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A Special Advertising Section of Business Facilities

New York State uses its innovative programs and resources to remain competitive. In addition, it has established a pro-business, pro-jobs, and pro-growth environment that has helped to attract new private sector investment over the past 10 years.

By Grace Crawford

“Our everyday priority at Empire State Development is to make sure New York has a strong and positive business climate,” says Empire State Development Chairman Charles A. Gargano. “To us it means jobs, opportunity, growth, and investment.

“Governor George E. Pataki has given us the programs and resources so we can help companies grow and attract and leverage private sector investment,” continues Gargano. “We have been armed with strong programs and rich resources such as our Empire Zones and Centers of Excellence, a program that links technology businesses and our world-class research and education institutions. Our Centers of Excellence have helped to put New York State at the forefront of a global high-tech revolution.”

Rebuilding The Big Apple

One of New York State's highest priorities has been rebuilding Lower Manhattan following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. While the loss of life and terror of that day will forever be remembered a national tragedy, the progress made so far is a testament to the strength and resiliency of the Empire State and its people.

“Our effort is nearly unparalleled to anything that has been done in this country as we are recreating and rebuilding a portion of our city,” explains Gargano. “In as little as 1,200 days, we have made great strides toward rebuilding the 10 million square feet of office space and critical infrastructure that was destroyed.”

Within hours of the terrorist attack, Empire State Development set up operations in Lower Manhattan, hired hundreds of temporary employees, and began meeting with and directly visiting businesses. Eight disaster recovery programs were created to support businesses of all sizes.

“New York will always be a city of skyscrapers, and in our effort to rebuild the city's skyline we have disbursed almost $1 billion to assist in the economic recovery of Lower Manhattan,” says Gargano. “We are seeing that downtown is coming back. The vacancy rate is dropping and available commercial space is declining. We have helped to stabilize more than 16,000 businesses, keeping hundreds of thousands of jobs downtown. Our business programs have helped to create and retain more than 250,000 jobs that might have been lost forever to downtown. We are rebuilding and reshaping the skyline, bringing glass, steel, and concrete together.”

Another vital part of rebuilding Lower Manhattan is restoring transportation to the area. The Port Authority of New York and New

Jersey will break ground this summer for a new World Trade Center Transportation Hub, which will include a PATH (Port Authority Trans-Hudson) rapid-transit rail system terminal. The $2 billion project will for the first time connect PATH with ferry services and with New York City Transit subway lines to better interconnect the region's mass transit system.

In related news, in May Gov. Pataki joined state and local officials and business and community leaders in Yonkers to formally announce that the Port Authority has awarded a $499 million contract to Kawasaki Rail Car

to design and build 340 new PATH subway cars. The new project will result in up to 300 new jobs being created at Kawasaki's plant in Yonkers.

The award is part of an $809 million PATH modernization program that includes car maintenance equipment, renovations to PATH's Harrison Consolidated Maintenance Facility, and preliminary work on a new signal system. It is the largest single investment in the rapid transit system since the Port Authority acquired the Hudson and Manhattan Railroad in 1962. The Port Authority expects to have the first of the new PATH cars in service in late 2008. The entire fleet will be replaced by 2011.

New York is Home to HQ

New York State is home to more Fortune 500 company headquarters than any other state in the nation, according to the April 18 issue of Fortune magazine. New York City is also still home to more Fortune 500 headquarters than any other city in the country. New York State is home to 54 Fortune 500 headquarters, up from 52 in 2003 when California was the top state at 53. New York has surpassed California, which ranks second with 52 Fortune 500 company headquarters.

“The fact that New York is home to so many Fortune 500 company headquarters should come as no surprise, but many other corporations also recognize the need to have a presence here,” says Gargano. “Corporations continue to recognize that New York is the place they need to be, and the annual ranking showcases the diversity of New York's economy with companies in publishing, consumer products, technology, finance, media, energy, health and beauty and insurance.”

New York Invests in High-Tech

New York State is currently home to over 50 incubator facilities, including the oldest incubator in the U.S., Batavia Industrial Center in the Finger Lakes region. Business incubators are important to New York State because they encourage the development of new businesses and foster local economic development. Reflecting some of New York's major goals, incubators create new jobs and new wealth by conceiving and developing innovative technologies.

New York State has ranked second nationally in the number of new businesses incorporated since 1993, and holds between 9% and 10% of new businesses in the U.S. Two main factors have contributed to this high level of new business activity in the state—the high level of university-based research and development in New York State and the high level of entrepreneurial activity supported by technology and business incubators.

In May, Gargano announced that a manufacturing company—Crystal IS —is moving from a Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) incubator building into a new facility in Green Island as the first phase in a three-year, multi-stage expansion plan. In this initial phase, Crystal IS plans to invest more than $2 million on facility improvements and new equipment. By the completion of its expansion plans, Crystal IS will have created 55 new jobs and retained 17 jobs, bringing the total employment to 72.

Crystal IS, currently located in 6,000 square feet of an RPI incubator facility, is a manufacturer of aluminum nitrate and is moving into the development of devices used in biotechnology, water purification, and high power radio frequency generators. The company plans to move into the 10,000-square-foot facility in mid-summer.

“We've seen an amazing amount of collaboration to respond to our needs with low-cost power and economic incentives,” says Leo Schowalter, president and CEO of Crystal IS. “We're fortunate to have the support of the professionals at Empire State Development, which really speaks to the commitment of the state to technology and economic growth in the Capital Region.”

Crystal IS is eligible to apply for a $250,000 Capital Grant to be used as reimbursement for a portion of the renovation and upgrade of the facility located in Green Island. Located in the Albany County Empire Zone, Crystal IS may also be eligible for Empire Zone program benefits. Through the program, the state can offer incentives to encourage economic and community development, business investment, and job creation. Certified businesses located within an Empire Zone are eligible to receive significant tax credits and benefits. Empire Zones enable New York to have a competitive advantage when vying against other states to attract companies. There are currently 72 Empire Zones across New York.

Empire State Development is helping yet another technology company grow in Ulster County. Sono-Tek Corp., located in Milton, NY, has been approved by the Empire State Development Board of Directors to receive a $500,000 equity investment from the Small Business Technology Investment Fund (SBTIF). Sono-Tek manufactures patented ultrasonic spray nozzles, atomizers, and coating systems.

The SBTIF was created to provide start-up high-tech companies throughout New York State with a source of venture capital to promote job creation and economic growth. The fund makes debt and equity investments and offers technical and managerial services to growing technology-based business ventures. It includes a matching-fund requirement to ensure companies receiving state investments have adequate funds to achieve their goals.

New York Helps Garlock Rebuild

In May, Garlock Sealing Tech-nologies, which has operated in Wayne County, NY for more than 100 years, announced it will spend between $30 and $35 million to rebuild and re-equip its Palmyra manufacturing facilities, helping to retain at least 450 local jobs.

“Garlock Sealing Technologies is one of Wayne County largest employers, and their decision to remain in Palmyra is tremendous news for the local economy,” says Gov. Pataki. “Facing serious concerns with an aging manufacturing facility, the facility was in jeopardy of closing. But our economic development team, working together with Senator Nozzolio, Assemblyman Oaks, and local officials, helped to address the company's concerns and protect at least 450 jobs.

“Now, instead of closing their Palmyra facility, the company is investing at least $30 million over the next five years to upgrade it, buy new equipment and clean up the property,” adds Gov. Pataki. “Garlock's participation in our Brownfield Cleanup Tax Incentive program was a key component in our efforts to keep the company in Wayne County, and it is a wonderful example of how our Brownfields program is helping to improve the economy while also enhancing the environment.”

Garlock Sealing Technologies, a manufacturer of industrial gaskets and sealing systems, is a subsidiary of North Carolina-based EnPro Industries, which has 29 manufacturing facilities around the world.

The facility was deemed by EnPro to put Garlock at a competitive disadvantage, and the parent company began to examine other options for the location of the Palmyra facilities. After considering several alternative sites outside New York State, EnPro approved Garlock Sealing Technology's bid to demolish and rebuild at the company's original location in Palmyra.

“The facilities in Palmyra were built for another era, under another set of competitive conditions,” explains Ernie Schaub, President and CEO of EnPro. “Garlock's ability to thrive in Palmyra was limited by these facilities, but Garlock is a core EnPro business, and its success is critical to us. Our goal was to establish a world-class manufacturing facility for Garlock that will make it competitive in today's markets. We are pleased to be able to do so on a site that contains so much history for this great company.”

“Our economic development team responded quickly to the possibility that Garlock Sealing Technologies might close and hundreds of local jobs would be lost,” explains Gargano. “Our goal was to use our programs and resources to leverage private investment to keep this facility up and running and to preserve these important manufacturing jobs here in New York. This was a collaborative effort among agencies and local officials to make this happen.”

Garlock Sealing Technologies is eligible to apply to Empire State Development for a $2.1 million capital grant and a $1 million Empire Opportunity Fund grant. As part of the arrangement with the state and Wayne County, the company also will be eligible for sales tax savings on new construction and real property tax abatement. The company is eligible for a package of state and local package of incentives, including Brownfield Cleanup Tax Credits that will total nearly $8 million.

Business Grows in Chenango County

Chenango County is enjoying increased interest from growing companies. Small manufacturers are noticing Chenango County because of its municipal electric service, airport, Empire Zone potential, and the proposed $28 million natural gas pipeline that will run from Lebanon to Greene along the Route 12 corridor. The region is also getting new attention from developers: Clarence-based Alteren LLC, has announced plans for a $62 million investment in the town of Norwich.

Chenango County has seen decreased unemployment, private sector wage increases, and an increase in commercial and residential building permits. There has been a steady growth of new business and expansion of existing businesses in Chenango, and the result has been a mix friendly to the environment and to the community.

OSG Norwich Pharmaceuticals Inc. is among the largest employers in Chenango that have experienced dramatic growth and community investment. The company will immediately hire 20 new employees, but this number could increase to as many as 50 as manufacturing commences on the recently approved Today Sponge contraceptive.

Golden Artist Colors of Columbus, a manufacturer of professional paints, has also found great success in Chenango County. The company received Empire Zone Certification which assisted in making a $2 million expansion project possible. The company has since added a second shift to its operations. Raymond Corporation, NBT Bank, Mead Westvaco, and Proctor & Gamble have all achieved great success and have continued to prosper. Unison Industries, a leader in the aerospace industry, is working to develop a new product line and has increased employment by 25 since the beginning of 2005.

Chenango County is a competitor when it comes to business recruitment with a portfolio of tools and resources that can help small businesses and large corporations move into the area. The following financing resources are available to qualified projects in Chenango County: tax abatements, exemptions, credits; sale/lease back transactions; Empire Zone Benefits, Zone Capital and Employment Incentive credits; Utility Rate Reduction; and a variety of loan programs. Other services offered to local business include small business startup assistance such as business plan development and individual counseling; small business benefit programs; business training and networking opportunities; and a manufacturer's network. Chenango County also offers a quality of life that is hard to match, an excellent education system with a brand new $8 million state college campus, state-of-the-art healthcare facilities, and a calendar full of events and activities.

As successful as it has been, Chenango County is not content to rest on its laurels. Major economic development-related plans for 2005 include enhancing the relationship between area educational institutions and the business community to identify consistent hiring voids and develop local-based solutions. Looking even further ahead, the county's economic development plan for 2006-2010 calls for beginning pre-construction of a natural gas pipeline that will use this lower-cost indigenous resource for economic and community development, and acting as a leading partner to identify and advocate transportation improvements necessary to assure business retention and recruitment.

Greater Rochester Has It All

The Greater Rochester region is home to a highly skilled and available workforce, excellent educational institutions, a high-tech R&D base, and an outstanding quality of life. The area ranks among the top 20 high-tech cities in the U.S., according to Popular Science magazine. Its workforce is No. 1 in patents per capita in the country, boasting an average 2.33 patents per 1,000 workers compared to the U.S. average of 0.4 patents per 1,000 workers.

With that kind of innovation, it's no surprise the region is a research-and-development hotbed. Delphi Automotive, ExxonMobil, Johnson & Johnson, General Motors, Kodak, Xerox, and B&L are just some of the companies with major R&D centers here. These centers focus on fuel-cell and drug research, among other things.

Companies in the Rochester/ Finger Lakes region can benefit from some of the best corporate-incentive packages available in the country, under the New York State Empire Zone program. They have access to reliable, low-cost utilities. And the infrastructure is among the most well-maintained in the nation, providing an average commute time of less than 20 minutes.

The region's universities, including the University of Rochester (UR) and Rochester Institute of Technology, are among the top academic institutions in the country. UR's School of Medicine and Dentistry ranks in the “Top 50 Research Medical Schools” and the Eastman School of Music ranks first in the nation for its graduate music programs. The area also has 14 public high schools ranked among the top 4% in the U.S., including four high schools in the top 100, according to Newsweek magazine.

Greater Rochester's quality of life, meanwhile, ranks second to none. Greater Rochester is located in the beautiful Finger Lakes Region of Upstate New York, surrounded by glacier-carved lakes and some of the finest wine country in the world.

Water is among the region's greatest resources. In addition to the Finger Lakes, it is situated on the southern shores of Lake Ontario and boasts the best 100 miles of the historic Erie Canal. The Genesee River flows through Genesee Valley, cascading over a 96-foot high waterfall in the heart of downtown Rochester.

Greater Rochester is a history-rich Erie Canal boomtown that today ranks among the top knowledge economies in the world. It's the birthplace of Fortune 500 firms Eastman Kodak Co., Xerox Corp., and Bausch & Lomb Inc. It's also home to wine giant Constellation Brands, the largest wine producer in the U.S. since its recent acquisition of the Robert Mondavi brand.

Rochester is also the headquarters for upscale grocer Wegmans Food Markets, which this year ranks No.1 on Fortune magazine's “Top 100 Companies to Work For.” Another Rochester company on the list is growing payroll processing firm Paychex Inc.

All of these companies continue to succeed in Rochester. Kodak, which was founded here in 1880, has more than 16,000 employees in the Rochester region; Xerox, founded in 1906, has 8,300; and Bausch & Lomb, founded in 1853, has 1,500.

At the same time, Wegmans—which continues to expand in Rochester and throughout the Northeast—remains among the Rochester region's top three employees, with more than 14,800 employees.

Two of the most exciting projects in Greater Rochester are the launch of a new fast ferry to Toronto, and Renaissance Square, a proposed $250 million, multi-use facility in the heart of downtown Rochester.

The new fast ferry, nicknamed “The Cat,” is expected to launch in mid-June and will connect Rochester with its North American neighbor across Lake Ontario. The ferry can carry 774 passengers and 238 cars. It is 284 feet long, almost the size of a football field and nearly as tall as a five-story building. The ship will be operated by Bay Ferries Ltd., the same company that operates a renowned car and ferry service between Maine and Nova Scotia. In addition to the ferry, redevelopment of the Port of Rochester is under way to welcome the hundreds of passengers who will be embarking and disembarking in the lakeshore community of Charlotte.

Millions of dollars have already been invested in a new ferry terminal where the mouth of the Genesee River meets Lake Ontario, with millions more invested in new roads and streetscapes, including flowers, benches, and decorative lighting. Plans are also in the works for the redevelopment of an entire 30-acre area encompassing the port and surrounding area.

Meanwhile, Renaissance Square continues to engage the community in what is sure to be the biggest project ever for downtown Rochester. A combination performing-arts center, high-tech educational center, and transit terminal, Renaissance Square will encompass an entire block of East Main Street. Developers recently announced that internationally renowned architect Moshe Safdie will design Renaissance Square, raising the project's profile not only in Rochester, but throughout Upstate New York and the Northeast U. S.

The majority of Greater Rochester Enterprise's (GRE) business development efforts are focused on three industries: optics, imaging, and photonics; biotechnology and life sciences; and fuel cells and alternative energy. These three industries hold tremendous promise for the region. With 50 leading optics companies, 55% of all optics degrees conferred in the U.S. and more than 150 years of experience in the optics industry, the region is already a leader in the field.

Meanwhile, new discoveries and innovations in biotechnology at area universities and biotech companies are putting the Rochester region on the map in that industry. In fact, it is already recognized among the “Top 40 Biotech Locations in the U.S.”

Fuel cells and alternative energy is another area where Rochester shines. With leading fuel-cell sites for General Motors and Delphi, the region is in the vanguard of this emerging technology that could be the key to the nation's energy independence. Recently, GM unveiled a one-of-a-kind fuel-cell pickup truck for the military at its R&D center in Honeoye Falls. That announcement garnered national and international attention for Greater Rochester and could mean major infrastructure investments, including hydrogen refueling stations, which would make the area a testing ground for fuel-cell vehicles of the future.

Islip: Long Island's Business-Friendly City

Islip is widely considered to be the “Most Business-Friendly Town On Long Island” according to a Hofstra University/KPMG study. Many companies cite its productive workforce as a major strength, including USA Industries, a re-manufacturer of auto parts; and Ohio-based Cintas, the nation's largest commercial uniform company.

Long Island MacArthur Airport (LIMA) is a major draw for companies looking for convenient air service to reach additional markets. Growing service from Southwest Airlines, plus recent terminal improvements, have led to significant industrial and office development in the Veteran's Memorial Highway Corridor servicing LIMA.

Islip is home to the corporate headquarters of Computer Associates, one of the world's largest software development companies; NBTY, the world's leader in natural vitamin production; and Entenmann's Bakery. Each of these companies employ over 2,000 people at their Islip-based facilities and continue to grow here.

Most recently, EDO Corporation, a military and commercial technology company, located its antenna manufacturing facility in a 127,000-square-foot facility in Bohemia, near the entrance to LIMA. The company now employs 200 people at this facility; the total project cost was $13.5 million. Alcan Packaging, a division of Canadian based Alcan, Inc., a Fortune 100 company, is having a 210,000-square-foot facility constructed in the Heartland Business Park in Edgewood, expanding its Long Island operations. The company plans to employ over 100 people. With machinery, equipment, and construction costs included, the total project is expected to be a $22 million investment. Alcan considered building this facility in Ohio and Mexico before choosing Islip. NBTY is presently constructing a $18 million addition to its state-of-the-art soft-gel manufacturing facility that was originally built in the late 1990s at a cost of $31 million. The plant will employ 400 people when the addition is completed.

Islip's Office of Economic Development is aggressive and active in its economic development efforts, and has a variety of tools at its disposal. It has an Industrial Development Agency, offering companies access to the Industrial Revenue Bond market, and additional tax savings, including property tax abatements and exemptions from sales and mortgage recording taxes. Islip also operates a New York State Empire Zone, and manages a federally designated Foreign Trade Zone, where import/export companies enjoy tariff-free status. And finally, Islip has its own Local Development Corporation, allowing companies access to low cost financing.

Livingston County Offers Access

Livingston County, NY is part of “exurbia,” that is semi-rural counties of major metropolitan areas that are proving to be the the growth areas of this decade. Livingston County exceeded much of the northeast and New York State in growth thanks in part to six exits of Interstate 390 and rail interchanges with four Class I railroads. These options provide excellent, low-cost access to northeastern and Canadian markets and easy commutes to Rochester and Buffalo. Livingston County is the worldwide manufacturing site for Kraft Cool Whip, and is the home of many other industries that need immediate access to markets and suppliers.

Livingston County has been in the final three in national site searches for a financial processing center, an automotive parts manufacturer, and a food manufacturing and distribution facility. In 2004, the nation's first “agricultural outsource center” opened in Livingston County. Commodity Resource Corporation's $15 million new facility enables northeastern agricultural producers to purchase dry feed and fertilizers direct from the manufacturer through a highly automated storage and blended facility. Because of the county's access to four Class I railroads, manufacturers distribute product in unit train shipments to the CRC facility, which stores and custom blends feed and fertilizer ordered directly by individual farmers on their personal computers. This manufacturer-direct ordering and shipping saves farmers an average of 15% over traditional regional supply outlets. The CRC project is expanding in 2005 to include liquid fertilizer and diesel fuels operating under the same factory-direct model.

Benefit from Oswego County

Oswego County's 59,000-strong workforce is one of the most abundant labor forces in the nation. County and state agencies provide employers with custom training services as needed, plus other services such as on-the-job training opportunities, skills assessment, and apprenticeship development, as well as information on tax credits, labor laws, and workplace safety. Training funding is available through the Oswego County Workforce Development Board and New York State.

But Oswego's business benefits don't end there. The region offers 2,000 miles of highway; CSX Rail System access; the modern, deep water Port of Oswego; a fully-equipped county airport, and is located just 45 minutes from Hancock International Airport in Syracuse.

The area is powered by three nuclear power plants, 10 hydroelectric plants, and four natural gas and fossil fuel power plants, all with an installed capacity of over 5,500 megawatts output. Oswego County's Public Utility Service recently initiated a low-cost electrical energy program for new and expanding businesses in Oswego County which will allocate up to 10 megawatts of low-cost power per year for the next six years.

Oswego County can help eligible businesses receive real property tax abatements, sales tax exemptions, job training, low-interest financing, and utility discounts, plus other targeted business incentives. The county's Industrial Development Agency provides financing and incentive benefits and administers revolving loan programs. Utilizing the incentives afforded by the New York State Empire Zone designation can virtually eliminate tax liability for 10 years to new, qualified businesses.

Companies that have recently decided to benefit from an Oswego County location include Novelis (formerly Alcan Aluminum Corp.). The company, which employs 750, has invested $200 million in expansions in the past 10 years including a recycling operation and mill modernization.

Huhtamaki Consumer Packaging has expanded in Oswego County several times. Most recently the company undertook a $1.1 million project to provide production tooling and equipment necessary to manufacture a new food packaging product line which has created 60 jobs, brining total employment to 650.

Birds Eye Foods (formerly Agrilink) expanded during 2001-2002 in the city of Fulton, part of Oswego County, investing $3 million and creating 70 new jobs. Sure-Lock Industries, LLC of Red Creek relocated its hardwood flooring business to a 60,000-square-foot building within the Oswego Warehousing compound in the city of Oswego. The $1.4 million project is expected to create 24 jobs.

Northeast Biofuels, LLC initiated the acquisition of a 90-acre subdivision of Riverview Business Park in Volney for a 100-million-gallon-per-year ethanol production facility. The multi-million project will include retrofitting approximately 300,000 square feet of the existing building, and the construction of two grain silos and one cooling tower. The project is expected to create more than 50 jobs.

New York Chocolate & Confections acquired a former Nestlé Chocolate plant, and has established a chocolate production facility in Fulton that has recently started making bulk chocolate products. The plant currently employs 75 and plans to grow to 350.

Hit a Home Run in Otsego County

Seventy miles west of Albany lies a rural yet active county. A place where history and natural beauty come together, where past meets present, and where culture and country blend effortlessly. Home to the National Baseball Hall of Fame, the National Soccer Hall of Fame, and the Glimmerglass Opera, Otsego County boasts world-class cultural attractions enhancing the Upstate quality of life. Otsego County offers a stimulating blend of industry, agriculture, tourism, and recreation which make the county of 61,676 residents a premiere destination to visit, conduct business, and call home.

Among the well known treasures of Otsego County are exciting and innovative companies, both large and small. There is a diverse mixture of manufacturing industries, high-tech enterprises, and service institutions. The medical industry thrives with two major hospitals, their affiliates, and related products. Aerospace and communication manufacturing companies have operated here for over 50 years. Two higher education institutions, Hartwick College and the State University at Oneonta, continuously provide the community with a youthful and involved population. The majority of Otsego-based companies have shown both profitability and stability in their operations during the last decade, with over a third of them reporting facility and equipment expansions.

At the heart of Otsego County's economy are its small businesses. Dedication to retaining and expanding these small companies is the essence of Otsego County's Economic Development efforts, and one of the many reasons that make Otsego County a desirable place to do business. The Office of Economic Development is acutely aware of the many hurdles small businesses face and has established a strong partnership with various local, state, and federal organizations to help companies combat these obstacles.

“Otsego County is aggressive about supporting new and existing businesses,” states Sharon Oberriter, President, Cooperstown Bat Company. “Companies enjoy and benefit from a very supportive community and proactive political administration. The county offers a wide range of resources and incentive packages that make doing business in Otsego County affordable, thus allowing companies to remain profitable and competitive.”

Among Otsego County's many development tools are attractive financial packages including low interest loans and sale-leaseback agreements as well as expert technical support to start or expand a business. Otsego County is also a designated Empire Zone. Currently, 65 businesses have been included in the Empire Zone program with projected capital investment totaling $13.8 million and projected increase in employment of 240 full-time employees over the next three years. Benefits to eligible businesses include a wage tax credit, an investment tax credit and credit for real property taxes. A business that qualifies for and takes full advantage of the Empire Zone benefits may be able to run a virtually tax-free business in Otsego County.

Otsego County offers an available, dependable, and affordable workforce with a deeply ingrained work ethic. Local workers provide outstanding productivity with manageable overhead costs, contributing to making Otsego County an ideal location for new and expanding businesses.

Ed Krupp of Co-Optics Laboratory recalls, “Our return to Otsego County was prompted by the frustration of trying to hire people in the metro area who possessed the same type of work ethic and attitude we had become accustomed to in Otsego County. We found that what we thought of as the disadvantage of locating in a rural area is more than offset by the availability of quality employees. Here we have a labor pool that appreciates the opportunity presented by doing a good day's work for a fair employer, and we all profit as a result.”

Businesses interested in expanding or relocating can choose from a wide selection of industrial, commercial and office space for sale, lease, or rent. The County of Otsego Industrial Development Agency has several business parks, with available acreage, that have won the Build Now-NY program award and have been certified “Shovel-Ready.” These sites have rail and interstate access, fiber optics, as well as municipal water and sewer, natural gas, and three-phase electric service. The office maintains a comprehensive list of other available properties at www.OtsegoEconomicDevelopment.com.

Syracuse: Strength and Beauty

Syracuse and the surrounding Central New York region is an area of natural beauty, cultural strength, and business innovation. The region offers an outstanding quality of life in which to raise a business and a family. Syracuse is conveniently located within a day's drive of the major business and population centers of the U.S. and Canada and 63 million people, yet it's comfortably remote enough to allow a lower cost of living and superior quality of life.

Whether you're bringing your business to Syracuse or are already here, help abounds in connecting you with your every need. Several incubators operate in the county, including the new Syracuse Technology Garden. Access to assistance and an angel network are available. Onondaga Community College through its Small Business Development Center offers assistance in starting a business. New York State's Empire Zone program offers access to tax credits and incentives to qualified zone-certified businesses. Qualified companies locating in either the city of Syracuse or the county of Onondaga zone can be eligible to pay no taxes for 10 years.

Portions of the city of Syracuse and three developable sites outside the city are part of the Federal Empowerment Zone. Businesses located within the zone can qualify for tax credits and other incentives.

Tax management, grants, loans, and assistance are available from state and local agencies for facility expansion and/ or equipment purchases. Lean manufacturing and other programs are offered by Onondaga Community College and the Central New York Technology Development Organization. Training programs, grants, and loans are available from state and local agencies.

One of the nation's leading financial services companies, AXA Financial, recently announced that it would not only add 300 new jobs to its customer service center in Syracuse, but would retain the current 700 already here, giving downtown Syracuse and the entire region a huge financial boost. AXA is now eligible to apply for a $1.25 million Empire State Development grant, an Empire Zone wage tax credit, and other state and local incentives.

“We have 700 highly productive employees in Syracuse and are excited to expand our operations by adding 300 more positions,” says AXA Financial's president and chief executive officer Christopher Condron.

AXA's expansion is a perfect example of the kinds of financial considerations companies can expect when they plan a relocation or expansion to Syracuse. Indeed, David Cordeau, president of the Greater Syracuse Chamber of Commerce, was “gratified” that AXA “rewarded the hard work of Empire State Development and our local economic development team.”

AXA Financial has about $552 billion in assets under management. Its brands include AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company, AXA Advisors, Alliance Capital Management, Sanford C. Bernstein & Co., AXA Distributors, and the MONY family of companies.

Bristol-Myers Squibb has announced that it will invest $100 million in its East Syracuse campus to manufacture the next generation of breakthrough drugs, developed from biologics. With this announcement, Bristol-Myers Squibb has put Central New York on the cutting edge of this new kind of drug development and manufacturing.

This major announcement opens up a whole new chapter in the company's storied history here. (Bristol's Syracuse campus was home to the development and distribution of penicillin, among other significant advances.) Biologics is the science of using large molecules of plants or animals to make drugs. By making biologic drugs in Syracuse, Bristol has, in effect, given Central New York an opportunity to specialize in biologic drug manufacturing.

The investment is especially great economic news for Syracuse, because Bristol had previously indicated that it would use its facility here only to make small quantities of drugs to be used in clinical trials. Now, Bristol wants to position facilities like its East Syracuse complex “that have the technology and expertise for more complex molecules…to not only supply clinicals, but then launch” the drugs, says Ken Dauria, Bristol's senior director of manufacturing operations in East Syracuse.

Specifically, Bristol will use its local facility to make large quantities of the main ingredient of abatacept, a new drug to treat rheumatoid arthritis. The company is hoping that abatacept is the next big thing, and has invested accordingly. In 2004 alone, it hired 150 new workers to manufacture the abatacept ingredient and two others currently in clinical trials. In addition to the new manufacturing it brings to Central New York, biologics might also generate new college curriculums on drug processing. Bristol is in discussions with the Central New York Biotechnology Research Center to develop the curriculum.

Syracuse has scored an exciting technology two-fer in another sector: Verizon Communications has chosen Syracuse as a test market for a brand-new high-tech venture, and will be adding as many as 150 people to its call center in DeWitt. They'll be supporting customers who order Verizon's new fiber-optic services.

Verizon will establish the Fiber Solutions Center to handle calls for installation, troubleshooting, and other customer service for the company's fiber-based FiOS service, currently available in parts of eight states. The fiber-optic lines are more efficient than the copper telephone wires they replace, carrying phone calls, television signals and super-fast Internet connections. Eventually, Verizon plans to add cable television service in some areas.

The Syracuse Technology Garden (STG) is both a symptom and a cause of the economic revolution taking place in the city. Some amazing new technologies are incubating there, invaluable alliances have been forged including the Garden's relationship with NASA. The diversity of jobs being created at the STG has helped turn Syracuse into a small-company growth leader no longer dependent on one company or industry.

“The smaller companies are the future,” says Nasir Ali, vice president for new venture development at the STG, explaining why the economic future of Syracuse looks so bright right now. Entrepreneurship is exploding, with a tremendous wealth of time and resources being put toward helping small businesses develop, grow, and flourish here. That's thanks, in part, to the efforts of the Entrepreneurial Council, which was formed to develop strategies to make Syracuse more entrepreneur friendly.

To that end, the STG has been teeming with activity. Ali and his associates have been building and strengthening relationships with the several local colleges and universities—a huge pool of talent both for employment and good business advice. In fact, the STG has partnered with Syracuse University's CASE Center part of its engineering school, which has its own business incubator. Between them, they've put together a number of experienced people to help entrepreneurs start businesses. It is part of the STG's wider effort, called the Mentor Network, which was formed to bring in successful business people to advise entrepreneurs.

The STG also has a brand-new Guest Consultant Program, which affords entrepreneurs the opportunity to talk to people who have started their own companies. They've covered such topics as the importance of using brand development, basics on trademarks and patents, legal advice, and general corporate strategy. The best part for cost-conscious entrepreneurs is that the experts are offering their advice for free. “They're volunteering,” says Ali, “so the meter's not running.”

And there's the NASA connection. As a public-service component of its operations, NASA makes their engineers available to the public to help them solve their problems.

In March, DestiNY USA announced plans to build a one million square-foot R&D center later this year. Located at the intersection of Interstates 81 and 90 in Syracuse, the DestiNY USA Research & Development Park will showcase the best companies in the world developing innovative technologies in renewable energy, security, building systems, sustainable design, transportation, and lifestyle technologies. For more information, visit www.DestiNYUSA.com.

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