SUNY Oswego is embracing Gov. Andrew Cuomo's START-UP New York program, selecting three areas on the college's main campus as possible future business sites.
Cuomo formally launched START-UP New York in October, which offers new and expanding businesses the chance to operate on SUNY campuses tax free for ten years. The only requirements are that the company has to be able to create jobs, provide an economic boost for the community and not hurt other local companies.
Pamela Caraccioli, of SUNY Oswego, says the university is creating a 25-member advisory council to assist in the process. Thirteen members will represent the college, with 12 others representing the community.
"We really tried to focus on the business sectors that would be important to that panel. So we've got folks from small business, large business, industry, banking, finance and real estate. And again, just looking at a good cross-section of individuals."
Caraccioli says the college is looking to other states to figure out what they've done to promote friendly campus-business relationships.
"Other states have actually been very successful. You've got a lot of good examples from Texas, very good examples from Ohio. North Carolina always comes up in terms of some of the better models in terms of university and industry collaboration."
Caraccioli says SUNY Oswego has 11 businesses that have shown interest, including some with light manufacturing and technology-related components. The university is also considering the potential of its other campuses for attracting businesses, including its learning center based in Phoenix, New York and the SUNY Oswego Metro Center in Syracuse.