Application period for Syracuse’s ARPA Distressed Property Fund opening soon

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SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The City of Syracuse expects to open the application period later this month for those interested in applying for funding from the

MVHS awarded $150,000 Excellus grant for pregnancy program

Health Care, Insurance & Financial Services, Nonprofits, Regional News, Subscriber Only

UTICA, N.Y. — Mohawk Valley Health System’s (MVHS) CenteringPregnancy program has received a $150,000 Member and Community Health Improvement (MACHI) grant from Excellus BlueCross BlueShield to help improve maternal health and health equity. MVHS says it offers the area’s only licensed CenteringPregnancy program, which brings eight to 10 women, all due at the same time,

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MVHS says it offers the area’s only licensed CenteringPregnancy program, which brings eight to 10 women, all due at the same time, together for their care. Centering group prenatal care follows the recommended schedule of 10 prenatal visits, but each visit is between 90 minutes and two hours long. Patients engage in their own care by taking their own weight and blood pressure and recording their own health data. Each patient receives private time with the provider for a “belly check.”

“Since the beginning of the MVHS CenteringPregnancy program, we have held 36 groups, providing prenatal care to more than 240 moms,” Jaime Kierpiec, RN, Maternal Child Services Nurse Education, said in a release. “It is really gratifying to see the bonds these moms and families make during their time together.”

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the program held a CenteringPregnancy reunion for all women that attended the program along with their partner and infant. “As I walked around the room, I learned that many of the women remained friends and get their children together,” Kierpiec said.

Research has shown CenteringPregnancy to nearly eliminate racial disparities in preterm birth. All women, but especially African-American women, who are at higher risk in the U.S., experience lower risk of preterm birth when enrolled in CenteringPregnancy rather than traditional care. Oneida County’s preterm birth rate is substantially higher than the state’s rate, making the program particularly important, MVHS officials said.

“Maternal health and health equity is at the forefront of our community investment strategy,” Excellus BCBS Regional President Eve Van de Wal said. “By collaborating with community partners like MVHS, we can help close gaps in care and create a positive impact on maternal health in our community. We are proud to provide funding for the CenteringPregnancy program that offers peer support and vital access to care, which helps improve outcomes and promotes safe pregnancies and childbirth for those who often face health disparities.”

MVHS includes St. Elizabeth Medical Center, Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare, MVHS Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, Visiting Nurse Association of Utica and Oneida County, and Senior Network Health. MVHS, which serves Oneida, Herkimer, and Madison counties and employs 4,200 people, is building the Wynn Hospital. The 672,000-square-foot, 373-bed hospital is set to open this October.

Owego seeks Downtown Revitalization Initiative project proposals

Construction, Design & Real Estate, Nonprofits, Regional News, Small Business, Sports, Entertainment & Tourism, Subscriber Only

OWEGO, N.Y. — The Tioga County Industrial Development Agency (TCIDA) announced it is accepting requests for proposals (RFP) from property owners within the village of Owego’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) boundary for its multi-site projects fund. Property owners are encouraged to submit project proposals that support façade revitalization or business development. New York State awarded

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Lockheed Martin’s Salina plant awarded $19M Navy contract modification

Manufacturing & Engineering, Subscriber Only, Technology

SALINA, N.Y. — Lockheed Martin Corp.’s (NYSE: LMT) plant in suburban Syracuse has won a $19 million adjustment to a previously awarded contract from the U.S. Navy. The cost-plus-incentive-fee modification is to a previously awarded delivery order under a contract for design and qualification testing of submarine electronic-warfare equipment, according to a Feb. 13 contract

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NYSDOT appoints new I-81 project leader after Frechette retirement

Construction, Design & Real Estate, Subscriber Only

SYRACUSE — The state’s effort on the Interstate 81 (I-81) viaduct-replacement project has a new leader following the retirement of the man who has overseen the work for the last decade. Elizabeth (Betsy) Parmley joined the I-81 project team in 2021 as a project manager. She worked with the now-retired Mark Frechette on the project

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SYRACUSE — The state’s effort on the Interstate 81 (I-81) viaduct-replacement project has a new leader following the retirement of the man who has overseen the work for the last decade.

Elizabeth (Betsy) Parmley joined the I-81 project team in 2021 as a project manager. She worked with the now-retired Mark Frechette on the project over the past two years, the New York State Department of Transportation (DOT) said in its Feb. 8 announcement.

Parmley brings a “wealth of experience and knowledge” to her new position as project director for I-81, the DOT said.

She began her career with DOT in 2005 as a junior engineer and worked her way up to lead DOT’s Central New York Traffic Safety & Mobility Group, before officially joining the I-81 viaduct project team.

“I feel very fortunate to have worked alongside Mark and the I-81 team for the past two years,” Parmley said. “I look forward to taking this project into the final design and construction phases and continuing to build on the accomplishments Mark and the team have led.”

Frechette has been a “key member” of NYSDOT in both Central New York and the North Country for more than 35 years, NYSDOT Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez said Feb. 8 in announcing Frechette’s retirement.

For the past 10 years, Frechette has served as project director of the Interstate 81 (I-81) viaduct-replacement project. He worked in coordination with the community to lead the project from its initial conception and design through the record of decision and first contract award on Jan.12, the NYSDOT said.

In the past few years, Frechette has joined Dominguez for the major announcements in Syracuse on the I-81 project’s progress, replacement options, and official approval from the federal government.

“I have immensely enjoyed my career at DOT dating back to 1985 in both Central New York and the North Country and will fondly reflect on all the wonderful people, co-workers and friends I had the opportunity to work with over the years,” Frechette said. “As I turn over my responsibilities on the I-81 Viaduct Project to Betsy, I know I am leaving it in good hands. I have every confidence in her abilities to work with the community to kick off and complete this transformative project.”

MVHS, Utica partner on plan for St. Elizabeth campus

Construction, Design & Real Estate, Health Care, Regional News, Subscriber Only

UTICA, N.Y. — The Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS) and the City of Utica are working together to develop a master re-use plan for the campus of St. Elizabeth Medical Center. Utica, through its Industrial Development Agency (IDA), and MVHS have agreed to share the cost of hiring a consultant team, a per a Jan.

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UTICA, N.Y. — The Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS) and the City of Utica are working together to develop a master re-use plan for the campus of St. Elizabeth Medical Center.

Utica, through its Industrial Development Agency (IDA), and MVHS have agreed to share the cost of hiring a consultant team, a per a Jan. 27 joint announcement.

The focus on redeveloping the property comes as the Wynn Hospital prepares to open this October, meaning MVHS will be vacating large portions of the St. Elizabeth campus.

MVHS is an affiliation of Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare and St. Elizabeth Medical Center, both of Utica. The two organizations teamed up in March 2014.

The City of Utica, through its Industrial Development Agency (IDA), and MVHS have agreed to share the cost of hiring a consultant team.

The consultant team will have experience in the fields of urban planning, landscape architecture, market analysis, civil engineering, and environmental remediation, per the joint announcement.

Through the partnership, the consultant team will help Utica and MVHS in identifying a variety of re-use scenarios, getting the public involved in reviewing and selecting preferred scenarios, and detailing the steps necessary to “implement the new vision” for the nearly 23-acre campus.

MVHS had previously sought developers interested in purchasing the campus in its current condition, a process that was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the organizations said.

The plan will include anticipated costs and will recommend “creative options” for public financing. The City of Utica and MVHS will have the consultant team develop cost estimates on the demolition of the various campus buildings, “should state or federal funding become available.”

Through the development of the plan, the city and MVHS say they want land uses and development that’s “appropriate for the south Utica neighborhood.” As part of their agreement, the partners have laid out several principals for the re-use.

They include providing for a “mixture of uses consistent” with the Genesee Street corridor as it exists within that section of South Utica; for the balance of the property, providing for upscale, single-family residential development with a mix of ownership styles (attached and detached); and scale, style, and architecture reflective of the surrounding neighborhoods and commercial districts.

“The Wynn Hospital project has been a transformational project in the City of Utica and we need to make sure that positive transformation extends to the properties being vacated, particularly St. Elizabeth,” Utica Mayor Robert Palmieri said in a statement. “While redeveloping this campus will be a challenge, it’s also an opportunity to ensure our city and its neighborhoods continue to grow and thrive. I’m happy that MVHS has committed to our shared goal of making sure that there’s something wonderful in store for South Utica and our entire city.”

With assistance from Mohawk Valley EDGE, the partners developed and issued a request for proposals, which required responses due by the afternoon of Feb. 16.

Food Bank of Southern Tier leader leaving for WSKG CEO post

Employee Benefits & Human Resources, New York News, Nonprofits, People on the Move, Regional News, Sports, Entertainment & Tourism, Subscriber Only

ELMIRA, N.Y. — The president and CEO of the Food Bank of the Southern Tier plans to step down March 17 to move to a new job. Natasha Thompson will become the new president and CEO of WSKG, the PBS (Public Broadcasting Service) and NPR (National Public Radio) member station in Binghamton. The Food Bank

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Berkshire Bank’s parent company to pay dividend of 18 cents a share in early March

Banks & Credit Unions, Regional News, Subscriber Only

Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc. (NYSE: BHLB) — parent company of Berkshire Bank, which has a major 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 will be payable on March 2, to shareholders of record as

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New CEO of St. Joseph’s Health /SPHP begins duties

Health Care, Subscriber Only

SYRACUSE — He had been serving as COO for the merged entity of St. Joseph’s Health of Syracuse and St. Peter’s Health Partners (SPHP) of Albany since last June. With the start of 2023, Dr. Steven Hanks became president and CEO of the regional health organization. Both St. Joseph’s Health and SPHP are part of

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SYRACUSE — He had been serving as COO for the merged entity of St. Joseph’s Health of Syracuse and St. Peter’s Health Partners (SPHP) of Albany since last June.

With the start of 2023, Dr. Steven Hanks became president and CEO of the regional health organization.

Both St. Joseph’s Health and SPHP are part of Livonia, Michigan–based Trinity Health. It was in late June of last year that Trinity Health announced that the entities were merging operations to deal with the financial impacts of the coronavirus pandemic.

“The past few weeks have been a whirlwind, but the incredible team of nearly 15,000 colleagues in Albany and Syracuse have been steadfast in their support as we embrace this new era for St. Joseph’s Health and St. Peter’s Health Partners,” Dr. Hanks said in the Feb. 8 announcement. “I am honored to serve as the President and CEO of this comprehensive, regional health system that is so widely known for its high-quality facilities, programs, and services, and for our ability to deliver the compassionate care our communities deserve.”

Dr. Hanks succeeds Leslie Luke as the top official at St. Joseph’s Health. As part of the restructuring effort, Luke was set to voluntarily leave the organization after a transition period, per a Trinity Health memo that CNYBJ obtained back in June.

St. Joseph’s Health tells CNYBJ that Luke is no longer with the organization. He had been the president and CEO of St. Joseph’s Health since 2017.

After a year of planning, Dr. Hanks assumed the CEO role following the retirement of Dr. James Reed at the end of 2022. Dr. Reed served for more than a decade in executive leadership at St. Peter’s.

Hanks joined SPHP in 2016 as VP and chief medical officer of Acute Care Albany, “taking on increasingly more demanding leadership roles.” He served as SPHP’s chief clinical officer beginning in 2018 and added the COO title for SPHP in October 2021.

In 2022, he served for five months as interim president and CEO while Dr. Reed was on a medical leave of absence and, during that time, was a principal architect of the plan to bring Trinity Health’s ministries in Albany and Syracuse together.

St. Joseph’s Health describes Hanks as an “experienced” physician executive with 30 years of progressive responsibility in a variety of health-care organizations.

Before coming to SPHP, he spent time at the Cerner Corporation, a global health care information-technology company in Kansas City, Missouri.

Prior to that, Hanks worked for more than a decade at Hartford HealthCare in Connecticut. During his tenure in Hartford, Hanks also held the position of assistant dean for graduate medical education at the University of Connecticut.

Hanks holds a bachelor’s degree in neurosciences from the University of Rochester, where he also received his medical degree with Distinction in Research. He completed his internship and residency in internal medicine at the University of Rochester’s Strong Memorial Hospital.

Hanks lives in Latham, near Albany. He is splitting his time between Albany and Syracuse as the new regional leader of both organizations, per the announcement.

NBT Bank to move CNY regional HQ to The Post later this year

Banks & Credit Unions, Construction, Design & Real Estate, Employee Benefits & Human Resources, Insurance & Financial Services, Regional News, Subscriber Only

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — NBT Bank says it is planning to move its Central New York regional headquarters to The Post building later this year. The Post is the rebranded name of the building that was formerly home to The Post-Standard newspaper, which VIP Development Associates, the development arm of VIP Structures, is renovating into its

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SYRACUSE, N.Y. — NBT Bank says it is planning to move its Central New York regional headquarters to The Post building later this year.

The Post is the rebranded name of the building that was formerly home to The Post-Standard newspaper, which VIP Development Associates, the development arm of VIP Structures, is renovating into its new headquarters in downtown Syracuse across from Clinton Square. The building will also provide space for other businesses. ChaseDesign, a design and business-consulting firm, has already opened an office as a tenant in The Post.

Norwich–based NBT Bank has had its CNY regional headquarters, which it calls its Syracuse Financial Center, in the Equitable Tower II (previously called AXA Tower) at 120 Madison St. for almost 20 years. Its lease was coming to an end so the bank assessed its options and landed on The Post for a couple of reasons. The first was proximity.

“We do have a branch directly across the street from The Post over at 100 Clinton Square. One of my primary goals was to get in closer proximity to that branch to make it more convenient for our customers to business with us,” David Kavney, Central New York and Mohawk Valley regional president at NBT Bank, tells CNYBJ.

NBT’s regional office includes a commercial lending team, wealth management staff, and insurance representatives. “It’ll make that interaction between our departments and our branch team much easier when it’s directly across the street,” Kavney notes. For example, a commercial-lending client who also wants to open a checking or other account with the bank will be able to do so more easily with the branch nearby.

Secondly, the layout of the new space will cater to the shift in working environment the bank has seen of late.

“The second reason is that over the past couple of years, we’ve seen a shift in our workforce. We’ve embraced the hybrid work model. We definitely feel we work better in closer proximity — better together, if you will,” Kavney says. “The new space is wide open. It’s going to allow for some hybrid work areas, offices, and workstations for those who want the flexibility. And we’ve got some great gathering space. We’ll have a spot for us to get together and collaborate in a little better fashion than we are right now.”

NBT’s Syracuse Financial Center employs about 30-35 people total, including those who work from home. “That number should remain fairly constant as we transition over to The Post,” says Kavney.

The working space at NBT’s new office will be about the same size as the bank had in the Equitable Tower but with a different, more open layout.

NBT Bank is working with VIP on the buildout and is on track to move into its new leased office at The Post in the third quarter of this year, a bank spokesperson tells CNYBJ.

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