Archive: Business & Technology

New York  — More than 3,600 veterans have started new careers at AT&T so far this year – 25 in New York State alone.  And with veterans’ skills proving to be a good fit for the company’s needs, AT&T is doubling its hiring goal for veterans and their family members to 10,000 over the next five years, consistent with its commitment to equal employment opportunities.

About 55 percent of the veterans hired by AT&T this year made their transition to the private sector as technicians. Project Velocity IP, the company’s investment plan to expand and enhance its IP broadband networks, is driving technician hiring needs.

With Veterans Day coming, New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli today spotlighted the availability of $4 million in competitive fixed-rate small business loans for military veterans through the New York Business Development Corp.

“Our freedoms are protected because of the brave men and women of our armed forces. Their dedication and discipline make a difference in the lives of all Americans and we must do all that we can to show our appreciation,” DiNapoli said. “The veterans program helps to address the financial hardships of active duty with loans to small businesses owned by military veterans for working capital and expansions.”

State spending was nearly $860 million lower than expected through the first half of the fiscal year while tax collections were just shy of projections, according to the Mid-Year Update and September cash report released today by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. Still, threats of another federal government shutdown and battle over the federal debt ceiling, as well as the continued slow pace of economic growth, could make it harder for the state to remain in line with its financial plan.

"New York is in a stable financial position half way through the fiscal year," DiNapoli said. “Sales tax collections are on track to exceed year-end projections and fund balances are above planned levels. Business tax collections are below projections so far this year and should be watched closely. The federal government is up and running again, but the possibility of further disruptions from Washington and continued slow economic growth remind us that caution is still necessary.”

A group of Cayuga Lake East Shore Merchants met at Rogue's Harbor Inn Monday to brainstorm on how to make the east side of the lake a vital tourist region.  Hosted by inn owner Eileen Stout, the meeting was facilitated by Sustainable Tompkins President Gay Nicholson.  Nicholson said she hopes the southern east shore merchants can duplicate the east Seneca Lake merchants' success at becoming a tourist destination.

"I have watched the tourism industry take off in other parts of the Finger Lakes - especially over on Seneca's east shore," Nicholson says.  "I've been puzzled by how slowly Lansing has capitalized on growing small businesses based on the recreational opportunities on our side of the lake.  I believe that we have a perfect opportunity to significantly grow our tourism base if we organize around a shared vision and carry out the necessary steps together."

Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce President Jean McPheeters announced the appointment of Bruce Stoff as director of the Ithaca/Tompkins County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Stoff, a six year veteran of the CVB, was the organization’s Marketing Communications Manager from 2006 to 2012. He has served as interim director since July.

“We’re thrilled to take 'interim' out of his title and have Bruce on board as permanent CVB director,” McPheeters said. “He has the unique combination of experience, vision and leadership necessary to guide the CVB, continue its success and promote this community as a remarkable travel destination.”

For Apple geeks Tuesday was one of those exciting announcement days.  Apple introduced the new 64 bit iPadAir and iPad Mini.  And the newest version of the OS X Mac operating system -- named 'Mavericks' -- was released.  Of course I clicked 'Install' as soon as I saw it in the App store.  Two hours later (about 45 minutes to download, about 45 minutes to install, 20 minutes of watching TV and forgetting to check upgrade progress and ten minutes of watching that 'less than a minute' message on the progress bar) my Mac was back up and running with 200 new features.

This is the first version of the Mac OS that hasn't been named after a cat.  Critics will note that it is named after a cow: a maverick is an unbranded calf.  But it is also an independent minded person, and I'm pretty sure that's what Apple is going for.  The good news for existing Mac users is that there won't be a learning curve.  I was able to resume my work without stopping to figure out how things work.

Recognized as one of Upstate New York's most vibrant and diverse commercial hubs, downtown Ithaca is home to scores of one-of-a-kind shops, eateries, entertainment venues, and personal care services, all within a walkable 22-block district full of character and historic charm. A less visible component of this tight-knit business community is a dynamic cluster of high-tech companies - and a closer look at this cohort reveals that it's bucking a troubling national trend.

While the number of women-owned businesses in the United States has climbed steadily for decades, there is still a severe shortage of female leaders in the fast-growing sectors of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). A recent article in Bloomberg Businessweek reported that only 3 percent of technology startups are headed by women; the media company Women 2.0 proposes a hardly more robust figure of 5 percent.

Congressman Tom Reed Monday visited local manufacturer Nucor in Chemung for a tour of the facility’s new solar panel system being installed to cut down on operating costs and improve energy efficiency. Reed was joined by Nucor Vice President and General Manager Mike Heine and George Miner, President of Southern Tier Economic Growth (STEG).

“With 95 percent of the world’s consumers living outside of the United States, it’s vitally important our domestic manufacturers are competitive and equipped to ‘make it here, sell it there’ to service all consumers,” Rep. Reed said. “The Revitalize American Manufacturing and Innovation Act I introduced in the House of Representatives will recognize the intelligence capacity of our manufacturers and create an environment where we can commercialize research and development into manufactured products and train an advanced manufacturing workforce to fill high-tech positions like those here at Nucor.”

Norabloom Botanicals and Beauty Lounge will open its new location on Monday, September 30.  Norabloom, owned by Holly Green, has been in business in Ithaca for over 15 years. Formerly the Embracing Goddess Skin Spa, Norabloom expanded from a one woman skin care business to a full service spa offering skin care, its own line of natural and organic skin care products, and bodywork over the past several years.

Owner Holly Green is taking Norabloom to the next level with this expansion—adding even more staff and services. In addition to holistic facials, oncology esthetics, waxing, and massage therapy, Norabloom will offer Thai massage, shiatsu, side by side massage, makeup artistry, spa parties and natural nail care.

On October 9th, the Ithaca Public Education Initiative (IPEI) hosted the Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce monthly Business After Hours event at the Cornell Plantations Nevin Welcome Center. As attendees gathered on the lawn adjacent to Plantations gardens to socialize with a glass of wine or hot cider, and some delicious food provided by the Ithaca City School District (ICSD) Food Services, they had the opportunity to learn about Kids Discover the Trail! (KDT!), a collaboration between the IPEI, the Discovery Trail, and the ICSD.

KDT! began in 2005 as a way for elementary age students to learn and explore their surrounding community while getting to know their peers from around the school district. Nine years later, KDT! is thriving with 2,900 ICSD elementary school students discovering the trail each year.

Aurora, N.Y.— Wells College announced on Monday that the Inns of Aurora, a collection of hospitality properties on the shore of Cayuga Lake, are slated to be sold to alumna Pleasant T. Rowland ’62. The sale, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2013, includes the Aurora Inn, E. B. Morgan House, Village Market, Fargo Bar & Grill, Dorie’s Bakery, the Old Post Office, Bet the Farm building, and Taylor House.

The success of the Inns of Aurora has only been possible with the support of the small, close-knit community in which they reside. Bonnie Bennett, mayor of the village, comments on the pending sale “Pleasant Rowland’s purchase of Wells’ commercial properties strengthens both the Inns of Aurora and the college, giving the village a new and welcome economic stability. I’m pleased to see these changes and look forward to the positive effects they will have on the small village. We are lucky to have these two economic engines bringing other small businesses to town, and making life in a rural, historic village not only viable, but interesting and vital.”

Williamsville, N.Y. – Tops Friendly Markets, a leading full-service grocery retailer in upstate New York, northern Pennsylvania and western Vermont, announced today that the company’s produce director, Steven Wright has won 2013 Retailer of the Year from Produce Retailer magazine.  The award celebrates Wright as well as Tops’ entire produce team as leaders in the produce field and within the grocery industry.

Nominations for this distinction are submitted largely by the produce vendor community and are based on criteria such as: innovative programs, creative merchandising, environmental stewardship, supplier relationship, leadership effectiveness, and divisional culture.