Economic
Development Newsletter
March/April 2005:
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SUNY Oswego Honors
OOC
The Oswego State Education Center in Phoenix
celebrated its 10th anniversary in April with a ceremony attended
by members of the community, business and government leaders, college
faculty and staff.
Operation Oswego County received a Community Partnership Award and
the Oswego County Department of Social Services was presented with
a Contract Partnership Award.
The Oswego State Education Center began in
1995 with the concept of making education more accessible to the
community and to recognize education’s role in the economic
development of the region.
SUNY Oswego President Deborah Stanley noted
that under Treadwell’s leadership, members of the Operation
Oswego County board collaborated with key administrators from SUNY
Oswego to take the concept for the Oswego State Education Center
and transform it into a vibrant facility. Treadwell attributed the
economic growth and vitality of area businesses directly to the
continuing education opportunities available at the institute.
During its 10 years of operation, more than 500 undergraduate and
graduate courses have been offered at the Phoenix facility. In addition,
more than 12,000 people from the region have participated in professional
development classes, including American Management Association certificate
programs and computer training.
Over the past two years, 73 businesses sponsored
their employees in open enrollment classes.
In 2002, the center became home to the Institute for Professional
and Organizational Development. The institute is dedicated to partnering
with business, government and non-profit organizations to develop
and deliver customized employee training and open-enrollment classes
based on current and future business needs.
In the past year, the institute conducted
19 customized programs for corporate clients, enrolling nearly 400
employees.
For more information, visit www.oswego.edu/institute
or call 312-6430.
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SBA 504 Seminar
Presented to Commercial Realtors
Operation Oswego County, the U.S. Small Business
Administration and the Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
hosted a free, two-hour seminar for commercial realtors to gain
a more detailed understanding of the benefits and program changes
associated with the SBA 504 loan program.
The event was held at the SUNY Oswego Institute
for Professional and Organizational Development and more than 30
commercial real estate agents were in attendence.
Presenters at the seminar included James
Quackenbush, SBA district loan officer; L. Michael Treadwell, OOC/County
of Oswego IDA; Larry Perras, SBDC; and Janet Dexter, owner of Sunset
RV Park and SBA 504 loan recipient.
Businesses must have a net worth less than
$6 million and annual after-tax profit of less than $2 million to
be eligible for SBA financing. For every $50,000 of the SBA 504
loan, the project must create at least one new job.
As part of recent program changes, the SBA 504 program can now potentially
participate in much larger deals; up to total project cost of $10
million for small manufacturers.
“This was an excellent opportunity
for commercial realtors to learn more about how the SBA 504 program
can help commercial clients acquire the property they need to develop
their small business,” Treadwell said.
Participants were also presented with information about other financing
programs available through SBA and OOC, as well as the business
assistance available from the SBDC to help support economic development
projects.
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Entergy Awards
Marketing Grant to OOC
Operation Oswego County (OOC) was awarded
a $4,500 grant from Entergy Nuclear Northeast’s Charitable
Foundation for the development of a new promotional display.
The four-color table top display includes
a laptop computer which will allow booth representatives to show
digital presentations about business development and quality of
life in Oswego County, present customized Power Point presentations
and offer booth visitors real time access to the Internet and OOC’s
comprehensive website.
“Industry specific and other economic
development related trade shows are an excellent opportunity to
promote Oswego County’s economic resources to a captive audience
of executives, investors and site selection consultants that might
be outgrowing their current manufacturing facilities or are finding
it necessary to expand into new regions,” said L. Michael
Treadwell, CEcD, OOC executive director.
“We appreciate Entergy’s commitment
and continued partnership in fostering economic development in Oswego
County.”
The Entergy Charitable Foundation is dedicated
to supporting charitable organizations in the com-munities where
customers and employees live and work. The Foundation’s goal
is to support initiatives that help create and sustain thriving
communities.
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SUNY Oswego
Center for Entrepreneurs Opens
The Center for Entrepreneurs at SUNY Oswego
recently celebrated its grand opening. The new center, in conjunction
with the School of Business and the Center for Business and Community
Development, will focus on entrepreneurship education and hands-on
learning for students and members of the business community.
The completion of the project was made possible
through the support of a $125,000 state grant secured by Sen. James
Wright (R,C,I-Watertown).
“Our vision for the Center for Entrepreneurs
is to foster the development of an entrepreneurial community through
education, research, technical assistance and training that is focused
on promoting entrepreneurial values and the proactive pursuit of
opportunity,” said SUNY Oswego President Deborah Stanley.
The Center has state-of-the-art technological
capabilities including video conferences, webinars, teleconferences,
multimedia presentations and a computer lab. Businesses will be
able to use the Center to develop plans and complete Internet-based
market research. A resource library will provide access to workforce
development and economic development services as well as a network
of qualified service providers to assist with management issues
and regulatory compliance.
For more information, call 312-3492 or visit
www.oswego.edu/cbcd/.
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Training Grants
Available for Manufacturers
New York State manufacturing firms
employing fewer than 100 workers can apply for SMART (Skilled Manufacturing
Resource Training) grants of up to $50,000 to train workers in process
improvement and/or productivity techniques.
Funds may be used for on- or off-site
training in process improvement efforts such as lean manufacturing
or Six Sigma, necessary books and manuals.
The training will be supported by state-level
funds under the federal Workforce Investment Act, administered by
the State Department of Labor.
Deadline for applications is June 30,
2005.
For more information, or application
instructions, visit www.workforcenewyork.org/smart_home.htm.
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