OCBM #160 Feb/March 19

OSWEGO COUNTY

BUSINESS February / March 2019

OswegoCountyBusiness.com

New in Town Tim McKernan is the facility manager for EJ USA. The company is moving to Oswego County (from Cicero) and bringing with it nearly 100 workers

PROGRESS ISSUE Yes, Central New York’s economy is growing a lot faster than in recent years, but not as fast as other Upstate cities like Buffalo, Rochester or Albany.

Inside: The Transformation of Downtown Oswego

$4.50 $4.50

WE CARE LIKE FAMILY

We are growing and have exciting career opportunities in the health care industry.

To join our talented, professional team, please visit one of our care facilities career pages for available positions.

Become a part of Our Family!

Life in balance.

A company philosophy that speaks to a continual process of individual and collective development to improve our well-being, quality of life and personal relationships.

17 Sunrise Drive Oswego, NY 13126 315-342-4790 | www.MorningstarCares.com

Our Mission.

To provide people in our community with healthcare, customer services, support & employment to achieve their individual best quality of life.

Our Vision.

RESIDENTIAL CARE CENTER

To redefine skilled nursing care through successful team development, use of technology, progressive service and being a strong community partner.

Our Team.

Registered Nurses Licensed Nurses Certified Nursing Assistants Physical Therapists Occupational Therapists Speech Therapists Social Workers Recreational Therapists Dietitians

Waterville

Nurse Aides Housekeeping Laundry Finance Maintenance Medical Records

220 Tower Street, Waterville, NY 13480 315-841-4156 | www.WatervilleCares.com

Assisted Living Community

132 Ellen Street, Oswego, NY 13126 315-343-0880 | www.TheGardensByMorningstar.com

Aaron

Manor

Rehabilitation and Nursing Center

100 St. Camillus Way, Fairport, NY 14450 585-377-4000 | www.AaronManor.com

Nationally Recognized Stroke Care.

Say “Take Me to Crouse.”

As one of just 10 hospitals in New York State to have earned Comprehensive Stroke Center certification, Crouse Health is proud to provide the full range of stroke care services.

Minutes Matter Comprehensive stroke centers are the best-equipped medical centers in a geographical area that can treat any kind of stroke or stroke complication.

At Crouse, receiving fast stroke diagnosis and treatment starts even before patients arrive at the Emergency Room. Once on the scene, our Emergency Medical Services partners start communicating with our ER and stroke teams, providing information vital for immediate treatment.

Working together, we’re consistently meeting — and exceeding — aggressive door-totreatment times that surpass the U.S. average. Crouse provides options for post-stroke rehabilitation, as well as continuing education to patients, our EMS partners and the community about the risks factors and signs of stroke.

Advanced Stroke Rescue Crouse is the only hospital in the region equipped with two hybrid operating room suites, allowing our multidisciplinary stroke team to provide the most advanced endovascular stroke rescue capabilities 24/7.

Exceeding Stroke Treatment Standards Median Time (minutes)

37

2016

38.5

2017 2018

35

YTD

Source: AHA/ASA Get With the Guidelines

If tPA is given within three hours of symptoms, the effects of stroke decrease significantly. Crouse has earned the American Heart/Stroke Association’s Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite Plus recognition for meeting — and exceeding — AHA guidelines for giving tPA within 45 minutes.

Community Partner KNOW YOUR STROKE SIGNS

F. A. S. T.

FACE DROOPING

ARM WEAKNESS

SPEECH DIFFICULTY

TIME TO CALL 911

As a New York State-designated Primary Stroke Center since 2007, we’ve worked to raise awareness in our community about the warning signs of stroke.

With our designation as a DNV Comprehensive Stroke Center and home to the region’s newest ER, Crouse Health continues to deliver superior stroke care to Central New York patients.

S T R O K E ? C A L L 911. crouse.org/stroke

FEBRUARY / MARCH 2019

OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

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FEBRUARY/MARCH 2019 • Issue 160

PROFILE JAMES WEATHERUP

COVER STORY

EJ USA preps for full production in Oswego County. It’s bringing nearly 100 jobs with the move

50

A life-long Central Square resident, he is already full steam at his new government job: chairman of Oswego County Legislature.

Weatherup has adopted a 3-D approach: digest, discuss and decide what’s best for all....15

SPECIAL FEATURES Open for Business Wall 2 Wall Floor Covering and Orton’s Motorsports are among the first DBAs in 2019..........................................25 Tax Season: What to Avoid Making a few crucial mistakes can cost your business a lot of money....................................................32 New Syracuse Airport $63.3 million renovation brings airport into the 21st century..............................................................................................36 Burritt’s $10 M Expansion Rich Burritt discusses major expansion at his Oswego dealerships ...................................................38

• 2019: What to expect. Twenty people share their expectations • CNY’s economy is growing OK but not as fast as other Upstate regions • Lowest unemployment rate in decades • Analysis of seven key economic sectors in Central New York • The Transformation of Downtown Oswego • Fulton: Onward and upward • CenterState CEO’s report • Top seven projects in Oswego County

Gun Shops Thriving Small gun shops remain strong despite competition from big-box gun retailers.................................................40 Starting Up What does it take to start a business in 2019?...........46 Marketing Twenty ways to improve your plans.............................48

SUCCESS STORY George Joyce, CEO at Laser Transit Ltd. in Lacona, has transformed his company into a strong player in transportation and third-party logistics in Central New York.....................92

DEPARTMENTS On the Job What are your goals for 2019?................................................9 How I Got Started: Tom Dunsmoor, Dunsmoor Construction................12 Where is Sandra Scott Bruges, northwest of Belgium.............................20 Newsmakers .................................................................................................22 My Turn The incompetent boss and the Peter Principle ......................44 Economic Trends Economic advancement plan progress report .........63

Recently-renovated Mama Gina’s now offers wood-fired pizza 30 4

Guest Columnist Four ways to make yourself indispensable ..............95 Last Page

Chena Tucker, Workforce Development Board..................98

OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

FEBRUARY / MARCH 2019

For years, Independence Power Plant

Independence Power Plant: Proudly Powering New York.

employees have been committed to this community and to powering Oswego County and New York with safe, reliable, and affordable electricity.

Now, Independence is part of Luminant, a company that’s been committed to the communities where its employees live, work, and serve for nearly 140 years.

Our name may be different, but our commitment will never change.

www.luminant.com

Call Bond when you want a law firm that understands your unique business needs and opportunities.

We take the time to consider every angle and provide you with personalized solutions. We’re a firm devoted to a thriving future for our clients and the communities in which we live.

Bond See Things From Every Angle

Want to learn more? Visit bsk.com or contact Rick Weber at rweber@bsk.com or Sunny Tice at stice@bsk.com.

One Lincoln Center, Syracuse, NY 13202 • 315.218.8000

bsk.com FEBRUARY / MARCH 2019

OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

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Affordable Business Solutions............................10 Allanson-Glanville-Tappan Funeral Home...................65 ALPS Professional Services..............................24 BarclayDamon.......................47 BioSpherix..............................26 Bond, Schoeneck & King, Attorneys at Law................5 Borio’s Restaurant.................33 Bosco & Geers........................24 Breakwall Asset Management.....................18 Broadwell Companies........100 Brookfield Renewable Power...................................8 Buckingham Brothers...........84 Builder’s FirstSource............29 Burke's Home Center............29 Burritt Motors..........................6 C & S Companies..................17 Canale's Italian Cuisine........33 Canale’s Insurance & Accounting .......................13 Century 21 Galloway Realty...............29 Century 21 Leah’s Signature...............61 Chase Enterprises..................79 CNY Comm. Foundation.......7 ConnextCare..........................11

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Crouse Hospital.......................3 D-K Manufacturing...............62 Davis-Standard LLC.............75 Dunsmoor Construction......23 E J USA....................................65 Eastern Shore Asso. Ins........61 Eis House................................33 Family Health PC..................73 Financial Partners of Upstate...............................54 Fitzgibbons Agency..............84 Food Bank of CNY................75 Foster Funeral Home............79 Fulton Community Development Agency......10 Fulton Oswego Motor Express...............................84 Fulton Savings Bank.............17 Fulton Taxi..............................65 Gartner Equipment...............61 Greater Oswego Fulton Chamber of Commerce...35 Harborfest..............................45 Hematology-Oncology Associates of CNY..............6 J P Jewelers.............................35 Johnston Gas..........................24

Key Bank................................84 Laser Transit...........................13 Lawn King..............................19 Local 43 (NECA EBEW).......78 Longley Brothers...................29 Luminant — Independent Station..................................5 MACNY..................................34 Mimi's Drive Inn...................33 Mitchell Speedway Printing................................8 Mr. Sub ...................................33 Operation Oswego Co..........99 Oswego Community Development Office.........43 Oswego County FCU............87 Oswego Co. Mutual Ins........62 Oswego Co. OB-GYN...........73 Oswego County Opportunities OCO.........62 Oswego County Stop DWI..26 Oswego Health .....................14 Oswego Speedway................35 Pathfinder Bank.....................54 Patterson Warehousing........84 Port City Collision ................10 Port of Oswego Authority....87

Prosachik Law Firm..............19 RanMar Tractor......................26 RiverHouse Restaurant........33 Riverside Artisans.................35 Rudy's.....................................33 Salvatore Lanza Law.................

13SBDC – Small Business Development Center........47 Scriba Electric.........................23 Sorbello and Sons Inc...........26 Spereno Construction...........29 Springside at Seneca Hill.....73 SUNY Oswego – MBA Program.............................99 SUNY Oswego, Office of Business and Community Development....................54 Sweet-Woods Memorial.......24 The Gardens at Morningstar .......................2 Tully Hill Chemical Dependency Treatment Ctr.......................................73 United Wire Technology......78 Valley Locksmith...................23 Vashaw’s Collision................62 Volney Multiplex...................23 WD Malone............................29 White’s Lumber & Building Supply...............24 Woodland Acres....................19 WRVO.....................................96

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OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

FEBRUARY / MARCH 2019

Bernie Henderson stands in his backyard on Lake Ontario.

I’ve always been civically engaged both as a board member and volunteer for multiple nonprofit organizations. Whether it is basic human needs, literacy, historic preservation or something in between, there is one common thread that connects all of my charitable interests: community.

Rooted Giving: Bernie Henderson

I am a native Oswegonian; my family’s history in Oswego County goes back generations. This – coupled with my upbringing on a farm where I lived the family maxim “work hard and don’t complain” – instilled in me a strong sense of commitment to people and place.

It was natural for me to choose Oswego County as the benefactor of my charitable legacy. By directing a portion of my estate to the Community Foundation for the benefit of the Oswego County Community Foundation, an endowment fund that supports community needs in Oswego County, I hope to set an example that will inspire others. This region is worth working to preserve and enhance for generations.

FEBRUARY / MARCH 2019

Read more of Bernie’s story at Henderson.5forCNY.org

OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

since 1927 cnycf.org (315) 422-9538

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CNY’S BUSINESS MAGAZINE OswegoCountyBusiness.com Editor and Publisher Wagner Dotto

Associate Editor Lou Sorendo

www.speedwaypress.com Speedway Press P.O. Box 815 1 Burkle Street Oswego, Ny 13126 Phone: (315) 343-3531 Fax: (315)343-3577

www.speedwaypress.com

Columnists

L. Michael Treadwell Bruce Frassinelli, Sandra Scott Sharon E. Jones

Writers & Contributing Writers

Deborah Jeanne Sergeant Christopher Malone Kenneth Sturtz, Aaron Gifford, Sarah McCrobie, Payne Horning

Advertising

Peggy Kain Ashley Slattery

Office Assistant Kimberley Tyler

Layout and Design Dylon Clew-Thomas

Oswego County Business is published by Local News, Inc., which also publishes CNY Summer Guide, Business Guide, CNY Winter Guide, College Life, In Good Health– The Healthcare Newspaper (four editions), CNY Healthcare Guide and 55PLUS, a Magazine for Active Adults (two editions)

THIN ICE ON RIVERS & RESERVOIRS

Published bimonthly (6 issues a year) at 185 E. Seneca Street PO Box 276 Oswego, NY 13126.

Subscription: $21.50 a year; $35 for two years

WARNING! Water and ice conditions can change quickly and without notice, pay attention to your surroundings.

Make safety a priority! Stay at a safe distance from dams

© 2019 by Oswego County Business.

All rights reserved.

PRSRT STD US Postage PAID Bullafo, NY Permit No. 4725

How to Reach Us

P.O. Box 276 Oswego, NY 13126 Phone: 315-342-8020 Fax: 315-342-7776 Email: Editor@OswegoCountyBusiness.com

safewaters.com 8

OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

FEBRUARY / MARCH 2019

ON THE JOB

What Are Your Goals for 2019 Interviews by Deborah Jeanne Sergeant “Our goal is getting the word out there about all our services. For example, I did a survey and found that my customers thought I ordered our trophies in. I make and design them right in-house. I cut columns to size and build them from the base up.

Also, our goal is to approach other businesses with what we do. We’re 33 years in business and our own city does not know all that we are capable of doing.”

Donna Lupien, owner, Lupien’s Gifts & Engraving, Oswego “We’re a residential real estate firm that just celebrated our 10th anniversary. It grew from my husband and me to 62 agents in three

FEBRUARY / MARCH 2019

offices. We’d love to add another office this year and help deal with the housing crunch. Sales are down because of that. We need enough houses to sell. Our goal is to ensure our agents have enough support from us. We also have goals to give back to the community.”

Elenore Arquette, broker and co-owner, Century 21 Arquette Properties, Camillus, Fayetteville and Boonville “We want to complete a new, 56-unit apartment complex called Champlain Commons, located on City Line Road in Scriba, which will offer residents a nice, new, modern and affordable place to live.”

Diane Cooper-Currier,

OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

executive director, Oswego County Opportunities, Inc., Fulton “Our goal is to meet the changing needs in the industry. In this type of business, you have to provide what people want. We provide cemetery memorials in bronze and granite, but if they want it, we offer sandblasting if someone has a boulder they want to use for this purpose. Or if they want a bronze plaque. We also do pet markers as well. It doesn’t matter to us if it’s for pets or people. We do signs for businesses or for the edge of their driveway. We have to stay openminded about what people want.”

Dennis Goss, owner, Sweet-Wood Memorials, Phoenix, Brewerton, Camillus “We plan to add new workflow, train staff on new product lines, increase sales via the 019 marketing plan and help customers grow.”

John M Henry, CEO, Speedway Press, Mitchell Printing & Mailing Inc, The Phoenix Press, Oswego “We are launching our third

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PORT CITY COLLISION No job is too big or too small!

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We work with All Insurance Companies FREE ESTIMATES * OPENMONDAY-FRIDAY

“You’re not a Number…It’s Personal”!

315-342-0291

428 W. 1st St. Oswego, NY www.portcitycollision.net rsixberry@gmail.com

Grow Your Business

in Fulton

The City of Fulton is an attractive place to locate and expand your business. Fulton’s abundance of water and energy, central location and highly productive workforce has attracted large and small businesses into the community.

Among other things, we offer: • Revolving Loan Packages • Micro-Enterprise Loan Program • Technical Assistance For more information, call 593-7166 or visit us online at fultoncda.com

Advertise in Oswego County Business — CNY’s only business magazine — for as little as $71 per month. Reach more than 25,000 readers in the region. Call 315-342-8020 10

location in Saratoga, so getting that opened is goal No. 1. We are also looking to open a fourth location this summer, so that’s the next move.

Those are our clear, measurable goals at the moment. Some permanent goals are that we are always striving to create an even better culture for our team members to work. People are our biggest asset, so keeping our team members happy is paramount to our success — that, combined with keeping our clients happy, of course. We’re always striving for new ways to innovate and revolution our industry, certainly that applies to our world class clientele.”

Anthony Nappa, founder and owner, Saving Face Barbershop, Syracuse “Now that I have moved my practice from an office building in Fayetteville to the beautiful wellness center inside Dharma Yoga Syracuse, I look forward to coming to work more than ever. However, the goal for My Oils Life remains the same: to help as many people as possible create natural, healthy, balanced lives with Young Living essential oils and hands-on healing.”

Leslie Eimas, licensed massage therapist, president, My Oils Life, Liverpool “With the opening of Fulton’s first Community Arts Center, our goal is to develop the full potential of the new space with arts programming and community events that encourages active participation and positive growth.”

Nancy Fox, executive director, CNY Community Arts Center, Fulton “Our goal is a community working together to fight substance abuse and protect its youth from the dangers of addiction.”

Tyler Ahart, Drug Free Communities project coordinator, Oswego County Prevention Coalition, Oswego “We want to increase number of customers.”

Stephen Braun, owner/programmer, Tailored Web Solutions, Oswego “Exceptional Family Resources began a new program through OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

ACCES-VR this year, where we will provide work readiness services to students. Our overall goal is to grow our employment services department this year by 50 percent.”

Glenda Criss, director of Habilitation Services, Exceptional Family Resources, Syracuse “Our goal for 2019 is to continue to bring the best local talent and the best local cuisine to Central New York. Look for us: theater in your own backyard.”

Tammy Lynn Wilkinson, director, Theatre Du Jour, Oswego “Our goal is to serve more clients in more ways.”

Theresa Wilkins, executive director, Pregnancy Care Center of Oswego County, Oswego, Fulton, Pulaski, Bernhard’s Bay “Our goals are to continue the growth we experienced in 2018, possibly make some equipment upgrades to keep up with demand.”

Tom Brady, owner, Fulton Screen Printing, Fulton “Our goals for 2019 are to continue to grow market share and be the leader in the beverage industry for the territory that we service.”

Dan Dorsey Jr., president, Eagle Beverage Company, Oswego “Our goals here at the Oswego County Health Department for 2019 include our continued work on strategic planning for the agency.

Our mission is to promote wellness, prevent disease, and protect all who live, work, play or learn in Oswego County, to achieve a healthier community, through leadership and collaboration. Our vision is a healthy, thriving community for all.”

Tammy Thompson, director of Programs for Children with Special Needs, Oswego County Health Department, Oswego “I am a self-employed artist.

My goals are about creating wider dialogues about social injustice through creating original works of art.”

Amy Bartell, AE Originals, Syracuse

FEBRUARY / MARCH 2019

Say hello to healthy.

54 dedicated physicians and healthcare providers.

Say hello to a more convenient way to stay healthy in Oswego County. Formerly known as NOCHSI, ConnextCare offers a comprehensive set of services family and internal medicine, pediatrics, dentistry, psychiatry, social work under one medical group. Patients within our network can now visit any of six locations at any time. And because we’re seamlessly connected, our staff can access your medical records at the touch of a button. It’s a faster, more convenient and easier way to keep yourself and your family healthy.

FEBRUARY / MARCH 2019

Learn more at connextcare.org — or better yet, stop in to one of our six sites Located in Fulton, Mexico, Oswego, Parish, Phoenix, Pulaski and say hello.

OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

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Started How I Got

Tom Dunsmoor Armed with a strong work ethic, owner of Dunsmoor Construction sees highest ever sales growth in 2018

By Lou Sorendo

How did you initially acquire the skills necessary to become a contractor?

I grew up on an onion farm. My parents — Ross and Louise Dunsmoor — instilled a strong work ethic and taught my brothers and I to take pride in what we did and to be honest in life. My roots and working on the farm played a big part of who I am today, and my parents worked hard and always pushed me.

Describe the beginning your career.

When I was 19, I bought my first house and this was the first of many housing rehab projects. I worked with a Canadian carpenter, Candide Michaud, and together we started doing jobs building houses, warehouses, and additions. I also worked in Phoenix and Boston on construction jobs, but returned to Oswego and started doing small jobs.

Was it at that point that you started your business?

I was dating my wife, Michelle, and she encouraged me to start my own legitimate construction business. She turned to a friend, Romao Caruso, who assisted in the set up of the business. We launched our construction business in 1988, a year before we were married. After Michelle graduated from business school, she had already worked for the Caruso family and was employed at Usherwood Business Equipment.

She brought strong office and financial skills to the business from its very start.

How did you grow the business?

As I worked in the carpentry field, my skills grew over the years as I expanded in the type of work I did and also cultivated my customer base. When I started doing bigger jobs, I developed relationships with other contractors in the construction field and was able to maintain successful relationships. I developed a balance of business and steady construction operations. I have had many long time employees over the years, and Michaud has worked with me on my crew for over 14 years.

Also, Daniel Stacy has worked for me for 20 years.

Tom Dunsmoor said his 30-year-old company, Dunsmoor Construction, had its best year ever in 2018. He is shown with his wife, Michelle. The company employs eight full-time employees and a number of subcontractors.

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OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

What were some of the major overhead costs involved in launching the business?

FEBRUARY / MARCH 2019

My business started small and I bought equipment necessary to do the jobs as I could afford them. The biggest expense to my business has been workers’ compensation and liability insurance. I have never used outside financial sources to run my business until a few years ago when I did some larger jobs. I established a business line of credit with Pathfinder Bank and I use it as necessary when working on larger projects. I also use Pathfinder Bank to finance equipment purchases necessary for my jobs.

How important has your wife and business partner been in helping to sustain the business?

Michelle has always done the office work, bookkeeping and human resources for the construction business and kept us financially organized with the large amounts of projects we have always had going on. She also does the bookkeeping for our onion farm, my partnership with Dr. Corliss Varnum at Port City Family Medicine, Whitewater Commons at Bridie Square, and our rental properties. Her input and workload are critical to smooth operations.

You hit the milestone of 30 years in business last February. What have been the keys to your longevity and success over those years?

This is what I love to do. I love to design, build and transform buildings into something nicer. It is rewarding to see the final results. I enjoy seeing people happy with what they get as a result of our hard work.

Do you do contracting work in Arizona during the winter months?

I spend time in Arizona from January to April, but I continue construction operations here in Oswego. My employees are reliable and capable and we have the tools of technology today so that I am able to effectively communicate with them and oversee the jobs and their progress. Michelle has her office set up in Arizona so that she is able to continue all office operations during those months as well.

Do you have further plans in terms of growing and expanding the business is Oswego County?

I am always open to new opportunity. I enjoy doing projects like my buildings at Whitewater Commons FEBRUARY / MARCH 2019

at Bridie Square and the Port City Family Medicine office building. If the right opportunity presents itself, I will be eager to take it on.

What is the most gratifying aspect of being your own boss and calling your own shots from a business perspective?

The flexibility to do other things in life, meaning having the opportunity to spend time with family. But owning and running your own business has a side that most people do not see. Michelle and I work countless hours on nights and weekends, but I do take time to enjoy life. I know firsthand how important that really is.

In terms of sales, how is your company growing?

We don’t release figures related to annual sales, but I can say that our sales for 2018 were the highest in the 31 years we have been in business and that the economy in our area for our business is on the upswing.

Dunsmoor Construction employs eight full-time employees. We also work with several subcontractors we use regularly.

What is your retirement scenario? Do you have a succession plan?

I hope to continue work in the construction field for years to come, but would like to spend more time in Arizona during the winter months.

As far as someone taking over when I retire, that is hard to say at this point.

Both of my sons are successful on their own, with my oldest son, T.J., running our onion farm and my son, Eric, employed by Novelis. They are both happy with their careers and want to start their own families, but who knows what the future holds?

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OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

FEBRUARY / MARCH 2019

PROFILE

By Lou Sorendo

JAMES WEATHERUP As the new chairman of the Oswego County Legislature, Central Square native brings positive vibe to local government

L

et’s just say James Weatherup has 3-D vision. His mantra as the new chairman of the Oswego County Legislature is: digest, discuss and decide what’s best for all.

Weatherup, 61, has been involved in politics on the local level for many years, and said he has enjoyed the challenge.

He served as town supervisor in Hastings as well as the Republican majority leader for the county legislature.

He has represented District 9 in the county since 2014.

“When [former chairman] Shane Broadwell mentioned he was stepping down because of time constraints, I was asked by a number of fellow legislators to pursue the position, and humbly, here we are.”

Weatherup characterized what his duties are as legislative chairman.

“Obviously there is a component of chairing the legislative meeting once a month, which is what is sometimes the most visible,” he said.

Weatherup said it’s his fellow legislators that serve on committees who do the heavy lifting.

“One of my functions is to see that legislators have all the pertinent information to make the best decisions for the residents of Oswego County,” he said.

Weatherup said he also represents Oswego County on a bigger stage to attract industry and business to the area.

“We have a terrific community here and it is one of my jobs to make sure we can grow our county all that we can, so the children of tomorrow have opportunities and want to stay here,” he said.

Weatherup said he is ready to take on some of the more challenging aspects of leading the legislature.

“I think the hardest thing is to get us all to see through someone else’s eyes,” he said. “All of the legislators were ‘hired’ by the public to represent them to the best of their abilities, and sometimes personalities get in the way.

FEBRUARY / MARCH 2019

“You might not have realized there were two sides to every issue if you only hear yourself speaking.”

As a result, legislators need to look at what is best for the most, not just folks in their particular areas of governance.

“Hopefully, I can bridge the divide and build consensus, and maybe a little respect for a differing point of view,” said Weatherup, noting divisiveness is “really not that big” of an issue.

“Honestly, we really are not that far apart, and we all want what is best for the most,” said Weatherup, noting there are five Democrats and 20 Republicans on the legislature.

“I don’t have a problem at all listening, and sometimes an opposing viewpoint brings a perspective that the ‘other’ side hadn’t considered,” he said. “If we can make decisions jointly, terrific.”

In terms of skill sets, Weatherup said he is not only a good listener, but strives to be fair.

“I can be stubborn like anybody, but changing my mind isn’t out of the question,” he said.

“I try to find common ground, but when it finally comes down to hitting the button, there needs to be a decision,” he said. “What I think I can do is let everyone know that the team and I listened, and although you might not agree every time, your viewpoint was considered.”

Weatherup said it’s really a question of “being as fair as you can, and treating someone like

OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

you would like to be treated.”

Rolling up the sleeves Upon becoming chairman, Weatherup said he was intent on lawmakers resuming activity on a variety of programming and planning initiatives recently put into motion and follow those through to fruition.

He said Broadwell was instrumental in establishing a significant amount

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of positive relationships that have been carefully cultivated and nurtured.

Those include regional efforts to promote business in the area, as well as working with neighboring counties to form the highly successful Oswego County Land Bank concept.

The land bank facilitates the return of vacant and abandoned properties to productive use.

Weatherup said there is also a “newfound synergy” among the legislature and cities, schools, villages and towns in the county “that should pay back handsomely in the near future.”

An example of that is the recently formed Community Safety Initiative Committee.

The committee brings together several local agencies to help enhance safety in schools and municipalities through education, training and guidance.

Weatherup noted the initiative is a coordinated effort among the legislature, sheriff’s department, E-911, emergency medical services, the district and county attorney’s offices, the Center for Instruction, Technology & Innovation, fire coordinators and representatives from the mayors’ and town supervisors’ associations.

This initiative is to ensure the county has a unified response in a worse case scenario.

“It could possibly be the best thing we ever do, and I hope we never use it,” he said.

Meanwhile, Weatherup expressed excitement regarding progress at the Oswego County Airport.

A new terminal building is in the works as well as construction of a new hangar, while the facility plans on applying for grants to build a public sewer system to serve the site.

“There are discussions with other municipalities involving infrastructure needs that the county has been helping with, and overall we have been at the forefront of grant procurement for our community by working with, rather than against, other entities that make up our county,” he said.

The lack of wastewater systems and other infrastructure in parts of Oswego County was identified as a major obstacle to economic development in the 2017 Strategic Economic Advancement Plan.

While infrastructure needs are capturing attention, the ability to reduce taxes without affecting services is perhaps Weatherup’s greatest challenge.

“We need some fresh eyes on the question as a whole,” he said. “With Albany and Washington pushing un16

An avid snowmobiler, James Weatherup is the founding member and first president of the Square Valley Trailblazers Snowmobile Club. funded mandates down to the local level without a clear path to pay for them, there are many hard questions that county government needs to ask everyday.”

These questions include, “Is it necessary?” “Is there another way?” and “Can it wait?”

Weatherup said these challenges don’t stop at the county level.

“All the towns, villages and cities will need to get innovative to survive, and we hope to partner with any and all that can help,” he said.

Lifelines

Birth date: Aug. 28, 1957 Birthplace: Central Square Current residence: Central Square; same house for over 30 years Education: Central Square Central Schools; Northwood Institute, Midland, Mich.

Career highlights: Being employed by the same company, Pair Gain Communications, for 22 years, rising from installer to installation supervisor-Northeast (Virginia to Maine) Affiliations: Life member, Central Square Fire Company, Square Valley Trailblazers Snowmobile Club Personal: Wife Kathleen; son Thomas (daughter-in-law Rachel, grandchildren Mia and Kacey); daughter Erin (son-in-law William); and sons Sean and Ryan Hobbies: Golfing, boating, snowmobiling, camping OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

Career in telecommunications Weatherup is the installation supervisor at Pair Gain Communications on South Bay Road in Cicero. The business specializes in commercial telecommunications. It provides engineering, equipment, installation and logistics support.

After finding construction work slow one winter 25 years ago, Weatherup began working as an installer for a major telecommunications firm in New York City, an opportunity presented to him by a friend.

“I thought I would work the winter and then go back to outside construction, but I received a few promotions and raises and thought, ‘I might stick this out a while.’”

Stick it out he did. He worked the NYC job for three years while commuting home on weekends.

When an opportunity arose to work for Central New York-based Pair Gain Communications, a telecommunications company involved in major installs, he jumped on board and has never looked back.

“It was good to get out of city life and come home,” he said.

A native and lifelong resident of Central Square, Weatherup, an avid snowmobiler, said the change of seasons and scenery has always been a draw for him.

He is the founding member and first president of the Square Valley Trailblazers Snowmobile Club.

“I really enjoy where we live and work. From the lakes, mountains, rivers and forests, sometimes we don’t realize just how nice it really is here,” he said.

Weatherup said he does not yet have an ideal retirement scenario in mind.

“I like visiting and traveling, but don’t see where I would move away.

And now I have grandkids two doors away,” he said.

Weatherup is a life member of the Central Square Fire Company.

“I’ve lived in Central Square all my life, basically next door to my parents, two doors from my grandkids, and across the street from my brother,” Weatherup said. “If I can help, I will. We all give back the best we can.

Sometimes it’s hard to measure but we all want the best for our family and friends. Sometimes that involves a visible effort, sometimes not. We are all in this together.”

FEBRUARY / MARCH 2019

For Answers to All Your Questions, Call or Email

FEBRUARY / MARCH 2019

OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

17

Publisher’s note

By Wagner Dotto

T

he hottest place in Central New York right now? No doubt, it’s downtown Oswego.

The number of projects taking place in the city is extraordinary — in nearly 30 years living in the area, I don’t recall seeing so many projects happening at the same time.

Folks at the economic development office in Oswego say people won’t recognize downtown in a year or two. I tend to agree with the assessment.

Some of the development is the result of a $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative grant secured by the state in 2016. The money is gradually being applied to a number of projects that will increase, among other things, commercial space, housing and entertainment venues.

Private investment is also playing a significant role.

Associate Editor Lou Sorendo interviewed Oswego Mayor Billy Barlow and writes a succinct report on all the projects happening in Oswego.

The story is on page 82.

In addition to discussing downtown Oswego, this Progress Issue focuses on major developments happening throughout Central New York. There is a great deal going on on many fronts — tourism, manufacturing, education, healthcare and in other sectors.

It’s hard not to feel optimistic about the region after going through all the stories in this issue of Oswego County Business, CNY’s only business magazine.

I’d also like to refer readers to the story written by Aaron Gifford on page 56. He interviewed Gary Keith, regional economist for M&T Bank, shortly after Keith delivered a presentation in January on the state of the region’s economy at CenterState CEO’s Annual Economic Forecast Breakfast.

Keith is optimistic about the region and shared some data showing how Central New York is doing better than it did in the past. One example is

the region’s gross domestic product.

It increased 1.5 percent from 2017 to the end of 2018, compared to .50 percent in the previous year.

But Keith puts that growth into a larger perspective. Yes, CNY is growing, he said, but other Upstate New York cities — Western New York, Rochester area and the Capital District —are experiencing much faster growth. On top of that, we need to keep in mind, as Keith pointed out, that Upstate overall lags behind other regions across the country.

In other words, things are looking up but there is a lot more work to do to catch up.

WAGNER DOTTO is the publisher of Oswego County Business Magazine.

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Where in the World is Sandra Scott?

By Sandra Scott

Bruges, A Fairy-tale Town E

urope has many wonderful places to visit that are not on the Top 10 destinations for travelers.

One such place is Bruges (Brugge in Dutch), a fairy-tale medieval town in the northwest of Belgium often referred to as “The Venice of the North.”

Wandering the cobbled streets past medieval buildings and canals is a step into the past. It is one of Europe’s best preserved cities. For many, the secret is already out; during the busy summer months there is a constant stream of tourists so the best time to visit is in spring.

Get acquainted and soak in the ambiance of the city by walking or cycling around. The streets and laneways are well marked and there are plenty of walking maps in hotel lobbies, cafes and also from one of the three tourist offices. Then see the city from the water. It is designed for picture-taking with overhanging willow trees, bridges, historic homes, and swans. The canals pass through the historic area and the ride is very romantic. The 30-minutes boat tour has multi-lingual guides to share the stories and history of the city

and turns around in Minnewater, a picturesque pond with elegant white swans.

Bruges is home to two unique religious objects. Joseph of Arimathea brought the blood of Christ to Belgium from the Holy Land. At certain hours every day visitors can get in line to touch or kiss the cloth with the holy blood. Architecturally the basilica is interesting. It is housed in the Basilica of the Holy Blood with a treasury room that is home to the jewel-studded reliquary which is part of Bruges’ large annual parade on

The town of Bruges in the northwest of Belgium often referred to as “The Venice of the North.”

20

OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

FEBRUARY / MARCH 2019

Ascension Day. Only one of Michelangelo’s sculptures left Italy during his lifetime and it is in Bruges. The sculpture is of Mary holding the infant Jesus and is different from some of his others in that it shows Mary looking lovingly at Jesus. Appropriately, it is located in the Church of Our Lady.

Bruges is world renowned for its lace and chocolate so it is not surprising that there are museums devoted to both. The Lace Center is located in an old lace school run by the Sister of the Immaculate Conception. The multimedia displays explain the types of lace, the industry, along with demonstrations and lace-making courses. The Chocolate Museum has everything you wanted to know about chocolate from its beginnings in the Americas to today. Learn why Belgian chocolate is considered to be healthy and of high quality. The tour ends with a demonstration and tasting. There are plenty of places to buy lace and chocolate. And, of course, there is Belgian beer. There is only one brewery in the center of the city — Halve Maan Brewery. The family business stretches back six generations to 1856.Try their famous Bruges Zot (Brugge Fool). It seems that years ago the people of Bruges organized a colorful parade of merrymakers and fools to welcome Maximilian of Austria to their town. When they asked him at the end of the day to provide money for a new madhouse he replied, “Today I have seen nothing but fools. Bruges is already one large madhouse!” Since then the people of Bruges have proudly accepted the name, “Bruges Zotten” (fools of Bruges). While Bruges Zot may be the newest brew, the brewery has been around since the 1500, and in use in “modern” times since 1856.

Don’t miss the Groeninge Museum, strolling through the market, the museum devoted to Salvador Dali and the small commune of Beguinage.

Sandra Scott, a retired history teacher and the co-author of two local history books, has been traveling worldwide with her husband, John, since the 1980s. The Scotts live in the village of Mexico.

FEBRUARY / MARCH 2019

Bruges is world renowned for its chocolate and lace so it is not surprising that there are museums devoted to both.

Brewery Halve Maan Brewery in Brugge, a family business stretches back six generation to 1856.

OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

21

NEWSMAKERS NEWS BRIEFS ON LOCAL BUSINESSES & BUSINESS PEOPLE SUNY Oswego Official Named HLI Fellow Lizette Alvarado of SUNY Oswego is one of 14 leaders from across the state recently named to the second-ever class of fellows at SUNY’s Hispanic Leadership Institute by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

Associate director of Oswego’s Office of International Education and Programs, Alvarado was one of 14 SUNY leaders announced in January as part of the 2019 class for the institute, which is charged with developing and supporting the next generation of executive-level Hispanic/LatinX leaders across Alvarado the SUNY system.

“We do have a shortage of Latinos in leadership positions,” said Alvarado, who came to SUNY Oswego in 2001 as a study-abroad program coordinator.

“I’m very humbled by this leadership development opportunity and eager to represent the interests of Latino leaders throughout SUNY, as well as the college.”

Alvarado already has begun working with the Hispanic Leadership Institute (HLI) and the other fellows.

Meetings at SUNY’s SAIL (Strategic, Academic and Innovative Leadership) retreat in the Carey Institute in Rensselaer recently kicked off an intensive six-month experience of in-person and independent learning activities designed to support the fellows’ leadership growth.

“New York is strongest when we celebrate our diversity, and with programs like the Hispanic Leadership Institute, we can support some of the most dedicated leaders across the SUNY system,” Gov. Cuomo said. “Congratulations to the incoming class of Fellows who will no doubt take the skills and 22

knowledge they gain through this program to make a positive impact throughout the state.”

Keating Interns With Chirello Advertising Holly L. Keating, a senior marketing major at SUNY Oswego, has joined Chirello Advertising as an intern for the spring semester.

Keating, a native of Cazenovia, will learn about researching, writing and working on marketing and advertising campaigns Keating for a variety of clients. This includes copywriting for television scripts, website content, social media and print advertising. Keating will also assist in the production of television and video projects, as well as assisting with several research projects.

At SUNY Oswego, Keating was a member of the Oswego State Crew Club and is also a member of the college chapter of the American Marketing Association. This semester, she is studying to become Google AdWords certified and Google Analytics certified.

Before transferring to SUNY Oswego, Keating was a member of the Activities Commission at SUNY Geneseo. Through this event planning organization, she brainstormed, developed, and implemented campus events, while assisting with advertising, social media, and budgeting for the events.

Before joining Chirello Advertising, Keating held multiple positions at Wegmans in Fayetteville. These included frozen foods customer service representative and cashier. “Working in both of these positions has taught me the importance of communication skills in providing excellent customer service,” she said.

OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

H. Lee White Maritime Museum Salutes Volunteers The H. Lee White Maritime Museum recently recognized more than 100 volunteers who have dedicated 3,200 hours to make the museum a success in 2018. These volunteers brought their expertise and enthusiasm to a range of tasks, including painting, cleaning, construction, planting flowers, serving as tour guides, greeting visitors from all over the world and Bush even taking out the trash.

“We are extremely fortunate to have a very dedicate team of volunteers with a passion for maritime history and the waterfront,” said Mercedes Niess, the Museum’s executive director. “Their dedication is what makes it possible for the museum to exist, and care for the Oswego Lighthouse and also nationally significant vessels such as the WWII Tugboat LT-5, Eleanor D and Derrick Boat 8.”

Long standing volunteer Richard Bush, from the town of Oswego, was named 2018 Volunteer of the Year for his dedication, program activities and efforts at both the museum and the J. Richard Pfund Boating Center. Bush is a technology professor at SUNY Oswego and has dedicated many hours to caring for the museum’s boating center, teaching the family boat building program for over 13 years, working with our curator to build exhibits both at the Museum and for the New York State Fair. For over 14 years, Bush has maintained the boating center building and grounds, recruited SUNY Oswego students to assist with dock work, helped numerous families realize their dream of building a boat and has maintained FEBRUARY / MARCH 2019

our facilities on the historic west pier.

He has worked most every large scale event including the Festival of Ships in 2017, where he greeted many of the 8,000 visitors over the three day event.

Also recognized were students from SUNY Oswego and Cayuga Community College along with local Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts troops. Other groups and individuals were honored including Assemblyman William Barclay, who secured initial funding for the Oswego Lighthouse renovation, and Oswego Mayor Billy Barlow for securing additional funding for painting the exterior of the lighthouse. Jake Mulcahey was also recognized for his community contribution as founder of Oswego Paddlefest.

Grossman St. Amour CPAs Hires Interns Syracuse-based Grossman St. Amour CPAs PLLC recently welcomed three interns. They are: • Caroline Heaviside is an accounting major at Le Moyne College. She is enrolled in the Madden School of Business Master of Business Administration program at Le Moyne College, and will receive a Bachelor of Science and Master of Business Administration degrees upon graduation in the Heaviside spring. Heaviside also has an Associate in Arts, General Studies degree from Onondaga Community College. This is her second internship at Grossman. She currently works in the firm’s audit department.

She resides in Syracuse.

• Olivia L. Wood is an accounting major at SUNY Oswego and is enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in public accounting prog r a m . Wo o d plans to continue at SUNY Oswego in the Master of Business Administration degree program. Wood is a two-time Wood FEBRUARY / MARCH 2019

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recipient of the PEO Scholarship and a New York State Conference Speaker.

She is a member of Beta Gamma Sigma, International Business Honor Society, and is a committee leader for Women in Business. Wood currently works in the firm’s audit and tax departments.

She is from Bernhards Bay. • Brenton C. Allen is an accounting major at SUNY Oswego and is enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in Public Accounting program. Allen plans to continue at SUNY Oswego in the Master of Business Administration degree program. Allen is a member of Allen SUNY Oswego’s Accounting Society and has an Associates of Science in Computer Science degree from Finger Lakes Community College. The Sterling resident currently works in the firm’s audit department.

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The Fulton campus of Cayuga Community College recently received $92,000 from the Richard S. Shineman Foundation to lead a collaborative effort with strategic partners to get Oswego County certified as the first county in New York state to achieve the national ACT Work Ready Community designation. The process of becoming a Work Ready Community will bring systemic change to Oswego County’s approach for closing the large skill and work readiness gap that currently exists, especially among individuals living in poverty.

The Center for Career and Community Education, a partnership between CCC and CiTi BOCES, will head the initiative in collaboration with nonprofit and municipal organizations including Oswego County Opportunities and the County’s Department of Social Services.

Foundational work readiness skills will be offered at CCC and their satellite sites at Oswego County Opportunities and the Department of Social Services.

These training programs are part of the WorkKeys curriculum in workplace readiness administered by ACT. It targets emerging workers (recent graduates), transitional underemployed workers or veterans, and employees working towards promotion.

FEBRUARY / MARCH 2019

SPECIAL REPORT

First Businesses of 2019 Patrick Katsoris of Sandy Creek and Richard Orton of Mexico are among the very first people who filed a doing-business-as certificate (DBAs) in the Oswego County Clerk’s Office this year. With prior experience in their respective fields — floor installation and small engine repair — they’re operating their businesses full time.

They share their experience Stories by Sarah McCrobie

Sandy Creek Native Has it Covered with Wall 2 Wall Floor Covering

W

ith nearly 18 years of floor installation experience under his belt, Patrick Katsoris recently fulfilled a longtime dream with the launch of his own business.

FEBRUARY / MARCH 2019

The 34-year-old native of Sandy Creek got his start in the flooring business when he was just a teenager.

“My uncle owned a flooring company in Philadelphia, Pa. I began working OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

summers with him at 16 and I’ve kept at it ever since,” Katsoris said.

Through that experience, Katsoris said he realized what traits are necessary to own a successful business. “It takes dedication and hard work, and that’s what I bring to the table,” he said.

He is hoping his work ethic and dedication will translate into success for his own business venture: Wall 2 Wall Floor Covering. He filed a business certificate with the Oswego County Clerk’s Office on Jan. 2 and is officially accepting customers for all of their flooring needs.

25

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“I install all types of flooring, including carpet, vinyl, ceramic tiles and hardwood,” he said. “I have 15-plus years of experience and I’m certified for residential and commercial installation.”

The transition to business ownership is a decision Katsoris didn’t take lightly. He previously worked for National Carpet Outlet out of East Syracuse, but noted it didn’t give him the satisfaction that he wanted in a career.

So, in October, he made the decision to be his own boss and begin a company of his own.

“I thought this would be a great opportunity to further my career in flooring,” he said. “Plus, I get more family time, better pay and I get to meet new people. I hope one day to pass the business down to my children (Rylee, Cadence and Maverick).”

To make that long-term vision a reality, Katsoris said he is focusing on building a strong, loyal customer base.

Every project, he said, is done efficiently and with high-quality products and professionalism — something he hopes customers will notice and remember for future home projects.

“I’ve got to establish a name for myself,” Katsoris said. “Name recognition will help expand the business, and I’m looking forward to Wall 2 Wall Floor Covering becoming a household name.”

He’s currently developing a social media presence and a marketing plan to advertise the business.

Business Snapshot Wall 2 Wall Floor Covering Owner: Patrick Katsoris Location: Sandy Creek, NY Contact Information: 315-380-8131 or wall2wallfloorcovering466@ gmail.com Geographic area served: Central New York

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Patrick Katsoris about his his new business, Wall 2 Wall Floor Covering: “I thought this would be a great opportunity to further my career in flooring,” he says. “Plus, I get more family time, better pay and I get to meet new people.”

OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

FEBRUARY / MARCH 2019

Orton’s

Motorsports

Rolls in as Newest Oswego County Business After spending nearly half his life doing small engine repair and technician work, Mexico native Richard Orton is taking his passion up a notch, this time as owner of his own business.

Orton, 29, filed a business certificate with the Oswego County Clerk’s Office in early January, making Orton’s Motorsports one of the newest local businesses on file.

“It has always been a passion of mine since I was about 8 years old,” Orton said of starting a business.

He noted that the bulk of dayto-day functions include repairs and maintenance of various power sports equipment.

“We’ll do anything from minor oil changes to complete frame jobs on anything, including ATV, snowmobiles, personal watercraft and side-by-side,” he said.

For Orton, a Polaris and BRP certified technician, the work is something he has done since his teenage years.

During his childhood, he worked with his father, tinkering with different projects before enrolling in the small engine repair program at Oswego County BOCES. Through BOCES, he landed an internship with Caprara’s Outdoor Toy Store, and eventually a full-time gig.

“I was there for 13 years as their head technician and was there until the day they closed the doors,” Orton said.

When one door closes, another opens, and that was the case for Orton as he began laying the framework for his own business. In addition to developing a formal business plan and submitting the necessary paperwork to the county, Orton examined the current market conditions and saw that there was a need for a motorsports repair business that offered a “family and budget-friendly atmosphere with a fast turnaround.”

Richard Orton about his new business, Orton’s Motorsports: “It has always been a passion of mine since I was about 8 years old,” Orton says of starting his business.

“I want to provide fast but thorough service and maintenance to get my customers’ machines ready so they can enjoy them in the short seasons they have to use them,” Orton said.

As Orton continues to finetune daily operations, he maintains a positive attitude despite some initial challenges expected with any business startup.

“It’s been a challenge getting my parts distributors set up and being able to stock everything I need to have on hand … Just the normal business hassles of getting up and going,” Orton said.

“But, every day I am a step closer, and it is getting there.”

Some of Orton’s immediate goals

BUSINESS UPDATE

FEBRUARY / MARCH 2019

OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

Business Snapshot Orton’s Motorsports Owner: Richard Orton Location: 61 Cramer Lane, Williamstown, NY 13493 Contact Information: 315-297-5532 Geographic area served: Oswego County and surrounding areas are to build the parts inventory and increase the customer base. He noted that while the business is located in the Oswego County township of Williamstown, customers come from surrounding counties for their service needs as well.

27

Timothy Hardy, the general manager at Sunoco Fulton Ethanol plant. He and his team will remain at the plant under new ownership. vice president of marketing for Attis Innovations, LLC in Milton, Ga.

Green tech campus envisioned

Sunoco Fulton Ethanol Plant to Have New Owner Attis Industries to acquire fuel-making plant, malt house in Volney

A

ttis Industries Inc. (NASDAQ: ATIS) is acquiring Sunoco’s ethanol plant in Volney, according to Sunoco sources.

Attis Industries is a diverse organization with businesses in the health care, medical waste, and environmental technology sectors.

At full production rate, the ethanol facility is able to produce in excess of 85 million gallons of fuel-grade ethanol per year, along with millions of pounds of dried distillers grains and carbon dioxide. It also produces nearly 2 million gallons of corn oil.

The ethanol produced by the Sunoco Fulton ethanol plant is the official fuel of NASCAR. The plant spans more than 90 acres and boasts one of the largest privately owned rail yards in the Northeast with more than six miles of track.

Total consideration for the transaction is $20 million, according to 28

Sunoco.

As part of the deal, Sunoco will enter into a 10-year ethanol off-take agreement with Attis.

An off-take agreement is a pact between a producer of a resource and a buyer of a resource to purchase or sell portions of the producer’s future production.

The sale includes the 1886 Malt House, one of the largest craft malting facilities in the United States. Established in 2016, the 40,000-square-foot brew house supplies 60 tons of malt per week, or 2,000 tons of malt annually.

Over the next two years, Attis expects to invest up to $80 million and add up to 100 new skilled jobs in an effort to develop the entire site into the most comprehensive green tech campus for renewable fuels in the country, said Chris Kennedy,

Kennedy said the ethanol facility is an ideal first step for Attis in achieving its broader goal of being the premier producer of bio-based products in the U.S. “This facility allows us to immediately produce renewable fuels but also offers us the ability to develop a unique green tech campus where we can produce additional products like bio-plastics, carbon fiber and other types of transportation fuels,” he said.

Kennedy said the facility is in a strong and vibrant community.

“The state of New York is also an ideal location for our business as its forward-thinking policies related to the environment and sustainability afford us tremendous growth opportunities,” he noted.

The change in ownership will not have an impact on operations at either the ethanol facility or malt house.

“We do not anticipate any disruption to operations at either facility,” Kennedy said.

The sale is set to close in about 30 days, according to Erin Tones, manager of marketing and logistics at Sunoco. The transaction is subject to regulatory clearances and customary closing conditions.

For nearly 25 years — 1971 to 1994 — the town of Volney was home to a Miller Brewing Co. plant. The plant sat vacant until 2007 when it was repurposed as an ethanol production facility.

Sunoco LP (NYSE: SUN) is a master limited partnership that distributes motor fuel to approximately 10,000 convenience stores, independent dealers, commercial customers and distributors located in more than 30 states.

Sunoco’s general partner is owned by Energy Transfer Operating, LP, a subsidiary of Energy Transfer LP (NYSE: ET).

BUSINESS UPDATE

OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

By Lou Sorendo FEBRUARY / MARCH 2019

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DiningOut

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Restaurant

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The prosciutto and arugula pizza balances Italian meat and flavorful greens, topped with a balsamic glaze.

Mama Gina’s Ristorante Recently-renovated Fulton restaurant now offers wood-fired pizza

M

ama Gina’s Ristorante & Pizzeria was established in Fulton in 1982. Although I’ve lived outside Oswego County my whole life — born a year after this restaurant was established — I never had a reason to go to Fulton for a dinner until this review.

Aside from looking up the address and the menu ahead of time, I did all my research after a a visit to the restaurant, since I didn’t want my opinion to be swayed by comments from social media.

The interior is impressive. The floors were spotless. The wooden seating, the chairs and tables and especially the booth we sat in, were sturdy. The wall décor was limited ,with multimedia murals. The hand-drawn art boasted a 30

quasi-steampunk theme complete with gears and a bicycle. Each mural had a piece of repurposed hardware as a clever, not obnoxious accent.

Come to find out the reason Mama Gina’s looks so brand new is because of last year’s renovation, a periodwhen dining was limited, from July to December. Although I don’t know what the place looked like before, it looks wonderful now.

Mama Gina’s has a lot of food to offer. There are the baked pasta dishes such as eggplant parmigiana and ziti.

Handheld fare includes burgers, paninis and subs. Plus, there are the soups and salads.

We started off with two Italian noOSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

table appetizers: bruschetta ($6.99) and Utica greens ($8.99). The presentation and quality of each exceed the plebian terminology, so these will be promoted as small plates.

The fresh Italian-style tomatoes sat on a toasted piece of thick-sliced bread.

Keeping the toms to the bread was a sheet of herbed boursin cheese. The cheese was soft and creamy and did not overrun the palate-pleasing dish.

The Utica greens weren’t the version of the regional staple, but they were great. Our server asked us if we wanted them mild or hot and, of course, we chose the latter. The greens were drained well and didn’t leave an unappealing pool of veggie sweat on FEBRUARY / MARCH 2019

The Don’t Forget Sausage pizza with caramelized onions, roasted red peppers, and flavorful sausage. the dish. The bitterness was noticeable, but not obnoxious, and the heat was very satisfying. For the cost of the Utica greens, Mama Gina’s provided a very generous amount.

The leftovers were enjoyed the following day, and the state of the greens were not compromised. I saved a tiny bit for a third day — there was that much — but some sogginess set in.

Unfortunately, the small plates arrived after two of our pizzas hit the table. The server was very apologetic.

However, it didn’t compromise our dining experience. It was a family meal, but for two people.

My partner has to take credit for this observation and comment: Mama Gina’s is a great setting for a family pizza night. There is plenty of seating. The age demographic was widespread. Patrons really started to pile in after 6 p.m.

We ordered three pizzas. The two wood-fired pies, which are 11-to-12 inches, were the prosciutto and arugula ($14.50) and the “Don’t Forget Sausage” ($13.50). In terms of price point, these are very fair. We also ordered a personal-sized margherita ($12.99) regular pie.

Mama Gina’s pizzas include standard pizzas, wood-fired, gourmet/specialty, and gluten-free. Patrons also have the option to build their own pizzas.

To compliment the renovation, a wood-fired oven was installed in Mama Gina’s kitchen. It usually takes a few years to effectively break in an oven, and I question the possibility FEBRUARY / MARCH 2019

The margherita pizza presents fresh mozzarella, basil, and tomato sauce.

that this establishment’s domed oven came pre-seasoned. However, the thin crusts came out nice, crispy and toasty.

The prosciutto and arugula pizza came out on top, in my opinion. Aside from the ingredients featured in its name, the white pizza is built with garlic confit, buffalo mozzarella and Reggiano cheeses, and a balsamic vinegar reduction.

The “Don’t Forget Sausage” pizza was lightly coated with tomato sauce.

The sausage itself was really tasty, and it naturally paired well with the caramelized onions and roasted reds. The drizzle of honey added a perfectly sweet addition. Unfortunately, the ingredients are heavy and the crust soaked up the water that naturally comes from the peppers and onions. Aside making the

crust flimsier, it didn’t take away from the taste.

The margherita pizza, the regular pie, met expectations as far as flavor goes. The predictability is a good thing, because no one should screw up one of the more notable specialty pizzas. It was slightly smaller than the wood-fired duo. The crust was on the chewier side, but it wasn’t rubbery. It allowed a nice fold for a small slice.

Before the tip, the bill came to just over $61. For the amount of food, the bill was fair.

The family-owned Mama Gina’s is very family-friendly. There were options we wanted to try, especially the pasta dishes which looked great as they landed on tables. I can see this place growing on me as a solid go-to in the future.

Mama Gina’s

Selection of pizza we ordered during our visit to Mama Gina’s Ristorante & Pizzeria OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

ADDRESS 101 S. 2nd St., Fulton, NY 13069 PHONE 315-598-8210 WEBSITE/SOCIAL www.mymamagina.com www.facebook.com/ mamaginasfulton HOURS 10 a.m. – 9 p.m., Sun. – Thurs.

10:30 a.m. – 11 p.m., Fri. – Sat. 31

SPECIAL REPORT

Tax Season. What Mistakes You Should Avoid

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hile it’s important to pay your fair share of taxes, making a few crucial mistakes can cost your business a lot of money. Avoiding these goofs can save your firm some cash — and a few headaches.

“I see people failing to deduct everything they’re entitled to,” said Kimberly S. Manrow, president of Custom Accounting Services, Inc. in Auburn.

“The D-I-Yer may not know how to interpret what these things mean. The tax code is complicated and intricate.”

It’s important to ask a tax professional about items that they should track for deducting.

“What you can deduct is different from the next guy,” Manrow said.

“People get advice from friends but that doesn’t mean it fits your business.”

It’s not all lost if you have missed things in the past — or, at least in the past three years — as Manrow said that conducting an amended return may help businesses get back some money.

Some preparers, like Manrow, offer a free, cursory review of a return to determine if an amendment submitted by the tax professional or the business owner would be worthwhile.

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By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant Amendments may be even more useful for those filing their own returns who ignore nuances of new tax laws taking effect this season and next.

Bill Symons, tax accountant with Canale Insurance and Accounting in Oswego, said that small businesses should know about the 199A deduction, part of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), which began to take effect in 2018.

Some small business owners can receive up to a 20 percent tax deduction on their taxable business income, providing they qualify.

“There are a lot of factors involved in that to determine whether or not you get the deduction,” Symons said. “If you fall into the right spots, it can save you some money. It’s going to affect a lot of folks.”

Another change this year is how businesses use depreciation. Symons said that business owners may want to write off the whole value of a new purchase right away or wait on part of it, in case they anticipate an upswing in their income and want to lower their tax burden then.

“It’s part of taking a look down the road,” he said. “Maybe you want to use OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

part of it later.”

He also thinks it’s a good idea to ask a tax preparer now what the business could do all year to make next year’s tax bill lower. As an example, changing the business entity may affect the taxes.

“Maybe you want to incorporate or change from a C corporation to S or an S to a C,” Symons said. “It all depends upon your situation.”

He added that a common mistake many small businesses make is failing to pay any required quarterly estimated tax payments. Those doing this face not only a large tax bill, but also a penalty and interest if they owe enough.

While handing over the taxes to a professional to complete can likely prevent some costly mistakes, business owners need to perform due diligence for the rest of the year.

“The biggest mistake business small owners make is they don’t do bookkeeping as the year goes along,” Symons said. “A lot of times, they don’t really know where they’re at as far as their taxable income. They wait until after the year ends and then try to get things together. Possible deductions get lost in the shuffle and don’t get used.”

FEBRUARY / MARCH 2019

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Worldly goal — SUNY Oswego senior technology management major and former Laker soccer player Nyezee Goe, shown here taking in an FC Barcelona game in Spain, is one of many students who have explored the world through SUNY Oswego’s Office of International Education and Programs. The college recently earned an Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion in International Education award from Diversity Abroad.

SUNY Oswego Recognized for Diversity Abroad

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UNY Oswego earning an Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion in International Education (EDIIE) award from Diversity Abroad reflects a campus-wide culture and efforts to support student opportunity, said Joshua McKeown, the college’s associate provost for international education and programs.

The Organizational Excellence award recognizes the increasing diversity of campus and ways the college made sure opportunities like studying abroad were accessible to all who were interested in it, McKeown said.

“People really believe in this,” McKeown said. “From the administration to the faculty to the students, everybody has been a part of it, and they can be proud of this award and the culture that it reflects.”

Between 2010 and 2017, SUNY Oswego’s enrollment of underrepresented students more than doubled — from 12.8 percent to 27.7 percent. The percentage of Oswego’s study abroad population who are students of color went from 13.3 to 27.7 percent, mirroring the institution’s student population overall.

“Diversity and inclusion in all aspects of education, including education abroad, are something that all of us at SUNY Oswego believe in and have put the time and effort into achieving,” the college’s provost and vice president for academic affairs, Scott Furlong, wrote in a support letter.

A selection committee of five recognized experts “reviewed many deserving nominations and determined that your work exemplifies the practices that increase access, foster diversity and promote inclusion in international education and exchange,” Joelle Tolifero, associate director of student services for Diversity Abroad, wrote in notifying

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OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

FEBRUARY / MARCH 2019

McKeown of the award.

McKeown credited the efforts and leadership of Lizette Alvarado, associate director of the college’s Office of Internal Education and Programs, for a range of initiatives, including a Diversity Abroad Mentoring Program and “I, Too, Am Study Abroad” panels addressing such topics as identity overseas, financing student experiences, what women can expect while traveling and finding opportunities off the beaten path.

Alvarado noted that outreach and partnerships with the likes of the Educational Opportunity Program, the annual ALANA (African, Latino, Asian and Native American) Student Leadership Conference, the Hart Hall Global Awareness Conference and the research celebration Quest are key opportunities to reach students, particularly students of color.

“Visibility, students and cross-campus engagement are the most fundamental characteristics of this initiative,” Alvarado said.

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The data also show that making studying abroad not only attractive but affordable covers concerns from those who do not think they can afford it, Furlong noted, as economically disadvantaged students — 29 percent of the college’s population — went abroad at a similar 28.4 percent rate.

Increasing financial support for students looking to travel, with scholarships more than doubling to the current 10 scholarship programs awarding more than $100,000 to deserving students, has made these opportunities available to a wider range of students.

Naomi Rodriguez Jose, a 2018 graduate who served as the college’s first participant in the Diversity Abroad Annual Global Leadership Summit, praised the availability of financial and other support from the international education office and EOP whenever she wanted to study abroad.

“All of my student abroad trips would not have been possible if it wasn’t for the supporting SUNY Oswego staff,” the dual major in global and international studies and in communication and social interaction wrote in her letter accompanying the college’s application.

“Financial support was my No. 1 concern before applying, but when I saw the opportunities that were available to me, it was no longer something to question.”

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35

SPECIAL REPORT

By Payne Horning

Main lounge at Syracuse Hancock International Airport. Courtesy of Chuck Wainwright

Syracuse Airport: First-Class Upgrade

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$63.3M renovation brings Syracuse’s Hancock International Airport Into the 21st Century

fficials with the Syracuse Hancock International Airport say their travelers’ journeys no longer begin when they arrive at their destination — it starts at the airport itself.

The year-and-a-half construction project that wrapped up at the end of 2018 has completely transformed the terminal. Visitors may not recognize the building at first glance. The airport’s former concrete exterior and canopy have been replaced by a 25,000-squarefoot glass and aluminum wall and an eye-catching 25-foot-tall blue “SYR” sign.

Jennifer Sweetland, airport spokesperson for Hancock, says the front façade is just one of many changes that were specifically designed to improve

36

the passenger experience.

“The intention was to offer a welcoming space and to offer passengers an opportunity from when they pull up to the curb to go into the checkpoint to go into the gate to kind of see the steps in front of them,” Sweetland said. “That’s the intention of the glass curtain wall, for them to come in — whether they are parking and walking in from the garage or whether they are being dropped off — they can see inside, they can see their ticket counter, from their ticket counter they can see where they need to go to the checkpoint — all making that transition seamless for them and easier.”

The natural light from that glass wall adds to the warehouse-size appearance of the terminal’s grand hall. Inside are brand-new ticket counters, car rental OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

counters, baggage claim, and in the center of the room a stone veneer staircase with a mini-water fall that leads to the airport concourses. But the changes are more than just cosmetic. Passengers will appreciate the terminal’s new USB ports for charging electronics, improved WiFi service, renovated bathrooms, and new elevators and escalators.

Perhaps the most unique addition to the terminal is the Regional Aviation History Museum that displays the history and evolution of transportation in Central New York. The exhibit features interactive displays and aviation artifacts curated by the Onondaga Historical Association. Sweetland says it’s a project that has been in the works for years.

“We have always wanted to be FEBRUARY / MARCH 2019

able to provide some type of aviation museum for folks to come and see how we have evolved here at the airport and over at the New York Air National Guard 174th Attack Wing and this was the perfect opportunity,” Sweetland said. “It’s a great way to spend either a Saturday or Sunday morning with your children to be able to walk through a museum without paying a fee, and it’s representative of our region. And it’s great for people who are meeting and greeting their family at the airport. If they have some time they can walk through the museum and spend 45 minutes or an hour while they are waiting.”

Half of the funding for the Terminal Improvement Project came from a state grant Hancock won in 2017. The other half came from the Federal Aviation Administration, Onondaga County, and the Syracuse Regional Airport Authority. It builds on other investments Hancock has made in recent years – including an improved security checkpoint, baby care/lactation rooms for nursing mothers, pet relief rooms, a pet therapy program, and a new “Fly Guide” ambassador program where volunteers welcome new visitors to the area.

Michael Lazar, a member of the Syracuse Regional Airport Authority board, said these changes have helped Hancock come a long way from the aging airport designed in the 1960s to the now-modernized facility that reflects the services and amenities that other airports are offering in the 21st century.

And Lazar says the public is certainly taking notice. One passenger who had not visited the airport in several years was so surprised by the renovations that he questioned if he was in the right airport.

“The gentleman stopped, took out his boarding ticket, and says he just wanted to verify that the flight that he was on was to Syracuse,” Lazar said.

“The transformation at Syracuse was so dramatic he thought maybe he landed at the wrong airport.”

That impression has implications for more than just those who work at Hancock, Lazar says. It makes a difference to the entire surrounding community that depends on the airport.

“Many prospective employees, students, business decision makers, and tourists come through Syracuse,” Lazar said. “First impressions are very important. We want to say, ‘Welcome to our forward-thinking community.

We are investing in our future and we would like you to be a part of it.’”

FEBRUARY / MARCH 2019

The changes may already be paying off. Lazar says the number of direct flights from Syracuse are on the rise, as is total traffic. Last year, the airport experienced its highest number of passengers flying into and out of Syracuse in a decade. In addition, Frontier Airlines started service at the airport in 2017 and Allegiant Air is now expanding the number of nonstop routes it offers out of Syracuse.

Sweetland says she isn’t surprised OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

considering how supportive the community has been about the latest changes to Hancock. The airport has received a lot of positive feedback from its customers by mail and online, and many are even posting pictures of themselves on social media in the improved building.

“I think they have a sense of pride now when they come in the airport,” Sweetland said. “A renewed sense of pride.”

37

The Burritt dealerships in Oswego generated $89 million in business in 2018. After the completion of a major project that’s underway, it’s expected to generate more than $120 million annually.

7

Questions to Rich Burritt

Shifting into overdrive: Burritt Motors’ fourth-generation owner Rich Burritt revving up for ambitious $10 million expansion project in Port City

By Lou Sorendo

1.

Can you update us on your new store, Burritt Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram? What were some of the challenges involved in making that acquisition?

I acquired Shapiro Motors in Oswego in 2017 and with it came the Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram brands. I am leasing the building from Shapiro Motors until November of this year.

We kept the same staff, and have more than doubled sales while turning a profit.

I have two general managers at both the Chrysler store and at Burritt Motors Chevy Buick on state Route 104 East in Oswego.

I employed the same business model and process that made us successful at the Chevy store. We implemented the same policies and

procedures and replicated them at the Chrysler store.

We had individuals doing things a different way at the Chrysler store, and we had to get the culture to be the same. That culture now is one of accountability and setting and achieving performance standards.

I earned and gained the trust of my new staff while establishing more discipline and accountability. This is now a performance-driven culture. Every single person runs a business inside a business, and every single one has to make good business choices. I train my personnel to be able to stand on their own accord.

This approach generates high levels of stress and risk, but incomes are performance-based as employees

BUSINESS UPDATE

38

OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

receive a percentage of revenue and profit. They inherently carry a similar risk as I do.

The work environment at the Chrysler store is definitely more rapid and there is a very noticeable change in the business culture.

Once the lease expires, [the building] will go back to the Shapiro estate.

2.

Can you tell us about your new project and what it is going to

entail?

Construction on the project is expected to kick off in March, and the plan is to have the facility complete

by November. At 31,000 square feet on a 15-acre parcel, it is 1,000 square feet larger than the Chevrolet store and that is without a body shop. It will be located between the Chevy store and Lake Ontario Prompt MediFEBRUARY / MARCH 2019

cal Care on the east side of Oswego.

The Chevy store will remain intact and will complement the new facility.

Featured will be two Touchless Car Washes, an Express Quick Lube and tire center, multiple service bays, a rustproofing and undercoating facility, and two food trucks for customers and the public.

The facilities will feature a combined inventory showcasing six franchises. There will be about 600 vehicles available for sale.

We also want to delve more into dealing in commercial vehicles as well.

The $10 million facility is going to be only one of three dealerships in the state and one of 15 across the nation to feature the new ChryslerDodge-Jeep-Ram prototype building.

The facility will have an exclusive stand-alone showroom for Jeep and also a showroom designated strictly for Dodge-Chrysler-Ram products.

3.

What kind of revenue do you expect after the new project is in

place?

By 2022, Jeep is projected a 50-percent increase in volume. Those that have engaged in the new model have realized a 50-percent increase in business after one year, and I foresee this new facility as doubling our business.

Between my two stores today, I employ 72 workers and project that number to be at around 117 within five years.

In terms of Chrysler sales, I plan to go from $35 million to $60-to-$70 million.

In 2018, we did $89 million in business, and are projecting that figure to be more than $120 million annually once the project is complete.

I also have a payroll of $5.5 million and project that to grow to $8.8 million.

Between wages, sales tax and investment in the facility, the project is creating a significant economic impact in the area.

4.

What changes are you seeing on the automotive landscape?

The trend of dealer groups acquiring other smaller dealerships is a trend that will be apparent over the next several years. The reasons are margins have become compressed, factory requirements are getting more stringent and the presence of the FEBRUARY / MARCH 2019

‘The trend of dealer groups acquiring other smaller dealerships is a trend that will be apparent over the next several years.

The reasons are margins have become compressed, factory requirements are getting more stringent, and the presence of the internet.’ internet.

We are the only large dealership in a city that used to feature at least a half dozen. The same has happened in Fulton, where there are only two large-scale dealerships in Par-K Enterprises and Longley Dodge.

Many of the large dealerships are publicly traded companies, such as Lear.

They are OK with a 2 percent return, and local control and direction is lost when auto dealerships are publicly owned. I was happy to not let that happen here.

5.

How would you describe your managerial and leadership style?

I am a true Walt Disney fan, not to the extent of its famous characters, but of its business model. Disney grosses a combined $13.6 billion from its six domestic parks annually.

I’ve studied the Disney business model, and have also exposed its sure-fire methods to my employees.

Disney has the world-class ability to turn intellectual properties into successful movies and additional business opportunities in other segments.

Disney World in Florida was swamp water in the middle of nowhere, similar to Oswego. Our economy isn’t the best, and you don’t hear too many people say, “I’m going to Oswego to open up business ventures.”

However, I am intent on developing destination points to place Oswego on the map.

OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

6.

Are you relying on outside financial assistance to make your project a reality?

I estimate the first phase of the project to cost approximately $10 million. Once the second and third phases are complete, that figure could very well be doubled.

I sunk $3 million when I acquired the Chrysler store to be able to operate it efficiently, and foresee another $1 million in liquid capital being injected into this new project.

Both Pathfinder Bank and the Oswego County Industrial Development Agency, led by L. Michael Treadwell, executive director of Operation Oswego County, have worked with me to preserve working capital.

For businesses that can’t grow, it’s not because they are not good at making money. They simply don’t have it.

The IDA is adept at gap financing, which preserves my working capital when it comes to purchasing equipment, tools and technology.

7.

You have succeeded your father, Chris, who retired several years ago. How influential of a role does he play in your life?

He is excited about the project yet is making sure I don’t bite off more than I can chew. My father has always stressed giving ultimate care for employees and guests, much like that espoused in the Disney model.

He’s always been a visionary, and has always done things ahead of the trend. Back when we were a smaller dealership, he was adept at launching initiatives before they were popular.

He gets people to respect him.

When you build trust within your staff, it leads to mutual respect.

You’ve got to have a solid team with people that you trust, and solid relationships outside as well. My father is a phone call away, but I don’t go there frequently because we have things under control.

It’s stressful and there is a lot of anxiety, but it’s a challenge. At times, it is tough to stay present while at home with my wife and 2-year-old child.

I try to make sure I keep a solid work-life balance. I try to be more efficient while I am here and more present at home. Sometimes it feels like I am a ping-pong ball, but I have to practice good discipline.

39

SPECIAL REPORT

Firearms for sale at Buck-N-Bears Gun Shop on Route 104 in Mexico. Small gun shop owners usually carry an assortment of rifles, shotguns, pistols and ammunition, but say customer service sets them apart from larger competitors.

Gun Shops Still Thriving in CNY Mom-and-pop gun shops have remained a fixture in Central New York despite competition from big-box gun retailers

I

t’s Saturday at Buck-N-Bears, a holein-the-wall gun shop on a barren stretch of state Route 104, about half a mile from Interstate 81. A sign advertises Tannerite and .22-caliber ammunition. American and “Don’t Tread on Me” flags fly outside, along with a flag declaring “Guts and guns made America. Let’s keep it that way.”

As Bill Fairbrother chats with a customer from behind the counter, he doesn’t appear to be in a hurry to sell the man anything. His wife and son wait on other customers, answer questions and talk with regulars.

“Customers come in and we get to 40

By Ken Sturtz know them and they get to know us,” Fairbrother says. “A lot of our customers become friends and they just come here to hang out sometimes. That’s a little harder to do at a big box store.”

For decades there’s been an oft-repeated story: Walmart and other big-box chains move in and small businesses succumb to the rock-bottom prices afforded by economies of scale. But mom-and-pop gun shops have remained a fixture in Central New York despite competition from big box gun retailers.

Gun shop owners say they’ve stayed in business by focusing on customer service, offering expert advice and OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

stocking merchandise that’s difficult or impossible to find at larger retailers.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives lists more than 100 federal firearms licensees in Oswego and Onondaga counties. Most don’t run brick and mortar shops, but many owners gradually get into the business, which was the case with Fairbrother.

He enjoyed hunting and tinkering with guns as a boy, carried the interest into adulthood and eventually got his two sons interested in guns. In 2009, they opened the business as a part-time operation and slowly began growing it. Fairbrother and his sons still have FEBRUARY / MARCH 2019

day jobs; his wife runs the store when they’re at work. Fairbrother calls the business a labor of love.

“It’s a glorified hobby, I guess you could say,” he says. “A hobby that grew into a business.”

Fairbrother has about 50 firearms in stock, mostly long guns with a small selection of handguns. One of his sons manufactures new ammunition. His other son works in the store and repairs guns. In addition to regular gunsmith work, Fairbrother also refinishes gun stocks and performs gun bluing.

Skip Steinbrecher, who owns SharpShooters Gun Store in Richland, entered the gun business in part because of the shortcomings he saw with bigbox gun retailers. After retiring from the Navy, he spent 18 years working for Felix Schoeller in Pulaski and was planning to retire.

“But I couldn’t sit around and do nothing,” he says. “I’m not that kind of person.”

Steinbrecher had enjoyed shooting handguns, but two things moved him to go into business. One was an incident when his wife went to a large sporting goods store and waited more than an hour to be waited on. The other was an issue with gun shop accessibility.

“The problem with a lot of the gun stores around is they’re gun shops and they have some inventory, but they’re open when the owner wants to be open,” Steinbrecher says. “They don’t stick to regular hours and you can’t really depend on them.”

So in 2013 he opened a small shop in in a corner of his garage. A year later he learned the owner of a gun shop in Orwell was winding down his business and planning to retire. He went to see about buying some of the inventory and ended up buying the contents of the entire store, including around 140 guns. His business grew to the point that he converted his entire garage into a store and now stocks around 500 guns.

Bill Fairbrother works on a shotgun at his gun shop, Buck-N-Bears, in Mexico.

Gunsmithing work makes up a small but significant part of the business, which Fairbrother runs with his wife and sons.

Skip Steinbrecher, owner of SharpShooters Gun Store in Richland, opens a box of ammunition. Small gun shops often stock hard-to-find firearms and ammunition that big box stores do not.

Competing with Larger Retailers

So how can small gun shops compete with Walmart — largest gun retailer in the country — and other big box stores that hold large shares of the retail gun market such as Dick’s Sporting Goods, Gander Outdoors and Bass Pro Shops?

Mike Bazinet, of the National Shooting Sports Foundation, a trade group for the firearms industry, says big-box retailers are particularly good at marketing and selling a lot of merFEBRUARY / MARCH 2019

Skip Steinbrecher holds a box of John Wayne brand .32-40 Winchester ammunition. At $69 a box, it's more a conversation piece than anything.

Steinbrecher stocks many less-common types of ammunition that can be challenging to find.

OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

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chandise and generally have a robust online presence.

“And you’ll find good prices sometimes, but a local retailer can be competitive too,” he says. “It depends what you’re looking for.”

Many of the trade group’s members are family-owned gun retailers who are successful because they know their customers and products, and they don’t try to be everything to everybody, Bazinet says.

“You can go into a retailer like that and get really good information,” Bazinet says. “There’s a lot to be said for developing a relationship with your local small retailer.”

Expertise and good customer relations have allowed small gun retailers to exist despite the growth of big box chains such as Walmart, which has more than 4,700 stores across the country, though not all stores sell guns.

“It’s the perfect product for independent store owners precisely because good gun retailing is not mass market retailing,” says Charles Fishman, author of “The Wal-Mart Effect,” which examined the role the retailer plays in the economy and its impact on small businesses.

Fishman — who visited countless Walmart stores while researching his book — says Walmart can be a good choice for consumers if they know exactly what they’re looking for, know how to use it and if price is the main consideration.

“If you need the slightest bit of advice, you’re in the wrong place,” he says. “If you’re a smart gun owner, you want to talk to somebody who knows as much or more about guns as you do.

You want somebody who can sell you the right ammunition, who can tell you how the laws are changing, who can give you advice on where to go shoot.”

Hard-to-find Products

There are parallels between gun shops and locally owned hardware stores that have done well despite the growth of big box stores, Fishman says.

Ace Hardware and True Value, for example, are retailers’ cooperatives.

They enjoy the benefits of a larger organization when it comes to branding, marketing and pricing, but most are still locally owned and operated. When a customer walks into a hardware store they usually need more than just hardware, Fishman says. They may need advice on what to buy, but also on how to use it when they get home.

Ace, True Value and other small 42

Buck-N-Bears Gun Shop on Route 104 in Mexico. hardware stores have cultivated reputations as places customers can go to get good customer service and expert advice, Fishman says. And they’ll often carry less common items than larger competitors, even if they only have one in stock and it’s tucked away high up on a back shelf, he says.

“So they have thrived by retaining the ability and joy in helping people fix their problems,” Fishman says. “Those people buy something you can never in a million years find in a Walmart in the hardware department.”

Fairbrother says while it’s possible to find employees with expertise at bigger stores, he believes customers are often more comfortable knowing they’re speaking with the business’s owner versus an hourly employee.

An employee at a big box store spends most of the time answering basic questions and selling, Steinbrecher says. He occasionally talks customers out of buying guns he feels aren’t right for their needs.

“And when I ask them questions, they understand this really isn’t what they’re looking for,” Steinbrecher says.

“I think people come here looking for guidance.”

Small gun shops often stock and sell firearms and ammunition big box stores don’t.

From a shelf behind the counter Steinbrecher pulls out examples of the hard-to-find ammunition he carries.

Some boxes of ammunition are decades old; others are manufactured sporadically. He even brings out a worn box of John Wayne branded .32-40 Winchester ammunition. At $69 for a box of 20 bullets, it’s more a conversation piece than anything.

OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

“But I found a box and so I’ve got it,” he says.

Besides ammunition, small shops also focus on selling firearms that aren’t necessarily available from larger retailers.

Last year Walmart and Dick’s raised the age requirement to buy guns and ammunition in their stores from 18 to 21 after a 19-year-old killed 17 people at a school in Florida. Dick’s also stopped selling assault-style rifles. Walmart stopped stocking them in 2015 and hasn’t sold handguns in stores outside Alaska since the early 1990s.

“I’m sure that hasn’t helped their business,” Matt Evanchak says of big box stores. “We don’t really see them as much of a competitor.”

Evanchak runs Tim’s Guns and Shooting Supplies in Elbridge with his father, Tim, and brother, Dennis. The business is full-time for them, Evanchak says, and they stock an assortment of about 500 firearms. They used to sell more rifles, but now handguns drive their business.

In addition to selling firearms not available at some large stores, Evanchak says they stock unusual types of ammunition and do a brisk business buying and selling used guns.

“That’s also where we can compete too,” he says. “It’s not a museum. We’ve got to sell it so we can buy more.”

As guns laws in New York have become more restrictive, customers increasingly rely on their local gun seller to help them navigate those laws, says Steve Haskell, owner of Birddog Outdoor Sports in the town of Oswego.

Haskell, who plans to close his shop this year when he and his wife move out of state, says it makes sense that gun owners would turn to someone they have a relationship with to understand the state’s complicated gun laws. That trust signifies something more than a simple transactional relationship, he says.

“We enjoy working on the guns and we enjoy interacting with people that share a common interest,” Fairbrother says.

Most of the customers who sit down at Haskell’s counter want to stay and talk for a while, he says. It’s not unlike a barbershop: people don’t come just for the haircuts.

“You can’t just tell people hit the road, we’re done,” Haskell says.

“You’ve got to want to hear their stories and tell some stories of your own.”

FEBRUARY / MARCH 2019

SUNY Oswego’s Online MBA Among U.S. Top Programs

Welcome to Downtown

SUNY Oswego’s online MBA continues its place among the nation and state’s top online master of business administration programs, according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2019 “Best Online Degree Programs: MBA.” Ranked at No. 40 nationally, SUNY Oswego continues as the top-ranked public college in New York and one of only two public schools to crack the list’s top 100 online graduate business programs. Oswego was ranked third in the state overall.

Oswego’s online MBA program and the college’s various MBA degree options are all accredited by the AACSB (Association for the Advancement of Collegiate Schools of Business), according to Irene Scruton, Oswego’s MBA director.

“We value the U.S. News ranking and its attention to a host of criteria in five categories: student engagement, student services and technology, adYOU ministrative criteria, faculty credentials LOWING FOR and peer review,” Scruton said.

TOS IN THIS “The U.S. News ranking is an affirmation of the quality of the SUNY nty Tourism Office Oswego online MBA program,” said Richard Skolnik, dean of Oswego’s School of Business.

“The online MBA program has a rich mix of students in a variety of occupations,” Skolnik noted. “The online format allows individuals to pursue an MBA in a setting whose time and location is not fixed. This provides access to a quality AACSB-accredited program to those who have family and career commitments that preclude a residential MBA program. The online program has the same mix of faculty as the classroom-based program and the rigorous courses require a significant amount of time and attention from students and faculty.”

Many online MBA students are working professionals looking to advance their careers, contributing to the program more than doubling in enrollment in a five-year span.

SUNY Oswego’s online MBA program runs year-round, including offerings in winter and summer, enabling accelerated degree completion.

For more information , visit www. oswego.edu/mba or email mba@oswego.edu.

FEBRUARY / MARCH 2019

Where urban excitement meets exceptional scenery

Dine

If you visit Downtown Oswego, be sure to bring your appetite. Along the waterfront you will find a wide variety of menus and ambiance – not to mention spectacular views. Whether you seek a sunset on the water over martinis or a cozy dinner indoors, you will find what you are looking for.

Shop

Wander through Oswego’s quaint, tree-lined downtown streets to uncover an array of charming shops. Whether you’re looking for antiques, handmade goods, sweets or a special gift, you will find it downtown.

Stay

Where Meets E

The city offers several hotel, motel and B&B options, including familiar national brands along with independent and special one-of-a kind properties that are unique to our area.

Specific to downtown, several spectacular lodging choices overlooking the Oswego River and Lake Ontario are not to be missed.

OSWEGONY.ORG

When you visit Downtown Oswego, you get the best of all worlds — river and lakefront views mixed with exciting shopping and endless dining opportunities.

OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

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Bruce Frassinelli bfrassinelli@ptd.net

The Incompetent Boss and the Peter Principle

I ‘In too many cases, the person who is a star performer in one position is a bust after he or she is promoted to a higher level [position].’

BRUCE FRASSINELLI is the former publisher of The PalladiumTimes. He served as a governor of the Rotary Club District 7150 (Central New York) from July 2001 to June 2002.

44

Think hard before you accept that promotion

am a strong advocate of the Peter Principle, and with every major promotion during my professional career, I feared that I would come face-to-face with its reality and consequences.

As it turned out, when I was promoted from reporter to bureau chief to city editor to managing editor to editor to general manager and to publisher, I luckily did not reach my level of incompetence in the eyes of my employers. If I had, my career would have been sidelined or I might have even been forced out of the company.

Many companies operate under an “upor-out” policy. In other words, if you are not promotable, or if you are promoted but fail at your new job, you are likely to be fired.

Few companies want to be in the awkward situation of demoting an employee.

I saw this happen at one of the newspapers where I worked. The managing editor demoted a city editor. Rather than fire him, he was allowed to write obituaries. It was a really bad decision that was a morale-killer for the staff.

The Peter Principle is a management dictum formulated by educator Laurence J. Peter and published in the best-selling book of the same name in 1969.

Basically, the Peter Principle says that in a hierarchy everyone tends to rise to his or her level of incompetence. What this means is that rank-and-file personnel and managers are usually promoted on the basis of their competency in their current job — a reward, if you will — instead of fully assessing the abilities they will need in the new job.

In too many cases, the person who is a star performer in one position is a bust after he or she is promoted to a higher level, because the person does not have the required skills to do the new job.

Researchers have come around to the same conclusions that Peter figured out for his book 50 years ago: Most companies will promote their best employees and give them responsibilities for supervising other workers. The problem is that what made

the employees successful in their original job does not always work in the new job.

In my business, journalism, for instance, an excellent reporter might be promoted to a job as a sub-editor and supervise several employees. The problem is that this excellent reporter may be a lousy supervisor. We all know of bosses who were jerks or incompetent.

That is the tragedy of it all. We take a competent and highly talented reporter and promote him or her to a higher position and, in the process, sometimes make the person ineffective, even incompetent.

Why did we do that? The reason most often is that we can’t pay reporters the same amount of money that we pay editors. Why not? Who made such a rule? Regardless, this is the way it is at most newspapers.

Sure, there is the exception where perhaps a really nationally talented reporter gets a higher salary than one of his or her editors.

But this is a rare exception.

Think baseball. The star player makes much more money than the manager, and for obvious reasons. I maintain that a star reporter who is a superb investigator and interviewer and who is a fantastic and compelling writer will sell newspapers. The rules should be thrown out the window with a person of that caliber. And this goes for every business.

Supervising requires a totally different set of skills. Managers need to be selfless, not glory hounds. They also need to be able to motivate those whom they supervise to achieve great heights.

A recent study at 214 U.S. and other companies found that the top performers were given periodic rewards and bonuses for their stellar work.

That’s the good news, but here’s the

My Turn

OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

FEBRUARY / MARCH 2019

bad news. These high-flyers also were promoted for the excellent work they did, but some hit a brick wall. Some struggled mightily trying to master a new set of skills. Not only did this become counter-productive, but the performance of employees working under the newly promoted manager declined 7.5 percent.

I found a number of examples of where individuals should have passed up promotions but didn’t and came to rue their decisions.

One of the most public and most monumental fails involved Michael D. Brown, head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and his response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

President George W. Bush appointed his friend to head this important government agency, but to those who were in desperate need of help in New Orleans, Brown bungled the relief operation in spectacular style.

Brown was the victim of a poorly conceived promotion. He had taken a job for which he did not have the required skills and knowledge, and when a major crisis came along that required strong managerial and organizing skills, he was a dud.

Before his role as FEMA director, Brown served as the commissioner of judges for the International Arabian Horse Association. He excelled in that position. His friendship with Bush 43 resulted in Brown’s promotion to FEMA director.

What made this example of incompetence all the more visible was its public display. The media focused on every misstep, every error of judgment, and there were scores of them.

There have been some very public examples in the current administration where supporters of President Donald Trump have been appointed to positions for which they are not qualified.

As for Brown, he ultimately requested to be removed from his lofty position with his now famous question, “Can I quit now?”

Here was a man who was superbly competent in his previous job. When offered a position with more prestige, more power, a higher salary and the potential for growth in a presidential administration, who among us would say “no”?

Yet, sometimes a promotion is not a good thing. Sometimes we should say “no.”

If we don’t, we run the risk of becoming a victim of the Peter Principle.

FEBRUARY / MARCH 2019

Oswego, NY July 25 – 28, 2019 As Central New York’s largest music festival; WE HAVE THE SIGHTS, SOUNDS, and SPIRIT that attracts approximately 75,000 annually.

Become part of this community event as a vendor

(Food, Arts & Crafts, Commercial, Taste NY or Marketing)

Visit www.oswegoharborfest.com for an application or

call 315-343-6858 for more information.

Sponsors for 2019 (to date) are; Exelon Generation, Pathfinder Bank, Novelis, Port of Oswego Authority, Oswego Health, C&S Companies, Fulton Savings Bank, Sprague Energy, Ameriprise Financial, A-Verdi, Ashley Lynn Winery, Bames Liquors/Oswego Wine & Liquor, Burke’s Do It Best Home Center, Eastern Shore Associates, NBT Bank, Usherwood Technologies, National Grid and Suburban Propane OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

45

sell and sell well.

• “Create and line up a strong network of advisers, vendors and other entrepreneurs to help you. Entrepreneurs need trustworthy, reliable, responsible people in their networks to handle the unexpected turns and challenges they face along with expertise to succeed.”

— Tracy Higginbotham, president of Women TIES and Women’s Athletic Network in Syracuse.

What Does it Take to Start a Business in 2019?

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant • “The key to any business success is to be adequately capitalized. When you determine startup costs, consider everything including necessary security deposits, build-out costs, equipment costs and set-up if needed and working capital.

• “Continued success depends on continuous review of the original plan, good employees and understanding how to manage cash flow.

— John R. Halleron, senior business adviser with the Small Business Development Center in Oswego • “Anything is possible if you put your mind to the grindstone. Starting a business is not for the faint of heart so make sure you know what you need to get started and succeed. Read what entrepreneurial life is really about by finding some entrepreneurs to follow either in your local area or nationally.

• “Do some market research. You might think you have the best idea for a new business — and you might — but you don’t know for sure until you conduct market research. Scour the internet, look at local business directo46

ries, Google the business industry you want to enter and find out how many people are doing what you want to do.

There is nothing truly original in entrepreneurship; typically, just versions of existing ideas and concepts.

• “Create a business plan to see what is needed to be successful, including sales projections, business expenses, marketing activities, pricing and short- and long-range plans to succeed.

Until you put your business concept on paper, you don’t really know what is needed to survive and thrive.

• “Remember, on average it takes three years in business to be financially successful. Make sure you understand that and have monetary resources to help you survive during this time period.

• “Be prepared to become a sales person. You will need to juggle your first few years selling what you offer and then servicing your customers.

You cannot have a business without conducting a lot of sales calls and appointments. It isn’t possible. I think this is the main piece of advice that gets lost when people consider becoming their own boss. As the boss, you must OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

• “Have a thorough understanding of your industry nationally and locally.

• “Build a team of professionals to guide you during startup.

• “Understand your financial feasibility, both short-term and long-term to be able sustain adequate cash flow.

• “Have a clear understanding of your market share, competition and what makes your business unique to create a sales strategy that will produce enough revenue.”

— Keyona Kelly, certified business adviser with Onondaga Small Business Development Center in Syracuse • “Get some laptops and set up email. If I were to meet with [potential business owners], I’d ask if they have any industry-specific software.

• “Get a domain name. I can’t tell how many new businesses have ‘bobsfireshack@gmail.com’ or something like that. It’s $25 or less a year to own your own domain. There’s no reason to use free email. They think they’re saving money but they’re making themselves look much less professional.

It’s only $5 a month for a hosted email.

• “They’ll need productivity software, like MS Word, Excel, Power Point, etc.

• “We talk about their physical location. How are they going to access the internet: a hardwired line or not? We talk about their ISP provider. It’s a very important decision.

• “We also talk about files and how will we share information among people on staff and with customers, like invoices and estimates.

• “With mobile devices, you have to ensure that if you give employees access to email on the phone, do you have provisions to make sure you can protect your data should they leave or lose their phone. In the world of mobile devises, security is huge. A ‘use policy’ in place is not a bad idea. It lays out the company computers or data and says ‘Here’s what you can and cannot do with it,’ like, ‘You cannot go to Panera FEBRUARY / MARCH 2019

and connect to the Wi-Fi.’ • “There are so many free and discounted resources for nonprofits that we’ve almost specialized in helping them. Microsoft 365 is free for qualified nonprofits. that could be a huge budget savers.”

— Jeff Brinson, owner of Syracuse Technologies, Syracuse • “They need to do some level of a business plan. Where I see people fail most often is they do the bare minimum of what’s required. They don’t do true budgets and projections. They consider a pie-in-the-sky, best, optimum picture of what they can attain rather than the reality of the situation.

• “Trying to put together a business and not putting aside enough money for marketing is a big mistake. When sales lag, the first thing they cut back is marketing. You have to put yourself out there.

• “Marketing is not one-size-fitsall. You need to estimate who your typical customer is going to be. I was just working with a bakery. He was talking about what he wants for his marketing plan, but it was targeting only millennials. Seniors will come in for a cup of coffee and a doughnut. Spend an appropriate amount of money on those different markets but don’t leave them out. Social marketing is cheap. If you’re starting a business, you can’t fully rely on it. People need to be seeing your logo in multiple places. Pay a professional who knows how to do it. They can give you the advice you need to make it work.

• “A lot of times, they think they can keep finances with a bundle of receipts in a shoebox or Excel spreadsheets but they miss all the data. When they want to take the business to a different level, banks want to see the history, the growth. That information is often completely missing. There’s so little to work with. They miss an opportunity to get off on the right foot.

• “New businesses tend to bankrupt their own businesses by taking more money than it generates in profit.

You can only take what the business can afford to give you. I force them to do a personal at-home budget as well as a business plan so they can understand what the biz can afford to pay them. sometimes the sacrifice is at home.”

— Kimberly S. Manrow, licensed enrolled agent with Internal Revenue Service, QuickBooks certified pro-adviser, business consultant, tax specialist and president of Custom Accounting Services, Inc. in Auburn.

FEBRUARY / MARCH 2019

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OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

47

20 Ways to Improve Your Marketing Plan for 2019

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

H

ear ye, hear ye! While it’s likely that your marketing plan is more advanced than a town crier, it’s just as important in 2019 as in yesteryear to get your message out.

Area business experts offered these tips for improving your marketing plan:

1.

2.

“Networking: join organizations that are going to increase your personal network.

“Branding: be sure that what you are putting out on social media matches among all platforms used and is consistent with your printed marketing materials.

“Messaging: clearly define and convey what problem you are solving for your target market and make it easy for them to contact you in multiple ways.

“Set Goals: Clearly define your end goal in your marketing objectives, then work backwards from that to create a strategic sales strategy to cost-effectively achieve your end goal.”

— Keyona Kelly, certified business adviser for Onondaga Small Business

3.

4.

48

Development Center, Syracuse.

5.

“Successful businesses we work with use several types of marketing.

They don’t have one arrow in their quiver and they allocate money into every area. They reach different targets based on demographics and age and spending habit. Some of the biggest mistakes people make is a one-shot deal, not a whole year.

“They need to develop a marketing plan and we can help them. It takes seven to nine touches to make a sale. If you’re not touching them in many ways, it’s not as effective.

“You have to be persistent. There’s no one-shoe-fits all. It’s too late when you don’t have any business.

When you’re busiest is when you should be marketing. It’s a catch-22. You have to consistently work on it. Groups like the chamber of commerce will help you with a marketing plan.”

— John Henry, owner of Speedway Press, Oswego.

6.

7.

OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

8.

“If you are a sole entrepreneur, then you must become the best salesperson for your company. When you think you have marketed your company enough, market again and again. In a world of a billion businesses, you must stand out. The only way you can do that is by marketing, promoting, advertising and selling on all media platforms and face to face with potential customers.

Don’t ever stop marketing. It is an everyday activity for an entrepreneur.

“Gone are the days when people picked up the phone to make sales calls. Most people hide behind email messages or social media to sell to potential customers. I have found the best sales success is making phone calls — at least five to seven phone calls to one person — to get a lead, meeting or sale. One or two attempts to reach a potential new client won’t work in this technology-flooded communication way of life. You need to do what the old times salespeople did: knock on doors, make phone calls and meet customers face to face to garner their business. It takes work.

9.

FEBRUARY / MARCH 2019

10.

“Make sure you understand your brand, demographic and audience to market and sell to well. You need to know first who you are going after — and it isn’t everybody — in order to cut down on the hundreds of wrong people. Create a target customer profile, including look, age, location, salary, education and other important demographics of perfect customers before you start trying to find them.

When you understand who you are looking for, you’ll discover where to find them quicker and easier.”

— Tracy Higginbotham, president of Women TIES and Women’s Athletic Network in Syracuse.

11

. “With content marketing, implement the ‘one, two, three’ cycle of content creation. One, create content for your website. Two, use email to push it out to your clients and interested contacts, and then, three, use it again to prospect on social media. . “Email marketing is very effective, but overlooked by many businesses. It’s amazing how much time and energy businesses pour into social media to the exclusion of an email marketing strategy. According to a 2018 study by McKinsey & Company email can be 40 times more effective than social media. As email boxes continue to get busier, a sure way to lose subscribers is to be sending content that is not relevant to them. As you learn more about your subscribers, you can target appropriate content to them. For example, if you have a special ‘new customer’ promotion, you want to make sure that you aren’t sending it to your current customers. Or, if you are inviting people to an event in ‘this city tomorrow’, it doesn’t make sense to send this invite to people far from that location. Personalize, but keep it authentic. . “Prepare your content for visual and audio search. The rise in mobile and voice-enabled smart devices is prompting more ways for people to look for your content. By preparing it to be found by these new and growing methods, you can gain the early advantage of being found and take a jump ahead of others.

— Anne Notarthomas, owner eKamria, Syracuse.

12

13

14.

“Use promotional products.

I’ve had a B&B client for years who put a little piece of chocolate and mint on pillows. I have another client that uses promotional items like full sized Hershey’s bars for FEBRUARY / MARCH 2019

Christmas gifts with a coupon inside.

I think it’s something unique, not something people just throw away. I did personalized tea bags for a business in Australia. There’s no end to what you can do if you know your audience. It costs a little more but people appreciate it more.”

— Rebecca A. Duger, owner/designer of Uniquely Designed by Rebecca, Elbridge.

15.

“The most important thing to start is to take stock of what you’re doing. It’s the perfect time to do an internal audit to see how effective things were last year or for how long you’ve been doing them. Does it make sense to keep investing in them? A lot of people are still putting money into Yellow Pages advertising. With so many other ways to get information, it doesn’t make sense to invest in that. I had a client in 16 paper directories and it didn’t make sense to keep doing that. They pulled them and saved a ton of money.

Your website is your identity, your brand, your hub where people can find out about you. Most likely, it probably needs updating or major revision. It’s never stagnant. It’s always changing. Content is everything.

There’s nothing worse than stale content. You need to entice your readers.

Maybe there’s a new service you offer or a testimonial. Maybe you won an award or joined Better Business Bureau.

“A few years ago, we went from doing TV commercials to social media and web video. That’s how things have shifted. The power of video is amazing. Video content increases your traffic, increases engagement and can make conversions to customers and ultimately, will help your income.

16.

17.

OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

Another benefit is that it also has positive impact on search engine optimization because Google likes video. When someone conducts a search, Google checks text and other types of media. It helps you come up in search results, as opposed to a text response in a search.

“Photos, it’s true to a lesser degree because they’re not as interactive. When people look at a video, they have to elect to have sound, so when you have moving pictures with a message, it can be a powerful way to click the sound. In some cases, there are captions and when you do your final production, you can add captions. Some might have it built in. People watch countless hours of videos every day, especially on mobile devices.

“Some make the mistake of using Facebook or Instagram to make sales pitches. When you’re posting on social media, avoid a direct sales pitch.

You want to build trust and credibility by offering a case study, tips, ‘hacks’ and advice. A restaurant may say they have a limited time item. That’s different than a sales pitch. It depends if it’s hitting the right audience. If you’re really targeting with Facebook paid advertising, they have parameters so it only runs in certain places to certain audiences. The approach is everything,. The hard sell hardly ever works. Selling too hard tends to turn people off.

“Be aware of Generation Z. You need to understand them.

Social responsibility in business and authenticity are important to them, as they are growing up in a scary world in an unstable economy. They want benevolence.”

— Steve Chirello, owner Chirello Advertising, Fulton.

18.

19.

10.

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COVER

EJ USA Preps for Full Production in Spring Newcomer to Oswego County Industrial Park in Schroeppel geared up for transition

By Lou Sorendo

A

leading-edge manufacturer of infrastructure-related products is being transplanted from Cicero in Onondaga County to the Oswego County Industrial Park in Schroeppel.

In the spring of 2018, EJ USA, Inc. broke ground for the construction of a new fabrication facility in Oswego County. Construction on the new facility was wrapping up in mid-January.

The new $9.1 million plant fabrication project consists of an approximately 71,300-square-foot facility on a 16-acre site. The facility will produce steel and reticuline drainage frames and grates, and steel and aluminum hatches.

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Full production is expected to begin in early spring.

External work needs to be attended to once winter breaks, but the facility is ready to roll, according to L. Michael Treadwell, executive director of Operation Oswego County and CEO of the County of Oswego Industrial Development Agency.

“It’s a really good-looking facility,” he noted.

Initially, plans called for a 65,000-square-foot building, but those expanded when EJ decided to also make it the Northeast hub for logistics and distribution.

OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

“There could be big growth in that market for them, and they are going to be positioned in the Northeast to handle that from this facility,” Treadwell added.

EJ, a leading producer of infrastructure products, serves the needs of water, sewer, drainage, telecommunications and utility networks worldwide.

The company as a whole makes cast iron, composite and fabricated products that include manhole frames and covers, drainage gates, detectable warning plates, tree grates, fire hydrants and gate valves, and aluminum access hatches.

EJ has two iron foundries, several steel fabrication plants, a composite FEBRUARY / MARCH 2019

Headquarters of the E J USA in the Oswego County Industrial Park in Schroeppel, photographed in November. The company will officially open in early spring. Photo provided. facility, and over 20 sales and distribution facilities in the United States, with additional manufacturing, sales and distribution locations worldwide.

The company has established a strong brand presence in the U.S., Europe and Asia-Pacific by providing high-quality products that meet specific local requirements throughout the world.

“In addition to producing standard products, we are the leader in producing ‘innovative’ products,” said Tim McKernan, facility manager for EJ. EJ’s manufacturing facilities produce all its “Made in the USA” products from various materials, including gray and ductile iron, composites, aluminum and steel.

Pulls up stakes With a growing market, EJ leaders made the decision to discontinue operations in Cicero and construct a new fabrication facility to improve efficiencies, upgrade operational flow and bring its manufacturing, engineering, sales and distribution operations under one roof.

The building brings together fabricated products manufacturing and engineering groups, and its New York sales and distribution facility.

The new location, located 15 miles from the original facility, allows for the retention of approximately 90 employees and will be designed to implement best practices in the areas of safety, quality and environmental responsibility.

“Our No. 1 goal was to be in a location near our existing facility to retain our talented workforce,” McKFEBRUARY / MARCH 2019

ernan said.

He said there is room for growth down the line in terms of employment numbers.

The business is now running a oneshift operation with a small second shift.

“We are poised to grow our business and employment at the new facility,” McKernan said.

C&S Companies in Syracuse is the general contractor for the EJ project.

“They did a fabulous job on that facility,” said Treadwell, noting C&S managed to squeeze the facility into a fairly long and narrow site in the industrial park.

“They did a beautiful job in terms of laying it out,” said Treadwell, noting OOC realized that site was going to be difficult to sell because of those limited dimensions.

EJ is on a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes — or PILOT — agreement with the county. It’s estimated payroll is more than $4 million.

It is the largest freestanding manufacturing facility to be constructed from the ground up in the county in many years, Treadwell noted.

The OOC leader noted the last project of that magnitude was the 2012 expansion at the Fulton Companies in Pulaski, which involved 112,000 square feet of added space.

EJ is a 135-year-old, family-owned business with headquarters in East Jordan, Mich.

Strong financial backing EJ, the Oswego County Industrial Development Authority, Empire State OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

Development and National Grid have been working with state and local officials to see the project come to fruition.

The new facility is projected to generate approximately $164,000 in average annual payments-in-lieu-of-tax to the county, Phoenix Central School District, county and town of Schroeppel.

It has created an estimated 65 construction jobs.

Based on the multiplier effect, it will create approximately 81 jobs and $3.8 million in annual earnings due to the spinoff economic impact of the manufacturing plant, according to Oswego County sources.

“Demand for our products currently is strong across most regions of the world,” McKernan said. “We continue to hope for an ‘infrastructure’ bill that will be forthcoming from the U.S. Congress in 2019.”

While the new Congress and the White House kicked off 2019 in the midst of a partial government shutdown, President Donald Trump and the leadership of the U.S. House and Senate have reportedly acknowledged that authorizing funding for infrastructure projects will be atop their legislative priorities.

After it abandoned its infrastructure agenda shortly after proposing a 10year, $1.5 trillion plan in February 2018, the White House reportedly appears ready to try pushing a plan again this year with a divided legislative branch.

New York state is constructing a $100 billion infrastructure plan regarded as the largest in the nation.

Meanwhile, Oswego County recently commissioned an infrastructure 51

What EJ USA Makes

analysis in support of its economic advancement plan that details various needs in the area.

Demand deemed strong

EJ USA makes cast iron, composite and fabricated products that include manhole frames and covers, drainage gates, detectable warning plates, tree grates, fire hydrants and gate valves, and aluminum access hatches. The company is relocating from Cicero to the Oswego County Industrial Park in Schroeppel this spring.

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OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

Demand for EJ products is driven by several factors, led by demand for additional and upgraded infrastructure, McKernan said.

Development of lots for construction of single-family homes is another factor, he said, as is public works spending on new or improved water systems, maintenance of existing systems, new or upgraded sanitary and storm sewer systems, utility systems such as electrical power and gas systems, and telecommunications and cable systems.

“Basically, any system that is underground and needs to be accessible from above ground is an opportunity for us to source our solutions,” McKernan said.

The facility manager addressed how U.S. tariffs on imported goods such as steel and aluminum have impacted the bottom line at EJ. McKernan said EJ primarily purchases and produces products with a “very high” domestic content.

“We work with many suppliers and manufacturers of domestic steel products. Nucor supplied the steel for our new building. We support ‘Buy American’ iron and steel laws,” he said.

However, EJ has been impacted by higher costs as domestic producers and raw materials have increased prices.

“Overall, we support actions that are taken to level the playing field in global trade negotiations,” he said.

The workforce at EJ performs a diverse array of roles, including welders that work in aluminum and steel, schedulers, planners, maintenance personnel, mechanical engineers, product design engineers, computer-aided design staff, safety personnel, material handlers, truck drivers, dispatch personnel, inside sales people, sales representatives, managers, human resource staff, and purchasing personnel.

EJ continues to be owned by descendants of William E. Malpass, and fourth- and fifth-generation members of the family continue to be active in managing the business.

Over the years, the Malpass family and EJ have provided support for the local communities in which they operate. The pride of social responsibility is passed on to employees at EJ by encouraging them to volunteer their time and talents to local organizations and events.

FEBRUARY / MARCH 2019

EJ USA, Ltd: Why It Moved from Cicero to Oswego County Company is now the largest employer at Oswego County Industrial Park in Schroeppel

E

J USA, Ltd. had several reasons why it chose the Oswego County Industrial Park in the town of Schroeppel to locate its new manufacturing facility.

The company formerly located in Cicero manufactures infrastructure access solutions such as manhole frames, grates, covers, and hatches.

It is the largest employer at the park with more than 90 workers.

Selection of the park was based on a number of issues, including proximity to its plant in Cicero, which the company could not expand to increase production capabilities, according to EJ officials.

Staying nearby allowed it to retain its existing workforce.

It is regarded as a strategic location because the company wanted and needed a larger facility for manufacturing its products.

Another key factor in the selection process was the industrial park’s proximity to Interstate 481, according to Operation Oswego County.

EJ wanted a location that could serve as its northeastern hub for distribution of products manufactured at the park as well as other products produced at other company-owned plants and distributed from the Schroeppel location.

Also, its location was at a site that could be configured to meet EJ’s needs.

The company is also a strong believer in worker training. The availability of training programs associated with the Oswego County Workforce Development Board, Cayuga Community College, the Center for Instruction, Technology & Innovation and the county’s Department of Employment and Training were important to them as well, according to OOC.

FEBRUARY / MARCH 2019

Tim McKernan, facility manager for E J USA in Oswego County. Photo by Chuck Wainwright.

OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

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FEBRUARY / MARCH 2019

: 9 1 0 2 s Progres

e r u t a e F s e i r o t S

n 2019: What to Expect

More than 20 business people share their expectations

n CNY’s Economy Growing But Not As Fast Interview with Gary Keith, regional economist for M&T Bank

n Lowest Unemployment Rate in Decades

A conversation with Karen Knapik-Scalzo, with the NYS Dept. of Labor Division of Research and Statistics

n Economic Trends

Mike Treadwell: Economic advancement plan progress report

n Seven Economic Sectors

Analysis of some of the key sectors of the local economy

n The Transformation of Downtown Oswego Major projects taking finally taking shape

n Fulton: Onward and Upward

City positioned to upgrade economically as 2019 unfolds

n CenterState CEO

Despite challenges, group is upbeat as economic opportunities arise in Central New York

n Top Projects in Oswego County

A conversation with L. Michael Treadwell, head of economic development in Oswego County

FEBRUARY / MARCH 2019

OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

55

Nearly two months of 2019 have passed, giving us a taste of what the new year should bring Central New York companies.

We recently asked 21 area businesses for their expectations of the economy for 2019. Here’s what they said.

“We are very optimistic that the economy will be very active in 2019.

The 2018 holiday shopping season was very busy and that’s a good sign that 2019 will be very active.”

Kevin Hill, co-owner, JP Jewelers, Oswego

-------v-------

“I want to be optimistic and think it will be good but there’s also challenges with expenses. It’s not getting any cheaper to do business in New York State. But people always need batteries.”

Dave Lawis, owner, Interstate All Battery Center, Syracuse

-------v------

“I think the minimum wage 56

increase will negatively affect small businesses in Central New York.”

Theresa Himes, owner, Bosco & Geers Food Market, Ltd., Oswego

-------v-------

“We at Ashley McGraw are optimistic about the future. We anticipate business will remain steady and we see positive activity in the market.”

Edward McGraw, founding partner and CEO, Ashley McGraw Architects, Syracuse

-------v-------

“My general outlook for Central New York’s economy is positive. Our company, AnCor is a design build firm that works across the country. Recently, OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

we’ve noticed an uptick in local business and opportunities across Central New York and we are encouraged by that.

It appears there is a renewed interest in the area and brands desire to have a footprint in Central New York. In response to that upturn in local business, we have restructured our staffing plans and are hiring more local talent to cover the project demands and achieve the company goals. However, there is an obvious shortage in labor so it’s becoming increasingly competitive to attract and retain qualified people. All in all, I’m happy with what I’m currently observing and look forward to the new opportunities coming to Central New York.”

Katherine Woods, director of marketFEBRUARY / MARCH 2019

ing, AnCor, Inc., Syracuse

-------v-------

“It’s hard to tell. My market is luxury cars. That’s been flat for the last three years. From what I’m seeing, it’s a funny market. In the 2009 downturn, I was up 12 percent, which was an anomaly compared with the other dealerships. People have money, but I don’t know why they’re not spending it. It’s been flat for three years after 15 years of continuous growth. “ Terry Brennen, general sales manager Audi, Driver’s Village, Cicero

-------v-------

“In 2018, business went fairly well and there was some growth then, so I’m hoping it will continue on that trend for 2019. I haven’t seen any indications that it won’t be that way. But you never know.”

Ron Spoto, owner, B2B Printing, Inc., Syracuse

-------v-------

“Ultimately, we’re predicting another year where we’ll be low on inventory, which is good for people wanting to sell their house. They’ll get more than they thought possible. It will be difficult for buyers, who will have competition on their end.”

Eric Pedrotti, branch manager, Berkshire Hathaway CNY Realty, Oswego

-------v-------

did was open up the government again.

I think our assemblymen and senators need to get together and start working together instead of the way that they have been. Once they start doing that, maybe the government will do better and not have these shut downs.”

Judy Hanks, licensed insurance agent, Hinman and Associates, LLC, Syracuse

not usually like this. Unlike state taxes, federal taxes went way better than expected. We have weekend warriors coming here from all over to vacation.

It’s their Valhalla for the weekend.

It’s not just based on salmon season.

Vacation homes are all over the place.”

Chuck Woodward, outside sales, White’s Lumber and Building Supplies, Pulaski

“I have no idea. It’s unpredictable.

It’s hard to make predictions with where we are politically.”

Nicholas Oliver, manager, Books & Melodies Syracuse,

“We’re looking better than last year.

This time of year it’s slow, but we have some things in the fire so we’re hoping for a better year.”

Tom Brady, owner, Fulton Screen Printing, Fulton

-------v-------------v-------

“I’m not sure. Everything’s slow for me now with the winter. In the summertime, it picks up for me.”

Terry Durham, owner, Terry’s Auto Detailing, Syracuse

-------v-------

“It’s going good. More snow would help.”

Keith Carter, estimator, Sam’s Auto Body, Syracuse

-------v-------

“I’m not sure how it will go with more threats of the government shut down. There’s a lot of uncertainty.”

Rick Reina, owner, Syracuse Soapworks, Syracuse

-------v-------

-------v-------

“We had an unbelievable year in 2018. It was the best year we ever had in real estate for residential and commercial real estate. January has been extremely busy with a lot of commercial real estate, new businesses and a lot of developments going on. We see the residential market has been very active.

We’re in a lull on inventory so if you’re thinking of selling your house, it’s good time to do it. I think 2019 will be very good for real estate. Overall, the economy seems good. Interest rates have been fluctuating a little but remaining pretty stable to they don’t effect sales and there’s a lot of growth in our area.”

William Galloway, real estate broker, Century 21 Galloway Realty, Oswego

-------v-------

“It’s looking good. I’ve been selling building materials for 35 years. I’m swamped and it’s mid-January. It’s

“I think it’s going to do well. There’s some gut feeling behind that and there’s also some evidence, like a lot of activity in industries that are looking for employees, as are a lot of educational institutions that are looking to fill jobs.”

Stephen Swift, partner, Blue Water Capital Management, LLC, Syracuse “The economy is going to be what it is. People are going to support who they support. Businesses that are active in the community and not just financially but also by volunteering and partnering, will do better because if your community believes in you, you will survive.”

Timothy Bennett, owner Syracuse FunFlicks, Oswego, Onondaga and Cayuga counties “I’m doing well. The best thing they FEBRUARY / MARCH 2019

-------v-------

OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

-------v-------

-------v-------

“I think that it’s very upbeat. Unless something happens on the national stage with the government, which is volatile. I think things will continue on and will be robust. I expect a very busy year. It’s looking to be an improvement in many different ways.”

Anthony Pauldine, owner, Oswego Rental Properties, Oswego

-------v-------

“I’m hopeful we’ll see some continued growth in the first half of the year.

There’s enough politically motivated variables that I’m not sure anyone can confidently say what will happen beyond the next three months.”

Carol Fletcher, president, C.R. Fletcher Associates, Inc., Syracuse

-------v-------

“Our practice has always been steady. Honestly, the steadiness in our own particular practice has been the same whether the economy is booming or tanking. There’s always a need for dermatology services. We have a good outlook for 2019. We have added practice offerings that aren’t usually covered by insurances and they’re doing well. We’re offering things that are doing well and also in our past history, the dermatology work pace has always been steady.”

Ramsay Farah, MD, partner at Farah Dermatology, Syracuse

Interviews by Deborah Jeanne Sergeant 57

CNY’s Economy Growing But Not As Fast Region grows at lower rates compared to other Upstate New York areas

By Aaron Gifford

B

elieve it or not, Central New York’s economy is growing and the future of this area looks promising, a regional economist told a group of local business leaders recently.

The gross domestic product for the expanded Central New York region — Onondaga, Madison, Cayuga, Oswego, Cortland, Herkimer, Oneida, Lewis, Jefferson, Seneca, St. Lawrence and Tompkins counties — increased by 1.5 percent from 2017 to the end of 2018. That compares to .50 percent growth from the prior year. It is the most significant growth since 2012, said Gary Keith, regional economist for M&T Bank.

He gave a presentation in January on the state of the region’s economy at CenterState CEO’s Annual Economic Forecast Breakfast and was interviewed shortly after the event.

58

Keith, who is from Buffalo, noted that the economies for the Western New York, Rochester area and Capital District are improving at a faster rates than Central New York’s. But Upstate New York as whole still lags behind the national average, which saw 3 percent growth in 2018.

“It’s tough to compare Upstate [New York], especially Central New York, because we don’t have the growing population base that so many other areas of the country have,” he said.

The gross domestic product (GDP) is the monetary value of both the finished goods and services produced within an entity’s (county, region, state or country) borders. A GDP is typically measured in annual increments.

The best news is Central New York’s unemployment rate, which is OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

currently at only 3.8 percent for the region and 4.6 percent for Oswego County specifically. Keith said that’s the lowest rate he could find on record. M&T’s data goes back to 1990.

“The whole picture — economic growth, lower unemployment rates, but also putting the population loss into proper context — that applies to Oswego County as well,” Keith said.

Keith believes that thousands of residents in the four-county region that had been out of the labor pool at some point after the Great Recession of 2008 dove back into the pool in recent years. This could pertain to folks who went back to college to make themselves more marketable, obtained technical training, or had no choice but to work wherever they could get a job. The past year alone saw an increase of more than 2,800 employees in the area work force.

FEBRUARY / MARCH 2019

The Good News

Central New York’s unemployment rate, which is currently at only 3.8 percent for the region and 4.6 percent for Oswego County specifically, is the lowest in a generation.

The Bad News

The regional workforce for the 12-county CNY area has decreased by nearly 44,000 people from 2007 to 2017.

But that’s not to suggest that the region’s workforce is expected to return to what it once was, Keith cautioned. The regional workforce for the 12-county area still decreased by nearly 44,000 people from 2007 to 2017. The number of manufacturing jobs, which disappeared by the thousands in the past two decades, are holding steady, though there is no forecasted growth in that sector. People are not moving into the region faster than the rate that others are moving out. Rather, younger people who have remained here are getting jobs opened by attrition and retirements, mainly in the areas of education, health care and the service sector.

“If the new people who are replacing the retirees are coming in at a starting wage,” he said, “that’s good for taxpayers.”

Federal government contractors like SRC Inc., Saab and Lockheed Martin have been on continued hiring sprees. Those companies offer high-paying jobs to software engineers and computer scientists. They are able to recruit very bright college graduates who would prefer not to work and live in crowded, expensive hubs like the Silicon Valley or Northern Virginia.

“All of the colleges in Upstate — Oswego State, UB, RIT, Syracuse University — the talent is already here, and there’s a big fight for talent right now,” Keith explained. “When you are right out of school, your money goes a lot further here. The other part of it is, real estate is cheaper and there’s a lot of available property, so it’s reasonable to expect that more companies can set up here because FEBRUARY / MARCH 2019

they want to go where the talent is.” labor market is tightening and wage “Baby boomers are retiring and growth is still very gradual. Looking leaving the region, but millennials are ahead, it’s expected that protectionstaying in place,” Keith said. “It’s not ist international trade policies will a 1 to 1 ratio yet, but at least there’s dampen demand for exports. Still, the some stability,” he said. national unemployment figure of 3.9 In the past decade, Central New percent is quite staggering considerYork has also boasted a more educating that, the last time unemployment ed work force, Keith explained. The was this low (in 1969), two thirds of number of adults at prime working the U.S. population were not even age who have an associate’s degree or born yet. higher is up 10.8 percent since 2007.

The event Keith spoke at coinNationally, however, that figure grew cides with the release of CenterState by 20 percent in the same time period. CEO’s 2019 Economic Forecast for Keith is impressed with downCentral New York. The report, which town revitalization initiatives gowas completed by Research & Maring on across Upstate New York. keting Strategies Inc., consists of perHe stayed in the renovated Hotel spectives, predictions and projections Syracuse during his recent visit here, from CenterState members as well as and points to that project as a great from business leaders representing 18 example of community pride. different industry sectors.

“Those are examples we need Of those surveyed for the report, to see more of. Anything you can 74 percent described their business in do to get people to come downtown 2018 as being strong or very strong, and even want to live downtown is and they expect the same for 2019. smart,” he said. “It’s nice to see that Seventy-five percent anticipate inhappening now in the city instead creased sale or revenue in the coming of in the suburbs. You don’t want a year, and 60 percent expect to expand doughnut in the economy.” product and services. Fifty-five perAnother challenging is restorcent expect to hire more employees ing a sense of pride to the masses. in 2019.

Syracuse and other Upstate New The biggest challenges for local York cities have often times fostered businesses in the coming year, the rea culture of negativity, though that’s port says, is dealing with government understandable at times considering and regulatory issues, and attracting the loss of jobs and residents, the and retaining good employees. eroding tax base and the decisions by major employers to move out of state or overseas. Everyone, not just politicians and business leaders, needs to promote their communities assets with a sense of urgency, Keith says.

Keith attributes the growth in Buffalo to that area’s focus on bolstering its financial services sector. He believes the Syracuse area still needs to find a niche.

For example, establishing a hub for the drone and unmanned air craft industry here could be profitable.

“You want to create something that is innovative and idea-based, not just a place to put widgets together,” he said.

“This area can complete with knowledge-based work. You have a lot of very smart people here, and we need to keep them here.”

Nationally, Keith Gary Keith, regional economist for M&T Bank. noted, the OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

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CNY Sees Lowest Unemployment Rate in Decades

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

T

hings are looking up for the job market in Central New York, according to area experts, with many job sectors seeking workers and notable expansion in several industries.

“Widespread job growth is being reported across multiple industries, from construction and manufacturing to healthcare and technology,” said Chena L. Tucker, executive director, Workforce Development Board of Oswego County and director Office of Business and Community Relations.

“Regionally, we’re seeing increases in investments in high-tech fields like defense-related radar systems, engineering services and drone technology,” Tucker said.

Economic growth is trending beyond Oswego County. It holds true for other parts of Central New York, according to Karen Knapik-Scalzo, associate economist with the New York State Department of Labor Division of Research and Statistics.

She said that the economy in the Central New York region of Onondaga, Oswego and Madison counties “is experiencing its best performance in more than a decade.”

Employers have been hiring a lot of new workers lately, according 60

to the Jobs Express website, which Knapik-Scalzo referenced. The total number of non-agricultural jobs in the region was at 324,900 in November 2018, the highest level during any month of November since 2007 with “widespread growth across most sectors,” Knapik-Scalzo said.

This translates to the area’s lowest unemployment in November — 3.5 percent — in 20 years. The website compares the same month of different years to account for seasonal employment fluctuations.

Knapik-Scalzo views this as advantageous to job seekers, but a tough economy for employers seeking workers throughout the in-demand fields, especially where employers seek experienced workers.

She said that industries experiencing a growth spurt include blue-collar construction and manufacturing sectors and white-collar healthcare services, along with high-tech fields such as defense-related radars, engineering services and drone technology.

“The top three occupational clusters for job openings in January included healthcare practitioner and technical (1,058), office, clerical and OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

secretarial (701) and sales and related (624),” Knapik-Scalzo said. “Labor shortages are impacting a wide variety of skill levels, industries and occupations.”

She added that it’s become more difficult recruiting for positions such as engineers, software developers, registered nurses, teachers, machinists, cooks, roofers and truck drivers, among many others.

“Occupations in demand cut across a wide variety of industries such as healthcare, education, professional services (engineering/research and development/computer-related fields), manufacturing, construction, transportation and warehousing, customer service, retail trade, and food service, to name a few,” she said.

Many reasons contribute to the increased demand for workers.

Knapik-Scalzo said that baby boomers aging out of the workforce represents one reason companies in so many sectors are scrambling to find replacement workers.

Carol Fletcher, president of C.R. Fletcher Associates, Inc. in Syracuse, said that health care leads among the industries needing more employees.

“They are really short on people,” she said. “Insurance companies are hiring risk managers. They are in high demand. Energy companies and manufacturing are doing well. We’ve seen a huge upturn in IT people, accounting people and overall office staff.”

Fletcher also thinks that retiring baby boomers drive the demand for more employees. Plus, a decline in the number of new workers available worsens the problem.

“Our parents had five to six children,” Fletcher said. “Now people have one to three. The numbers aren’t as plentiful. Many younger generation people have moved to bigger metro areas and the bigger cities.”

Younger workers also aren’t as faithful to their employers as previous generations, according to Michelle Jevis, director of human resources and staffing at C.R. Fletcher Associates.

“People are getting new jobs every one to two years, unlike the previous generation that spent a long time at one job,” Jevis said. “That creates a domino effect of jobs opening.”

FEBRUARY / MARCH 2019

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OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

FEBRUARY / MARCH 2019

L. Michael Treadwell ooc@oswegocounty.org

Economic Advancement Plan Progress Report Several steps have been taken to further economic development in the region ‘The Economic Advancement Plan enables us, as a county, to determine what is working and to identify where improvements can be made in programs, collaborations and outcomes. ‘

L. MICHAEL TREADWELL, CEcD, is executive director of Operation Oswego County based in Oswego. To contact him call 315-343-1545 or visit www.oswegocounty.org.

FEBRUARY / MARCH 2019

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a small business in the town of Hastings. n early 2017, the Oswego County A total investment of $165,000 will retain Legislature and the County of Oswego IDA four jobs.

(COIDA) commissioned the development EJ USA held a groundbreaking for of a countywide economic study. The study its new facility, a 71,000-sq.-ft. plant to resulted in the development of the Economic manufacture infrastructure access solution Advancement Plan. The plan enabled us, as products in the Oswego County Industrial a county, to determine what was working Park in the town of Schroeppel. The total and to identify where improvements could project investment of $9,075,000 will create/ be made in programs, collaborations and retain 91 jobs. outcomes. It was an essential step toward The COIDA funded a $25,000 Microaddressing deficiencies in our infrastructure Enterprise Program (MEP) loan to assist that are significant impediments to economic in financing a start-up indoor/outdoor development, as well as to the basic quality recreational sports facility, Woody’s on 37, of life for our citizens. in the town of Hastings. A total investment The goals determined in the Economic of $144,853 will create three jobs.

Advancement Plan were broken down into OOC funded a sets of objectives in an $56,000 SBA 504 loan for action plan matrix. In late Economic Trends Off Broadway Dance 2018, CenterState CEO Center, a small business was selected to assist in the town of Granby. The $140,000 with tracking the progress made through investment will retain two jobs. the action plan matrix. I recently submitted Geo Hotel/Water Park was provided details of OOC’s and the COIDA’s progress financial assistance including a $500,000 to CenterState CEO and will share some of lease financing for equipment by the the highlights here.

COIDA. Geo Hotel/Water Park is an Oswego Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) Target Markets project. The $4,965,000 will create 18 jobs.

Goal No. 3 of the Economic Advancement Stephen M. Baker, O.D., PLLC, is a Plan is to build momentum around targeted new eye care practice in the city of Oswego. industries namely energy, advanced The COIDA provided financial assistance manufacturing, food processing and tourism. including a $150,000 loan and partnered It also includes a focus on nurturing with the Oswego Office of Economic entrepreneur development as well as Development on this project. The total connecting entrepreneurs with resources to investment of $856,454 will create 14 jobs. support innovation.

Finger Lakes Stairs & Cabinets The following projects satisfy at least one relocated from Onondaga County and built of these objectives: a new manufacturing facility in the town of Howland Solar (Cypress Creek Schroeppel. OOC funded a $193,000 SBA 504 Renewables) is 2 megawatt solar project in loan for the project. A total investment of the village of Sandy Creek which is currently $464,000 will retain or create 11 jobs. under construction. Financial assistance is Page Material Management acquired being provided by the COIDA. The $3,176,400 an existing 105,938-square-foot. facility investment will create two jobs. and plans to construct an additional 60,000 Pathfinder Industries secured $125,000 square feet for manufacturing and storage in financing for a new CNC machine from the of metal materials for Novelis. COIDA CNY Enterprise Development Corp. The total provided financial assistance including investment of $139,462 will create three jobs. $400,000 in loans or leases. This $7.6 million Operation Oswego County (OOC) funded project will retain or create 21 jobs. a $62,000 Small Business Administration iFreeze, Inc. acquired a 123,000-square(SBA) 504 loan for Nonna Dina Pizzeria, OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

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Bella Fattoria, Inc. received a $99,500 IRP loan through the COIDA to assist in establishing a 5,536-square-foot winery in the town of Hannibal. The $732,046 project will retain or create six jobs. foot vacant refrigerated warehouse to be used for warehousing, distribution, storage and freezer space for vegetables, fruit and other food products. Project financing will include a $1.5 million SBA 504 loan. COIDA provided financial assistance including $350,000 in lease financing. The $5,045,000 project will retain or create 35 jobs.

Lindsey Aggregates received a $99,500 IRP loan through the COIDA to assist in acquiring equipment for the aggregate mining operation in the town of Palermo. A $140,000 CFA grant was also secured. The $4,254,399 investment will retain or create 21 jobs.

Bella Fattoria, Inc. received a $99,500 IRP loan through the COIDA to assist in establishing a 5,536 -square-foot winery in the town of Hannibal. The $732,046 project will retain or create six jobs.

O pe r a t i o n O sw ego Cou nty continued its sponsorship of the MicroEnterprise Program in cooperation with the SBDC, Oswego CDO and Fulton CDA. Three classes were held in 2018 and produced 34 graduates.

The 2018 Next Great Idea Business Plan Competition had 33 applicants. Wired Telcom was selected as the winner and was awarded the $50,000 prize. Approximately six of the other competitors are pursuing their projects.

Infrastructure and workforce training

Goal No. 4 is to become recognized as a superior location for business attraction and growth through infrastructure improvements, regional 64

transportation, improved permitting, workforce training and land/spec building development.

These objectives are being met by the following projects: C&S Companies was retained to complete a study associated with developing a regional waste water treatment plant (WWTP) utilizing the former Miller WWTP facility owned by the COIDA. Funding partners included the County of Oswego, OOC and the COIDA, who together invested $98,000 in the project.

Support for the Sewer Extension to the Oswego County Airport/Airport Industrial Park project was successful, including a $500,000 NBRC grant, $250,000 from the COIDA, $200,000 secured by Sen. Ritchie and $550,000 from the NYS EFC for the project.

OOC owns the Airport Industrial Park. Partners for the project included the town of Volney, the city of Fulton, Oswego County and COIDA. The total investment for the project is $1.5 million.

Harbor View Square is a mixeduse development with 75 apartments and 10,000 sf of commercial in the city of Oswego. It is an Oswego DRI core project. The COIDA provided financial assistance for the project which is also a brownfield site redevelopment. The $26,000,000 investment will create eight jobs.

OOC retained C&S Companies to conduct a feasibility study regarding the potential development of a “spec building” at the former Nestle site in the city of Fulton. The study would be used to secure funding to support the development of a spec building OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

and to market the site to attract a manufacturing business.

Collaborations

Goal No. 1 is to create a collaborative and cohesive economic development structure. This includes deepening relationships with community allies, providing easy access to newcomers, broadening funding sources and improving access to capital. Both of the projects below meet at least one of these objectives.

The COIDA provided financial assistance for an improvement and financing restructuring for the Bishop’s Commons enhanced living project in the city of Oswego. The $5,549,185 investment will retain or create 44 jobs.

Aldi built and opened its new store in the city of Fulton on the former Nestle site. OOC assisted with a Restore NY grant of $350,000 for site preparation.

The $2,987,178 investment created 15 jobs.

Engagement

Goal No. 2 involves continuously engaging community stakeholders, like you, in these advancement efforts.

I hope that sharing with you this brief glimpse into the goals and objectives of the Oswego County Economic Advancement Plan and the associated projects, you can see that these projects enhance the quality of life in Oswego County for all community members.

To further engage with us, please connect with us on Twitter (@OpOswegoCo) and Facebook (@ OperationOswegoCounty).

FEBRUARY / MARCH 2019

ORA Grant Applications Available for City of Oswego

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he Oswego Renaissance Association (ORA) has announced that applications for 2019 Renaissance Block Challenge Grants, Paint Oswego Grants and Neighborhood Pride Grants are available to download from the ORA Web page; www.OswegoNYonline. com. The deadline for Block Challenge pre-applications is April 1.

The Block Challenge Grant is a matching grant that can be used toward exterior renovations on homes. It requires that neighbors apply as a group with a minimum of five homes and a maximum of 15. There are no household income restrictions. It can be applied by owner-occupied as well as rental residential properties. The ORA will match the winning awardees dollar for dollar up to the first $1,000 spent.

Homeowners who spend a total of $2,000 will get $1,000 back when the project(s) are completed.

Additional grant opportunities, including the Paint Oswego program for painting homes, as well as Neighborhood Pride Grants for street improvements, are available at www. oswegonyonline.com Last year the ORA awarded Block Challenge grants to 16 blocks, representing over 170 homes in the city of Oswego. In addition, 16 Neighborhood Pride Grants and 20 Paint Oswego Grants were awarded to homeowners throughout Oswego totaling more than $200,000.

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OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

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7

Economic Sectors

Analysis of some of the key sectors of the local economy

By Lou Sorendo

1 Agriculture

Workforce, dairy issues plague the region’s agricultural scene

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ith President Donald Trump’s hard stance on immigration, area farmers are bracing for possible impact, since they use migrant workers.

“There has been heightened concern over the past two years with tougher rhetoric and increased focus on enforcement only when it comes to immigration reform,” said Mark James, senior field adviser-membership strategy specialist for the New York Farm Bureau. “Finding reliable labor remains a real struggle on farms across New York.”

He said the NYFB continues to push for national immigration reform that will address both seasonal and long-term needs in the state.

“An expanded work visa system would help ease the burden and legally open the system to people who want to come to this country to make a good living while also filling an important void that our country must address,” he said. “We need the ability to grow the food we need to feed ourselves.”

New York has been regarded as an unfriendly state to agriculture, mostly because of onerous governmental regulations that make it difficult for farmers to operate.

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NYFB President David Fisher said in his state annual meeting address that the No. 1 thing he hears from members is that good help is hard to find.

“An added concern is the minimum wage has climbed again in 2019 and continues to put added financial stress on a struggling farm economy,” James said.

Farmers naturally compete for labor and are already paying above minimum wage in most cases, but in a tight labor market, it does make it even more difficult to find people willing and able to do the work required on a farm, James said.

“Labor James costs can push up prices, particularly for farms that control their own prices by direct marketing to consumers. But for most farms that compete against farmers in other states and countries with lower wage rates, they can’t pass those costs on to consumers.”

OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

James said they must have a competitive price point in order to sell their goods.

“That is why rising wage rates in New York are a real concern that compounds the labor situation,” he said.

Meanwhile, James said the New York Department of Agriculture and Markets has worked with the farm bureau and other agricultural organizations, through its SILO process, to identify areas where regulatory burdens can be addressed.

The SILO process involves a committee comprised of representatives from other state agencies, such as the Departments of Labor, Environmental Conservation and Transportation It meets periodically to review regulatory roadblocks for farmers.

“The committee tries to develop creative solutions to solve those roadblocks and ease or make less complicated the compliance with those regulations,” James said.

In addition, the state did approve a workforce tax credit to help farms deal with the rising minimum wage.

However, NYFB believes it should be doubled and is also asking that it be applied to other farmers like Christmas tree growers, maple producers and farm cideries and wineries, James noted.

The dairy dilemma The price local dairy farmers are paid for milk has fallen significantly over the past four to five years. According to James, this has been one of the toughest issues facing New York agriculture.

According to United States Department of Agriculture statistics, New York has lost about 1,000 dairy farms or close to 20 percent in the past five years, largely due to the exceedingly long period of low milk prices.

“It has made it increasingly challenging for many farms to operate above the cost of production,” James said.

“Ultimately, it comes down to supply and demand.”

The U.S. lost some of the dairy export market when there was a downturn in the global economy, and current trade and tariff issues have only exacerbated the problem, James said.

“There were some changes in the recent 2018 Farm Bill that will hopefully address the issue, including a revised FEBRUARY / MARCH 2019

dairy safety net, allowing low-fat flavored milk back in the schools, and a revised skim milk pricing formula,” he said.

In addition, increased processing to handle the oversupply of fluid milk would also be an important step as there is strong demand for cheese, yogurt and full-fat products like butter, he added.

Focus on vegetables Sorbello & Sons, Inc., is a multi-generational farm that grows mainly onions and soybeans on muck land.

Morris Sorbello, a county legislator, has passed the torch to his sons, Dana and David, who run operations off county Route 14 in Fulton.

Sorbello has been active in organizations that support local agriculture, and is a member of the board of directors of the New York State Vegetable Growers Association.

The association is a nonprofit corporation that serves commercial fresh market, storage and processing vegetable growers.

The association supports research that is done through Cornell University and Cornell Cooperative Extension, and works with other agricultural organizations and government officials to promote the vegetable industry.

“I want to keep the seat in Oswego County if I could,” Sorbello said. “Trying to find someone to do it is like pulling teeth. It’s tough to get people to serve.”

Sorbello applauds government support for agriculture.

He said there are several avenues to take for those in the agricultural industry to finance expansions, such as the county of Oswego Industrial Development Agency.

Sorbello said starting a farm requires a significant investment.

He said in many instances, purchasing equipment for farming runs in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.

His grandson, a 2018 graduate of Cornell University, is working for a company in Cooperstown that provides loans to farmers.

“He said small growers are having a terrible time. It breaks his heart that they can’t get financing,” he said.

Also, Sorbello is a member of the Central New York Planning and Development Board, which features a lending division.

FEBRUARY / MARCH 2019

Meanwhile, vegetables in general are produced on a much smaller scale than in years’ past. Local farmers are not producing lettuce anymore for commercial purposes due to a changed marketing environment.

He said products such as beans, corn, grain and onions are being produced on larger farms that feature their own harvestries.

Sorbello noted farmers working thousands of acres of land require combine harvesters and like equipment to do the job.

“I don’t think there is the cohesiveness like there used to be,” he said.

“People are not getting together and doing things, and it doesn’t seem to be as tight as it used to be.”

With the price of a gallon of milk dropping to the lowest its been in 10 years, New York dairy farmers are making less money than they used to.

With prices plummeting for milk,

production from farmers with less than 100 cows is cost-prohibitive, Sorbello said, forcing many in the area to go strictly to beef cattle.

He noted that the North Ridge Dairy Farm in Lacona, home to about 1,800 cows, is the largest dairy farm in Oswego County.

He said smaller units of 10 to 20 cows are nearly extinct.

The Sorbello farm also grows corn in both mineral soil as well as a rotation crop on muck land.

He said there are many brokerage firms and cooperatives available that purchase grains such as corn, including Sunoco for its ethanol production operation in Fulton.

He said some of the larger growers are buying product such as grain from small-scale farmers and storing it because they have the proper facilities such as air-drying capabilities.

2 Organized Labor IBEW, union workers have plates full when it comes to construction work in 2019

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ith challenge comes opportunity. While many baby boomers are aging out of the building trades sector in the Central New York region, it also opens up job opportunities for others seeking a solid career path.

A l a n Marzullo is the business manager and financial secretary for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Marzullo Workers, Local 43.

The local supplies skilled labor to more than 40 contractors in the Syracuse, Utica and Oswego area. The organization features more than 1,200 members.

Marzullo is in his first year leading OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

the local and has been with the organization since 2008.

“We are very cognizant of the aging-out trend and pay very close attention to it,” he said. “Recruiting opportunities are more plentiful due to baby boomers retiring.”

The IBEW has been proactive in the sense of taking applications electronically over the internet, Marzullo said.

This instant availability contrasts to the days when job seekers would have to visit the union office at a designated time to apply.

“A person looking to get in can go right to our website, www.ibew43.org, fill out an application at their leisure at any point in time, and send it in to start the process,” he said.

Technology has had a dramatic impact on the union sector.

“For me as a business manager, I am very up on the latest technology and how to help those who want to apply get in,” said Marzullo, adding technology has also been useful to com67

municate with and educate membership as a whole.

Oswego is one of 11 counties that Local 43 covers.

Marzullo said the pool of workers “is good” in Oswego County.

“We are in the area high schools and middle schools, as well as BOCES programs,” said Marzullo, adding that the IBEW also coordinates efforts with organizations such as the Oswego County Workforce Development’s One-Stop Career Center in Fulton.

He said the aging-out trend affects all trade unions.

In addition, Marzullo said when the economy took a nosedive in 2008, unions did not recruit that many workers. That fact combined with workers aging out left a void in terms of the availability of middle-aged workers to take the place of baby boomers moving on, he added.

“Recruitment gets ramped up when times are good, which is the situation we are in right now,” Marzullo said.

Changing times He said market share as well as the number of union workers continues to increase both in the private and public sectors.

“Those applying for jobs today are not just the students who didn’t make it to college,” Marzullo said.

Instead, the men and women seeking employment own college degrees.

“The difference is kids are not finding jobs that they went to college for,” he said. “That’s because Mom and Dad said, ‘Hey, you have to go to college in order to be successful.’”

However, young people are starting to define success differently, determining that it can be found in the form of a “middle-class, middle America job right here in Oswego County in the building trades,” the union leader said.

That occupation comes with annuity and pension plans, and health care benefits tied to base pay as opposed to reliance on a county’s welfare system.

“This is why unions are and should continually be strong because we support all of those benefits that help members as well as the community,” Marzullo said.

Optimistic about 2019 The union leader expressed opti68

mism regarding work lined up for 2019 in the Central New York region.

“Gov. Andrew Cuomo has been putting a lot of funding for economic development in each zone of the state,” he said.

He said significant work is lined up at SUNY Oswego, the Port of Oswego Authority and at the soon-to-be Oswego Health behavioral health facility in the Port City.

Also, work at Hancock International Airport and at the state fairgrounds in Syracuse will be the focus, while the new Mohawk Valley Health System hospital in Utica also is promising from a labor union perspective.

Meanwhile, Exelon’s Nine Mile Point and James A. FitzPatrick nuclear power plants in Scriba generate an

“astronomical” amount of work for IBEW members.

“Thank goodness the governor and lawmakers stepped in to make sure FitzPatrick didn’t go away,” said Marzullo in reference to the state’s successful efforts at avoiding a shutdown of the plant several years ago.

To illustrate their importance, Marzullo said during an outage at one of the nuclear facilities, he places more than 100 electricians at a given facility. That equates to 30,000 to 40,000 man-hours, he added.

“When you combine that with benefit and pension plans and health care, it’s big money,” he said. “[Exelon] is a true partner of organized labor here in Oswego County,” he added.

3 Human Services Oswego County Opportunities continues pivotal role as major supplier of human services assistance

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n a county whose population is challenged when it comes to socio-economic status, attending to the area’s demand for social services, mental health, family services and youth programs are significant tasks.

Enter Oswego County Opportunities, a private, nonprofit community action agency that provides an array of necessary services.

Diane Cooper-Currier, OCO executive director, said county residents require many resources and services to build a successful, thriving life.

“A critical foundational need is housing,” she said.

Homelessness, and the looming threat of becoming homeless at any moment, stalls any progress toward safety and self-sufficiency, she said.

That’s why OCO is building Champlain Commons, a 56-apartment complex in Scriba that includes 17 units for individuals and families experiencing homelessness.

“Without a stable address, you can’t get a job, buy car insurance, or open a bank account,” she said. “Your kids won’t do well academically because they’re always moving from school to OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

school.

“Everyone’s health suffers from lack of adequate rest and regular meals.

OCO can help these people obtain a place to call home, with a hand up to develop job skills, get their children enrolled in school, improve their physical, mental and emotional health, and become part of the community in which they live.”

Cooper-Currier said this is a longterm need and developing solutions like Champlain Commons takes time.

OCO also re c e n t l y re ceived $1 million in funding to renovate The Backstreet Apartments in Fulton, which include permanent, supportCooper-Currier ive housing units for formerly homeless individuals and families.

“We expect our focus on housing to continue well into the next decade,” FEBRUARY / MARCH 2019

she said.

OCO is the fifth-leading private employer in Oswego County with nearly 600 workers.

When crisis knocks, OCO answers.

In 2018, crisis services helped more than 11,000 people with crisis and emergency needs, while the organization helped 157 people get jobs.

Nearly 7,200 residents of all ages received nutritious meals last year, while OCO buses traveled more than 1 million miles.

Mission-focused organization The organization supports the stability and successful delivery of services in the human services sector in several significant ways, Cooper-Currier said.

She said first and foremost, it is essential to collaborate on the local, county and regional level with government, educational institutions, community groups and other nonprofit organizations to provide a comprehensive menu of services with the least possible duplication.

“Through these strategic partnerships, each member can use its resources efficiently and provide the services it is best at,” Cooper-Currier said. “Together, we can also leverage greater funding and more powerful advocacy on behalf of the clients we serve.”

OCO also maintains a presence in many communities throughout the county to provide the most convenient and accessible links to its services.

“You’ll see us expand this presence over the next three years, both online and via community hubs where clients can walk in and connect with our entire menu of services,” Cooper-Currier said.

She said the phrase “any door access” characterizes OCO’s goal.

In addition, OCO strives for service excellence in all of its programs, Cooper-Currier noted.

She said OCO attracts skilled professionals who embrace its mission and values and choose to devote their entire careers to empowering people to thrive.

“A stable workforce equals continuity of services and stable client and community relationships,” she noted.

Cooper-Currier said by any definition, OCO is a successful organization.

“We have a strong financial posiFEBRUARY / MARCH 2019

tion, we carry very little debt, we have a highly skilled and committed workforce, a diverse and dedicated board of directors, a client base of more than 15,000 individuals, and we provide more than 50 services in approximately 100 locations throughout Oswego County,” she said.

She said in 2019, OCO is launching its next three-year strategic plan, which will further strengthen agency capacity,

drive its role in building thriving communities, and develop new initiatives to support successful individuals and families.

“We’ll be focusing on staff and leadership development, efficient systems and processes, integrated service delivery, continued leadership in community partnerships, and community education and awareness,” she said.

4 Real Estate Real estate markets hold their own amidst turbulence in government, financial markets

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olatility in the federal government and stock market, combined with global trade tensions, have created uncertainty on the real estate scene as 2019 unfolds, said Florence Farley, realtor with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices CNY Realty.

“New tariffs, a lengthy government shutdown, and executive branch and cabinet members giving out misinformation or inaccurate data never help,” she said.

H o w e v e r, the new Federal Reserve chairman, Jerome Powell, along with former Reserve chairs Farley Janet Yellen and Ben Bernanke, reassured the market somewhat when they participated in a joint interview at the American Economic Association meeting in early January.

At first, they were predicting three to four interest rate increases for 2019 based on employment numbers. However, the latest sense is that there may be one increase for 2019, Farley noted.

“Interest rates are still very good at just under 5 percent for a 30-year fixed rate mortgage as of Jan. 9,” she said.

An economist for the National Association of Realtors predicts mortgage rates averaging 5.3 percent in the coming year and reaching 5.5 percent by the end of 2019.

OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

“Small increases in mortgage rates can act as a hedge on inflation,” Farley said.

In 2018, Oswego County experienced significant new construction, and because local employers from Novelis to SUNY Oswego to Oswego Health were hiring, the outlook was positive.

“The very positive vibe this year is coming from newly elected young mayors and legislators who have brought in millions of dollars in grants to begin to upgrade the infrastructure in the area,” she said.

Farley said in collaboration with the state, “we are seeing investments in the Port of Oswego Authority, roads, a revitalized downtown Oswego that is featuring new housing, and enhancements to state parks and the New York State Canal System.”

“Whenever a tax payer sees improvements in the neighborhood around them, they are willing to invest in their own property or even purchase a new one,” she added.

Farley said the real estate market for 2019 should continue to be positive.

“The major employers in Oswego County are still hiring, and the inventory of available homes is low and needs to increase,” she said. “Sellers contemplating a sale should do so this year.”

New tax legislation contains plusses like a higher standard deduction and child credit as well as minuses like the limit on personal exemptions, and a cap on state and local tax deductions as well as moving expenses.

“For the average Oswego County 69

family, they may see slightly more in their pay check or in their tax return,” she noted.

Upper-level New York state homeowners will still have to determine how the maximum on tax deductions will affect their bottom line, she said.

For businesses, there are some hefty incentives, she noted.

The NAR says the 2019 forecast is that existing home sales will stabilize and price growth will continue, but at a slower pace, Farley added.

Meanwhile, The National Association of Home Builders faces significant head winds because of the “five Ls” — labor, lots, laws, lending and lumber.

“These shortages and increased costs may result in fewer new homes being built,” she said.

Tight inventories rule the day William Galloway, broker-owner of Century 21 Galloway Realty in Oswego, said 2018 started out slow but gradually built momentum throughout the year.

“We finished very strong for the best year we have ever had in real estate in our over 50 years of business,” he said.

Galloway noted there are new projects on the horizon this year that his agency will have a hand in. “We are helping them become a reality and I do not see a slow down at all,” he said.

He noted city of Oswego Mayor William Barlow has made an effort to assist new businesses and has been instrumental in generating new business that is relocating to the Oswego area.

Last year was largely characterized as a seller’s market with tight inventories ruling the residential real estate landscape.

Galloway noted the trend of low inventories continued throughout 2018.

“We have started the new year with the same issue. If anyone is thinking of selling his or her home, now is the time to list your home for sale,” he said. “You have an active real estate market with many buyers and low inventory.”

When comparing November 2018 to statistics from November 2017, there were 22.1 percent less new listings in Oswego County.

Meanwhile, the median sales price of a home during that same time frame jumped 15.8 percent to $112,000.

During that time frame, there were 70

16.2 percent less homes for sale in Oswego County.

The months supply statistic, which denotes how many months it would take for the current inventory of homes on the market to sell given the current pace of sales, dipped by 11.3 percent to 4.7 months.

In terms of interest rates on loans,

Galloway said rates slightly rose in 2018.

However, “all indications are the rates might rise more in 2019 but not to an unreasonable level,” he said.

“It’s a perfect time to invest in real estate in light of the unstable stock market. We are seeing this as a positive for the real estate market in 2019 as well,” he added.

5 Health Care

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Oswego Health Continues to Spearhead Major Initiatives

uring an age of physician shortages, Oswego Health has welcomed several physicians and physician specialists over the past year or so while it continues efforts to recruit top-notch health care professionals.

As part of its recruitment strategies, Oswego Health monitors national trends, utilizes well-proven tools and enlists its own physicians and leadership to take an active role, according to Michael Harlovic, president and CEO of Oswego Health.

“Our own physicians and hospital leadership play a key recruitment role by taking time from their schedules to meet with new recruits and also assist them as they establish their own offices,” Harlovic said.

“A more recent enticement for physicians has been our quality-of-care achievements,” said Harlovic, noting that Oswego Health now features a seasoned director of physician recruitment in Kristin Bullard.

Those quality-of-care achievements include the top grade of an A awarded to Oswego Hospital by The Leapfrog Group, and Oswego Health earning recognition for having the lowest sepsis rate in the area, according to the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare.

Harlovic said through the interviewing process, it is apparent that today’s physicians desire more flexibility, allowing them to have a balanced professional and personal lifestyle.

Oswego Health’s status as an independent hospital system is able to accommodate this lifestyle request, he noted.

“Physicians like the fact that as an OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

independent system, our leadership is easily accessible and not located many miles or states away,” Harlovic added.

All aboard After conducting their own research, physicians and physician practices have asked to collaborate with Oswego Health to provide health care services.

This includes bariatric surgeons who joined Oswego Health in developing the Center for Weight Loss & Surgery, as well as physicians from Colon Rectal Associates of Syracuse, who are also now providing care locally.

Also, Oswego Family Physicians recently chose to collaborate with Oswego Health in large part to recruit more primary care physicians to the community and to its practice, Harlovic said.

“This Oswego physician practice has been extremely successful in not only delivering exceptional care to its patients, but also in its operation of an efficient office,” he said. “We plan to emulate this success across our other practices, which we believe will be of benefit to our recruitment efforts.”

Harlovic said the practice’s physicians are also “great recruitment ambassadors and have a sense of the physician skill sets that our community needs and whether a recruit will transition well to our community.”

Another example is Howard Simon, a renowned Syracuse surgeon who provided care on a part-time basis last summer.

“He found himself impressed with our nursing staff and surgery facilities FEBRUARY / MARCH 2019

Architectural rendering of Oswego Health’s new $17 million behavioral health services headquarters on the site once occupied by Price Chopper on the east side of Oswego. and recently formally joined our surgical team,” Harlovic said.

In the past year, Bullard, along with supporting physicians and staff , recruited eight physicians and 10 advanced care providers, which include nurse practitioners and physician assistants.

“As a native to the area, Bullard provides both a very detailed description of what it’s like to both practice and reside in the community,” Harlovic said.

The recruitment department works with nationally known recruitment firms, attends physician recruitment events held throughout the Northeast and has established connections with many of the area’s medical school residency programs, he added.

Harlovic said a new tool is a professionally produced recruitment video that showcases not only the benefits of providing care locally, but also of the local community.

“The Oswego Health website (www.oswegohealth.org) is another tool that we have found successful in recruiting physicians,” he noted.

Addressing mental health Oswego Health is developing a new $17 million behavioral health services facility that will be built specifically to provide this specialized care.

The state-of-the-art facility will offer a centralized and convenient loFEBRUARY / MARCH 2019

cation for patients and clients to access both behavioral health and primary care services.

“We recognize that many of our BHS patients also suffer from underlying health conditions that can best be treated by a primary care provider and we want to ensure we are meeting all their health care needs,” Harlovic said.

The BHS site, to be located at the former Price Chopper store on East Cayuga Street in Oswego, was selected for its close proximity to Oswego Hospital and its emergency department and is another convenience for patients, clients and medical providers, the Oswego Health leader said.

In addition to the clinical settings, throughout the completely renewed building there will be numerous patient comforts, including secure outdoor spaces, comfortable interior areas and a kitchen area, Harlovic said.

“The building itself will be attractive and well-maintained,” he said. “The facility will surely become a model for similar health care providers throughout the country.”

Added amenities at hospital Oswego Hospital’s third and fourth floors will be renovated to offer private rooms with their own bathrooms that offer a hotel-like feel.

OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

Harlovic said Oswego Health sees this project as offering comforts that its patients deserve.

“We are excited to announce this $7.6 million investment, a project that quite frankly is overdue,” he said. “For about the last 10 years, we have been renovating facilities in Fulton and Central Square, as well as key hospital departments.”

Harlovic said now Oswego Health has the opportunity to completely renovate its medical-surgical floors of the hospital.

“This project allows us to provide community members with the most comfortable private patient rooms that feature their own complete bathroom,” he said. “Our patient rooms will promote healing in that with just one occupant, the spread of infection is reduced. Other advantages include improved privacy and a quieter, more restful environment.”

Reaching out to Novelis In collaboration with Novelis, Oswego Health recently opened an Oswego Health PrimeCare office onsite at the Oswego plant, offering convenient care for its employees, their family members and retirees.

“We have found this collaboration to be extremely successful,” Harlovic said.

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Since Oswego Health began offering health care at the Novelis plant in 2017, it has expanded both the hours and services as patient volumes grew.

Earlier this year, Oswego Health has expanded to offer care five days a week and recently also began delivering services to not just Novelis employees, but their family members as well as company retirees.

“Along with providing convenient care, we have added online registration for appointments and on-site physical therapy services. Our goal is to keep Novelis employees healthy and productive,” Harlovic said.

As for offering similar care to other companies and businesses in the area, Oswego Health is “very interested in building services that meet the specific needs of employers in Oswego County.

“We will work with a company or business to identify their onsite health care needs and develop a program that can include any number of work-related services,” he said.

Harlovic said according to a national journal, companies that offer onsite primary care services benefit in terms of improved health, lowered health care expenditures, and improved productivity.

Meanwhile, the collaborative Healthy Highway program is helping to combat Oswego County obesity.

Oswego Health is collaborating with the Oswego County Health Department, the Shineman Foundation and the county’s nine school districts on an initiative to reduce the childhood obesity rate in Oswego County.

The county’s childhood obesity rate is 38.7 percent, compared to 32.2 percent statewide, according to HealtheCNY. The Healthy Highway program is being implemented in all 24 elementary schools in Oswego County.

Through the program, children learn that it is important to “fuel” their bodies with “green light” foods and to limit their “red light” food choices.

“It’s all incorporated into a variety of activities to reinforce healthy choices, which is being applied throughout the schools,” Harlovic said. “The program also offers many activities to promote physical exercise.”

Individual school activities have

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begun and each school has its own designated program champion, who is supported by health educators from Oswego Health and the county health department.

O

To carry this message home, the elementary students were provided with an activities book that includes activities they can do with their families.

ConnextCare Makes Transition

ne of the more dramatic transitions on the county health care scene in 2018 was Northern Oswego County Health Services Inc. changing its name and brand to ConnextCare.

According to Dan Day, president and CEO of ConnextCare, the transition will be beneficial to the health care community in general.

“The brand change to ConnextCare is going very well,” said Dey, noting a variety of mediums such as print, bill boards, and internet have been used to educate patients and the community regarding the new name, tag line and logo.

The new brand represents that the six practices and seven school-based Dey health centers operated by ConnextCare are interconnected, Dey noted.

“This benefits the community in general by offering patients more integrated services,” he noted.

For example, a patient of ConnextCare Pulaski who lives in southern Oswego County can also be seen on a walk-in or scheduled basis at the ConnextCare Fulton office.

The ConnextCare Fulton provider will have access to the same electronic health record of the patient so that any care that was provided at the ConnextCare Pulaski office is accessible to the ConnextCare Fulton provider.

“Additionally, policies and pro-

OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

cedures among all the ConnextCare locations are more uniform, leading to more familiarity and less duplication for the patient,” he said.

Primary care provider In 2019, ConnextCare will continue to recruit additional primary care providers, including physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, dentists, dental hygienists and social workers.

“ConnextCare will continue to work with the community’s health care and social service community agencies to better coordinate services through assigned care managers that will work toward referring patients directly to the appropriate care or service setting,” Dey said.

Meanwhile, efforts continue to expand behavioral health and substance abuse services while better coordinating those services through renovations at ConnextCare’s Pulaski site, which are under way.

“Most prominently, behavioral health and substance abuse services are being relocated directly adjacent to primary health care services,” Dey said. “That allows the primary health care providers to achieve an immediate ‘warm handoff’ to a substance use or behavioral health provider.”

The renovations will include the addition of an office to house care managers.

The care manager will work with patients and providers to coordinate primary health care, behavioral health and substance use services in one convenient location, Dey said.

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6 Manufacturing Despite skills gap challenge, Manufacturers Association of Central New York optimistic about progress in 2019

S

tate-backed economic development projects in Central New York have the highest return on investment than any other region in New York state, according to Randy Wolken, president of the Manufacturers Association of Central New York and the Manufacturers Alliance of New York.

Wo l k e n is entering his second year as co-chairman of Wolken the Central New York Regional Economic Development Council.

“It was a wonderful year for the region,” said Wolken, who noted the CNYREDC received the highest distribution of funds at more than $88 million in 2018.

The CNYREDC’s return on investment as calculated by New York state is nearly 13 to 1, which is the highest ratio of any region.

“We have a great group of projects and a great community effort, and I am looking forward to rolling into the next round of consolidated funding awards which the governor has proposed,” Wolken said. “These are real shots in the arm to communities and businesses as they intend to grow and helps them do it here.”

Being chairman of the REDC allows Wolken along with his team the opportunity to see the broad impact of all kinds of investments in the business community.

“When I am out and about, whether it is in my role at MACNY or my community role, it allows me to emphasize the need to continue to invest in our future,” he said.

Of the projects given funding in the latest Consolidated Funding Application round, several look to energize the manufacturing sector in CNY. PPC Broadband in DeWitt — a 74

benefit from being centrally located and having access to major transportation venues.

“That business park would be prime for additional organizations and companies that want to be involved in the transportation network that Oswego County is obviously a big part of,” Wolken said.

Growth expected in 2019 manufacturer of connectors used in broadband networks — took advantage of $11.3 million in Empire State Development grants and Excelsior Jobs Program tax credits toward creating a 500,000-square-foot manufacturing facility to expand existing operations.

“Whenever we can get an existing company to grow here, it’s a really good investment for New York state, especially if they are adding space and people,” Wolken said.

Meanwhile, Northeastern Electronics in Elbridge — a manufacturer of electrical cable and wire harnesses for a variety of industries nationwide — also received CNYREDC support as it looks to construct and equip a new facility adjacent to its existing two facilities.

Also, SAF-GLAS, LLC — a leading provider of disaster resistant and security glass products worldwide — was given $8 million in state money to relocate its operations from Florida to Onondaga County.

Saf-Glas would have to invest $58.9 million and create 303 jobs over five years in exchange for the state aid. Its project is the largest of the CNY initiatives in terms of jobs pledged.

Currier Plastics in Auburn, meanwhile, received CNYREDC funds to provide training to its existing employees to equip them with skills required to meet the standards of its medical market customers.

Another significant investment in manufacturing involves All Seasonings, whose expansion is expected to, Wolken said.

Meanwhile, All Seasonings Ingredients in Oneida is purchasing machinery and equipment that will allow it to meet the growing demand for its products, which include spices, herbs, nuts, seeds, baking supplies and flavor blends.

Wolken said to expect the project to spur additional growth around it.

As far as Oswego County is concerned, Wolken noted the EJ USA project that involves the company relocating its operations to the Oswego County Industrial Park in Schroeppel looks to OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

Some economic experts in the region noted last year that economic optimism in the region was “muted.”

Wolken said to expect a year of growth in 2019.

“The only damper sometimes is finding people so they can take on all those orders and grow,” he said.

“I am hearing a lot of optimism and excitement,” said Wolken, noting “there will be some bumps in the road, like people still sorting through the trade agenda and how they are going to navigate through that. It has yet to have any meaningful impact.”

Meanwhile, it is becoming increasingly more apparent that high-tech sectors, advanced manufacturing and the use of automation are key drivers for the U.S. economy.

Wolken said CNY is already seeing the impact of these trends.

“It bodes well for employment as we continue to need skilled labor and to grow,” Wolken said. “But automation has not reduced the amount of employment,” contrary to what naysayers claim.

“If you look at current investments in automation technology, it has not really diminished the number of people working,” he noted. “If anything, it has increased the amount of skills sets and the amount of workers we need.”

Wolken said he does not see that as changing.

“I wish the doomsayers would stop saying every job is going to get automated. This isn’t true. People value their employees more than ever and need skilled workers to run complicated pieces of equipment,” he noted.

“We are seeing some strong growth and need for employment even as we continue to automate,” he said.

Confronting skills gap MeanMACNY continues to close the skills gap that is plaguing counties such as Oswego.

MACNY’s recently introduced manufacturing intermediary apprenFEBRUARY / MARCH 2019

ticeship program is starting to pay dividends. MACNY has New York State Department of Labor approval to function as a single “program sponsor” acting on behalf of small and medium-sized manufacturers across the state.

More than 40 companies have now established apprenticeships under the program, and more than 100 apprentices are benefitting from the initiative.

Wolken expects that number to triple over the next year or two.

MACNY is also promoting the apprenticeship program on a statewide level through the Manufacturers Alliance of New York.

“There is a strong desire for skilled learning and development, specifically in apprenticeship space,” said Wolken, noting the program features a three to four year schedule for participants.

Wolken said apprentices in the program start off at $12 to $15 an hour and move to $25 to $30 an hour over the course of three years.

P-TECH, or Pathways in Technology Early College High School) is also a popular recruiting tool for employers.

“We are seeing a strong desire for companies to get involved with students as early as middle school,” Wolken said.

“We are really beginning to grow our own workforce here in Central New York.”

Wolken said career technical education is growing, and “there is even talk of a STEAM school (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) in the Syracuse area.

SUNY Oswego, the Center for Instruction, Technology & Innovation, Oswego County and the New York State Teacher Centers are partnering to bring STEAM quest camps to Oswego County.

Additionally, the Central New York School Board Association recently co-located with MACNY at its Widewaters Parkway site in Syracuse.

“We are doing partnerships now across 54 school districts, and I really think this [closing the skills gap] has to happen at the high school and even down to the middle school level,” he said.

Interaction in schools includes a focus on skills development and exploring job opportunities that exist in Central New York.

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7 Tourism

Destiny USA complex: It’s the No. 1 destination in Central New York, according to Visit Syracuse, an agency that promotes tourism in the region. Photo provided.

New Destination Points Enhance Tourism Appeal in Syracuse Region

B

eing that the tourism industry equates to about an $863 million economic impact for the Syracuse region, local leaders want to ensure that visitors get a bang for their buck.

Thanks to additional events and venues, they are doing just that.

Danny Liedka is the president and CEO of Visit Syracuse, an affiliate of CenterState CEO that serves as Onondaga County’s official tourism

76

promotion agency.

Liedka said the top-five destination points for visitors in the Greater Syracuse area are: • 1. Destiny USA • 2. The Great New York State Fair • 3. Syracuse University • 4. State and county parks, including Lakeview Amphitheatre • 5. The OnCenter complex, including the War Memorial Arena OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

In terms of the impact the amphitheater has, Liedka said concert dates over the last two seasons have resulted in hotels experiencing substantial growth in rates and occupancy.

He said 2018 was a record year for visitors to the Greater Syracuse area.

He noted the United States Bowling Congress event held in Syracuse from January through July last year attracted more than 60,000 visitors to the area and FEBRUARY / MARCH 2019

cuse continues to promote the region’s “incredible craft beverage trail that has been a great draw.”

The organization is also in the midst of creating a tourism improvement district that will help the Syracuse region generate the necessary revenue in order to be competitive with other cities in the state that are funded at a much higher level.

The mission of TIDs is increasing the number of overnight visitors using business and services in that area.

TIDs are formed through a public-private partnership between local government and businesses in a district.

An organization such as Visit Syracuse normally manages funds.

If successful, the Syracuse area will become the first in New York to create such a district.

More than 300 exist around the United States, but only two are located in the Northeast, those being in Philadelphia, Pa. and Newport, R.I. “This level of funding will allow us to grow tourism in the region and generate new tax dollars for Onondaga County,” he said.

Hotel Occupancy Higher in Oswego County created an economic impact of more than $55 million.

He noted the fair had a record year attendance-wise.

“If you conservatively estimate that 10 percent of fairgoers come from out of the area, that would be well over 100,000 visitors,” he said.

When measured against 2017 from the hoteliers’ point of view, occupancy and room rates grew around 6 percent in 2018.

Optimism flowing

Liedka said 2019 should be another strong year.

For the first time in more than 12 years, the city will play host to the 113th annual New York State Association of Fire Chiefs Conference and FIRE 2019 FEBRUARY / MARCH 2019

Expo at The OnCenter June 12-15.

The new $62 million Exposition Center at the fairgrounds was unveiled last year. The 136,000-square-foot facility is hosting a myriad of events and shows.

Liedka said the addition of the center will draw many new groups and conventions to the area, and will be the site of the inaugural Winter Fair 2019 Feb. 8-10.

“Visit Syracuse will unveil new marketing efforts to promote the revival of the area in regards to new facilities that are related to tourism, such as the Lakeview Amphitheater, the Marriott Syracuse Downtown [former Hotel Syracuse], and the Expo Center, to name just a few,” he said.

In addition, Liedka said Visit SyraOSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

Occupancy last summer was 19 percent higher than that of same period in the previous year

O

swego County has enhanced its ability to draw tourists with the development of additional destination points and events, according to David Turner, director of the Oswego County Department of Community Development, Tourism and Planning.

In August, the community will commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Safe Haven Refugee Shelter at Fort Ontario.

“We are already seeing media interest in this event. The additional attention will generate more exposure for other 77

local museums as well,” Turner said.

Also along the line of heritage tourism activities, Colette Astoria, owner of Oswego Food and History Tours, will be offering “Haunted Oswego” walking tours on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday evenings during warm-weather months.

Some other happenings to watch for are new developments at Virgilio’s Event Centre and Thunder Island Recreation Center in Fulton, and the recently completed expansion of the Tailwater Lodge in Altmar.

Meanwhile, occupancy tax receipts have been steadily rising in Oswego County over the past several years.

Occupancy tax revenues were up 9 percent for the period from December 2017 through November 2018, according to Turner.

The summer and fall months — June through November — were strong, with a 19 percent increase over the same period in 2017, Turner added.

Turner said there are several variables that affect the level of occupancy tax revenues.

They include maintenance outages associated with the three nuclear power plants in Scriba, which bring

in hundreds of contractors from other areas. Other factors include hotel rates and expanded room capacities, fishing conditions, and even the weather, Turner said.

The tourism leader said over the past summer and fall, the county ran a highly active social media campaign focusing on fishing and waterfront activities such as beaches, sunsets, and boating, and emphasizing special events like Harborfest, racing, and the Oswego County Fair.

Additionally, through the Market New York grant program, the county was able to run a marketing campaign about its waterfront and acquire some excellent photography and video footage.

“We’re excited about using these assets in our 2019 marketing campaigns,” Turner said.

Turner said there are several aspects of the city of Oswego’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative that will help drive visitors to the region and improve the quality of life in the community.

“Removal or repurposing some vacant and underutilized buildings, the downtown pocket park, enhanced waterfront access and re-opening of

the renovated Children’s Museum of Oswego are all positive and exciting initiatives to look forward to,” he said.

The new indoor water park on the city’s east side, when complete, will not only help attract more visitors but it will also provide new recreational opportunities for residents, and represents another quality of life enhancement for the community, Turner added.

The economic impact of sport fishing in Oswego County exceeds $42 million, and the activity is a key driver of tourism in Oswego County.

One of the most important factors to sustaining sport fishing is careful management of the Lake Ontario and Salmon River fisheries by the state Department of Environmental Conservation, Turner said.

“Oswego County is one of the only places in the United States that offers such a large variety of quality fishing experiences 12 months of the year,” he said.

Partners work together to promote the fishery through a multi-faceted marketing program including social media, consumer shows, brochure distribution, broadcast and print media, fishing hotlines, and press trips, he noted.

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Tourism in Oswego Mayor Barlow announces new effort to draw visitors to the Port City

C

ity of Oswego Mayor Billy Barlow has launched a new tourism initiative in Oswego to complement the improvements currently taking place in Oswego’s downtown and along the Oswego and Lake Ontario waterfront.

The initiative consists of updated literature and five new tri-fold marketing brochures highlighting key targeted areas (downtown, entertainment, fishing, history and maritime) to be used to generate economic activity and increase tourism.

The strategy divides Oswego tourist attractions into different categories in an effort to more strategically target a particular audience based on the type of activity and develops a new sub-branding for promotional purposes.

The new initiative was funded through a $45,000 Brownfield Opportunity Area grant awarded by the New York State Department of State through a cooperative partnership with Oswego County highlights Oswego’s reviving downtown, fishing, history, entertainment attractions, maritime and waterfront activities and a unique weekend itinerary concept to encourage extended stay visitors. The new literature has been Barlow

disseminated by the City of Oswego Promotion and Tourism Advisory Board (PTAB). Mayor Barlow also announced the release of the Oswego 2018-2019 winter rack card developed

by PTAB. “We need to do a better job highlighting our natural assets, promoting our rich history and showcasing all the unique elements our community has to offer. We are not the same community we were three short years ago and I fully intend to spread that message”, said Mayor Barlow.

“This strategy is a different strategy that has never been used in this community before and I believe can make a real difference in our efforts to boost tourism and adequately promote our reviving community.

We have strategically highlighted different themes within our City and plan to develop a specific, targeted audience to maximize our efforts and ensure we increase our reach and adequately tell our story,” Barlow said. to designate the Fort Ontario complex on the National Register of Historic Sites as additional reasons to focus on promotion and tourism.

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With Aldi established at the former Nestle site as an anchor business, expectations are high that the restored site will again come to life.

• With photos: NESTLE SITE

Onward and Upward City of Fulton positioned to upgrade economically as 2019 unfolds

By Lou Sorendo

T

he city of Fulton has certainly paid its dues. Absorbing potential knockout blows when the likes of Miller Brewery, Nestle Co. and Birds Eye closed their doors, the city has managed to bounce back off the mat while fighting to attain its past prosperity.

The city is winning on several fronts, and Fulton Mayor Ronald Woodward is optimistic that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

“There is a lot of interest in the city right now and I expect it to continue,” he said.

With Aldi established at the for80

mer Nestle site as an anchor business, expectations are high that the restored site will again come to life.

The city has contracted with Rowlee Construction to put the finishing touches on the renovation project.

The contractor was still hauling debris off site as of early January. The work was slow and steady and required the use of a processor in order to separate concrete from rebar so it can be accepted as clean hard fill.

In terms of Oswego County’s idea of constructing a spec building on four acres at the site to promote deOSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

velopment, Woodward said a tax-free building on that sized parcel is not what the Fulton public envisions.

He said instead, if the county wanted to construct a building on one acre and translate that into a permanent business site, that plan could be more acceptable.

“I have to get the council to accept that. It is a tax-foreclosed property, which means it would take five of six councilors to approve it,” he said.

Woodward said a distribution center in Syracuse has expressed interest in taking up the majority of space left at the former Nestle site.

However, “it is tied to whether they can get rail back in there,” he said.

Woodward said locating a manufacturing facility there would be tough being that workers compensation and power costs are relatively quite high in New York state.

When Nestle and Birds Eye left, they both relocated to Wisconsin. The workers compensation cost for a factory worker in Wisconsin is $1,100 per year.

In New York, that cost is $12,000.

Additionally, power costs in Wisconsin are 40 percent cheaper than in New York.

The mayor recently met with former Nestle leaders as well as local author Jim Farfaglia, who recently published a book on the impact Nestle had on the city of Fulton.

Their intent is to memorialize that legacy with a Nestle museum.

“There’s one building left on the Nestle site right now, and we’ve saved that for the museum,” said Woodward, noting a lot of cleanup and removal of docks need to be done, but that is the plan moving forward.

“We need to keep track of our history like that. When Nestle came to Fulton, that was its very first stop in the United States for production,” he said.

He said he found an old book on Fulton when it was still a village, and it features a photo of the first condenser at the Nestle plant.

FEBRUARY / MARCH 2019

“We’ve got a lot of artifacts and I think we are going to have a lot more,” he said.

Moving forward On the economic development front, Martens Fresh is planning to purchase a freezer plant that is connected to the K&N’s Foods USA site in Fulton.

Woodward noted it will be a $4 million investment and will create 40 jobs. Wages will range between $50,000 to $75,000.

The mayor noted that again, if rail access could be established at that site, there is a solid chance the company will either try to buy the rest of the former Bird’s Eye plant from K&N’s Foods USA or add on.

If that occurs, it would be a total of 100 jobs albeit lower-paying ones.

He said oftentimes, a company such as Martens Fresh relies on the availability of a payment-in-lieu-of-tax agreement with Oswego County to make its plans a reality.

Woodward said he “goes along” with PILOT agreements “reluctantly” because they generate job growth and eliminate vacant buildings.

He said instead, New York state should provide fixes to help stabilize the local tax base.

Meanwhile, a new Taco Bell recently created excitement when it opened at 501-505 S. Second St. in the city.

Hospitality Syracuse, a YUMS! Brands franchisee, bought the property for $110,000 from the city as a tax foreclosure. It tore the former buildings down, bought the adjacent lot, and combined the two properties to build the new restaurant.

“That’s a wonderful thing,” Woodward said.

It used to be the site of Rite Aid and Fays drugstores, as well as Carvel ice cream.

On another positive note, Compass Federal Credit Union is creating a branch on North Second Street in Fulton.

The company is taking a dilapidated building, formerly the site of Yager’s Plumbing & Heating, and building a new facility.

“I think the city is starting to turn around now,” Woodward said.

On the health care front, Joseph Murabito, owner of Morningstar ResiFEBRUARY / MARCH 2019

Fulton Mayor Ronald Woodward is optimistic about the future of the city: “There is a lot of interest in the city right now and I expect it to continue,” he says. dential Care Center and The Gardens by Morningstar in Oswego and Waterville Residential Care Center, will be taking over the former Michaud Nursing Home in Fulton.

The plan calls for the facility to be converted to an assisted living facility, with projections calling for 60 employees, Woodward said.

Laying its cards on table Meanwhile, the city is gearing up to submit an application to the state for 2019 Fulton Downtown Revitalization Initiative funding.

Woodward said the application will detail all the assets as well as opportunities present in Fulton that will make it worthy of funding.

Enhancing the city’s chances for DRI funding was its recent designation as an inland waterway by the state of New York Office of Planning & Development. The designation provides state resources for waterfront development purposes, and would include both the Oswego River and Lake Neatahwanta.

Secondly, while North Bay Campgrounds is owned by the city of Fulton, it had been considered being located in the town of Granby. The city of Fulton had halted development at the site due to taxation, but now that the campgrounds are considered in Fulton, that expense goes away, Woodward noted.

“We want to expand that campground and get grants for it, enabling us to build year-round cabins and a boardwalk that goes into the wetlands, similar to Beaver Lake Nature Center [in Baldwinsville],” he said.

Meanwhile, ongoing dredging will continue on Lake Neatahwanta in hopes of opening it up for public use.

OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

“When we go after that DRI this time, a lot of opportunities are going to be added that we did not have before,” he said.

Neighborhood upgrades In 2018, Fulton Block Builders, an organization dedicated to upgrading the quality of neighborhoods in the city of Fulton, granted nearly $500,000 to homeowners.

“It’s energizing our neighborhoods,” Woodward said.

When Nestle closed in Fulton, a payroll of $22 million went away. When Birds Eye shut down, the city lost a payroll of $13 million.

“Since then, we have experienced deterioration in some neighborhoods,” Woodward noted. “A lot of those people who lost their jobs were bringing home $40,000 to $50,000 a year. After those closings, they didn’t have the money to spend like they used to.”

The mayor said Fulton Block Builders reimburses homeowners 50 percent of the investment they make in their homes.

He said the program is “infectious” as homeowners are setting the standard for appearance in their neighborhoods, with many others following suit.

Another group, Fulton Footpaths, is devoted to developing walking trails that connect the natural resources of the Oswego River and Lake Neatahwanta with parks and attractions.

That mission has been enhanced when the city of Fulton was awarded $900,000 by the New York State Regional Economic Development Council to enhance and develop the Pathfinder Canal Towpath Trail and the Canalview Bridge Walk.

This award will help the city tie Indian Point landing to downtown, improve lighting, install signage, kiosks, and landscaping along the path into downtown.

It also provides funding to expand Pathfinder Canal Towpath Trail south of Oneida Street Bridge and enhance the Canalview Bridge Walk.

Woodward said the city’s riverfront, along with its history with the Barge Canal, should be showcased for tourism purposes.

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Harborview Square will be a 66-unit apartment complex with 10,000 square feet of retail and commercial space at 68 W. First St.

Transforming Downtown Oswego Projects associated with Downtown Revitalization Initiative taking shape

By Lou Sorendo

J

ust call it a municipal makeover.

The city of Oswego is slowly but steadily reinventing itself by transforming its downtown into a more vibrant and welcoming space.

The Port City saw considerable progress on several Downtown Revitalization Initiative projects in 2018, most notably the former Cahill Building and the Children’s Museum of Oswego.

“I am satisfied, but we certainly need to keep pushing the other projects along,” said City of Oswego Mayor William Barlow.

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The city also recently launched its $545,000 Downtown Improvement Fund for small downtown business projects.

The project is part of the $10 million DRI grant secured by the state in 2016.

The fund was designed to give existing small business owners an opportunity to apply for grant funding assistance to help with façade projects, building renovations, vacant space conversions or business expansion opportunities.

The city also transferred ownership of the former Flexo Wire site on West First Street to Housing Visions, which OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

broke ground recently to construct its Harbor View Square project.

Harborview Square will be a 66unit apartment complex with 10,000 square feet of retail and commercial space at 68 W. First St. It was a site that was home to a nationwide wire manufacturer and distributor, Flexo Wire. It had been designated a contaminated Brownfield site by the federal Environmental Protection Agency.

“Just about every project, with the exception of the proposed East Lake FEBRUARY / MARCH 2019

Commons LLC development project, has moved forward in one form or another and I expect speed to pick up this year,” Barlow said.

The mayor noted how Harbor View Square fits into the city’s waterfront development plans and will benefit the city economically.

“First and foremost, the project fills in a huge underutilized vacant parking lot space and ties the marina entrance and waterfront into our downtown,” Barlow said.

The project places a substantial amount of additional commercial space, 10,000 square feet, near the waterfront and introduces apartment units along the waterfront, all major components of the city’s comprehensive downtown revitalization plan, the mayor added.

Taking it to the streets Meanwhile, the state Route 104 Complete Streets and Market Street Pocket Park projects will provide benefits to the community beyond sheer economics.

“The 104 and Market Street projects aren’t necessarily direct economic development projects, but smart municipal planning projects that can potentially translate to additional economic activity that will complement our other projects,” Barlow said.

“These projects will give folks an area to congregate downtown, offering an opportunity to hang out with friends, do homework or catch some entertainment we hope to offer at the park,” he added.

The state Route 104 project is designed to help people easily cross the busy thoroughfare and calm traffic as it passes through the core of downtown, improving the ambience and feel of downtown, he added.

Also, Broadwell Hospitality Group recently broke ground on its new 15,000 square-foot addition to the Quality Inn & Suites on East First Street in Oswego that will feature an indoor water park.

The $5 million project has been buoyed by nearly $1 million in state grants through the Upstate Revitalization and city of Oswego’s Downtown Revitalization initiatives.

Barlow sees the new indoor water park as enhancing the city’s tourism

FEBRUARY / MARCH 2019

Entrepreneur Atom Avery plans to redevelop the building at the southeast corner of West First and Bridge streets in the city of Oswego, now occupied by Global Buffet, into into a mixed-use facility and working with the IDA to get financial particulars lined up. The project is called Litatro.

Sutton Real Estate Companies submitted plans to demolish the Midtown Plaza shopping center in downtown Oswego to construct a new mixed-use property to be called East Lake Commons. The new building will include mixed-income apartment units, plus retail, commercial and office space, along with parking for residents and visitors.

OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

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offerings.

The mayor said the water park is a “huge amenity” that will make Oswego a more viable choice for people to visit or choose if they are visiting the general Central New York area.

“We have people in our community almost constantly because of sports tournaments, conferences at the Lake Ontario Event and Conference Center, and other events all year long,” Barlow said.

The water park, in addition to being a direct attraction to people from around the area, will give visitors a real reason to choose to stay in Oswego versus a hotel or other options on state Route 31 or closer to Syracuse, he added.

Barlow also sees the Wright’s Landing Marina upgrade project as a boon to the area as well.

The $1.2 million marina upgrade project will replace the existing facility with a larger pavilion with more amenities like furniture, television and accessories to offer boaters and city residents.

“We also will install several fire pits, construct a small boaters’ welcome center with information about the community, and perhaps most importantly, completely renovate and upgrade the existing bathroom facilities,” he said.

During the city’s public engagement sessions, boaters cited the quality of bathrooms as the most important criteria they consider when deciding where to dock and where to stop on boat rides, Barlow noted.

“We placed a priority on upgrading our bathrooms to better attract boaters and offer them quality amenities,” he said.

Also, a housing and commercial space project is being developed at the Global Buffet site in downtown Oswego.

Barlow noted this level of private investment occurring in the city is vital.

“Private investment was also a very critical component when drafting our revitalization plan,” he said.

Barlow said $10 million “may sound like a lot of money, but when trying to revive an entire downtown community, it only goes so far.”

“We needed private investors to carry their weight in our major economic development projects and that is why we engaged private developers and builders to see what they could do and how much private investment we could leverage with our $10 million grant,” he said.

FEBRUARY / MARCH 2019

Top Projects Activity robust in Oswego County as promising projects take shape

By Lou Sorendo

O

swego County enters 2019 buoyed by a number of significant projects that bode well for the area from an economic development standpoint.

Here are some of the top projects happening in the county:

iFreeze A major development happening in the city of Fulton involves Martens Fresh and K&N’s Foods USA, LLC, which acquired the 280,000-square-foot former Birds Eye plant in the city of Fulton in 2013.

K&N’s manufactures a variety of frozen valued-added halal chicken products, under the brand license from K&N’s Foods Limited, Pakistan.

There are two large refrigeration spaces at K&N’s — one 30,000 square feet and another 130,000 square feet — that served as a refrigeration warehouse for General Foods and Birds Eye. When K&N’s Foods USA purchased the building, it acquired both facilities.

L. Michael Treadwell, executive director of Operation Oswego County and CEO of the county of Oswego Industrial Development Agency, noted K&N’s shut down the larger facility because it did not require that much capacity.

OOC then advised K&N’s to sell it to reduce its overhead and rid itself of unnecessary space.

That’s when an interested party — Martens Fresh in Port Byron — stepped up to the plate. Martens Fresh is a fresh vegetable processing and packing company that is also involved in logistics and distribution.

“Everybody got together and we started negotiating with K&N’s and Martens Fresh as to how we could restructure our original agreement with FEBRUARY / MARCH 2019

K&N’s Foods and how we can wrap the new complex into another IDA-financing structure,” Treadwell said.

As a result, owner Timothy Marten has expanded his company to include ‘iFreeze,’ the new storage and distribution center at the K&N’s Foods site.

An agreement was closed last December.

“They will operate a refrigeration warehouse and handle products, some of which is their own, but they will primarily be handling products from other

companies,” Treadwell said.

They will provide storage and transportation to customers, including one of its largest clients, Wegmans. The business had its own fleet of trucks for inbound and outbound freight.

“They eventually want to get more diversified with that facility, but phase one was getting the space,” Treadwell noted.

“This is not a new venture for them because they’ve been doing it on a much more limited scale in Port Bryon,” he added. “They think this is going to be a big project for them.”

While Martens Fresh is conservative about disclosing the amount of jobs to be created, Treadwell said the new enterprise is expected to create about 35 to 50 positions over the first five years.

“We think it is going to be probably double that if they are really successful in doing what they think they will be able to do,” he said.

Treadwell said a real benefit may come in the form of a synergistic relationship between Martens Fresh and

L. Michael Treadwell, executive director of Operation Oswego County and CEO of the county of Oswego Industrial Development Agency, discusses some of the major projects taking place in Oswego County.

OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

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K&N’s Foods USA. “Martens Fresh may be able to enhance K&N’s ability to get their products into some of the large chains,” he said. “That would also help K&N’s Foods expand their production.”

It’s about a $4.5 million project.

Treadwell said all Martens Fresh needs to do is fine tune the refrigeration system, make some modifications to the building, and bring in equipment to handle products.

Treadwell said to expect limited production to begin in the first quarter of this year.

positions.

“Cayuga County has been good to us,” said Treadwell in reference to both Martens Fresh and Page Material Management coming to Oswego County.

“It is my understanding that there is going to be an increase in the level of Novelis’ used beverage cans function,” Treadwell said.

Much talk concerning Novelis has been centered on its production of aluminum sheet for the automotive industry, but Treadwell noted the used beverage can activity is going to experience a significant increase.

Page Material Management

• Litatro building

Another major project happening involves the arrival of Page Material Management to Oswego County.

Page, headquartered in Weedsport, has secured major contracts with Novelis and its Oswego Works plant in Scriba.

Novelis is the world leader in rolled aluminum products and recycling, and the largest global producer of automotive and beverage can sheet.

“They were looking to identify a building in the county as close as possible to Novelis,” Treadwell said. “They will be handling a lot of aluminum for Novelis.”

Page Material Management closed on a deal last December to acquire the former Distribution Centers-Americas facility on county Route 1A in Oswego.

The company is expanding its operations in Oswego County primarily due to work it does in conjunction with Novelis and other customers.

The DCA building was available and fit Page’s building requirements with enough land to add additional space, Treadwell noted.

Page is also expanding and making improvements to its Weedsport location, a project that received funding through the CFA process last year.

Treadwell noted the company is purchasing a highly sophisticated piece of equipment made in Germany that identifies and separates various components of aluminum and provides specific alloys based on Novelis’ needs.

Page’s long-term plan calls for an additional 60,000 square feet to a building that is more than 100,000 square feet.

The $7.5 million project is expected to create about 20 jobs initially, some of which are considered manufacturing

Other DRI-related projects include entrepreneur Atom Avery’s Litatro building project at the southeast corner of West First and Bridge streets in the city of Oswego.

He is redeveloping that corner — now occupied by Global Buffet — into a mixed-use facility and working with the IDA to get financial particulars lined up.

The five-story facility will feature a 7,500-square-foot first floor devoted to commercial interests, while 22 apartments will occupy the other floors.

Parking will be established under the building, Treadwell said.

There are also plans to construct a seasonal rooftop restaurant as well.

The $5 million project has been through the site plan review stage, but the addition of a fifth floor has modified plans.

The entire corner will be demolished with all new construction slated to take place.

“That’s not the most attractive corner in the world right now, and a lot of people have done good work on some of the other buildings downtown,” said Treadwell, noting Pauldine has done significant renovations on both sides of West First Street south of Bridge Street.

Treadwell said Avery’s new development complements the Children’s Museum of Oswego, which is featuring its refurbished look at the northeast corner of the intersection.

“It’s going to add some pizzazz to that intersection,” Treadwell noted.

According to Oswego Mayor William Barlow, the project was not one of the core DRI projects, but one that was developed during the application process.

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OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

“There was more interest in seeing that corner developed than any other project,” Treadwell said.

The commercial interests associated with the project are estimated to create about 25 full-time equivalent jobs.

22 Crossroads The newest project on the drawing board is another mixed-used building called 22 Crossroads.

Entrepreneur Ed Alberts intends on constructing a four-story, 44,000-squarefoot building at the corner of West Cayuga and Water streets in the city of Oswego.

He will be razing existing buildings to feature a facility that will house 32 apartments and about 8,300 square feet of commercial space. He plans to create parking underneath the business, Treadwell noted.

“He is really putting the teeth behind and it should be an interesting block,” said Treadwell in regards to the $6 million project.

The OOC head said there will be three multi-use projects being done within three blocks of each other on the city’s west side, and four when one counts East Lake Commons.

“If they are successful in getting them occupied, the city will be one of the few in the country to see a net increase in its population,” Treadwell said.

The city of Oswego conducted a study several years ago that indicated the demand for quality housing or market rate apartments was significant, Treadwell said.

“That’s why these projects are being advanced. It is because they feel there is sufficient demand,” he noted.

He said within the context of a changing and improved economy, the younger generation doesn’t necessarily want a yard and grass to cut.

“Apartments are a good option,” said Treadwell, noting professionals associated with the nuclear plants, manufacturing facilities, and SUNY Oswego may hesitate to make permanent plans being there is a strong likelihood that they may be transferred after several years.

“This will give them some viable, very livable quality options. It’s probably going to create a certain amount of competition in terms of rental rates,” he said.

FEBRUARY / MARCH 2019

Alberts had submitted an application to the IDA for financial assistance associated with the project.

“It seems like everything he puts his hands on turns out to be successful,” Treadwell added.

Alberts is the owner of Wired Telecom, winner of the fourth installment of the “Next Great Idea” Oswego County business plan competition in 2018.

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One major project last year involved the Tailwater Lodge in Altmar, which more than doubled its lodging capacity while also adding a fitness center, an indoor pool and other leisure amenities for guests.

The $2.5 million project featured a new 24,000 square-foot, three-story addition adding 46 new rooms.

Treadwell praised Woodbine Group President Norman Swanson for taking a closed elementary school in Altmar and converting it into an upscale hotel and resort destination.

The Tailwater Lodge opened four years ago, but Swanson has already made two major expansions to the facility.

Treadwell said the goal is to feature more family related activities to draw in a different demographic other than hunters and fishermen eager to take on the Salmon River.

The Tailwater Lodge is also now part of the Hilton hotel chain’s newest collection brand, Tapestry Collection

by Hilton.

“We believe [Swanson] has had a very good experience with the Tailwater Lodge and hopefully he will do some more investing and building in Oswego County,” Treadwell added.

Similar to Broadwell Hospitality Group’s Lake Ontario Event and Conference Center in the city of Oswego, the Tailwater Lodge is being used to host large-scale events.

When the hotel’s capacity was 40 rooms at its inception, many participants to activities at Tailwater were forced to seek out accommodations elsewhere.

“If tourism continues to grow like it has been growing, there may be a need for more rooms,” Treadwell said.

Lake Ontario Water Park The city of Oswego was the first community to be awarded $10 million as part of the state-backed Downtown Revitalization Initiative.

FEBRUARY / MARCH 2019

OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

87

Treadwell, who is a member of the Central New York Regional Economic Development Council, is part of the committee that reviews applications for DRI funding.

On the tourism and hospitality front, high expectations exist for the Lake Ontario Water Park project. Broadwell Hospitality Group is constructing the indoor water park that will be connected to the Quality Inn & Suites Riverfront off East First Street in the city of Oswego.

The project has secured funding through the county IDA and the city’s DRI. The site is being prepared for construction, which should begin as soon as weather permits.

Treadwell said construction on the project should “go relatively fast” with completion expected to occur before the end of 2019.

The $4.9 million project, which features a 16,000-square-foot facility, will generate 15 jobs.

Treadwell said prior to pursuing financing, Broadwell Hospitality retained the services of Camoin Associates to do an economic impact study of the water park.

Camoin is the same agency that created the county’s economic advancement plan recently.

The agency gauged the impact not only from the standpoint of generating more traffic for the Broadwell Hospitality’s Quality Inn and adjacent Best Western Plus hotel, but also what it would do for the community in terms of drawing in more people and associated spending.

While the numbers in the report are confidential, Treadwell said it was “an interesting report” that was reviewed by the IDA in light of its assistance being provided to the project, and its spinoff impact in both the city and county is significant.

Treadwell said the yearlong water park will be a unique addition to Oswego’s attractions and will help drive traffic to the area.

Harborview Square Like the water park, Harborview Square is one of the core projects of the city of Oswego’s DRI. 88

Housing Visions, a neighborhood revitalization organization based in Syracuse, has done site work and broke ground recently on the $26.2 million project that will feature 75 apartment units, 18 freestanding townhouse-type units and 10,000 square feet of first-floor commercial space.

“I think one of the stronger elements of the project is that it was a brownfield site. They redeveloped a piece of property that had been sitting there since Copperweld’s Flexo Wire division moved out to Scriba in the 1970s,” he said. “It’s always difficult to redevelop brownfield sites, but this one is going to be done.” brownfield land is previously developed land with known or suspected pollution, including soil contamination due to hazardous waste.

The site had been used in the past by the city’s Department of Public Works.

“In terms of bringing economic value to the downtown area, now you’re going to have a lot of people associated with those units living downtown,” Treadwell said. “It’s going to drive business to all of the other retail and restaurant establishments in the community.”

Housing Visions put its signature on the Oswego area several years ago with its renovation of Hamilton Homes on the city’s east side.

The project, which received funding from multiple state entities, should be completed in 2020.

Treadwell said it fits into the city’s comprehensive waterfront development plan given its proximity to both Lake Ontario and the Oswego River.

“It creates economic activity in what used to be basically an empty, barren environmentally sensitive site,” Treadwell said.

East Lake Commons, LLC East Lake Commons, LLC, an affiliate of the Syracuse-based Sutton Real Estate Company, is planning to construct an 88,000-square-foot mixeduse facility at the corner of East First and Cayuga streets in the city of Oswego.

The development was one of a dozen projects receiving funding through the 2016 state Downtown Revitalization Initiative.

OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

At $2.2 million, the six-story, mixeduse development received the largest allocation of DRI funding.

Sutton Real Estate Companies submitted plans to demolish the Midtown Plaza shopping center in downtown Oswego to construct a new mixed-use property to be called East Lake Commons. The new building will include mixed-income apartment units, plus retail, commercial and office space, along with parking for residents and visitors.

The project was buoyed by a recent $800,000 grant from Empire State Development.

“Everything is going to be new on that entire block,” said Treadwell in regards to the lot bordered by East First and Second streets and East Bridge and Cayuga streets.

“There is going to be a lot of green space in that development,” he added.

The six-story building will house 72 apartments while the first floor will be for commercial use.

Apartments will be a mix of market rate and affordable housing.

“That project still needs to finalize its investment package, but is making significant headway,” said Treadwell, noting many of the tenants at the former Midtown Plaza have either moved or are in the process of relocating.

Oswego County Opportunities offers several programs from its offices in the Midtown Plaza and is in the process of relocating, while Green Planet has moved to West Seneca Street.

The project also needs final IDA clearance before construction begins.

Similar to the Harbor View project on the west side, East Lake Commons will fill a block that has been underutilized and “not very attractive,” Treadwell said.

He said all buildings connected to the project will be featured along the roadway, while parking will be established to the east of the facility.

A good portion of the space that the present building sits on at the plaza will be green space.

“This type of project will enhance further development in adjacent blocks,” said Treadwell, noting serious construction on the project is probably about a year away.

FEBRUARY / MARCH 2019

CenterState CEO Forecast: Robust Growth Despite challenges, CenterState CEO leader Robert Simpson upbeat as economic opportunities arise in Central New York

T

he city of Syracuse is one of the 10 poorest places in the United States, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. In 2017, 32.4 percent of the population of Syracuse lived below the poverty level.

This reality makes the job of CenterState Corporation for Economic Opportunity, Central New York’s economic development catalyst and business leadership organization, considerably more challenging.

Robert Simpson is the president and chief executive at CenterState CEO, and is proactive when it comes to addressing this key socio-economic issue.

Simpson is in his ninth year of leading the nonprofit association that serves more than 2,000 members in 19 counties.

Work Train, which fosters shared prosperity in Central New York by connecting unemployed or underemployed individuals to career opportunities, is one of many examples of collaborative initiatives that are addressing the root issues of poverty, Simpson said.

“At the same time, Work Train helps employers access new and previously untapped, but often overlooked, human capital that is already right here in our community,” he said.

The program is a national model and CenterState CEO is expanding the program to Cayuga and Oswego counties this year. Also, it will be adding new industry sector programs, including coding and programming.

Since 2014, CenterState CEO’s Work Train program has served 864 participants with a job placement rate of 80 percent.

Of those, 206 individuals have a criminal convic-

FEBRUARY / MARCH 2019

By Lou Sorendo tion record and 247 do not possess a high school diploma or the equivalent.

“Through these job training and placement efforts, and with a broad range of social service providers partnering with us to deliver much needed supports to these individuals, 76 percent of individuals who started in our program while receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families from the government were able to get off of this public assistance,” Simpson noted.

Additionally, the Allyn Family Foundation, in collaboration with CenterState CEO and others, has established a new nonprofit corporation called Syracuse Urban Partnership. It will build a multi-floor building that includes a public market-food hall, mixed-income housing and office space for the Allyn Family Foundation and

OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

other community partners.

The first-floor public market-food hall will provide a venue for entrepreneurial vendors to start and build their businesses as well as a space for the community to gather.

CenterState CEO’s economic inclusion team and its Up Start program will work with collaborators to ensure a diverse array of culinary-based businesses are prepared to fill the marketplace, Simpson said.

Up Start provides business training, technical assistance and facilitates access to business services such as lending and legal assistance to help grow businesses, contributing to stronger neighborhoods and shared prosperity, he added.

“These efforts are important examples of ways that this community is addressing poverty with economic solutions,” Simpson said. “Targeted training and education as well as supporting entrepreneurs from marginalized communities are important steps forward.”

Simpson said to significantly begin to make an impact, “we must also be intentional in our business development efforts to encourage more employers to locate new or expanded facilities in closer proximity to those who need jobs.”

With this focus in mind, the Syracuse Urban Partnership has decided to locate its new building on Salina Street in Syracuse. It will be at a “pivotal corner” where the opportunity to infuse economic vitality into the city can be leveraged by the downtown community as well as residents of the southeast and southwest corridors of the city, he added.

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Filling in workforce gaps

On the workforce development front, a “skills gap” has persisted which challenges regional employers when it comes to finding qualified workers.

CenterState CEO, however, is making inroads in terms of preparing local workers for jobs that require higher skill sets.

“There is no doubt that we have to be creative if we are going to make full use of the true labor pool that is available to us in Central New York,” Simpson said. “The simple fact is too many residents of our region have been left behind, marginalized and even excluded from the labor market, which is why the Work Train program is so critical.”

While CenterState CEO is partnering in many initiatives and efforts across this entire spectrum, “more partners are needed if we are going to make a material impact,” Simpson said.

“When it comes to education, preparing our workforce begins with preparing our children,” he noted.

Simpson said partners such as CenterState CEO, the Manufacturers Association of Central New York, Onondaga Community College and dozens of the region’s businesses have helped the Syracuse City School District — under the leadership of superintendent Jaime Alicea — develop and launch pivotal educational programs.

More than 25 leading-edge career and technical education programs have been designed to engage Syracuse district students in hands-on, career-oriented learning opportunities in industries from natural resources to cybersecurity to drones, he noted.

Recently, CenterState CEO engaged with the Syracuse City School District and BOCES, the city of Syracuse and Onondaga County to look at ways to expand these career technical education offerings and make them available, not just to city schoolchildren, but to all students throughout the region.

At Le Moyne College in Syracuse, President Linda Lemura has been working with regional employers on developing new pathways to fill the science-technology-engineering-math (STEM) jobs that many growing technology companies need filled.

“They have launched a Quantitative Reasoning Center, opened a 90

Thinking Village on campus for city of Syracuse middle school students, and are working with more than 500 Syracuse high school students, helping them to achieve graduation rates in excess of 95 percent,” Simpson said.

“It is partnerships like these, from pre-K programs to K-12 to our region’s many institutions of higher education, that are necessary for us to educate and train our next generation to be active and full participants in the economic future we seek to create,” he added.

Optimism prevails

Simpson noted at the beginning of 2018 that economic optimism in the region was “muted.”

However, he characterizes the economic climate in Central New York as 2019 unfolds in a different vein now.

“If you are looking for a single headline from our economic forecast this year, it is that the robust growth that drove investments in 2018 is expected to continue into 2019, giving us reason to be hopeful as we start the year,” he said.

Simpson said the region’s gross domestic product growth accelerated more than threefold in 2018, its best performance in six years.

Unemployment is also at a record low, 3.8 percent, with 2,800 more people in the workforce getting a paycheck, he added.

“Seventy-four percent of respondents to our economic forecast survey described their business in 2018 as being strong or very strong,” Simpson said. “Seventy-five percent say they anticipate overall sales and revenue growth in 2019, up from 67 percent the previous year.”

Forty-nine percent expect to make capital investments, up 5 percent from last year, he said.

Seventy-five percent of forecasters say they anticipate overall sales and revenue growth in 2019, up from 67 percent the previous year, Simpson said.

“What’s more, the majority of those that do expect to grow anticipate doing so by 6 to 10 percent,” he added.

Forty-nine percent expect to make capital investments, up 5 percent from last year. Seventy-seven percent of survey respondents said they have plans to grow their exports in 2019, up from 54 percent in 2018, he reported.

“And in a final indicator of just how OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

optimistic our forecasters are heading into 2019, the number of respondents who are worried about stagnant markets dropped by half from last year, to 9 percent, a near-record low,” he said.

Simpson said 55 percent of forecasters are expecting an increase in hiring in 2019, while at the same time the ability to find and retain talent reached the top of the list of business concerns.

Forty-nine percent say talent attraction and retention will impact their business this year, up from just 26 percent last year, he added.

“Our challenge now is to maximize this opportunity while bringing more people in our community into the workforce to be part of this progress,” Simpson said. “To do so will require a multi-dimensional approach to attracting and retaining talent, and innovative solutions to expanding our existing labor pool.”

Simpson said several pathways are being explored, such as engaging with educational providers to tailor programs to the needs of industry.

The strategy also includes carefully reviewing hiring practices to see that productive, capable workers aren’t unintentionally being excluded from potential applicant pools. It also involves partnering with the regional Talent Task Force to pilot new and creative strategies to help attract more talent, he added.

The Talent Task Force is a regional initiative led by the private sector that includes the CNY Regional Economic Development Council, CenterState CEO and the New York State Labor Department.

“We must collectively embrace a civic leadership role to help ensure continued growth in the year ahead, he said.

Performance-driven entity

Gov. Andrew Cuomo recently announced the winners of the 2018 Regional Economic Development Council awards.

The Central New York REDC was again named a “top performer” and will receive $88.2 million to support 91 projects.

The CNY region was awarded the most investment of any region across the state in the eighth round of the REDC recently and has received the most investment out of all 10 council regions FEBRUARY / MARCH 2019

since the inception of this statewide competitive funding program.

“I attribute this success to the quality of the projects we put forward, their strong return on investment of state dollars, and their ability to advance the strategies the CNYREDC developed at the beginning of this process,” he said.

Of the projects awarded in the latest round, Simpson said three in particular are notable in terms of contributing most to the economic sustainability and vitality of the CNY region.

Salina 1st, LLC is a project set to break ground on the first mixed-use development on the south side in years, turning several vacant properties on South Salina street in Syracuse into manufacturing, retail, office, and residential space.

“This brings new energy, investment and jobs to a part of our city that needs them the most,” Simpson said.

PPC Broadband, Inc. is a project that will create a 500,000-square-foot manufacturing facility to expand existing operations in Central New York, including reshoring portions of its manufacturing operations.

Its final facility will include offices, a lab, a manufacturing and assembly plant, and warehouse and distribution center. It will be built in five separate phases.

In addition, another notable project is East Lake Commons, LLC, which will feature development at the former Midtown Plaza in Oswego.

“This has the potential to have incredible impact,” Simpson said.

The project was awarded funding through the state’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative as well as through the REDC process.

The project will create an 88,000 square-foot, six-story mixed-use building with 75 housing units.

“It will support 140 jobs and address important community issues like affordable housing and blight, and will also help attract new business, tourists and residents to the area,” he said.

High technology takes flight

Simpson addressed some of the sectors of the CNY economy that have flourished over the past year or so, such as continued strength in the unmanned systems sector.

FEBRUARY / MARCH 2019

NUAIR has signed agreements with several new partners to build out the second phase of the unmanned traffic management corridor, he noted.

The GENIUS NY program, which supports the growth of small and startup companies in the unmanned aerial systems sector, received a record 300plus applications for its third round of competition, Simpson said.

“This record number of people interested in the program speaks to the success and strength of the sector in the region,” he said. “The program targets both investments and resources and is the world’s largest unmanned systems accelerator.”

Recently, GENIUS NY welcomed five new teams to The Tech Garden to begin its yearlong program.

“In April, we will award a total of $3 million to these teams. Over the past two years, the program has supported 12 companies with investments of more than $6 million, which has resulted in their growth and the hiring of both full- and part-time employees.

“We have companies from all over the globe moving here to test their systems on the only beyond visual line of site test corridor in the country,” Simpson said.

This includes companies like Unifly, a Belgian company that provides traffic management technology for the growing unmanned systems sector.

Simpson said the company has committed to setting up its North American headquarters in Syracuse, pledging 40 new jobs Likewise, Thales, a French multinational company that is a global leader in air traffic management with 65,000 employees in 56 countries, opened an office in Syracuse.

Simpson said it was just a year ago that CenterState CEO predicted a year of transformation in several key sectors, including the burgeoning tech industry.

“As you walk along Warren Street in Syracuse, you can’t help but feel a new sense of energy and dynamism from some of our region’s fastest-growing companies,” he said.

In a few years, companies like Digital Hyve have gone from two employees to more than 100, Simpson noted.

Inc. magazine recently named Digital Hyve the 52nd fastest growing private company and the fifth-fastest OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

growing advertising and marketing company in the U.S. In addition, TCGplayer is beginning to move into its new headquarters, taking over and renovating space in the The Galleries, which has been described as Syracuse’s new architectural centerpiece.

“TCGplayer is creating a workspace replete with ships, dragons and the Millennium Falcon all in an effort to attract talent as they expand to more than 300 employees and redefine what it means to be a growth company in Central New York,” Simpson said.

Focus on diversity, inclusion

Simpson said diversity and inclusion are necessary ingredients for success in today’s business world.

At front and center is CenterState CEO’s diversity and inclusion council.

CenterState CEO recognizes that diversity in all its forms is imperative to its success, Simpson said.

“Whether it is religion, race or ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation, age or differing abilities, unique backgrounds, experiences and thoughts drive creative and effective decision-making,” he said. “An inclusive workplace delivers better outcomes for all.”

To that end, CenterState CEO has formally committed to be more intentional in these efforts by embracing a new diversity and inclusion policy.

“CEO’s goal is to continuously cultivate a diverse organization through its recruiting, retention, training, advancement opportunities and board leadership,” Simpson noted.

CenterState CEO’s staff-led diversity and inclusion council, with guidance and input from CEO’s board of directors, developed this policy, is committed to its values and pledges to advance CenterState CEO toward its goals, he added.

“CenterState CEO knows many of its members are actively developing their own diversity and inclusion plans,” he said. “Working with key community partners, CEO intends to add programming during the next year designed to help members engage in these efforts.”

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Success Story

Laser Transit Ltd. Leading Regional Transportation and Third-party Logistics Provider Keeps on Trucking

L

aser precision. That’s what it takes to excel at the highest level in the demanding regional trucking industry.

George Joyce, who has been the CEO at Laser Transit Ltd. in Lacona for nearly 25 years, knows this all too well.

Joyce launched Laser Transit with $5,000 and leased space back in 1995.

Today, he is running a multi-million dollar operation.

Laser Transit packages logistics services including transportation, distribution/warehousing, third-party logistics and outsourcing services to primary industries throughout the region.

Did he ever envision that the business would reach the heights that it has?

“I think all of us hope we can succeed,” he said. “There are so many 92

challenges to any business startup that, I believe, most people at the beginning are focusing on how much they can get done today, and less about what their accomplishments will look like in 25 years.”

“Having said that, I certainly held lofty assumptions about what we could accomplish and that serves your ambition and tenacity,” Joyce noted. “Vision is vital, but diligence rewards.”

Joyce, 68, said Laser Transit is a service business whose primary focus is on its customers. It adapts to their needs, is consistent in communication and performance, and recognizes opportunities where clients can be assisted beyond the normal scope of what their expectations are.

In terms of keys to his success, the Oswego native said relationships are still key, “as is remaining competitive with your offerings, being open-minded in difOSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

By Lou Sorendo

Laser Transit operates a fleet of 30 trucks. It’s based in Lacona. ficult environments, and remembering your employees are what allows you to deliver and grow.”

As to the future, the Sterling resident said expansion plans are under way.

“We are close to finalizing acquisition of another 60,000 square-foot facility in Oswego which will allow us to enlarge our footprint and offerings,” he said.

The company also plans to continue to look at trade with Canada as a major growth opportunity for its logistics services.

“We are examining the possibilities of adding last-mile delivery to our services as the internet-driven market for retail continues to be a growing share of transportation and supply chain economics,” said Joyce, who is a member of the boards of directors at Operation Oswego County and Pathfinder Bank.

Last-mile delivery is the movement of goods from a transportation hub to the final delivery destination, which is typically a personal residence. The focus of last-mile logistics is to deliver items FEBRUARY / MARCH 2019

“You must be resilient and know, as in a chess game, where to best position your next move to both anticipate potential setbacks and still move forward with a winning strategy.”

— George Joyce to the end-user as fast as possible.

Long and winding road Joyce has seen major changes in the trucking industry since launching the business in the mid-1990s.

He has managed to successfully transition through changes in the market, whether they are on the regulatory or operating fronts.

“Markets are cyclical and corporate decisions made by your customers can also disrupt progress, or catapult activity,” he said.

Since 1980 when the trucking industry was deregulated, there have been profound changes, most of which resulted in significantly more industry competition and innovation in logistics, Joyce said.

Regulatory efforts have focused on improved truck safety and lower highway mortality, he noted.

Meanwhile, technology has dramatically improved resource efficiencies and visibility while improving vehicle capabilities and reliability, Joyce added.

Laser Transit has weathered severe economic downturns along the way, the CEO said.

“You must be resilient and know, as in a chess game, where to best position your next move to both anticipate potential setbacks and still move forward with a winning strategy,” said Joyce, who earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics at SUNY Oswego.

Joyce reflected on revenues being generated today compared to those when he first embarked upon his enterprise.

“We started by making a few hundred thousand in revenue early on but were surprised at how quickly we grew into a multi-million dollar operation,” FEBRUARY / MARCH 2019

Top photo: Wood pulp, paper rolls and industrial items are stored in Laser Transit’s warehousing facilities in Lacona. The company owns its own fleet of trucks, and provides trucking, warehousing and third-party logistics services in the United States and Canada. Bottom photo: facade of Laser Transit in Lacona.

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See our coupon in this issue.

Or buy a single copy at river’s end bookstore in downtown Oswego.

Single copies: $20 94

George Joyce, founder and CEO at Laser Transit Ltd. in Lacona. He launched Laser Transit with $5,000 and leased space back in 1995. Today, he is running a multi-million dollar operation.

he said. “Revenues remain hard-earned over the past five years but continue to post positive gains as we diversify services, expand warehousing and distribution, and add customers.”

Joyce noted his annual payroll is approximately $1.5 million.

Meanwhile, hiring continues to be a major challenge for trucking firms across the nation.

In midst of trucker shortage Joyce addressed the ongoing trucker shortage and what it’s going to take to reverse fortunes when it comes to hiring truck drivers.

The U.S. will be short 175,000 truck drivers by 2026, according to the American Trucking Associations. Fewer drivers mean that fewer goods can be moved in a timely fashion, which limits companies from selling more and consumers from enjoying what they’re used to finding in stores or online, according to the ATA. Today, a lack of drivers is already delaying orders and making goods more expensive as freight rates climb, the ATA states. The trucking industry moved 64 percent of all freight shipments in 2015.

“The shortage remains a foremost topic with virtually every carrier I speak with,” Joyce said. “There are many efforts but providing a pathway and education for new entrants is a major goal.”

Students graduating high school cannot get their commercial driver’s license (CDL-A) until they turn 21.

“We are part of a logistics industry that is diverse and can start individuals with B licenses or in other operations OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

where they can work on taking career and financial steps that lead to driving or other jobs that fulfill their interests and income objectives,” he said.

Likewise, finding individuals that are looking for a career change and even part-time work are obvious targets, he said.

“But they need that same education about our industry, the job mobility and security it represents, and what income and benefits are available,” he said.

What is his idea of the ideal trucker?

“Drivers are all different and very independent, but we look for a good work ethic, a safety mindset, an understanding that they represent not only us, but each customer with whom we work, and have good communication skills,” Joyce said.

Joyce said his satisfaction comes “from knowing that what I do and decisions I make has benefit not just to my future, or my family’s future, but that I help our employees with their futures and ensure their livelihoods and security.

“Apart from that, every day is a new set of challenges and that is a great driver to stay engaged and productive. I have been able to serve on several nonprofit boards, contribute to community, and hope I make a difference.”

Joyce and his wife Christine have enjoyed 48 years of marriage and have four children and 13 grandchildren.

When he is not running his business, he enjoys outdoor activities that include camping, hiking and kayaking.

He is a member investor at CenterState CEO and belongs to the Trucking Association of New York and the American Trucking Associations.

FEBRUARY / MARCH 2019

Sharon E. Jones

4 Ways to Make Yourself Indispensable to Your Boss Tip 1: Build on What You Are Told

‘Managers never like to be surprised.

So, the best way to be indispensable is to make sure you routinely keep your manager updated on your work.’

A graduate of Harvard Law School and Harvard College, Sharon E. Jones is the founder and CEO of Jones Diversity, Inc., which offers services to organizations looking to improve their workplace culture and create more diverse and inclusive teams. She recently published a book, “Mastering the Game: Strategies for Career Success.” For more information, visit www. jonesdiversity.com.

FEBRUARY / MARCH 2019

find a way to reliably deliver results, especially in difficult situations, your manager will begin to view you as a “go-to” person.

When a manager gives instructions, a good employee will closely follow the directions and do what she is told. However, a great employee will not only follow the Tip 3: Lighten Your Manager’s directions that she is given but will also add Workload value by pushing the project along, anticipatVolunteer to take projects off of your ing the manager’s next step. Your managers manager’s plate. During check-in meetare often busy managing multiple aspects ings, ask about projects coming down the of project. Therefore, you can’t expect your pipeline. If you hear about a project that fits managers to do their jobs and also yours. your skillset, offer to get the ball rolling. To They won’t have time to spell out every become truly indispensable, identify ways single aspect of your project assignment. in which your skillset complements your During check in meetings, let your manager manager’s skillset. If your manager hates know what you both had agreed upon and doing a particular task and you are willing the extra effort you put to take it on, she will want in to advance your aspect Guest Columnist to keep you around for of the project. When you as long as possible. One demonstrate competence, note of caution: while it is OK to occasionally your manager will likely give you more indevolunteer for administrative work to make pendence to run with projects, and you will your manager’s life easier, you should pribecome a little more indispensable. oritize going after projects that demonstrate and grow your skillset.

Tip 2: Have a “Can-Do” Attitude

If you want to become indispensable to your manager, then one of the best ways to distinguish yourself from your peers is to be a “can-do” person as opposed to someone who often says no. Managers look for professionals who not only produce exceptional results but also have a “can-do” attitude. The best way to strengthen your bond with your manager is to step up when he or she makes a request. If you can become a reliable “go-to” person, your relationship with your manager will strengthen. Realistically, you will not be able to complete every request exactly as it is outlined. Demonstrate your commitment to your manager first by saying yes, then bring up an alternative plan of execution based on your time and resource constraints. If you

Tip 4: Keep Your Manager Updated

Managers never like to be surprised.

So, the best way to be indispensable is to make sure you routinely keep your manager updated on your work. You can do that by establishing formal check-ins or informally do so by dropping by. You can also send email updates. Your office culture will dictate the appropriate manner for the update, but frequency is important. Also, be sure to give your manager a heads-up if there is a problem you have encountered so that it can be addressed at an early stage. Remember, no one likes to be surprised at work.

If you want to become indispensable to your manager, then one of the best ways to distinguish yourself from your peers is to be a “can-do” person as opposed to someone who often says no.

OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

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Best Business Directory AUTO SALES & SERVICE Bellinger Auto Sales & Service — Third generation business. Used Cars, Towing, general auto repair & accessories, Truck repair. Oil, lube & filter service. 2746 County Route 57 Fulton, NY 13069. Call 593-1332 or fax 598-5286.

BUILDING SUPPLIES Burke’s Home Center. The complete building and supply center. Two locations for your convenience: 38 E. Second St. in Oswego (343-6147); and 65 N. Second St. in Fulton (592-2244). Free deliveries.

CONSTRUCTION Dunsmoor Construction Inc. – Residential-Commercial Construction. Serving Oswego County. Home Improvement Contractor. 315-343-4380 or 315-591-5020.

DEMOLITION Fisher Companies. Commercial & residential demolition.

Great prices. Fully insured. Free estimates. 48 years of experience. Call Fisher Companies at 315-652-3773 or visit www.johnefisherconstruction.com.

EXCAVATING Gilbert Excavating. Septic systems. Gravel & top soil.

Septic tank pumping. 685 County Route 3, Fulton, 13069. Call 593-2472.

FIREWOOD Northern Firewood & Earth Products – www. northernfirewood.net 315-668-9663 – Seasoned and Unseasoned split hardwoods. Block or Log Length.

FREE DELIVERY! We Accept all major credit cards and HEAP. Call today to place your order.

KILN-DRIED HARDWOODS Lakeshore Hardwoods. We stock kiln-dried cherry, walnut, maple, butternut, ash, oak, basswood, mahogany, cedar figured woods, and exotics. Also, hardwood flooring, moldings, stair parts & woodworking supplies. 266 Manwaring Rd. Pulaski. 298-6407 or visit www.lakeshorehardwoods.com.

LAND SURVEYOR Robert M. Burleigh, licensed land surveyor. Quality land surveying. Residential, subdivision, commercial, boundary surveying. 593-2231.

LUMBER White’s Lumber. Four locations to serve you. Pulaski: state Route 13, 315-298-6575; Watertown: N. Rutland Street, 315-788-6200; Clayton: James Street, 315686-1892; Gouverneur: Depot Street, 315-287-1892.

OUTBOARD MOTORS Arney’s Marina. Route 14 Sodus Point, NY. Honda four-stroke motors, 2 hp to 250 hp. Repower your boat with the best! Call 483-9111 for more information.

TRACTOR/LAWN EQUIPMENT RanMar Tractor Supply, Sales and Service of New and Used Tractors and Farm Equipment – 5219 US Rte 11 Pulaski, New York – 315-598-5109.

HEADING: LISTING:

$159 for 1 Year Just fill out this form, and send it with a check to:

Oswego County Business • P.O. Box 276 • Oswego, NY 13126

FEBRUARY / MARCH 2019

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Chena Tucker

Workforce development leader: Oswego County still faces gaps in mid-level technical jobs, a lack of basic foundation or soft skills In general terms, how would you characterize the skills gap in Oswego County?

Oswego County continues to experience gaps in mid-level-technical jobs (electrical, industrial, trades, entry-level health care) and a lack of basic foundation or soft skills. Many employers have become active and vocal partners in finding solutions to address the skills gaps. For example, the number of employers who have taken advantage of on-the-job training programming, which helps cover the costs of training a new employee, has steadily increased since September of 2017. This allows a new worker to learn the skills they need to be successful while earning an income. New services have been added to begin to address the skills gap, such as Pathways In Technology Early College High School, technical high school for the emerging workforce, and the Skillup online learning program that gives Oswego County students free access to more than 5,000 online courses.

What are local employers demanding in terms of skill sets?

Work readiness soft skills such as problem solving, adaptability, time management, organization, oral communication and critical thinking.

Also in demand are technical skills in the area of electrical maintenance engineering, skilled trades and information technology.

Are industry businesses partnering with the county toward workforce development?

There are numerous partnerships happening across the workforce system. To point out a couple: Cayuga Community College along with dozens of local and regional employers

are in the final stages of development of the Advanced Manufacturing Institute, which will focus on delivering industrial, maintenance and electrical skills training. There are other types of activities as well. We are hosting the Oswego County College and Career Night at SUNY Oswego’s Marano Campus Center from 6:30-8 p.m. April 24. Area students and their parents can learn from employers about the good-paying careers available throughout the region, while coordinating with the colleges who can prepare them for those careers.

Also, in partnership with CenterState CEO, the WDB is working with local health care service providers to implement their successful Work Train program here in Oswego County.

By Lou Sorendo have lost their jobs, mature workers and others who face barriers to employment. The One-Stop Career Center recently teamed up with Huhtamaki in Fulton to hold a very successful career information and recruiting event to fill several openings it had. Approximately 250 job seekers met with company representatives to learn about careers in manufacturing.

Can you update us on the Skillup Oswego County initiative?

Since it was launched in 2017, over 740 county residents have signed up for a free account through Metrix as part of the Skillup initiative. These individuals spent over 803 training hours while earning more than 576 certificates and digital badges. The most popular courses were in project management, Microsoft Word and Excel, the Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, human resources, accounting, food industry standards, leadership and team building.

How is the WDB’s One Stop Career Center in Fulton helping to assist in closing the skills gap?

The One Stop Career Center in Fulton is the information and career assistance hub for Oswego County workers looking to find a job or to upgrade their skills for a better-paying job.

One Stop Career Center staff work hard to provide guidance to a wide range of workers, including young adult workers aged 16 to 24), those who

Tucker is director of the Office of Business and Community Relations at SUNY Oswego and director of the Workforce Development Board of Oswego County.

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OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS

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