Business

Syracuse begs Sunoco to allow the sale of three vacant gas stations

Ryan Delaney — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 20:34:02 +0000

Syracuse officials are accusing the ownership of three vacant gas stations at a southern entrance to the city of blocking the properties' sale in the name of competition.

On Monday, Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner brought in Sen. Charles Schumer to call on Sunoco to allow the sale and redevelopment of the stations near the intersection of Seneca Turnpike and East Brighton Ave.

One of the properties has been vacant more than 15 years.

Byrne Dairy expanding one of its Syracuse-area plants

Ryan Delaney — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 20:30:32 +0000

An increased demand for long-lasting dairy products has prompted Byrne Dairy to expand one of its three dairy processing facilities in the Syracuse area.

Byrne Dairy-owned Ultra Dairy wants to add about 100,000 square feet to its plant along Interstate 481 in DeWitt. The company says the expansion will allow them to add about 50 more jobs at the plant.

Ultra Dairy uses a more sterilized pasteurization process that allows products to have a shelf life of up to 140 days. The plant hasn't been able to keep up with orders lately, it told county economic development officials.

Former New Venture Gear plant may have new tenant

Ryan Delaney — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 12:33:42 +0000

The old New Venture Gear auto parts factory in suburban Syracuse could have a new tenant much quicker than county economic development officials expected.

A newly formed company called American Intermodal Container Manufacturing Inc. wants to use about half of the large factory to make shipping containers.

New Venture Gear concluded a long shutdown of its DeWitt plant in August. It once employed 4,000 people making parts for SUVs.

Stickley Furniture owed $2 million over lack of tariff enforcement

Ryan Delaney — Wed, 29 May 2013 20:05:34 +0000

Long time central New York furniture maker Stickley says it is owed a couple million dollars from the federal government in uncollected tariff fees on international competition.

The company alleges Chinese furniture makers are partaking in a practice called "dumping" -- flooding the market with cheaper products sold at a loss – which drives out competition.

A tariff on Chinese furniture was enacted in 2005. During that time, Stickely earned about $8 million from the fees collected on Chinese products sold in the U.S.

Destiny USA tries to make it a comfortable destination for tour bus drivers

Ellen Abbott — Tue, 21 May 2013 12:32:08 +0000

Bus drivers who bring customers to Destiny USA in Syracuse won't be waiting in their buses for passengers to finish shopping anymore. The mall has created a new bus drivers lounge and the idea is to expand on what is already a big source of shoppers at the Syracuse mall.

Popular Syracuse ice cream shop sets up permanent shop downtown

Ellen Abbott — Tue, 14 May 2013 19:51:00 +0000

An ice cream icon in Syracuse has become the latest business to join in the revitalization of downtown Syracuse. Gannon's Isle has opened up a permanent store in the Dey's building, on the corner of South Salina and Jefferson Streets.

IDAs need to be more transparent, accountable, says comptroller

Kate O'Connell — Wed, 08 May 2013 20:48:22 +0000

The New York state comptroller’s office has released its annual report on New York’s 113 Industrial Development Agencies (IDAs), with concerns raised about the effectiveness and transparency of the organizations.

'Buy local' promoter will hold local economy summit in Syracuse

Ryan Delaney — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 10:24:00 +0000

A promoter of the buy local movement in Syracuse will hold a regional summit next month to promote local business and encourage entrepreneurs to set up shop.

Business lines up against proposed border crossing fee

Ryan Delaney — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 13:22:08 +0000

Business leaders are joining with several New York members of Congress who oppose the idea of introducing a fee for visitors crossing the border into the U.S., citing the importance of Canadians to upstate New York’s economy.

Small businesses push for further reform in New York state, including immigration

Kate O'Connell — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 20:50:09 +0000

Small businesses from around the state took their concerns to legislators in Albany Wednesday. The message from leaders in the agricultural industry particularly highlighted the need for reforms to support small farms, and boost local economies upstate.

Chenango County named latest foreign trade zone in N.Y.

Matt Richmond — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 13:10:35 +0000

In March, the federal government awarded Chenango County, northeast of Binghamton, foreign trade zone status. That means county businesses can import goods without paying a tariff. They also pay a lower tariff if those goods are sold within the United States and no tariff if the final product is exported.

Gillibrand holds small business listening tour with SBA

Ryan Delaney — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 12:36:02 +0000

New York's junior senator and the head of the U.S. Small Business Administration swung through upstate New York Monday to hold a series of roundtable talks with small business owners and economic development officials.

29.5% of recent high school graduates can't find work

Ryan Delaney — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 18:28:11 +0000

The unemployment rate for recent high school graduates has nearly doubled since the recession began, leaving almost a third of them without work, according to a report from an economic think tank.

Finger Lakes tops the class for business friendliness in New York

Kate O'Connell — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 20:44:40 +0000

The grades are in and the Finger Lakes region is top-of-the-class for business friendliness in New York state. That’s the conclusion of a new small businesses survey conducted by Thumbtack.com. But the survey also shows that the state still lags in a national comparison.

Destiny USA and Syracuse reach deal to avoid legal battles

Ryan Delaney — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 20:29:55 +0000

For the first time in Bill Ryan's 10 years of public service, Syracuse and the owner of the Destiny USA mega-sized shopping mall are not facing legal action. Ryan is a former common councilor and now chief of staff for the mayor and chairman of Syracuse Industrial Development Agency (SIDA), the city's development arm.

Gillibrand pushes for national $10 minimum wage

Ryan Delaney — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 14:30:50 +0000

New York's junior senator is staging a fight to raise the federal minimum wage to more than $10 an hour.

Cuomo's one stop shop for beverage industry

Kate O'Connell — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 21:04:10 +0000

Gov. Andrew Cuomo has launched a service to streamline regulatory processes for New York’s $22 billion alcoholic beverage industry. The one-stop-shop initiative is designed to give producers a single point of government contact for licensing, regulatory, and incentives issues.

Twenty-year-old starts second business with purchase of Watertown commercial building

Joanna Richards — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 14:10:26 +0000

Many 16-year-olds might dream about starting their own business. But it takes a special kind of teenager to turn an operation launched in his parents' basement into a six-figure profit earner in just four years. After succeeding wildly with his web development and design company, North Shore Solutions, Clarkson University junior Matthew Turcotte, now age 20, is embarking on his second venture: commercial real estate.

DiNapoli says Syracuse's finances suffer from "systemic problems"

Ryan Delaney — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 14:02:18 +0000

New York State's financial overseer is warning Syracuse's finances face "systemic problems."

Small business training program returns to Syracuse

Ryan Delaney — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 20:20:54 +0000

The Small Business Administration is bringing a free training program back to central New York for the third time.

Startups awaiting permission to "crowdfund" for new investors

Ryan Delaney — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 15:54:38 +0000

Startup businesses in upstate New York, a region that sometimes struggles to attract big investors, are anxiously awaiting permission to begin soliciting funding from a new type of investor.

Gillibrand proud of Remington, but says backing it is up to Cuomo

Ryan Delaney — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 13:14:14 +0000

Firearm manufacturer Remington Arms is a part of New York's long tradition of manufacturing, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand says, but using taxpayer dollars to make sure they stay in upstate New York is up to the governor.

Five states courting Remington Arms away from New York

Ryan Delaney — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 20:28:53 +0000

Five states have contacted the parent company of Remington Arms to encourage the gun maker to relocate in response to New York's efforts to tighten gun control laws.

Central New York's 2013 economy may be "instant replay" of 2012

Ryan Delaney — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 16:52:03 +0000

The main economic booster engine for central New York is predicting economic growth in the region in 2013 will look a lot like last year.

Survey: upstate businesses less optimistic about economy in 2013

Ryan Delaney — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 10:48:00 +0000

Business executives from across upstate New York are less confident about the economy going into 2013, an annual survey has found.

Schumer calls for action against phone scam targeting businesses

Ellen Abbott — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 10:52:00 +0000

Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) wants to make it harder for phone hacking rings to rip off New York state businesses. Schumer is hearing from New Yorkers about dozens of businesses that are racking up huge phone bills because of these hackers.

Fiscal Cliff deal is good news for small business

Ryan Delaney — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 20:27:47 +0000

While the Fiscal Cliff deal passed by Congress at the turn of the New Year raised taxes on some of the wealthiest people in America, it left many tax breaks in place that benefit small businesses. That is, along as they take advantage of them.

Sale of Rochester clothing maker Hickey Freeman finalized

Kate O'Connell — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 20:02:55 +0000

The sale of the Hickey Freeman parent company was approved by the U.S Bankruptcy Court Wednesday. Authentic Brands Groups (ABG) and W-Diamond Corporation have been given the go ahead to purchase the intellectual and physical property of the company.

Money from Destiny USA could be used for Inner Harbor upgrades

Ryan Delaney — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 21:29:02 +0000

Some of the money collected through the tax break agreement between the Destiny USA mega-mall and Syracuse will be used to try and win federal funding for Inner Harbor improvements. The Syracuse Industrial Development Agency (SIDA) has approved the use of $500,000 from Destiny payments to be part of a match for a federal grant the city is applying for.

Following the people, more stores call downtown Syracuse home

Ryan Delaney — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 13:44:01 +0000

Empty storefronts used to be a common site in downtown Syracuse, but now more are being leased out thanks in part to a growing demand from people to live in the city's urban center.