Business Journal Archive - Locate Finger Lakes

Locate Finger Lakes Business Journal

January News from New York State Center of Excellence for Food and Agriculture

The CoE, in partnership with the Cornell Food and Agriculture Technology Park (Tech Farm) are now accepting applications for Food Spark, a scholarship program for aspiring food and beverage entrepreneurs. Scholarships are available for qualified candidates to participate in the eCornell Food Product Read more »
A conversation with Geneva City Manager Amie Hendrix

by Louise Hoffman-Broach, FL Times

FL Times Evening Editor Louise Hoffman Broach interviewed Amie Hendrix, Geneva’s new city manager, for this week’s conversation. The interviews for this series are done via email. This article is reposted here with permission from The Finger Lakes Times. Here Read more »
Paid Internship Opportunities Available at Center of Excellence for Food and Agriculture

Undergraduate students interested in food and beverage entrepreneurship are encouraged to apply

Paid summer internship opportunities for undergraduate students interested in food and beverage entrepreneurship and business development are now available through the New York State Center of Excellence for Food and Agriculture at Cornell AgriTech in Geneva. The Summer Research Scholars Read more »
Geneva High grad, business partner get deal on hit ABC show

by Mike Hibbard, Finger Lakes Times

It was during the holiday season of 2020 that Stephen Fazio began working on a handheld “string launcher” as a possible Christmas present for his father. Fazio, a 2017 Geneva High School graduate who was on the school’s robotics team Read more »
Brad Mitchell: Creating World-Class Companies in the Finger Lakes

Brad Mitchell could run his businesses anywhere. Instead, he chose Romulus on the shore of Seneca Lake. He grew up in Seneca Falls and returned after living in multiple cities, traveling around the world, founding four companies, and serving on Read more »
Governor Hochul announces launch of $30M pre-seed and seed matching fund program

Program will invest up to $250,000 in early-stage startup companies with matching funds from private sector

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the launch of the $30 million Pre-Seed and Seed Matching Fund Program, which will offer early-stage start-up companies $50,000 to $250,000 in growth assistance which they will match with funds from private sector co-investors. The Read more »
Cayuga Community College moving forward on workforce development center project

by Kelly Rocheleau, The Citizen

With funding secured, Cayuga Community College is moving ahead on a project to create a workforce development center following delays. The endeavor is to renovate the former Cayuga County Cornell Cooperative Extension office in Auburn into a center where local Read more »
New York Concord Grape Innovation Award Winners Announced

Six food and beverage producers from across New York won more than $100,000 in cash prizes and packages of support from Cornell experts

Stil-Bène, Inc., of Geneva, and Westfield Maid Cooperative, of Portland, were the grand prize winners of the first New York Concord Grape Innovation Awards, a business competition aimed at stimulating innovation and development of new products and markets for one Read more »
Governor Hochul announces transformational projects for Village of Newark as part of $10 million downtown revitalization initiative

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced five transformational projects in the Village of Newark as part of the $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative Award. The awards encourage a sense of place where residents and visitors can participate in a range of Read more »
Mark and Mary Gearan: Welcome Home to HWS

by Kathy Palokoff for LOCATE Finger Lakes

There are many words to describe Mark and Mary Gearan but two jump to the top of the list: gracious and welcoming. As Mark returns as president of Hobart and William Smith Colleges (HWS), one is struck by how deep Read more »
Governor Hochul announces round four winner of the Grow-NY Food and Agriculture Business Competition

$3 Million in Prize Money Awarded to Eight Startups After Two-Day In-Person and Virtual Pitch Competition in Syracuse

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that ProAgni of Lavington, Australia, has been named the $1 million grand prize winner of the Grow-NY business competition, a food and agriculture startup challenge focused on enhancing the emerging food, beverage, and agriculture innovation Read more »
Dr. Jan Nyrop: Acting on Opportunities

Dr. Jan Nyrop’s remarkable accomplishments could fill a book. Cornell AgriTech. New York Center of Excellence in Food and Agriculture. Cornell Agriculture and Food Technology Park (Tech Farm). National Grape Improvement Center. Grow-NY Food & Agriculture Competition. He has been at the heart Read more »
Milk plant plans $150M expansion project in Cayuga County

by Jeremy Boyer, The Citizen

Cayuga Milk Ingredients, a farmer-owned dairy processing company launched eight years ago in Aurelius, is moving forward on a massive expansion plan that will include a new bottling plant and add more than 70 jobs. The company recently reached an Read more »
Sessler Companies inducted into New York State Historic Business Preservation Registry

by Steve Buchiere, Finger Lakes Times

Sessler Companies has been honored by the state. Assemblyman Jeff Gallahan, R-131 of Manchester, recently presented the company with its induction into the New York State Historic Business Preservation Registry. Gallahan’s office said the registry was created in 2020 to Read more »
Micron and Governor Hochul welcome President Biden to Central New York

Community Investment Framework Defines Micron's Partnership with Empire State Development, Benefiting Central New York and America's Manufacturing Leadership

Micron Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ: MU), one of the world's largest semiconductor companies and the only U.S.-based manufacturer of memory, and Governor Kathy Hochul welcome President Joe Biden and other federal, state and local officials to Central New York where Micron Read more »
Agritech grad student Jen Neubauer is fascinated by the science of wine

by Mike Hibbard, Finger Lakes Times

People who enjoy Finger Lakes wines, be it a veteran consumer or “newbie,” likely have put some thought into how it’s made or the work that goes into its flavor. Jen Neubauer, a graduate student at Cornell AgriTech, said it’s Read more »
Leaders at Wayne County Business Council Partner to Grow Region

by Maureen Ballatori for LOCATE Finger Lakes Business Journal

“We’re all better together,” Stacey Wicksall says. “Whatever industry you’re in, we’re all connected.” Stacey would know. As the Vice President of the Wayne County Business Council, Stacey sees the interconnection of regional businesses on a daily basis, as Read more »
Dr. Robert Nye: From Serving His Nation to Serving His Community

by Maureen Ballatori for LOCATE Finger Lakes Business Journal

It’s a good thing Dr. Robert Nye listened to his wife. If he hadn’t, Finger Lakes Community College (FLCC) would have missed out on a dynamic president, and the region would not have gained a fierce advocate. In 2016, Dr. Read more »
Micron will invest $100B over the next 20+ years to transform CNY into a global, leading-edge semiconductor manufacturing hub

Governor Kathy Hochul, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer, Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon, and Micron CEO Sanjay Mehrotra today announced one of the largest economic development projects in U.S. history—a transformational public-private partnership with Micron Technology to build a Read more »
CHEMIST WANTED: Innovative company seeks to locate operations in the Finger Lakes

VM Agritech, an innovative agriculture technology company that has worked extensively with the Cornell College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and is located in Geneva, NY, is developing plant protection products around proprietary technology based on the fungicidal effects of Read more »
Armory Square Ventures: Optimistic About Innovation and Investment in Upstate

by Maureen Ballatori for LOCATE Finger Lakes Business Journal

When Somak Chattopadhyay and Pia Sawhney decided to open a Skaneateles office for their venture capital firm, colleagues in New York City thought they were joking. Fortunately, the last laugh has been on the skeptics. Armory Square Ventures (ASV) has Read more »
Geneva’s Community Proud purchases FLX Glassware

by Steve Buchiere, Finger Lakes Times

The timing couldn’t have been better for Community Proud’s purchase of FLX Glassware, said owner Chad Lahr. The company at 423 Exchange St. had just purchased a laser engraver as part of expanding its services, which run from screen printing, Read more »
New Economic Development Director Ryan Davis’s Love of Ontario County Shines Bright

by Maureen Ballatori for LOCATE Finger Lakes Business Journal

Remember the scene from The Wizard of Oz where Dorothy clicks her heels and says: “There’s no place like home. There’s no place like home.”? Phelps resident Ryan Davis never needed to be transported to a magical land to learn Read more »
Application window now open for Round Six of Luminate NY business competition

OPI Accelerator Competition is Supported Through "Finger Lakes Forward" – The Region's Comprehensive Strategy to Revitalize Communities and Grow the Economy

Empire State Development (ESD) today announced that Luminate NY—the world's largest business accelerator for startup companies that have optics, photonics, and imaging (OPI) enabled applications—is now accepting applications for its sixth cohort. Each year, the accelerator brings ten visionary companies to Read more »
Governor Hochul announces launch of NYS’s first-in-the-nation $200 million seed funding grant for early stage business impacted by Covid-19

Provides Assistance to Help Early-Stage Small and Micro-Businesses Recover and Grow in a Post-Pandemic Economy

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that the applications portal for the first-in-the-nation Seed Funding Grant Program, created as part of the FY2023 budget, will open on September 14. The program provides flexible grants to support early stage, micro and small businesses in a Read more »
Empire State Development announces selected finalists for round four of $3 million Grow-NY Global Food and Agriculture Business Competition

20 Startups from Across the Globe will Compete to Win a Combined Total of $3 Million in Prize Money at Upcoming Summit Nov. 15-16

Empire State Development (ESD) and Cornell University's Center for Regional Economic Advancement (CREA) today announced the 20 finalists selected to take part in year four of Grow-NY, a food and agriculture business competition focused on enhancing the emerging food, beverage, Read more »
Jason Londo: ‘My nerdiness matters’

by Mike Hibbard, Finger Lakes Times

Jason Londo believes his research will help growers of two fruits synonymous with the Finger Lakes region — grapes and apples — continue to thrive in the face of climate change. While his work is serious, Londo has a lighthearted Read more »
Skaneateles’ Greenfield Farms honored

Greenfield Farms of Skaneateles has been selected for the 2022 New York AEM-Leopold Conservation Award, it was announced recently by state Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball and Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos. The distinguished award honors a farm Read more »
IBERO Business Center Supporting Diversity and Entrepreneurship Opens Office in Geneva, NY

by Maureen Ballatori for LOCATE Finger Lakes Business Journal

When Tanya Hasseler was growing up in Wayne County, diversity and entrepreneurship were not part of her life. Now, both are personal and professional passions she brings to her role as the Director of the new IBERO Business Center of Read more »
Starting a Business in the Finger Lakes? Use the LOCATE Website to Get Started

LOCATE Finger Lakes is an economic development initiative designed to assist and foster collaboration with targeted, proactive, marketing communications and networking. Our website is an extension of our mission, teeming with connections and opportunities! Use the LOCATE Finger Lakes website Read more »
140th Anniversary Open House at NYS Agricultural Experiment Station on August 13

Learn how science happening on the Cornell AgriTech campus in Geneva impacts New York food and agriculture. Faculty, students and staff will showcase their scientific research, give tours of the facilities, research fields and greenhouses and demonstrate how important (and Read more »
Mark Gearan returns to Hobart & William Smith Colleges as president

Editor's Note from Mike Nozzolio, Chairman, LOCATE Finger Lakes: LOCATE Finger Lakes is pleased to share this exciting news report from The Finger Lakes Times. We are incredibly happy to welcome our dear friends Mark and Mary Gearan back to Read more »
Michigan hard cider producer expanding in Wayne County

by Steve Buchiere, Finger Lakes Times

"Congratulations to Brian Pincelli, LOCATE Finger Lakes Board Member and Executive Director of Wayne County Economic Development, on this exciting announcement." - Mike Nozzolio, Chairman, LOCATE Finger Lakes. The Midwest’s largest craft cidery is coming to Wayne County. Empire State Read more »
Lynn Sosnoskie: Weed specialist, but not ‘that kind of weed’

by Mike Hibbard, Finger Lakes Times

Lynn Sosnoskie can’t help but laugh when she thinks of some of the famous landmarks and breathtaking sights she and her husband have seen over the years — the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Colosseum in Rome, and Torres del Read more »
Fighting to Protect the Finger Lakes Watershed

by Maureen Ballatori, LOCATE Finger Lakes Business Journal

Dr. Adam Effler is a unique, one-of-a-kind blend of scientist, community activist and communicator. He’s also a black belt martial arts instructor. All of these qualities are reflected in his passion to protect and preserve the Finger Lakes Watershed; the Read more »
Seneca County Industrial Development Agency seeks Grants and Development Specialist

The Seneca County Industrial Development Agency is seeking an economic development professional to assist with carrying out the Agency’s mission. The Grants and Development Specialist reports to the Executive Director and will be responsible for assisting with grants management, site Read more »
Grow-NY applications are open through July 1 at 5 pm

The Grow-NY business competition provides funding, mentorship, business development support, and other key resources to leading food and ag startups from across the globe. Innovative startups are encouraged to apply for their chance to win up to $1 million! A Read more »
Unique Program Teaches Financial Skills to Auburn Children

by Maureen Ballatori for LOCATE Finger Lakes Business Journal

How do you show children the value of money? Denise Farrington, Executive Director of the Booker T. Washington Community Center in Auburn, has an answer: Have them earn it. “One of the things I really like to teach kids is Read more »
Inside look of RealEats’ new food-delivery facility in Geneva

by Rebecca Swift, FingerLakes1.com

FingerLakes1.com reporter Rebecca Swift got a tour of the new RealEats 80,000 square-foot production facility in Geneva, NY. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDgxvmY8Jq4
Meal-delivery company Real Eats celebrates its new home

by Steve Buchiere, Finger Lakes Times

Dan Wise stood Thursday among the large crowd celebrating the new home for the prepared-meal delivery company he founded five years ago and took a moment to ponder his good fortune. “I could never have imagined this in a million Read more »
State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli attends the grand opening of the new RealEats facility in Geneva

State Comptroller DiNapoli announced the State pension fund had allocated an additional $350 million to investments in New York businesses. He traveled to Geneva to celebrate the expansion of RealEats, a meal delivery service that uses fresh ingredients from the Read more »
Fresh Meal Delivery Service Moves into 80,000 Square-Foot Production Facility in the Town of Geneva

Project Complements "Finger Lakes Forward" - The Region's Comprehensive Strategy to Revitalize Communities and Grow the Economy

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the official grand opening of meal delivery service RealEats 80,000 square-foot production facility located at 1 Montmorency Way (Routes 5 & 20) in the Town of Geneva, Ontario County. Originally located in the Geneva Enterprise Read more »
Ben Pearson’s Entrepreneurial Success is Built on Lending a Hand

by Maureen Ballatori for LOCATE Finger Lakes Business Journal

A lot of people say they’re “happy to help”, but you’ll have a hard time finding a person that lives that statement more than Ben Pearson, Founder and CEO of ENALAS. “We built most of our business by helping companies,” Read more »
Joe Remillard: He keeps AgriTech humming

by Mike Hibbard, Finger Lakes Times

"LOCATE Finger Lakes is pleased to re-print the following article which originally appeared in the Finger Lakes Times as a part of their monthly series on CornellAgriTech." - Mike Nozzolio, Chairman LOCATE Finger Lakes Joe Remillard has worked in radio, Read more »
Cortni Stahl: Craft beverage puzzle solver

by Mike Hibbard, Finger Lakes Times

"LOCATE Finger Lakes is pleased to re-print the following article which originally appeared in the Finger Lakes Times as a part of their monthly series on CornellAgriTech." - Mike Nozzolio, Chairman LOCATE Finger Lakes It has often been said that Read more »
Sampson state veteran cemetery designation part of ’25-year quest’

by Robert Harding, The Citizen

Former state Sen. Michael Nozzolio remembers where he was when the idea was pitched. The late Steve Bull, who led the Sampson "Salts," was speaking at a ceremony at what is now the Sampson Memorial Naval & Air Force Museum Read more »
Bruno Xavier: He makes your food safe

by Mike Hibbard, Finger Lakes Times

Ed. note: This is the first article in a monthly series the Finger Lakes Times is doing on the faculty and staff at Cornell AgriTech, and how their work impacts our way of life. GENEVA — When people do their Read more »
FLX Music 247 is Amplifying the Finger Lakes Music Scene

by Maureen Ballatori for LOCATE Finger Lakes Business Journal

Giving back to the Finger Lakes hits just the right note for Janelle Bradshaw, a social entrepreneur who is currently spearheading an effort to make live music a regional draw for visitors and residents alike. A trumpet player and board Read more »
Empire State Development Announces Application Window Opens For Round Four of Grow-NY Competition

$3 Million Food and Agriculture Global Startup Competition is Accepting Applications Through July 1st

Empire State Development (ESD) today announced that the application window is now open for the 2022 Grow-NY food and agriculture competition. Grow-NY, a unique initiative which connects innovators and investors in the food, beverage and agriculture sectors locally and around Read more »
Cayuga Strategic Solutions welcomes new CEO Bradly Broadwell

LOCATE Finger Lakes congratulates Bradly Broadwell on his appointment as CEO of Cayuga Strategic Solutions, the joint venture of the Cayuga County Chamber of Commerce and the Cayuga Economic Development Agency. - Chairman Mike Nozzolio. Cayuga Strategic Solutions (CSS), the Read more »
Seneca County IDA seeks Grants and Development Specialist

The Seneca County Industrial Development Agency is seeking an economic development professional to assist with carrying out the Agency’s mission. The Grants and Development Specialist reports to the Executive Director and will be responsible for assisting with grants management, site Read more »
Bob Schick Believes in a People-First Philosophy

by Maureen Ballatori for LOCATE Finger Lakes

The ever-humble Bob Schick is receiving the Ralph Springstead Service Above Self award this month from the Geneva Rotary Club, and he says his goal is to “create an atmosphere where people want to be.” It’s Bob’s personal philosophy Read more »
Locate Finger Lakes Announces The Winner Of The 2022 YEA! Investor Panel Competition

LOCATE Finger Lakes, along with our great partner, Lyons National Bank (LNB) and in particular, Chairman Bob Schick, congratulates Remy Turcotte, the winner of the Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) Investor Panel award. Remy’s business idea, SenSwords, a non-violent and fun way Read more »
29 Design Studio Wins Creative Awards

LOCATE Finger Lakes congratulates Board Member Maureen Ballatori on being recognized by the 2022 Hermes Creative Awards. The below report original ran in the Finger Lakes Times on Thursday, April 28, 2022. 29 Design Studio was honored for its creative Read more »
Local Young Entrepreneur Finds Good Food Leads to Good Business

by Maureen Ballatori for LOCATE Finger Lakes Business Journal

Sam Solomon is feeling rather ducky. Yes, sometimes, it really is impossible to resist a good pun, especially when you are talking with the new owner of Spotted Duck Creamery. By the way, Sam’s official title is Chief Duck Officer. Read more »
Ethan Fogg Sees “Potential Unleashed” Under New Ontario County Chamber of Commerce

by Maureen Ballatori for LOCATE Finger Lakes Business Journal

“LOCATE Finger Lakes is proud to profile Ethan Fogg, one of the region’s key figures in business and tourism promotion. We also thank Ethan for being an active member of the LOCATE Finger Lakes Board of Directors.” - Mike Nozzolio, Read more »
Optimax announces $20M expansion; will hire up to 50

Optimax is spending $20 million to expand at its Ontario, Wayne County, operations. It will also create up to 50 jobs through the expansion

by Steve Buchiere, Finger Lakes Times

LOCATE Finger Lakes is grateful to the Finger Lakes Times for reporting on this exciting news about Optimax, great company in the region. A Wayne County optics manufacturer is spending $20 million to expand its operations in the town of Read more »
Agri-Trak Founder Jamie Sonneville is an AgTech Trailblazer

by Maureen Ballatori for LOCATE Finger Lakes Business Journal

It’s been a couple of big years for Jamie Peters Sonneville. In 2021, the founder and CEO of Agri-Trak, a farm management application suite, was named to the prestigious Rochester Business Journal’s Forty Under 40 list, which honors men and Read more »
The New York State Center of Excellence for for Food and Agriculture at Cornell Agritech in Geneva seeks a Business Development Manager

LOCATE Finger Lakes is pleased to announce the Center of Excellence is accepting applications now

Read COE Executive Director Catharine Young's announcement: "This exciting position's title is Business Development Manager, and the job entails providing business and technical support to food and beverage companies to help them grow, in addition to providing leadership and management Read more »
Mushroom company hopes to grow new business in Finger Lakes

Empire Medicinals doing research at Cornell Center of Excellence in Geneva

by Steve Buchiere, Finger Lakes Times

EDITOR'S NOTE: "An agribusiness success story with roots at Cornell AgriTech and the Finger Lakes region." - Mike Nozzolio, former NY State Senator A Henrietta company specializing in mushrooms and related products is the first business at the Cornell Center Read more »
Boundary Breaks is Breaking the Mold

by Maureen Ballatori for LOCATE Finger Lakes Business Journal

It takes the right landscape and the person with the right vision.” That’s what Bruce Murray, founder of Boundary Breaks Vineyard says about building a successful business in the Finger Lakes. Murray grew up in the Syracuse area, where he Read more »
“Winter in Canandaigua” Launches Initiative to Change Mindset of Summer Tourists

by Maureen Ballatori for LOCATE Finger Lakes Business Journal

Editors’ Note: LOCATE Finger Lakes is proud to showcase the Winter in Canandaigua initiative and advise you about the exciting Finger Lakes Winter Carnival happening this weekend, March 18-20 throughout Canandaigua, NY. As an economic development initiative in the Finger Read more »
Paid summer internships available to undergraduate students at Cornell AgriTech

EDITOR’S NOTE: LOCATE FINGER LAKES is happy to promote this exciting summer internship opportunity at world renown Cornell AgriTech for college students in the region. Exciting paid internship opportunities for undergraduate students interested in careers related to the food and Read more »
Brett Beachner Turned a 20-cent Glow Stick into a Multi-Million Dollar Venture

by Maureen Ballatori for LOCATE Finger Lakes Business Journal

Brett Beachner just wanted to earn a little extra money to fund his flying lessons and achieve his dream of becoming a pilot and aviation instructor. How he decided to make that money put him on a different path that Read more »
The Future of Hybrid Work is Here: Metro Collective Launches Shared Space Initiative

by Maureen Ballatori for LOCATE Finger Lakes Business Journal

A new virtual platform is launching in Upstate New York to unite people in shared spaces across the region. Metro Collective will promote shared spaces, provide a virtual platform to build community, hold events to provide networking opportunities and mentor Read more »
Excell Partners: Investing in Upstate New York

by Maureen Ballatori

Excell Partners CEO Theresa Mazzullo projects her enthusiasm as she discusses the opportunities for business startups in Upstate New York. It’s an enthusiasm that hasn’t waned since Mazzullo began her work at Excell over 15 years ago. The sixteen-year-old fund Read more »
The Finger Lakes Region’s Cultural Development Engine: The REV Theatre Co.

by Maureen Ballatori, LOCATE Finger Lakes Business Journal

Few theatre organizations have a mission statement clearer than Auburn’s REV Theatre Company: “To present classic and contemporary works, new musicals, and in-school arts education for a diverse audience, to spur social awareness and cultural development in the Finger Lakes Read more »
Governor Hochul announces agreement to protect pristine Cayuga Lake waterfront

Governor Announces Agreement Between Finger Lakes Land Trust and New York State Electric & Gas

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced a land purchase agreement has been reached between the Finger Lakes Land Trust and New York State Electric & Gas Corp. for the 470-Acre Bell Station, the largest privately-owned undeveloped lake shoreline in the Finger Read more »
$10,000 – $60,000 Grants Available for Ontario County Tourism & Hospitality Businesses

Ontario County Economic Development Corporation (OCEDC) and the Finger Lakes Visitors Connection (FLVC) have partnered up to administer the "Visit Ontario County COVID Relief Program. Grants ranging from $ 10,000 to $60,000 will be available for Tourism and Hospitality Businesses Read more »
Newark awarded $10 million in NYS’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative program

LOCATE Finger Lakes congratulates Mayor Jonathan Taylor, the Newark Village Board and Matt Horn of MRB for their perseverance and success in winning a $10 million award from the New York State DRI program. Coverage from FL Times: A big win for Newark: Read more »
Seneca Falls gearing up for expanded It’s A Wonderful Life Festival

by David Shaw, Finger Lakes Times

It was 75 years ago — Dec. 20, 1946, to be precise — when RKO Radio Pictures released what would turn into an iconic holiday movie, “It’s A Wonderful Life.” Frank Capra’s film starring Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed was Read more »
Sodus Bay Outfitters win WEDC Startup Competition

The Wayne Economic Development Corp. held its third annual Wayne County Startup Pitch Competition Nov. 17, and Jennifer Evans of Sodus Bay Outfitters in Sodus Point was awarded the grand prize of $25,000. Sodus Bay Outfitters is a new, seasonal Read more »
RealEats CEO Unpacks Vision After $16M Series A Funding

LOCATE Finger Lakes sends congratulations to RealEats and its dynamic CEO, Dan Wise for all his continuing work to expand job opportunities in the Finger Lakes region. Mike Nozzolio, former NY State Senator Chairman of LOCATE Finger Lakes RealEats CEO Read more »
Local Business Opportunity: Early Stage Funding – Excell Rochester (video)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPZD-_u7iIY
Officials hopes more products will feature the words ‘Geneva Made’

by Steve Buchiere, Finger Lakes Times

LOCATE Finger Lakes was proud to have worked with the City of Geneva, the NYS Center of Excellence for Food and Agriculture at Cornell AgriTech, and a number of food companies, especially RealEats and its CEO Dan Wise on this Read more »
RealEats secures over $16 million in Series A funding

Leading meal delivery service backed by Hamilton Lane on behalf of New York State Common Retirement Fund, GNC Holdings, Armory Square Ventures, and Excell Partners

Geneva, NY (October 26, 2021) – RealEats, the meal delivery service that makes it simple for people to enjoy the nutritional benefits of real food, announced today it has raised $16.3 million in a Series A funding round. The round Read more »
Iconic Connie’s Diner re-opens in Waterloo

by Spencer Tulis, Finger Lakes Times

One of the Finger Lakes' most iconic restaurants re-opened Tuesday, October 19th at 6:00 a.m.! Congratulations to owners Paul and Carmen Caratozzolo on the re-opening of Connie's diner! Fans of the popular Connie’s Diner, rejoice. The iconic art deco eatery Read more »
‘NOTHING BUT UNLIMITED POTENTIAL’: Mark Pitifer shares his story of choosing the Finger Lakes

by Josh Durso, FingerLakes1.com News Director

Mark Pitifer starts his day at the sprawling headquarters of BonaDent and Danaren Dental Laboratories in Seneca Falls. Once a rare breed, the 'Under 30' cohort is growing in the Finger Lakes because of the opportunity, natural resources, as well Read more »
YEA! graduate Megan Marley wears success with Trendy Confidence

Next YEA! application deadline is September 30

by Maureen Ballatori

Confidence + Support = Success. That’s an important formula for young entrepreneurs who want to bring great ideas to life in the Finger Lakes. And no one epitomizes that equation better than Megan Marley, a graduate of Young Entrepreneurs Academy Read more »
Locate Finger Lakes runs entrepreneurship program for local students

Locate Finger Lakes is once again offering students in the Finger Lakes region the opportunity to participate in the Young Entrepreneurs Academy with a goal of igniting the spirit of entrepreneurship in middle and high schools students across the region. Read more »
Angelo Bonafiglia: Iconic Businessman

Angelo (Ange) Bonafiglia was an iconic Seneca Falls businessman and beloved community leader who transformed a small, start-up dental lab from the Finger Lakes into a national and international company. Today, Bonadent is one of the highest regarded companies in Read more »
Jeff and Wendy Gifford to receive Keuka College’s Stork Award

by Mike Hibbard, Finger Lakes Times

When Jeff and Wendy Gifford talk about receiving the Donald and Corinne Stork Award for Community Service, they are hesitant to tout their own accomplishments. Instead, the Penn Yan couple prefers to discuss the award’s namesakes. “Don and Corry Stork Read more »
Osteria Salina owner Guillermo Salinas had a vision for Auburn’s potential

by Maureen Ballatori

It’s been twelve years since restauranteur Guillermo Salinas planned a trip outside of New York City to the Finger Lakes. He saw an opportunity for culinary success in the Upstate NY region and decided to permanently relocate to Auburn, NY, Read more »
Smiling with style for decades in the Finger Lakes

by Josh Durso, FingerLakes1.com News Director

For Dr. Rod Littlejohn and Dr. Liz Barbi, making the decision to invest their futures in the Finger Lakes came decades apart. Patients know them as Dr. Rod and Dr. Liz and the two share a belief in the upside Read more »
REAL EATS: Geneva meal delivery company moving to new building, teaming with GNC

by Steve Buchiere, Finger Lakes Times

A bigger bite for RealEats; Geneva meal delivery company moving to former Cheribundi building Four years after it began with just a handful of workers in rented space at the Geneva Enterprise Development Center, meal delivery service RealEats is moving Read more »
Assured Edge Solutions: Growing Through Innovation

by Maureen Ballatori, Locate Finger Lakes Business Journal

Editor’s Note: LOCATE Finger Lakes is proud to promote and tell the story of AES, and its innovative founder, Dan Rao. We’re very glad Dan’s business is growing and expanding in the Finger Lakes and we wish him all the Read more »
Angelo Bonafiglia: Father, friend, icon

Family, friends mourn loss of Seneca Falls icon

by David Shaw, Finger Lakes Times

EDITOR'S NOTE: “The Finger Lakes region has lost a business icon, a community minded leader and a dear friend,” Mike Nozzolio, Chairman LOCATE Finger Lakes. For the first time in their lives, siblings Bruce and Andrea Bonafiglia won’t be able Read more »
YEA! 13th Annual Saunders Scholars Competition

RIT's Saunders College of Business Welcomes YEA!

For more than ten years, Saunders College of Business has been a proud partner of the Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!). Although Saunders will miss having the competition on campus, we are excited to virtually host the 13th Annual Saunders Scholars Competition on Saturday, June 26, 2021. Read more »
FLCC hosts information sessions on Young Entrepreneurs Academy

Finger Lakes Community College will host Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) online information sessions for students in grades 6-12, their families, and local business leaders through the summer. YEA is a 20-week program that guides middle and high school students through Read more »
Megan Marley Investor Panel Winner: Selected for National Scholarship Competition!

LOCATE Finger Lakes and Lyons National Bank (LNB), a major sponsor of the Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!), congratulates Megan Marley from Seneca Falls, as the winner of the first prize award in the Finger Lakes Community College (FLCC) Young Entrepreneurs Read more »
Sampson becomes first veterans cemetery in New York State

by David Shaw, Finger Lakes Times

It took 10 years, but Seneca County’s hope of having the Sampson Veterans Memorial Cemetery selected as the state’s first official veterans cemetery became reality last week. State officials and the governor’s office made the announcement Monday, May 26. No Read more »
Sampson selected to be New York State’s first veterans cemetery

Local media outlets announced the news on Monday

New York's first state veterans cemetery will be in Seneca County. A nine-member selection committee voted Monday to designate Sampson Veterans Memorial Cemetery as a state veterans cemetery. The vote was unanimous in support of the site in the town Read more »
The Birkett Mills: Bringing buckwheat to the world since 1797

by Maureen Ballatori, Locate Finger Lakes Business Journal

Jeff Gifford would love to take all of his employees to New York City to see The Birkett Mills products on the shelves. “It’s fun to go to Manhattan and know that it’s all made in our backyard in Penn Read more »
NYSTAR, Upstate Capital to host The Future of Food pitch competition

NYSTAR and Upstate Capital present The Future of Food, an event to highlight the food and agtech industry and innovation in Upstate New York. This event brings together members from established food and beverage companies, suppliers, investors, and dealmakers together Read more »
ESD announces Assured Edge Solutions will expand operations at Cornell AgTech Park in Ontario County

Sustainable Agribusiness Company Will Move into New Building being Constructed on the Center for Excellence Campus in the City of Geneva. Investment Complements “Finger Lakes Forward” – The Region’s Comprehensive Strategy to Revitalize Communities and Grow the Economy

Empire State Development (ESD) today announced that Assured Edge Solutions plans to grow its manufacturing operations at the Cornell Agriculture and Food Technology Park in the City of Geneva. The custom vegetable processing and co-packing company will move from its Read more »
KanPak: A Global Company with Finger Lakes Roots

by Maureen Ballatori, Locate Finger Lakes Business Journal

Yogurt is big business in New York State. New York is the #1 yogurt producer in the country. Many people are familiar with Chobani Greek Yogurt, well known in NY for its facility in the Southern Tier region of the Read more »
O-Neh-Da vintner promotes COVID-destroying filtration tech

by Abbey Sitterley, Finger Lakes Times

It’s no secret the COVID-19 pandemic has had a profoundly detrimental impact on just about every area of commerce. With lockdowns and safety guidelines apt to change at any moment, many business owners are searching for solutions to the instability. Read more »
Empire State Development Announces Application Window Open for Round III of $3 Million Grow-NY Food and Agriculture Business Competition

Food and Agriculture Startup Competition is Accepting Applications Through July 15th

Empire State Development (ESD) today announced that the application window for the 2021 Grow-NY business competition is now open and is accepting submissions. Grow-NY, an unprecedented business competition, focuses on enhancing the emerging food and agriculture innovation cluster currently present Read more »

Locate Finger Lakes Business Journal

Undergraduate students interested in food and beverage entrepreneurship are encouraged to apply

Program will invest up to $250,000 in early-stage startup companies with matching funds from private sector

Six food and beverage producers from across New York won more than $100,000 in cash prizes and packages of support from Cornell experts

$3 Million in Prize Money Awarded to Eight Startups After Two-Day In-Person and Virtual Pitch Competition in Syracuse

Community Investment Framework Defines Micron's Partnership with Empire State Development, Benefiting Central New York and America's Manufacturing Leadership

OPI Accelerator Competition is Supported Through "Finger Lakes Forward" – The Region's Comprehensive Strategy to Revitalize Communities and Grow the Economy

Provides Assistance to Help Early-Stage Small and Micro-Businesses Recover and Grow in a Post-Pandemic Economy

20 Startups from Across the Globe will Compete to Win a Combined Total of $3 Million in Prize Money at Upcoming Summit Nov. 15-16

Project Complements "Finger Lakes Forward" - The Region's Comprehensive Strategy to Revitalize Communities and Grow the Economy

$3 Million Food and Agriculture Global Startup Competition is Accepting Applications Through July 1st

by Maureen Ballatori for LOCATE Finger Lakes

Optimax is spending $20 million to expand at its Ontario, Wayne County, operations. It will also create up to 50 jobs through the expansion

LOCATE Finger Lakes is pleased to announce the Center of Excellence is accepting applications now

Empire Medicinals doing research at Cornell Center of Excellence in Geneva

Governor Announces Agreement Between Finger Lakes Land Trust and New York State Electric & Gas

Leading meal delivery service backed by Hamilton Lane on behalf of New York State Common Retirement Fund, GNC Holdings, Armory Square Ventures, and Excell Partners

Next YEA! application deadline is September 30

Family, friends mourn loss of Seneca Falls icon

RIT's Saunders College of Business Welcomes YEA!

Local media outlets announced the news on Monday

Sustainable Agribusiness Company Will Move into New Building being Constructed on the Center for Excellence Campus in the City of Geneva. Investment Complements “Finger Lakes Forward” – The Region’s Comprehensive Strategy to Revitalize Communities and Grow the Economy

Food and Agriculture Startup Competition is Accepting Applications Through July 15th