Stay up-to-date on the companies, people and issues that impact businesses in Syracuse, Central New York and beyond.
TC3 seeks public input as the Dryden school develops strategic plan
DRYDEN, N.Y. — Tompkins Cortland Community College (TC3) in Dryden is asking the community for input as the school develops its next strategic plan. A
GSAR and CNYIS inaugurate 2025 officers
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The Greater Syracuse Association of Realtors (GSAR) and Central New York Information Service (CNYIS) recently inaugurated their 2025 slates of officers and directors during an installation event on Jan. 17. Taking the oath of office to serve GSAR were: Dave Manzano, Sr., president; Don Radke, president-elect; and Kelli Jo Maher, secretary/treasurer. Directors
Become a Central New York Business Journal subscriber and get immediate access to all of our subscriber-only content and much more.
Click here to purchase a paywall bypass link for this article.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The Greater Syracuse Association of Realtors (GSAR) and Central New York Information Service (CNYIS) recently inaugurated their 2025 slates of officers and directors during an installation event on Jan. 17.
Taking the oath of office to serve GSAR were: Dave Manzano, Sr., president; Don Radke, president-elect; and Kelli Jo Maher, secretary/treasurer. Directors Jennie Chapin, MariRae Dopke, Shelley Hoffman, Stacey Kelso O’Connor, Kathleen Kirby, Natalie Martin, Timothy McCarthy, Shauna Teelin, Tami Hoffman, Gina Scammell, and Tony Prince were also sworn into office. Nancy Quigg was sworn in as ex-officio.
Taking the oath of office to serve CNYIS were: Jennie Chapin, president; Martin Carpenter, VP; and Don Radke, secretary/treasurer. Directors Deana Ingram, RJ Long, Mary MacKaig, Mark Re, Jeff Roney, Mary Rouse, and Connie Ryan were also sworn into office.
Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon served as the installing officer for both organizations, according to the announcement.
The Greater Syracuse Association of Realtors is the trade association representing more than 2,200 realtors in Central New York. Since 1911, GSAR’s mission has been to advocate for private-property rights, and provide its members with resources to foster their business success.
The Central New York Information Service is a multiple listing service operated by a group of Central New York broker/owners. The data within the MLS is the property of the broker/owners and follows strict guidelines to ensure accuracy, sharing of information, and complete data.
Lockheed Martin’s Salina plant wins $9M Navy contract modification for submarine system support
SALINA, N.Y. — Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems was recently awarded a $9 million U.S. Navy contract modification to a previously won delivery order under a contract to exercise an option for engineering and technical support for submarine electronic-warfare systems. The pact is for new construction and in-service submarines, with work to be performed
Become a Central New York Business Journal subscriber and get immediate access to all of our subscriber-only content and much more.
Click here to purchase a paywall bypass link for this article.
SALINA, N.Y. — Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems was recently awarded a $9 million U.S. Navy contract modification to a previously won delivery order under a contract to exercise an option for engineering and technical support for submarine electronic-warfare systems.
The pact is for new construction and in-service submarines, with work to be performed in Lockheed’s Salina facility, according to a Feb. 25 contract announcement from the U.S. Department of Defense. Contract work is expected to be completed by February 2026.
Fiscal 2025 research, development, test, and evaluation (Navy) funds of $1.62 million will be obligated at the time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year, per the contract announcement. The Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington, D.C. is the contracting authority.
Work will be performed in the Lockheed Martin facility in the town of Salina, and is expected to be completed by February 2026, according to an early February contract announcement from the U.S. Department of Defense.
Fiscal 2025 research, development, test, and evaluation (Navy) funds totaling $8.57 million (85 percent); fiscal 2022 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds of $1 million (10 percent); and fiscal 2025 operation and maintenance (Navy) funds totaling $500,000 (5 percent), will be obligated at the time of award. Of that amount, $500,000 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington, D.C. is the contracting authority.
ConMed to pay dividend for Q1 in early April
ConMed Corp. (NYSE: CNMD), a surgical-device maker originally headquartered in the Utica region, recently announced that its board of directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend of 20 cents per share for the first quarter of 2025. The dividend is payable on April 4, to all shareholders of record as of March 14. At the
Become a Central New York Business Journal subscriber and get immediate access to all of our subscriber-only content and much more.
Click here to purchase a paywall bypass link for this article.
ConMed Corp. (NYSE: CNMD), a surgical-device maker originally headquartered in the Utica region, recently announced that its board of directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend of 20 cents per share for the first quarter of 2025.
The dividend is payable on April 4, to all shareholders of record as of March 14. At the company’s current stock price, the payment yields about 1.1 percent on an annual basis.
ConMed is a medical technology company that provides devices and equipment for surgical procedures. The firm’s products are used by surgeons and other health-care professionals in a variety of specialties, including orthopedics, general surgery, gynecology, thoracic surgery, and gastroenterology.
Based in Largo, Florida since 2021, ConMed still operates a facility on French Road in New Hartford, where it was formerly headquartered.
Upstate Medical University Arena to get nearly $3M in interior improvements
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Crews will spend this summer renovating the interior of the Upstate Medical University Arena at the Oncenter War Memorial. Onondaga County is providing $2.6 million in funding toward improvements at the Upstate Medical University Arena, according to a March 4 announcement from Onondaga County, ASM Global Syracuse, and the Syracuse Crunch. ASM
Become a Central New York Business Journal subscriber and get immediate access to all of our subscriber-only content and much more.
Click here to purchase a paywall bypass link for this article.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Crews will spend this summer renovating the interior of the Upstate Medical University Arena at the Oncenter War Memorial.
Onondaga County is providing $2.6 million in funding toward improvements at the Upstate Medical University Arena, according to a March 4 announcement from Onondaga County, ASM Global Syracuse, and the Syracuse Crunch.
ASM Global Syracuse is the company that manages the arena.
The work will include new lower-bowl seating, improved accessibility, and expanded event spaces. The project is an “effort to elevate the sports and entertainment experience in the Syracuse market,” per the joint announcement.
The upgrades are set to begin this summer and will be unveiled this fall, in time for the 2025-26 hockey season and the venue’s 75th anniversary.
“The entertainment, tourism and hospitality industries are a vital part of our local economy. As a growing community, it is more important than ever that we continue to make strategic investments in this space,” Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon said in the announcement. “This latest investment to improve seating and accessibility as well as expanded event space builds upon the significant investments my administration has already made at the Upstate Medical University Arena at The Oncenter War Memorial.”
For the first time in 15 years, the lower-bowl seating will be completely upgraded with new permanent seats. Irwin Seating Company, a manufacturer of audience seating, will produce and install the seats. The company is based on Grand Rapids, Michigan, per its LinkedIn profile.
The arena’s new seating will include more space, cushioned seats and backs, vinyl upholstery, cup holders, and a color scheme to match existing upper bowl seating.
“We are eager to see this renovation start to take shape, starting with the upgrades to the lower bowl seating,” Peter Casper, general manager, ASM Global Syracuse, said in the announcement. “Irwin’s seats are featured in many of the top NHL, NBA, MLB and NFL venues in the country and we are excited for guests to experience the quality and difference when they are installed in our arena.”
Scheduled to start this summer, the project will also “significantly expand” wheelchair accessible seating for hockey games. Section 123 will be reconfigured to nearly double the ADA (Americans with Disability Act) seating capacity at games, ensuring more fans can enjoy events comfortably.
Built in 1951, Upstate Medical University Arena at The Oncenter War Memorial is a 6,700-capacity venue, which hosts Syracuse Crunch home hockey games. The venue also has the versatility to accommodate numerous large-scale events, including ice shows, family shows, car shows, concerts, sports events, and conventions.
Design bids for Clarkson’s engineering complex due soon
POTSDAM — The deadline is approaching for companies interested in submitting a proposal for a concept design for the upcoming Clarkson Engineering and Applied Sciences Educational Complex. Final proposals from teams are due on Thursday March 20. Clarkson University, located in Potsdam, is asking architectural and engineering firms to team with construction managers and design
Become a Central New York Business Journal subscriber and get immediate access to all of our subscriber-only content and much more.
Click here to purchase a paywall bypass link for this article.
POTSDAM — The deadline is approaching for companies interested in submitting a proposal for a concept design for the upcoming Clarkson Engineering and Applied Sciences Educational Complex.
Final proposals from teams are due on Thursday March 20.
Clarkson University, located in Potsdam, is asking architectural and engineering firms to team with construction managers and design builders to provide proposals. The effort seeks to expand and renovate its engineering and science facilities to “meet the challenge of 21st Century STEM education.” STEM is short for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
“This is an exciting moment for Clarkson,” David Heacock, acting president and trustee of Clarkson University, said in the school’s announcement. “This is an outstanding opportunity to chart a lasting legacy for one of the nation’s leading STEM focused institutions and reinforce Clarkson’s leadership for decades to come.”
For its Engineering and Science Educational Complex, Clarkson is envisioning a $48 million expansion and renovation of the Center for Advanced Materials Processing (CAMP)/Rowley Labs facility in conjunction with significant renovations to the Cora & Bayard Clarkson Science Center building.
Firms interested in submitting proposals can access the request for proposals (RFP) document at: https://sites.google.com/clarkson.edu/clarkson-university-facilities/current-fas-solicitations. Clarkson says it will use the site to post any addendums and any procurement updates related to the opportunity.
“We are asking firms to help us advance our own planning study to the point that a clear path is developed for the expansion and renovation of our facilities to ensure we can meet the needs for Clarkson’s STEM leadership now and well into the future,” Bill Jemison, dean of the Coulter School of Engineering & Applied Sciences, said in the announcement.
The request for proposals articulates that the intent is to enter into a multi-phase design contract. The first phase involves validating the internal planning efforts to date and developing a concept design that can “clearly articulate a vision” for a phased expansion and renovation of Clarkson’s core STEM facilities.
The university building committee will review the written proposals, forming a shortlist of firms in which to conduct informal interviews. Clarkson anticipates selecting a firm/team in April.
Works progresses on $50M expansion project at Point Place Casino
SULLIVAN, N.Y. — Construction work continues on the $50 million expansion of Point Place Casino in the Bridgeport area of the town of Sullivan in Madison County. Construction crews on Feb. 4 raised the final beam into place on the project’s first phase. Before its installation, the beam was signed by Point Place Casino employees,
Become a Central New York Business Journal subscriber and get immediate access to all of our subscriber-only content and much more.
Click here to purchase a paywall bypass link for this article.
SULLIVAN, N.Y. — Construction work continues on the $50 million expansion of Point Place Casino in the Bridgeport area of the town of Sullivan in Madison County.
Construction crews on Feb. 4 raised the final beam into place on the project’s first phase. Before its installation, the beam was signed by Point Place Casino employees, the Oneida Indian Nation Council, and regional partners.
“Expanding Point Place Casino expands our shared success, making a better future not just for those of us here today, but for our grandchildren’s grandchildren unto the Seventh Generation and beyond,” Ray Halbritter, Oneida Indian Nation representative and Turning Stone Enterprises CEO, said in the announcement. “The placement of this beam is a major step toward that better future.”
The Oneida Indian Nation says the Point Place Casino will create a new multi-story hotel with an event space and a new Perfect Pour Cafe in its lobby, add a new full-service restaurant, and double the size of its gaming floor.
The project will also double the available parking space and introduce new retail space.
All of the amenities created by the expansion will begin opening in phases later this summer, the Oneida Indian Nation said.
The Point Place Casino expansion is expected to create about 250 construction jobs, along with full-time and part-time permanent roles for area residents when the expansion is complete.
“When the Oneida Indian Nation opens or expands its businesses, it’s only a matter of time until the project is finished and they’re ready to do it all over again,” Greg Lancette, president of the Central-Northern New York Building & Construction Trades Council, said in the announcement. “We can count on that because the Nation has a 30-year track record of constant reinvestment, building and growth. When that next project comes — and we know it will — it’s going to be even bigger and better than the last.”
The Oneida Indian Nation says its $50 million investment into the casino “continues its commitment to the constant growth and diversification of its enterprises and to serving as a leader in economic development and job creation for Madison County, the Mohawk Valley and all of Central New York,” per its announcement.
Crews start work on $65M BAE Systems expansion in Endicott
Project will lead to creation of up to 134 new jobs ENDICOTT — Work is underway on a $65 million project to expand operations at the Endicott location of BAE Systems. That’s according to a company spokesperson, responding to a CNYBJ inquiry on March 4. The global aerospace, defense, and information security company will add
Become a Central New York Business Journal subscriber and get immediate access to all of our subscriber-only content and much more.
Click here to purchase a paywall bypass link for this article.
ENDICOTT — Work is underway on a $65 million project to expand operations at the Endicott location of BAE Systems.
That’s according to a company spokesperson, responding to a CNYBJ inquiry on March 4.
The global aerospace, defense, and information security company will add a total of 150,000 square feet to its existing site to make way for the addition of a new battery production line and lab space, and new office space.
As a result of the expansion, BAE Systems has committed to creating up to 134 jobs onsite, Gov. Kathy Hochul and U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D–N.Y.) announced on Feb. 19.
Empire State Development is helping the project with up to $8.5 million in performance-based Excelsior Jobs program tax credits in exchange for the job-creation commitments. Broome County is also providing assistance for the project, Hochul’s office said.
BAE Systems has about 93,500 employees worldwide.
The BAE Systems facility in Endicott designs, develops, and produces a broad portfolio of safety-critical electronic systems from flight and engine controls to power and energy-management systems. The company has been operational at the Huron Campus site since 2011.
“This facility expansion reinforces our commitment to the Southern Tier and builds on New York State’s vision to create a regional hub for battery innovation,” Jim Garceau, senior director of BAE Systems, said in the governor’s announcement. “With this investment, we will enhance our capabilities to address the emerging needs of the next-generation hybrid/electric aircraft.”
The project involves the expansion of BAE Systems battery-production line, including the purchase and installation of machinery and equipment to efficiently produce an energy-storage system for electric/hybrid electric aircraft. This facility will include an automated, state-of-the-art production line, an engineering lab, and an aftermarket center. The firm expects the project will be fully complete in 2027.
“BAE Systems’ expansion will create top-quality jobs and opportunities in the Southern Tier, furthering the region’s leadership in battery technology innovation,” Hope Knight, president, CEO, and commissioner of Empire State Development, said.
Hochul’s office says the governor and Senator Schumer were “instrumental” in the company’s decision having worked closely with BAE Systems officials to “ensure that the project would move ahead in New York’s Southern Tier region,” which is focused on supporting next-generation energy efforts, described as a “top priority for the governor and senator.”
In January 2024, both Hochul and Schumer announced that the U.S. National Science Foundation had designated the New Energy New York (NENY) Storage Engine as a regional innovation engine (NSF Engine), which was created by the Senator’s CHIPS & Science Law.
The NENY Storage Engine, anchored at Binghamton University, will receive up to $15 million in federal funding for two years and up to $160 million over 10 years to establish a hub that will accelerate innovation, technology translation, and the creation of a skilled workforce to grow the capacity of the domestic battery industry.
Through Empire State Development, the state will match up to 20 percent for the first five years of the project, as well as provide support through established programs. The NENY Storage Engine was chosen for its “diverse, cross-sector coalition that will build a leading ecosystem driving battery technology innovation, workforce development and manufacturing to support U.S. national security and global competitiveness,” Hochul’s office said.
OPINION: N.Y.’s Crumbling Roads, Bridges are Stalling Economic Success
Local roads and bridges in New York state have been severely neglected for years. Investments in these critical arteries consistently fell short of what is needed to ensure safe, reliable travel for commuters, tourists and businesses living, visiting, and operating in the state. The Assembly Minority Conference is once again calling on Gov. Hochul and
Become a Central New York Business Journal subscriber and get immediate access to all of our subscriber-only content and much more.
Click here to purchase a paywall bypass link for this article.
Local roads and bridges in New York state have been severely neglected for years. Investments in these critical arteries consistently fell short of what is needed to ensure safe, reliable travel for commuters, tourists and businesses living, visiting, and operating in the state. The Assembly Minority Conference is once again calling on Gov. Hochul and her legislative allies to finally commit to meeting our infrastructure needs and provide essential funding for the roads and bridges we rely on daily.
We’re facing a grim reality: the condition of New York’s infrastructure lags well behind nearly every other U.S. state. According to the Reason Foundation’s 28th Annual Highway Report, New York ranks 45th in the nation on “pavement and bridge conditions, traffic fatalities, congestion delays, spending per mile, administrative costs, and more.”
Considering how badly the Empire State has maintained its roadways, it is disappointing to see another executive-budget proposal ignore the harsh realities of these conditions. Under Gov. Hochul’s spending plan, funding remains flat for the Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS), which subsidizes a significant portion of the state’s local road infrastructure. Aside from the deteriorating condition of local roads and bridges, failing to increase CHIPS funding ignores the harsh fiscal realities of rising costs on construction, materials, and equipment.
Members of the New York Assembly and Senate minority conferences sent a letter to the governor outlining the needs of those tasked with maintaining local infrastructure. Based on feedback from municipal-government representatives and transportation-safety advocates, we are seeking an increase in base CHIPS funding of $250 million, for a total of $848 million. Further, we are calling for a consolidation of the state’s local road assistance programs to improve efficiency and a restructuring of the bidding process to give municipalities the flexibility they need to meet these demands.
Gov. Hochul did propose adding $800 million for the state Department of Transportation’s CORE Road and Bridge Program, which is a good start. However, a much more substantial investment is needed if we are to return New York state to a world-class business and tourism destination on par with the rest of the nation and world. As we continue crafting a spending plan for the state, I urge the governor and the legislative majority conferences to think critically about New York’s future. Economic success is predicated on good planning and strategic investments; the governor’s proposed plan indicates neither is a priority.
William (Will) A. Barclay, 56, Republican, is the New York Assembly minority leader and represents the 120th New York Assembly District, which encompasses all of Oswego County, as well as parts of Jefferson and Cayuga counties.
OPINION: Federal workforce is key to America’s role in the world
It’s been a difficult [couple months] for U.S. government employees, and things seem likely to get worse for them. President Donald Trump and his adviser Elon Musk are hell-bent on dramatically shrinking government and slashing the federal workforce. They have directed department heads to fire tens of thousands of workers. The cuts are being directed
Become a Central New York Business Journal subscriber and get immediate access to all of our subscriber-only content and much more.
Click here to purchase a paywall bypass link for this article.
It’s been a difficult [couple months] for U.S. government employees, and things seem likely to get worse for them. President Donald Trump and his adviser Elon Musk are hell-bent on dramatically shrinking government and slashing the federal workforce. They have directed department heads to fire tens of thousands of workers.
The cuts are being directed by the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), headed by Musk. But firing employees without regard to their effectiveness and eliminating jobs despite their importance is the opposite of efficiency. It’s thoughtless and ultimately wasteful.
Federal employees are doing work that isn’t just important, but also, in many cases, essential. They’re making sure our Social Security payments get made and our tax returns get processed. The employees are keeping our air safe to breathe and our water safe to drink. They ensure that airplanes don’t crash and that highways and bridges are built correctly. Yes, the government, with its confusing array of departments, acronyms and rules, can seem distant and bureaucratic. But I have worked closely with federal employees during my decades in public life, and I’ve found most to be dedicated and highly professional. Laws intended to protect them from arbitrary and politically motivated firing have served the nation well.
For some of us, our mental picture of a federal employee is of a faceless Washington bureaucrat shuffling paper. Or we may think of people we know: a neighbor who works in a local Veterans Affairs (VA) office or a nephew with a job in a government research lab somewhere in Virginia.
It turns out that 80 percent of the more than 2 million federal employees work outside of the Washington, D.C. metro area, and many work outside the United States. The State Department maintains 271 embassies and consulates, staffed by tens of thousands of employees, in 173 countries. In some cases, those employees are deployed to unstable areas where their safety can be at risk. They are crucial to America’s role in the world.
Almost anyone who has run into difficulties while traveling in another country has had reason to be grateful for [our State Department employees]. Problems with money, missed travel connections, or lost identification can seem overwhelming when you’re in a country where you don’t speak the language or know the local byways. I experienced this myself years ago as a student traveling in Europe. In 2023, State Department employees and teams assisted 70,000 Americans in crises.
Civilian-government employees are also essential on U.S. military bases in other countries. More than 70 percent of the federal workforce is employed in defense and security-related agencies, including the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs, according to the Partnership for Public Service, [a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization based in Washington, D.C. that says its mission is to inspire a new generation of civil servants and to transform the way government works]. Government workers are much more likely than the general population to be veterans.
Trump and Musk have been especially aggressive in moving to dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the primary government entity for helping countries recover from disaster, escape poverty, and undertake democratic reforms. The administration placed most of its employees on leave, creating a chaotic situation in which food aid was reportedly stranded in warehouses and life-saving health and medical programs were disrupted.
It can be argued that Trump was elected to make changes, and his anti-government rhetoric resonated with much of the electorate. But indiscriminate dismantling of the government and demonizing of its workforce is cruel, short-sighted, and wrong. Federal employees are responsible for essential work. We’re all better off if they are treated with respect.
Lee Hamilton, 93, is a senior advisor for the Indiana University (IU) Center on Representative Government, distinguished scholar at the IU Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies, and professor of practice at the IU O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs. Hamilton, a Democrat, was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for 34 years (1965-1999), representing a district in south-central Indiana.
Stay up-to-date on the companies, people and issues that impact businesses in Syracuse, Central New York and beyond.