from the inaugural year of its Direct-to-Work: Pathways to Manufacturing program.

The event’s featured theme “What Does IAED Do?” was illustrated by testimonials from stakeholders and partners, including Richard Polevoy of Knickerbocker Bed Company, Carol Miller with Alliance for Manufacturing & Technology, Nnenna Lynch of Xylem Projects, and Vicki Taylor Brous with SHIFT Capital.

“It felt great to be together again after several years, and to share our accomplishments and outline our ambitious vision for the future of economic development in Ithaca and Tompkins County,” Heather McDaniel, president of the IAED, said about the annual meeting.

IAED is backed by a shared-revenue model, with funding from Tompkins County, fee-based income, and employer investments. It is now in the final year of its current five-year investment initiative and “has exceeded or will realize milestones” in private investment, new payroll, and new jobs.

During the annual meeting, IAED outlined an “extensive” list of goals in what it calls Th!nk Tompkins, 2024-28. It will release more information about it in the coming year, the agency said.

Empire Center fellow says NYS faces $9B budget gap next year

Law, Accounting & Taxes, New York News, Nonprofits, Subscriber Only

That’s according to the FY24 Enacted Budget Financial Plan, issued by the state Division of the Budget (DOB). The gaps grow to more than $13 billion in fiscal 2026 and 2027, according to Empire Center for Public Policy, Inc. fellow Ken Girardin. Girardin writes that Hochul’s FY24 budget proposal had expected “smaller, more manageable gaps,

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

Girardin writes that Hochul’s FY24 budget proposal had expected “smaller, more manageable gaps, beginning with $5.1 billion in fiscal 2025 and totaling $21 billion over the three years. The gap has widened for two reasons: the just-adopted state budget hiked spending $2 billion per year above what Hochul originally proposed, and DOB has since revised forecast tax receipts down significantly — including a $3 billion downgrade for the current fiscal year.”

He notes that the latter change came after the state’s April tax collections came in $4 billion below the number forecast in January.

“New York state government isn’t in immediate danger of running out of money thanks to moves by Governors Andrew Cuomo and Hochul to build up reserves, with about $19 billion available. Tapping this nest egg outside a major emergency or economic downturn, however, would leave the state poorly positioned when such an event inevitably occurs —and it wouldn’t be enough to cover even two years of spending,” Girardin writes.

He concludes that the revised budget-gap calculation “is the clearest evidence to date that Albany’s three-year spending binge … can’t be sustained.”

As a fellow at the Empire Center, Girardin’s work focuses on organized labor’s effect and influence on state and local government policy. He worked with E.J. McMahon to produce the first independent analysis of New York’s property tax cap, which demonstrated the cap’s effectiveness and boosted efforts to extend the cap and ultimately make it permanent, the Empire Center contends.

You can read Girardin’s full blog analysis on the state-budget gap at: https://www.empirecenter.org/publications/the-bill-arrives-ny- faces-9b-budget-gap-next-year/

Clayton man arrested on grand-larceny charges

Law, Accounting & Taxes, Regional News, Subscriber Only

ALEXANDRIA BAY, N.Y. — State Police in Alexandria Bay on May 26 arrested a North Country man for allegedly pocketing customers’ money at an area business. State Police charged Todd A. Williams, age 52 from Clayton, with 4th degree grand larceny, a felony. The arrest stems from an investigation at FMI Sand and Gravel on

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

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

Get Instant Access to This Article

Get Instant Access to This Article

Get Instant Access to This Article

Get Instant Access to This Article

Get Instant Access to This Article

Get Instant Access to This Article

Get Instant Access to This Article

Get Instant Access to This Article

Get our email updates