♪ ♪ >> COMING UP TONIGHT: WE'LL DISCOVER HOW A COLLABORATION BETWEEN TWO LOCAL NONPROFITS IS HELPING TO BRIDGE THE GAP IN FINANCIAL LITERACY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE IN SYRACUSE.

WE'LL SEE HOW ROBOTS ARE PLAYING A KEY ROLE AT ONE SYRACUSE AREA HOSPITAL.

AND OUR SPOTLIGHT SEGMENT TAKES US TO UTICA WHERE A SPORTS FACILITY COULD LEAD TO A HUGE BOOM TO THE AREA'S ECONOMY.

ON THE MONEY BEGINS RIGHT NOW.

GOOD EVENIONG AND WELCOME TO ON THE MONEY, THE MONEY, WCNY'S NEW FINANCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM -- THINK OF IT AS YOUR LOCAL FINANCIAL NEWS PROGRAM FEATURING SOME INTERESTING PEOPLE, BUSINESSES AND HAPPENINGS FROM EVERY CORNER OF CENTRAL NEW YORK.

I'M DANIEL PLUFF.

DURING OUR SEASON WE'LL SEE WHERE MONEY IS BEING MADE, SPENT AND LOST AND FOCUS ON PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES AFFECTING US LOCALLY.

WE BEGIN TONIGHT WITH A REPORT FROM RIGHT HERE IN SYRACUSE.

LEGISLATION IS PROCEEDING TO MAKE A FINANCIAL LITERACY COURSE A REQUIREMENT FOR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION.

WHILE FINANCIAL LITERACY TOPICS ARE COVERED AT THE SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT, HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS COULD BENEFIT FROM A REFRESHER ON THE FUNDAMENTALS OF FINANCIAL LITERACY.

THANKS TO A COLLABORATION BETWEEN SYRACUSE COOPERATIVE FEDERAL CREDIT UNION AND THE GOOD LIFE YOUTH FOUNDATION, NEW AND ONGOING FINANCIAL EDUCATION OFFERINGS WILL BE DEVELOPED FOR TEENS IN THE GREATER SYRACUSE AREA.

STUDENTS ARE USING THEIR VOICE TO SHARE VITAL FINANCIAL LITERACY FACTS, OVERSEEN BY ADULT EXPERTS, VIA ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS -- TIK TOK.

>> THERE IS SO MUCH THAT WE EACH NEED TO KNOW ABOUT FILING TAXES, STARTING A BUSINESS BECAUSE WE WEREN'T TAUGHT, THIS IS THE POINT OF YOUTH FINANCIAL LITERACY.

>> BREAK UP INTO YOUR FOUR GROUPS AND JUST CONTINUE THE STORY THAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT ON WEDNESDAY.

>> THE EMPHASIS OF EDUCATING BLACK YOUTH IN PARTICULAR ON FINANCIAL LITERACY IS REFLECTIVE OF THE LOCAL STATUS AND SITUATION.

SO IT'S NOT NEW TO PEOPLE THAT WE ARE, WE HAVE THE HIGHEST YOUTH POVERTY RATE IN THE UNITED STATES.

WE HAVE THE HIGHEST CONCENTRATION OF POVERTY AMONGST AFRICAN-AMERICANS AND LATINOS SO WE DO FINANCIAL LITERACY BUT WE TAKE IT A STEP FURTHER AND DO WHAT IS CALLED CULTURAL ECONOMICS AND THE CULTURAL ECONOMICS IS ABOUT EDUCATING THE POPULATIONS THAT ARE MOST IMPACTED BY USING THEIR CULTURE AND LOOKING AT HOW THEIR CULTURE INFORMED THEIR VIEW OF MONEY, THEIR HABITS AND BEHAVIORS WITH MONEY AND REALLY UNDERSTANDING THE HISTORY IN RELATION TO SYSTEMIC PRACTICES THAT HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE POVERTY.

>> OUR YOUTH FINANCIAL EDUCATION TIKTOK PROJECT WAS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT AND IT WAS ABOUT 2,000 BUCKS.

MOST OF THOSE FUNDS WERE USED TO PAY THE YOUTH AS CONTENT TIKTOK CREATORS.

THEY HAVE WORKED TOGETHER ON A NUMBER OF PROJECTS OVER MANY YEARS.

THE REALLY AMAZING VALUE THAT THAT ADDS TO THIS PROJECT AND TO ALL THE PROJECTS WE WORK WITH IS CULTURAL COMPETENCY.

WE BRING CONTENT EXPERTISE.

WE BRING EXPERTISE IN FINANCE AND THEY BRING CULTURAL COMPETENCIES AND EXPERTISE WITH THOSE HIP-HOP CULTURE.

>> WE DID A HIP-HOP PROMOTION AND SO THE BOOT CAMP IS FOCUSED ON CONNECTING YOUTH TO THE THINGS THAT THEY LOVE, THAT THEY'RE INTERESTED IN.

AND TEACHING THEM HOW TO MAKE MONEY FROM IT, WHICH IS THE IDEA BEHIND ENTREPRENEURSHIP.

SO THE 20 PARTICIPANTS WERE A SUBSET OF A TOTAL OF 80 YOUTH THAT WE ENGAGED OVER THE SUMMER.

BUT THAT 20 WERE THE YOUTH THAT WERE INTERESTED IN SOCIAL MEDIA.

THEY WERE INTERESTED IN TIKTOK OR THEY HAD DONE TIKTOK VIDEOS BEFORE.

WE TRY TO LEAN TOWARDS THE LOVE AND INTEREST OF THE YOUTH.

>> WITH YOUTH FINANCIAL LITERACY, WE NEED TO TEACH EVERYBODY.

THE FUNDAMENTALS OF FINANCE, HOW THEY BUDGET, HOW THEY ESTABLISH CREDIT, AND THE WAY TO DO THAT IS THROUGH WHAT PEOPLE USE.

SOCIAL MEDIA.

SHE IS GOING TO GO THERE... >> YEAH.

>> OUR PROJECT WAS TO TEACH ELDERLY PEOPLE HOW TO USE SNAPCHAT.

SNAPCHAT IS A WAY TO BASICALLY BANK INSTEAD OF GOING TO THE BANK, YOU CAN DO IT ON YOUR PHONE, SEND AND INVEST AND SEND PEOPLE MONEY.

>> THEY INTRODUCED ME TO A COUPLE OF NEW WAYS I COULD BE MAKING MONEY, EARN CAN IT, INVESTING IT.

>> INVEST IN LOCAL... >> THEY SHOW ME LIKE NEW WAYS TO MAKE MONEY AND IT SHOWS BETTER WAYS TO MAINTAIN MONEY AND INVEST PROFIT.

>> CERTAINLY THIS TYPE OF FINANCIAL LITERACY IS NOT BEING TAUGHT IN SCHOOLS ON A REGULAR BASIS, WHICH REALLY IS SETTING PEOPLE UP FOR FAILURE ONCE THEY LEAVE.

THE REASON WHY WE ARE STILL DOING THE SAME CURRICULUM THAT HAS BEEN CEMENTED FOR CENTURIES, ACTUALLY, IS BECAUSE WE LACK THE LEVEL OF INNOVATION THAT IS NECESSARY.

AND IF WE ARE NOT INNOVATING THE TYPE OF CURRICULUM THAT WE ARE ENGAGING STUDENTS WITH, THEN WE ARE GOING TO SEE THE SAME THINGS OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

>> IT'S CALLED CASH APP.

WE CAN SEND PEOPLE MONEY.

>> CAN I GET IT ON THE PHONE?

>> YES.

>> MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW HOW TO MAKE MONEY, IF THEY DO GET IT, THEY SPEND IT IMMEDIATELY.

WE ARE TRYING TO TEACH THEM IN A FUN WAY TO TURN THAT 150 INTO A THOUSAND REALLY EASILY AND HAVE MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOURSELF.

>> WE ARE HOPING THAT PEOPLE ARE WATCHING THESE TIKTOK VIDEOS AND RECOGNIZE THAT YOUTH AT THE EARLIEST OF AGES NEED TO BE THINKING ABOUT FINANCIAL LITERACY; PARTICULARLY IN POPULATIONS THAT HISTORICALLY DON'T HAVE THESE TYPES OF CONVERSATIONS WITHIN THE FAMILY AND WE ARE ALSO HOPING THAT WE CAN EDUCATE A COMMUNITY THAT MAY NOT KNOW THE VERY BASICS ABOUT FINANCIAL LITERACY BY WATCHING CUTE VIDEOS THAT MIGHT DRAW THEIR ATTENTION.

>> THESE ARE REAL FUNDAMENTAL SO SO CARRY THESE KIDS THROUGH LIFE AND WHETHER THRE BANK AT COOPERATIVE FEDERAL OR NOT, WE HAVE FULFILLED OUR MISSION WHICH IS GUN CONTROLLING WEIGHT IN OUR COMMUNITY.

>> WHEN I USED TO GET MONEY, I WOULD SPEND IT, WELL MOST OF IT BASICALLY ALL OF IT ON SNACKS.

BUT NOW I LEARNED NOT TO SPEND ALL OF IT ON SNACKS.

PUT SOME OF IT TO GOOD USE LIKE FOR MY COLLEGE.

IF I GO TO COLLEGE AND OTHER THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> INTERESTING STUFF AND I SUPPORT THAT FINANCIAL LITERACY, PARTICULARLY FOR YOUNG FOLKS.

SO VERY GOOD STUFF HAPPENING THERE.

APPRECIATE THE STORY.

OUR COMMON CENTS PIECE IS NEXT AND HERE WE TRY TO GIVE SOME ADVICE OR GUIDANCE TO WHAT IS GOING ON WITH MARKETS OR TAXES, ET CETERA AND JOINING US FOR THIS, JACK HARMATUK.

YOU ARE SAYING YOU ARE GETTING A SENSE THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE VERY NERVOUS, VERY CONCERNED AND ANXIOUS ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON IN THIS ENVIRONMENT.

FRANKLY, WHO CAN BLAME THEM?

>> SURE, THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT, DAN.

THE AMERICAN PSYCHIATRIC ASSOCIATION RELEASED A REPORT THAT ROUGHLY 3 OUT OF EVERY 4 AMERICANS HAS EXPERIENCED SOME LEVEL OF FINANCIAL STRESS AT LEAST ONCE WITHIN THE LAST MONTH.

AND ADDITIONALLY, 90% OF AMERICANS HAVE REPORTED FEELING NERVOUS RELATED TO INFLATION.

SO, DAN, WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE IS CONSUMERS ARE GOING TO THE GROCERY STORE, THEY'RE GOING TO THE GAS STATION, AND NOT ONLY ARE THEY SEEING THE INFLATED AND ELEVATED PRICES, TBUT THEY'RE FEELING THEM.

AND THOSE FEELINGS OF FEAR AND DREAD ARE REALLY, REALLY SIGNIFICANT.

AND THEN ON THEIR WAY HOME, THEY'RE STOPPING AT THEIR MAIL BOX AND THEY'RE GETTING THEIR QUARTERLY EMPLOYER SPONSORED RETIREMENT PLAN STATEMENT THAT SHOWS THAT THEY'RE DOWN ROUGHLY 15 TO 20%.

SO THE QUESTION I HAVE BEEN GETTING ASKED A LOT IS SHOULD I DECREASE OR EVEN STOP CONTRIBUTING TO MY EMPLOYER SPONSORED RETIREMENT PLAN?

>> SURE.

>> AND DAN, THIS IS THE ESSENCE OF WHAT WE CALL GOALS-BASED FINANCIAL PLANNING.

AND WHAT THAT IS, WE ATTACH A GOAL OR A MILESTONE TO OUR FINANCIAL RESOURCES AND IN DOING THAT, NOT ONLY ARE WE ATTACHING A MILESTONE, WE ARE ATTACHING EMOTIONS TO OUR FINANCIAL RESOURCES.

SO WHEN WE SET A GOAL, A FINANCIAL GOAL, WE HAVE FEELINGS OF JOY OR EXCITEMENT OR EVEN MOTIVATION AND DETERMINATION TO REACH THOSE GOALS.

AND THOSE POSITIVE FEELINGS THAT WE HAVE ABOUT OUR MONEY, IN THESE REALLY CHALLENGING TIMES THAT WE ARE SEEING RIGHT NOW, THOSE POSITIVE EMOTIONS CAN OUTWEIGH THOSE NEGATIVE EMOTIONS THAT PEOPLE ARE REALLY FEELING RIGHT NOW.

>> WELL, IF ISN'T THAT PART OF THE PROBLEM, TOO, JACK?

I MEAN WE DO TEND TO GET EMOTIONAL, PARTICULARLY AT TIMES WHEN THE MARKETS ARE DOING CRAZY THINGS AND INFLATION PRICES ARE GOING UP.

SO IT IS KIND OF A HARD THING TO COMBAT.

BUT YOU KNOW, I GUESS THE BOTTOM LINE IS TRY TO STICK WITH THE PLAN.

IS THAT WHAT YOU ARE TELLING US?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

YOU KNOW, DAN, ONE THING I REALLY RECOMMEND TO PEOPLE AND THERE IS A LOT OF GREAT RESOURCES OUT THERE, WHETHER IT'S THE ADVISER ON YOUR EMPLOYER SPONSORED PLAN, YOUR INDIVIDUAL ADVISER.

SIT DOWN AND RAISE YOUR HAND AND SIT DOWN AND ASK FOR HELP IN REALLY MAPPING OUT A CLEAR AND CONCISE PLAN THAT IS GOING TO ALLOW YOU TO HAVE SOME COMFORT AROUND WHY YOU ARE DOING-- WHAT YOU ARE DOING AND WHY YOU ARE DOING IT.

IT CAN REALLY MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD.

>> I'M GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE YOU COME BACK LATER IN THE SEASON TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE PERILS OF SKIPPING THOSE CONTRIBUTIONS TO RETIREMENT PLANS AND WHAT NOT BECAUSE IT CAN BE REALLY A MAJOR FINANCIAL MISTAKE.

BUT FOR NOW, GREAT JOB.

THANK YOU, JACK HARMATUK WITH THE EAST SYRACUSE OFFICE OF PINNACLE FINANCIAL SERVICES.

WELCOME DONE.

WE'LL HAVE YOU BACK, JACK.

>> THANKS, DAN >> UP NEXT, OUR SEGMENT WE CALL TECH BYTES WHERE WE FEATURE NEW TECHNOLOGIES BEING DEVELOPED OR USED HERE IN CENTRAL NEW YORK.

IF YOU EVER FIND YOURSELF AT SUNY UPSTATE MEDICAL HOSPITAL YOU MIGHT COME ACROSS SOME ROBOTS.

OVER A YEAR AGO THE HOSPITAL DETERMINED AN INVESTMENT IN ROBOTIC TRANSPORT TECHNOLOGY WAS NEEDED GIVEN THE CHALLENGES PRESENTED BY COVID, STAFF SHORTAGES AND RECENT ADVANCES IN TECHNOLOGY.

WE'RE LEARNING HOSPITALS THROUGHOUT THE NATION ARE TURNING TO ROBOTS, AND IT'S PREDICTED THE MEDICAL ROBOT BUSINESS WILL GROW INTO A $43 BILLION SECTOR IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.

AT UPSTATE MEDICAL, A FLEET OF 14 TUG ROBOTS, MANUFACTURED BY AETHON, WILL TRANSPORT EVERYTHING FROM MEDICINE TO MEALS ALL AROUND THE HOSPITAL.

HERE'S A LOOK AT THE FUTURE OF HEALTHCARE.

>> MY NAME IS STEVE ROBERTS AND MY TITLE IS DIRECTOR OF AUTONOMOUS MACHINES.

WHEN COVID-19 HIT, WE WERE ASKED TO PUT A PROGRAM TOGETHER TO WORK WITH DRONES, TO USE DRONES TO HELP WITH COVID.

AND AS THE YEAR PROGRESSED ON IT WAS CLEAR THERE WAS A LOT OF NEW TECHNOLOGY OUT THERE THAT COULD BE USEFUL TO PROVIDING HEALTHCARE AND BEING MORE EFFICIENT.

LAST NOVEMBER WHEN THE STAFFING BECAME AN ISSUE AT THE HOSPITAL, WE STARTED REALLY LOOKING AT ROBOTIC TECHNOLOGY FOR DELIVERING GOODS AROUND THE HOSPITAL.

WE HAVE TWO TYPES OF TUGS THEY'RE CALLED.

ONE IS A DRAWER TYPE, WHICH HAS DRAWERS AND LOCKS AND THE OTHER FEATURE IS ONE THAT IS DESIGNED MORE LIKE A FORKLIFT AND THAT CAN MOVE THROUGHOUT THE HOSPITAL BY ITSELF AND MAKE DELIVERIES OR PICK THINGS UP.

BRINGING THE TUGS INTO THE THE EQUATION ALLOWS THE PEOPLE PROVIDING CRITICAL CARE TO FOCUS ON THE PATIENT AND THE CLINICAL CARE.

MOVING PRODUCT THROUGHOUT THE HOSPITAL NOW CAN, WE CAN RELY ON THE TUGS AND ROBOTS TO DO THAT.

>> I WOULD LIKE DO INTRODUCE YOU TO OUR TUG.

IT FINDS ITS WAY BY USING SENSORS TO NAVIGATE.

PEOPLE ARE AFRAID IT MIGHT RUN OVER THEM BUT THESE SENSORS ALLOW, IT WILL STOP WHEN IT COMES UP AND WE CAN ADJUST ABOUT HOW FAR IT GOES BEFORE IT WILL STOP: IT WILL WAIT AND IF IT RUNS INTO TROUBLE, CAN'T FIND ITS WAY AROUND, IT WILL CALL FOR HELP.

ONLY STAFF CAN OPEN UP THE DRAWERS.

THEY'LL ENTER THE PASS CODE AND THEIR FINGER I.D.

AND THAT WILL LET THEM INTO THE DRAWERS.

THEY WILL BE ABLE TO LOAD IT UP, SEND IT ON ITS WAY.

IT CAN DO MORE THAN ONE DESTINATION AT A TIME.

IF THERE ARE TWO OR THREE DELIVERIES IT CAN DO THAT AND BE MORE EFFICIENT AS IT WALKS THROUGHOUT THE HOSPITAL.

WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF BUILDING A FLEET HERE.

WE DO HAVE 14 ON ORDER.

WE HAVE NINE OF THEM HERE.

WE WILL HAVE 14 OF THOSE IN OPERATION PROBABLY THE FIRST QUARTER IN 2023.

THERE IS CERTAINLY AN UP FRONT HARD COST TO IT.

THE TUGS ARE, YOU KNOW, ROUGHLY 55 TO $60,000 APIECE INITIAL COST WITH A $5,000 MAINTENANCE COST ROUGHLY.

A REALLY NICE AREA FOR TECHNOLOGY IN THESE TYPES OF THINGS.

OTHER PEOPLE IN THE AREA THAT HAVE INVESTED IN THAT CORRIDOR, YOU KNOW, NEW YORK STATE GOVERNMENT, ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW WEAR REALLY SET THE PATH FOR THIS.

AS A RESULT, WE WERE GETTING A LOT OF HELP FROM A LOT OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE TO MAKE US SUCCESSFUL.

THE TECHNOLOGY IS AT A POINT NOW WHERE, YOU KNOW, IF YOU CAN THINK IT, WE CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN.

THERE IS LOTS OF ABILITY OUT THERE TO GROW AND I THINK AS THE TECHNOLOGY EVOLVES, THE REGULATIONS EVOLVE, THERE IS GOING TO BE MANY MORE OF THESE LIKE ROBOTS THAT CAN SWEEP THE FLOOR.

WE HAVE THE DRONE PROGRAM GOING.

AT SOME POINT WE WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO COORDINATE THOSE TWO THINGS TO COME TOGETHER.

LEADING TEACHING HOSPITAL, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE STAYING UP TO DATE WITH THE CURRENT TECHNOLOGYIES AND PROVIDING OUR PATIENTS WITH THE BEST AVAILABLE TECHNOLOGY FOR THEIR CARE.

WE DID HAVE A REALLY GREAT EXPERIENCE.

WE HAD ONE PATIENT IN HERE WHO WAS HERE FOR A CANCER TREATMENT.

WE WERE TRAINING IT.

AND SHE, HER EYES LIT UP.

SHE CAME OVER AND TALKED TO US FOR A WHILE.

AND ON HER WAY OUT, SHE ASKED THE NAME.

WE SAID WELL WE DON'T REALLY HAVE A NAME FOR IT.

OUR FIRST TUG IS CALLED ES PRANSA WHICH MEANS HOPE.

I WAS VERY SAD AND DEPRESSED BUT I CAME IN AND I SAW TECHNOLOGY HERE AND IT MAKES ME THINK THERE IS HOPE FOR THE FUTURE.

>> SOME INTEREST CAN STUFF HAPPENING AT UPSTATE MEDICAL AND WHO KNOWS MAYBE THAT IS THE FUTURE OF HEALTHCARE.

WE'LL HAVE TO SEE.

UP NEXT, OUR BY THE NUMBERS SEGMENT WE THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE A GOOD IDEA TO LOOK AT WHERE OIL AND GAS PRICES HAVE BEEN THIS YEAR BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN SUCH A NEWS EYE ITEM WITH PRICES GETTING UP THERE HIGH.

WE LOOKED BACK AND EARLIER THIS YEAR, FOR EXAMPLE, MARCH OF 2022, WE SAW OIL AT $123 PER BARREL.

THAT'S NOT A RECORD HIGH BUT IT WAS A RECORD HIGH FOR GAS PRICES WHICH TOPPED OUT AT ABOUT $5 A GALLON AT THE PUMP.

IF WE GO BACK TO JULY 2008, OIL WAS TRADING 147 A BARREL SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN IT WAS THIS YEAR BUT GAS PRICES WERE ABOUT A DOLLAR A GALLON LOWER.

THAT'S A HEAD SCRATCHER.

WHY IS THAT?

WELL, WE ARE TOLD INFLATION IS TO BLAME.

IT APPARENTLY COSTS MORE MONEY TO GET THE OIL OUT OF THE GROUND, REFINE IT, MAKE GASOLINE AND PUT IT INTO OUR TANKS.

BUT THERE MAY BE SOME OTHER FACTORS HERE AS WELL.

NUMBER 1: EARLIER THIS YEAR, THE OIL COMPANIES REPORTED RECORD PROFITS.

BIG REVENUES COMING IN.

BUT YOU KNOW THERE IS ANOTHER ANGLE, TOO.

WHEN YOU BUY GAS AT THE PUMP, A LOT OF WHAT YOU PAY GOES TO TAXES.

WHO NODES.

IVE-- WHO KNOWS.

THOSE ARE OUR NUMBERS TONIGHT WE'LL CONTINUE TO TRACK THOSE OIL PRICES THIS YEAR FOR SURE.

BUT NOW WE FINISH UP TONIGHT WITH OUR SPOTLIGHT SERIES WHERE WE SPOTLIGHT SERIES WHERE WE MEET WITH SOME INTERESTING PEOPLE OR HIGHLIGHT SOMETHING SPECIAL HAPPENING IN OUR REGION.

ONCE AGAIN, OUR SPOTLIGHT TEAM TRAVELS TO ONEIDA COUNTY, THIS TIME UTICA, WHICH IS IN THE MIDST OF A SIGNIFICANT REVITALIZATION.

ONE PERSON CONTRIBUTING TO THIS NEW ENERGY AND GROWTH IS MOHAWK VALLEY GARDEN PRESIDENT ROBERT ESHE.

HIS PASSION FOR THE UTICA COMETS AND THE NEW NEXUS CENTER IS HARD TO MISS.

THIS FORMER PRO HOCKEY PLAYER SEES POTENTIAL FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, TOURISM AND EVEN EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES ALL POSSIBLE THROUGH A SPORTS BACKDROP.

HERE YOU ARE 234 THIS PRETTY BIG FACILITY NOW.

I HAVE GOT TO BELIEVE THAT YOUR LOVE OF SPORTS GOES BEYOND HOCKEY.

WOULD THAT BE A SAFE BET?

THE COMMUNITY TO ME MEANS EVERYTHING BACK HERE IN THE UTICA AREA, ONEIDA COUNTY.

I GREW UP HERE, FROM HERE.

AND OUR MISSION ACTUALLY OF OUR COMPANY IS LITERAL #EU CHANGING THE COMMUNITY THROUGH THE SPORT THAT I LOVE AND REALISTICALLY IT HAS BEEN A LOT OF FUN THE LAST 10 YEARS TO BE RIGHT IN THE THICK OF THINGS WITH ALL THE COMMUNITY LEADERS AND WATCHING THIS AREA DEVELOP.

SO THE NEXUS CENTER, QUITE A FACILITY, AS WE SIT HERE TODAY, NOT FULLY COMPLETE, BUT UNDER WAY, MULTIPLE FACILITIES FOR SPORTS OR WHAT ARE YOU CONCENTRATING ON?

>> IT'S ALMOST LIKE AN ARMS RACE.

IT HAS BEEN FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS IN SPORTS TOURISM WHICH IS A BIG INDUSTRY GLOBALLY AND ESPECIALLY IN THE UNITED STATES.

BUT PREDOMINANTLY BUILT AROUND SPORTS RECREATION TOURNAMENT PLAY AND YOU GET A LOT OUT OF TOWN ATHLETES TO COME IN AND COMPETE AGAINST OTHER TOP TEAMS.

>> BUT DIFFERENT TYPES OF SPORTS AS WELL.

>> NEXUS CENTER, WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT THE NEXUS CENTER IS IT'S GOT THREE SHEETS OF ICE ATTACHED TO THE ADIRONDACK BANK CENTER SO A TOTAL OF 4.

AND ALL FOUR OF THOSE CAN CONVERT INTO FIELD USE WITHIN 45 MINUTES TO AN HOUR FOR ICE HOCKEY AND TWO OF THEM FOR LACROSSE OR SOCCER OR GYMNASTICS.

>> THINGS GOT UNDER WAY, YOU STARTED THE WHOLE THING DURING COVID.

I MEAN COULD HAVE PROBABLY PICKED A BETTERS TIME, RIGHT?

>> YEAH, WELL, I THINK, YOU KNOW, CONCEPTUALLY, THIS STARTED BACK IN 2015 ACTUALLY.

AND THEN AS IT PICKED UP STEAM, THE STATE GOT BEHIND IT, THE COUNTY WAS ALWAYS BEHIND IT, OUR COUNTY EXECUTIVE TONY VINCENTE WAS ALWAYS BEHIND IT.

WHEN YOU FIGURE THESE THINGS OUT THEY'RE CONUNDRUMS BECAUSE ICE REALLY ON THE ECONOMIC IMPACT FOR THE COMMUNITY.

THEY'RE NOT VERY SUSTAINABLE PRIVATELY.

YOU KNOW, SO THAT'S ONE OF THE CHALLENGES, THE FIRST HURDLE THAT YOU GOT TO GET OVER AND TELLING THAT STORY AND TELLING THAT ECONOMIC IMPACTINGS SOMETHING THAT HAS TO BE FLUSHED OUT.

>> IF I HAVE THE NUMBER RIGHT, IT'S LIKE 60 MILLION?

>> YES, 65 MILLION.

>> A LOT OF MONEY.

WHERE IS THE MONEY COMING FROM?

>> YOU HAVE A COMPONENT OF IT.

22 MILLION COMING FROM THE STATE.

THE COUNTY IS PUTTING IN ANOTHER PORTION OF IT, THEY PUT IN 12 MILLION AND WE BONDED OUT FOR THE REMAINDER OF IT.

THE AUTHORITY BOBBEDDED OUT AND THAT'S WHERE THE PRIVATE EQUITY PIECE COMES IN WHERE OUR COMPANY, YOU KNOW, PAYS THE DEBT SERVICE DOWN OF ROUGHLY 700,000 A YEAR.

IT'S KIND OF LIKE A THREE LEGGED CHAIR IF YOU WILL OR STOOL.

>> >> CAN WE MAKE THIS PLACE PROFITABLE.

>> I DON'T KNOW THAT THE NEXUS CENTER WILL EVER BE PROFITABLE.

THAT'S NOT WHY THESE BUILDINGS ARE CONSTRUCTED 679 THE MAIN REASON THEY'RE CONSTRUCTED IS FOR THE ECONOMIC IMPACT IT HAS FOR ALL THE BUSINESSES AROUND IT WHETHER IT'S YOUR BARS, RESTAURANTS, HOTELS WHICH ARE THE EASY THING THAT EVERYBODY RESONATES WITH, BUT IT'S ALSO YOUR GAS STATIONS, IT'S YOUR TOURIST ASSETS, YOU KNOW WHEN THOSE KIDS ARE HERE AND THEIR FAMILIES, THEY'RE HERE FOR THREE OR FOUR DAYS.

THEY GOT IS NO PLACE TO GO.

>> I'M WITH YOU.

SEE THIS WILL HAVE A NICE ECONOMIC IMPACT TO THIS REGION.

>> YES.

WE ACTUALLY HAD THIRD PARTY STUDY OUT IN SARATOGA I BELIEVE IS WHERE THEY WERE FROM, THAT WAS DONE IN 17 OR 18.

AND THE ECONOMIC IMPACT ANALYSIS THAT WAS PERFORMED IS AROUND 26 MILLION.

SO OBVIOUSLY YOU TALK ABOUT INFLATION.

AS YOU MOVE FORWARD, WE ARE WELL NORTH OF 30 MILLION AT THIS POINT.

I DO THINK THE OTHER THING THAT'S VERY COOL IS THAT WE ARE BOOKED FROM NOVEMBER 11 ALL THE WAY THROUGH TO THE END OF MAY.

YOU START FACTORING THOSE-- >> TOURNAMENTS?

>> YEAH YOU START FACTORING IN THOSE THURSDAY, FRIDAY, SATURDAY, SUNDAY EVENTS, THAT'S A HUGE DRIVER.

>> I WANT TO BE CLEAR.

AGAIN, THESE EVENTS, AS YOU ARE CALLING THEM, THESE TOURNAMENTS, THINGS TAKING PLACE IN THE CENTER, THESE ARE PEOPLE COMING IN FROM ALL OVER, AGAIN SPENDING THEIR MONEY HERE.

I'M NOT TRYING TO ADVERTISE FOR YOU BUT THAT'S WHAT IS PART OF THE GOAL IS, CORRECT?

BUT DON'T GET MAD AT ME.

THAT'S WHY WE PUT A FEW CHAIRS BETWEEN YOU AND I.

IS THIS A SPOT FOR THAT?

ARE THERE BETTER PLACES IN THE COUNTRY THAT PEOPLE WOULD WANT TO GO TO THAN UPSTATE NEW YORK UTICA NEW YORK?

>> I THINK THERE DEFINITELY IS.

>> SO WHAT IS THE DRAW HERE?

>> THE DRAW HERE IS IT'S VERY SIMPLE.

I MEAN UTICA WAS BUILT AS A HALFWAY POINT BETWEEN BUFFALO AND NEW YORK CITY WHEN THEY WERE BOOT LEGGING WHISKEY YEARS AGO BUT NOW IT SERVES I-90.

WE ARE LITERALLY IN THE MIDDLE OF TORONTO, BUFFALO, PITTSBURGH, PHILLY, BOSTON, MONTREAL.

>> LOCATION STORY?

>> YES.

RIGHT NOW IF YOU ARE PLAYING IN BUFFALO AND HAD YOU TO PLAY A TOP NOTCH BOSTON TEAM, THAT'S A SEVEN HOUR DRIVE.

NOW THEY'RE MEETING HERE.

NEXUS CENTER ISN'T NECESSARILY BUILT JUST FOR KIDS OF ONEIDA COUNTY.

IT'S TO BE ABLE TO FIND A NEUTRAL PLAYING GROUND FOR TOURNAMENTS WHERE THE TOP SKILLED ATHLETES AND THEIR TEAMS CAN COME AND PLAY.

A LOT OF TOURNAMENTS WE HOST WITH NO LOCAL TEAMS.

IT'S THE TOP 20 TEAMS IN THE COUNTRY THAT COME INTO UTICA NEW YORK TO PLAY EACH OTHER.

>> I LIKE THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE SOMETHING OF AN EDUCATIONAL PARTNERSHIP TAKING PLACE HERE, TOO, WITH UTICA STUDENTS COMING DOWN HERE, RUNNING AROUND THE FACILITY, LEARNING HOW TO MANAGE IT, LEARNING A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SPORTS MANAGEMENT, I ASSUME.

HOW IS THAT GOING SO FAR?

IT IS REALLY NEAT.

SPORTS MANAGEMENT I HELPED START UP IN 2016 AND I WENT THROUGH HUNDREDS OF RESUMES.

IT WAS VERY COMICAL HOW MANY TIMES YOU FLIP THROUGH.

YOU ARE LOOKING FOR SOMEBODY WITH SOME ELEMENT OF PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE ON A RESUME BECAUSE IT'S THE NHL AND I THINK WHAT WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO IS, IT'S NOT AN INTERNSHIP PROGRAM.

WE LITERALLY GET TO HELP THE SPORTS MANAGEMENT PROGRAM AT UTICA UNIVERSITY WORK SIDE BY SIDE WITH THEM WHETHER IT'S FACILITY MANAGEMENT, WHETHER IT'S FOR ALES, TICKETS, FINANCE.

THEY HAVE A TRUE EXPERIENCE LEVEL THAT WOULDN'T EXIST JUST INSIDE THEIR COLLEGE.

AND I THINK I GIVE ALL THE CREDIT TO THE PRESIDENT ON THAT.

SHE HAS BEEN LOCK STEP WITH ME ON THIS AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE BRILLIANT.

SIX MONTHS A YEAR FROM NOW, WHAT DO YOU THINK IS GOING TO BE GOING ON DOWN HERE.

>> PRIVATE DEVELOPERS ARE COMING INTO THE AREA.

WHETHER IT'S SYRACUSE ALBANY AND OUTSIDE THE STATE, I THINK A LOT OF THESE LITTLE NODES ARE STARTING TO GET MORE DENSITY TO THEM.

AND YOU ARE STARTING TO SEE THE REBIRTH OF AN URBAN CENTER THAT WAS UNBELIEVABLE 70, 80 YEARS AGO BUT HAS LITERALLY BE DESOLATE FOR THE TIME SINCE.

AND I REALLY THINK THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF GREAT COMMUNITY LEADER, ELECTED OFFICIALS, A LOT OF GREAT THINGS GOING ON HERE IN UTICA AND I'M HONORED, LIKE I SAID, TO BE A SMALL SLIVER OF THAT.

>> I LOVE TALKING TO ROB.

WHAT A DYNAMIC GUY.

OUR THANKS AGAIN TO ROBERT ESCHE -- WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE FACILITIES GRAND OPENING AND FUTURE SUCCESS.

THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT - NEXT WEEK WE HEAD TO OSWEGO WHERE A NEW MIXED-INCOME HOUSING PROJECT IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION TO REMEDY THE STATE'S GROWING HOUSING CRISIS.

THEN WE HEAD OUT TO ROME WHERE WE GET A BEHIND-THE-SCENES LOOK AT THE SKYDOME.

AND FINALLY WE SPOTLIGHT ONONDAGA COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY BILL FITZPATRICK WITH A CANDID ONE ON ONE CONVERSATION INCLUDING THE COSTS OF CRIME IN CENTRAL NEW YORK.

BUT THERE'S SO MUCH MORE THIS SEASON AND IF YOU HAVE AN IDEA FOR A BUSINESS, PERSON OR JUST SOMETHING SPECIAL HAPPENING IN CENTRAL NEW YORK, LET US KNOW - CONTACT US BY EMAILING NEWS AT WCNY.ORG.

TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE PROGRAM, OR TO VIEW PREVIOUS EPISODES, JUST VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT WCNY.ORG/ONTHEMONEY.

AND YOU CAN FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.

I'M DANIEL PLUFF, THANKS AGAIN FOR WATCHING.