>> COMING UP TONIGHT: A CHILDREN'S MUSEUM IN UTICA TAKES SHAPE.

THE TOWN OF DEWITT IS ALL-IN ON SOLAR -- WE'LL SHOW YOU WHY.

AND OUR SPOTLIGHT SERIES TAKES US BACK TO THE MOHAWK VALLEY WITH AN UPBEAT AND FUN ONE-ON-ONE INTERVIEW WITH ONEIDA COUNTY EXECUTIVE ANTHONY PICENTE.

ON THE MONEY BEGINS RIGHT NOW.

♪ ♪ GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO ON THE MONEY, WCNY'S 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 UTICA.

IN MARCH 2020, THE UTICA CHILDREN'S MUSEUM ANNOUNCED THE CLOSURE OF THEIR MAIN STREET LOCATION.

AND TEN DAYS LATER, COVID HIT.

BUT THAT DIDN'T STOP THEM FROM TRANSITIONING TO THEIR NEW HOME ON THE PARKWAY IN UTICA.

TAKING SHAPE THERE NOW IS A NEW, STATE-OF-THE-ART MUSEUM -- IT WILL FEATURE A FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER, INCLUDING ICAN FAMILY PROGRAMS, COMMUNITY SPACE, AND, OF COURSE, THE NEW CHILDREN'S MUSEUM.

NOW THAT EVERYONE IS SEEING THE COLLECTIVE TRAUMA THAT WE HAVE ALL BEEN THROUGH WITH COVID, THEY'RE UNDERSTANDING THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING ABLE TO PLAY, BEING ABLE TO LEARN, BEING ABLE TO SPEND TIME TOGETHER AND JUST HAVE FUN BECAUSE THAT WAS GONE FOR TWO YEARS.

THAT'S WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO IS JUST BRING THE FUN TO THEM, HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO BE ABLE TO DELIVER IT BECAUSE IT WAS MISSING FOR SO LONG.

>> THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF ONEIDA AND HERKIMER COUNTIES, RECOGNIZE THAT THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM WAS SOMETHING THAT NEEDED TO STAY IN OUR AREA.

IT WAS FALLING ON SOME FINANCIAL ISSUES.

THE BUILDING ITSELF WAS VERY OLD AND WE WEREN'T ABLE TO KEEP UP WITH THE BILLS, WITH THE STLUR OF IT.

STRUCTURE OF IT, HISTORICAL BUILDING.

THERE WERE RESTRICTIONS ON IT.

SO THEY GOT INVOLVED IN 2017 AND STARTED MANAGERIAL SERVICES WITH MARKETING IT WAS AT THAT POINT THAT WE REALIZED THE BEST THING FOR THE MUSEUM WAS TO MOVE IT TO A DIFFERENT LOCATION.

WE ARE LOCATED IN OUR NEW LOCATION AT 106 MEMORIAL PARK WAY IN UTICA.

THERE IS A LOT OF CONSTRUCTION GOING ON RIGHT NOW.

THIS IS A TWO-PHASE PROJECT SO THEY'RE CURRENTLY WORKING ON PHASE 1, WHICH IS THE FIRST FLOOR AND THE THIRD FLOOR OF THE BUILDING.

AND THEN PHASE 2 IS GOING TO BE THE SECOND FLOOR OF THE MUSEUM WITH A BUILDOUT ON THE BACK END HERE THAT WE ARE CALLING THAT A ROW TAWN DA ROTUNDA.

PRIOR TO COVID WE HAD PLANS FOR A MOBILE MUSEUM.

IT WAS SOMETHING WE WANTED TO DO WHILE THE OLD MUSEUM WAS CLOSED UNTIL THE NEW MUSEUM OPENED SO IT WAS A WAY FOR US TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TO HAVE A PLAYFUL LEARNING EXPERIENCE WHILE WE ARE WORKING ON THE BIGGER PROJECT.

THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW MUSEUM IS BEING FUNDED THROUGH THE SALE OF THE FORMER BUILDING.

COMMUNITY SUPPORTERS THAT WE HAVE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, OTHER FOUNDATIONS WITHIN THE AREA AND ALSO FROM THE COMMUNITY, WHICH HAS BEEN REALLY GREAT IN SUPPORTING US THROUGH PRIVATE DONATIONS.

WE HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH SOME FEDERAL GRANTS, WITH FUNDS FROM THE CITY TO BE ABLE TO FUNCTION ON THE MOBILE MUSEUM AND ALSO FOR THE BUILDING OF THE NEW LOCATION AND THE EXHIBITS THEMSELVES.

WE ARE GOING OUT RIGHT NOW TO COMMUNITY EVENTS, FESTIVALS, PRESCHOOLS, SCHOOL VISITS, LIBRARIES, ANYWHERE THAT PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED IN HAVING THESE OPPORTUNITIES FOR FAMILIES.

WE ARE WILLING TO BRING IT THERE.

THE BENEFITS OF A CHILDREN'S MUSEUM ARE AS BIG AS YOU WANT THEM TO BE.

WE, AS A CHILDREN'S MUSEUM CAN SPARK THAT INITIAL INTEREST IN CHILDREN FROM BIRTH ALL THE WAY UP THROUGH.

IT'S SOMETHING FOR OUR REGION TO BE ABLE TO SAY THAT IT'S NOT JUST YOUR LOCAL LITTLE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM.

IT'S REALLY MORE THAN THAT.

IT'S PEOPLE LOOKING AT US AND SAYING WOW, THAT'S IN UTICA.

I GO THERE BECAUSE I VISIT MY FAMILY THERE.

I GO THERE BECAUSE I RUN THE BOILERMAKER.

I GO THERE BECAUSE WORK TAKES ME THERE.

BEING ABLE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR BACKYARD, OTHER STATES, THEY DON'T HAVE THAT.

THAT'S A BIG DEAL.

SO TO TAKE A LOOK AROUND AND LOVE WHERE YOU LIVE AND REALLY UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH WE HAVE HERE TO OFFER IN OUR REGION IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

>> WE WISH THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL IN UTICA GREAT SUCCESS.

AND WE TAKE A BREAK NOW WITH OUR COMMON CENTS PIECE WHERE WE TRY TO BRING YOU ADVICE AND GUIDANCE OF THINGS HAPPENING IN OUR AREA.

THIS HAS CERTAINLY BEEN A YEAR FOR A LOT OF CHANGES NOT JUST IN THE STOCK MARKET BUT IN THE REAL ESTATE MARKET, TOO.

A COUPLE QUICK QUESTIONS FOR OUR GOOD FRIENDS CHIP HODGKIN'S WITH HODGKIN'S HOME TEAM COVERING ALL OF CENTRAL NEW YORK.

BUT I WAS THINKING KNOWING WHAT YOU WERE COMING THAT, SO MUCH HAS CHANGED IN THE REAL ESTATE MARKET HERE LOCALLY, EVEN SINCE YOU WERE DURING SEASON 1.

I MEAN WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF IT?

>> THE LAST WE SPOKE, WE WERE GETTING MULTIPLE OFFERS ON EVERY PROPERTY, WE WERE SEEING HOUSES SELL FOR 20 TO $80,000 ABOVE LIST PRICE.

THAT'S ALL CHANGED.

WE'VE GOT INTEREST RATES THAT ARE HAVE GONE UP.

AND THAT'S MADE BUYERS NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD AS MUCH HOUSE AS THEY USED TO; FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE GONE FROM A 3% TO 7%.

AND I MEAN THAT'S ACROSS ALL MARKETS BUT IN THE HOUSING MARKETS SPECIFICALLY, A 3% TO A 7%, PEOPLE HAVE LOST ABOUT $100,000 WORTH OF BUYING POWER.

SO IF I USED TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD A $250,000 HOUSE, NOW I ONLY QUALIFY FOR $170 OR $IS-- $150,000.

THAT'S A HUGE CHANGE TO THE MARKET.

>> NOT ONLY THAT, LOOK, I WAS A SELLER TWO YEARS AGO AND LUCKILY I CAUGHT IT PRETTY GOOD.

BUT GONE ARE THE DAYS, AM I CORRECT, YOU TELL ME, BUT GONE ARE THE DAYS WHERE A PROPERTY IS LISTED, GETS SOLD IN OUR HOURS, MULTIPLE OFFERS.

IS THAT OVER?

>> THAT'S OVER.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, A LOT OF SELLERS ARE DECIDING NOT TO SELL BECAUSE THEY OWN A HOUSE AT 3% INTEREST AND THEY HAVE GOT TO BUY A HOUSE AT 7% INTEREST.

WAIT A MINUTE.

EVEN IF I BUY THE SAME HOUSE, I'M GOING TO GO UP A THOUSAND TO $2,000 A MONTH IN PAYMENT TO BUY THE SAME HOUSE FROM A 3% HOUSE TO A 7% HOUSE.

SO SELLERS ARE TAKING A SIDELINE AS WELL.

>> SURE.

BUT THE BIG DRIVER HERE, DO YOU AGREE, IS THE INTEREST RATE CHANGE?

OR THERE IS SOME OTHER FACTOR?

THAT IS A BIG MOVE IN INTEREST RATES.

WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT IT ON OTHER SHOWS BUT DRAMATICALLY I AM PACKING REAL ESTATE.

>> DRAMATICALLY.

YOU ARE SEEING SELLERS TAKE A SIDELINE MPLEGHT ON THE NATIONAL NEWS YOU WILL HEAR THE HOUSING MARKETING PLUMMETING.

IT'S NOT NECESSARILY PLUMMETING IN PRICE.

IT'S PLUMMETING IN NUMBER OF TRANSACTIONS.

SELLERS ARE TAKING A SIDELINE AND SO ARE BUYERS THE SO BOTH PARTIES ARE TAKING A STEP BACK AND THEREFORE THE INVENTORY ISN'T NECESSARILY GOING UP SUPER HIGH.

THE INVENTORY IS MAKING A LITTLE BUMP.

HERE IS ONE THING.

SYRACUSE HAS A REALLY UNIQUE SITUATION.

WE FOLLOW THE TREND OF THE NATION BY ABOUT 6 MONTHS.

THREE MONTHS TO SIX MONTHS.

SO WE CAN FORECAST-- WE CAN SEE WHAT THE MARKET IS DOING HERE IN SYRACUSE BUT WE KNOW WHAT THE MARKET IS GOING TO BE DOING BY WATCHING CALIFORNIA, TEXAS, ARIZONA.

WE CAN SAY OKAY.

HOUSING PRICES ARE GOING TO START COMING DOWN BECAUSE INVENTORY IS GOING TO COME UP BECAUSE IT'S HAPPENING OUTSIDE OF SYRACUSE.

SYRACUSE WILL FOLLOW THAT TREND PRETTY SOON.

>> I HAVE TO STOP YOU.

IF WE HAVE TIME WE'LL GET YOU BACK BEFORE THE SEASON IS OVER AND PICK UP ON THAT TREND AND SEE WHERE WE MIGHT GO AT YEAR-END.

BUT CHIP, ALWAYS A PLEASURE.

GREAT INFORMATION.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AGAIN.

CHIP HODGKIN'S HODGKIN'S HOME TEAM OUT OF CENTRAL NEW YORK.

>> THANKS, DAN.

>> IT SEEMS LIKE THE REAL ESTATE MARKET HAS BEEN ALMOST AS EXCITING AS THE STOCK MARKET THIS YEAR BUT WE'LL CHECK BACK ON THAT FOR SURE.

NOW NEXT UP IS THE SEGMENT WE CALL TECH BYTES WHERE WE FEATURE SOME TECHNOLOGIES BEING DEVELOPED OR USED THROUGHOUT CENTRAL NEW YORK.

IF YOU'VE EVER WALKED ALONG THE OLD ERIE CANAL HISTORIC PARK TRAIL, YOU COULDN'T MISS THE 11-ACRES OF SOLAR PANELS ALONG THE WAY.

THEY'RE ALL ON THE SITE OF A FORMER LANDFILL.

THIS FIVE MILLION DOLLAR PROJECT INCLUDES OVER SEVEN THOUSAND SOLAR PANELS AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS INCLUDE A CARBON REDUCTION OF SLIGHTLY OVER TWENTY-FIVE HUNDRED METRIC TONS -- THAT'S THE EQUIVALENT OF REMOVING OVER 500 VEHICLES FROM THE ROAD EACH YEAR FOR THE NEXT TWENTY YEARS.

>> WE ARE ON THE TOWN OF DEWITT'S LANDFILL, THE LANDFILL IS A CLOSED LOW LEVEL HAZARDOUS WASTE SITE AND THE TOWN OF DEWITT HAS PUT A SOLAR ARRAY ON TOP OF IT.

CAN'T PUT BUILDINGS OR STRUCTURES OR ANY OTHER HUMAN USES HERE.

AND SO WE PUT TOGETHER AN ENERGY COMMITTEE BACK IN 2007.

THE COST OF SOLAR ARRAYS HAS DROPPED TREMENDOUSLY AND THERE HAVE BEEN INCENTIVES.

THE TOTAL COST FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE SOLAR ARRAY WAS ABOUT $5 MILLION.

THAT MONEY WAS PUT UP BY THE PRIVATE INVESTORS AND THE REASON YOU PUSH THIS TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR IS THE PRIVATE SECTOR COULD GAIN TAX CREDITS AND DEPRECIATION THAT THE PUBLIC SECTOR COULD NOT COME UP WITH.

THE TOWN OWNS THE SITE AND WE RENT THE SPACE TO THE PRIVATE INVESTORS FOR A DOLLAR A YEAR IN TRADE FOR THE BENEFITS OF THE ELECTRICITY THAT COMES OFF DEDICATED TO THE TOWN.

SO ALL OF THE TOWN'S STREET LIGHTS, WATER PUMPS, SEWER PUMPS, BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES ARE POWERED THROUGH THIS SOLAR FARM.

WE ARE SAVING MONEY SO THAT THE TAXPAYERS ARE ACTUALLY DRAWING A BENEFIT OF ABOUT 75 TO $70,000 A YEAR OVER ITS FORMER ELECTRICITY COSTS.

THE TOWN IS PROJECTED TO SAVE IN EXCESS OF $2 MILLION OVER A 20 YEAR WINDOW.

THE ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS ARE IMMENSE.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE IMPACTS OR THE EXTERNALITIES OF FOSSIL FUELS FROM EXTRACTION TO PRODUCTION TO CONSUMPTION, IT'S ENTIRELY NEGATIVE SYSTEM.

WE MOW THE LAWN HERE REGULARLY TO PRESERVE GRASSLAND HABITAT.

OVER THE LAST 50 YEARS, NEW YORK STATE HAS LOST MORE AND MORE FARMLAND TO WOODLAND SO THOSE SPECIES THAT DEPEND ON GRASSLANDS, AND IN PARTICULAR THERE ARE THREE BIRD SPECIES, THE SAVANNA SPARROW, THE EASTERN MEADOWLARK AND THE GRASSLAND SPARROW, ACTUALLY INHABIT THIS SITE AND THEY NEST AND PRODUCE THEIR OFFSPRING.

SO THE SITE IS ACTUALLY BEING MANAGED AS A HABITAT AS WELL AND THE HABITAT CAN CO-EXIST WITH THE SOLAR FARM.

YOU SEE MORE AND MORE GOVERNMENTAL MUNICIPALITIES PUTTING SOLAR ARRAYS OUT AND I THINK THE TREND WILL CONTINUE.

THE TRANSITION FROM FOSSIL FUELS TO ALTERNATE ENERGY IS THE FUTURE.

ON AN EARLIER EPISODE WE DID AN EPISODE WHERE GEN-ZERS ARE GETTING A LOT OF INFORMATION AND THAT SEGMENT STUCK WITH ME.

DIFFICULT SOME DIGGING AND CAME UP WITH NUMBERS THAT WERE TROUBLING.

TAKE A LOOK AT THIS.

WHEN WE INTERVIEWED GEN-ZERS AND MILLENNIALS FROM THIS AGE GROUP, ONE NUMBER IN PARTICULAR BOTHERED ME.

60% OF THE PEOPLE IN THE GEN-Z CATEGORY HAVE NO SAVINGS ACCOUNT WHATSOEVER.

THAT'S A LITTLE ALARMING.

46% DON'T FOLLOW A MONTHLY BUDGET.

I THINK I'M A LITTLE LESS CONCERNED ABOUT THAT BECAUSE IN YOUR 20s AND 30s SOME PEOPLE DON'T DO THAT BUT WATCH THE NUMBERS.

66, TWO THIRD OF THESE PEOPLE HAVE MORE MONEY IN CRYPTOTHAN LIFE SAVINGS.

I DON'T KNOW.

I'M TROUBLED BY THAT.

AND 69%, IF THEIR FINANCIAL GET THEIR FINANCIAL ADVICE FROM INSTAGRAM.

WHEN WE COMPARE THE YOUNG CROWD WITH THE LITTLE OLDER CROWD, OLDER GENERATION, WE FIND THAT THE OLDER CROWD TENDS TO FAVOR PEOPLE LIKE WARREN BUFFET, TOP RATED AS A FINANCIAL INFLUENCER.

UNFORTUNATELY HE IS NEAR THE BOTTOM AS AN INFLUENCER FOR THE GEN-Z AND MILLENNIAL CROWD.

THAT'S ALL WELL AND GOOD BUT AGAIN SOME FINANCIAL EXPERTS ARE VOICING CONCERNS ABOUT THAT BECAUSE THE INFORMATION ON THE INTERNET PARTICULARLY INSTAGRAM AND OTHER SEATS MAY NOT BE AS RELIABLE AS WE THINK.

BUT JUST SOME NUMBERS TO THINK ABOUT TONIGHT WE FINISH UP TONIGHT WITH OUR SPOTLIGHT SERIES WHERE WE MEET WITH SOME INTERESTING PEOPLE OR HIGHLIGHT SOMETHING SPECIAL HAPPENING IN OUR REGION.

IF IT SEEMS WE'VE FEATURED SEVERAL STORIES FROM THROUGHOUT ONEIDA COUNTY, IT'S NOT YOUR IMAGINATION.

IN FACT, I'M SURPRISED, AND A LITTLE EMBARRASSED TO ADMIT I REALLY HAD NO IDEA OF ALL THAT'S HAPPENING IN A REVITALIZED CITY OF UTICA, OR HOW ONEIDA COUNTY IS NOW HOME TO SOME TECHNOLOGY GIANTS, NOT TO MENTION HOW THE REGION CONTINUES TO BENEFIT FROM A HISTORIC AGREEMENT WITH THE ONEIDA INDIAN NATION.

BUT IT'S NO SURPRISE TO ONEIDA COUNTY EXECUTIVE ANTHONY PICENTE - AS YOU'LL SEE, HIS OPTIMISM IS HARD TO CONTAIN.

BUT HE MADE IT CLEAR THE CITY'S ON A ROLL - AND HE'S NOT DONE YET.

>> AS COVID HIT, IT WIPED OUT THE FINANCES OF A NUMBER OF MUNICIPALITIES.

STIMULUS MONEY CAME.

IS ONEIDA COUNTY IN GOOD SHAPE?

>> WE TOOK ACTION IMMEDIATELY UPON ONCE COVID STARTED HITTING US TO SOLIDIFY OUR FINANCIAL SITUATION AND RESTRICTING SPENDING AND MONEY INTO THE SO CALLED SAVINGS ACCOUNTS STOP HIRING SPENDING PURCHASING.

THE STIMULUS MONEY HAS COME ALONG AND TRYING TO KEEP THOSE AND YOU KNOW, THE LAST YEAR COMING OUT OF COVID, REVENUES HAVE INCREASED, CERTAINLY SALES TAX HAS BEEN ON A BIG REBOUND.

ONEIDA NATION REVENUE PAYMENTS HAVE BEEN, YOU KNOW, OUTSTANDING.

SO WE ARE IN VERY GOOD SHAPE AND I WANTED TO KEEP THE STIMULUS MONEY, THE AMERICAN RESCUE ACT MONEY FOR WHAT IT WAS DESIGNED FOR.

BEING A RULE FOLLOWER, IT WAS FOR PROJECTS AND THINGS THAT WE SAW DURING THE PANDEMIC THAT DIDN'T GET DONE OR THERE WERE SHORTCOMINGS.

>> IT DOES STRIKE ME THAT THAT WHEN LARGE SUMS COME IN LIKE THAT, MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, RIGHT?

IT'S AKIN TO WINNING THE LOTTERY WHERE, YOU KNOW EVERYBODY WANTS A LITTLE PIECE OF THAT NOW TOUGH TO PRIORITIZE THAT OR ARE WE OKAY.

>> THERE ARE SEGMENTS OF THE COMMUNITY AND OTHER WHETHER IT'S A NOT FOR PROFIT OR OTHER GOVERNMENT LEVELS ALSO TRYING TO WORK AND IN TANDEM, AND YOU KNOW, WHO HAS PET PROJECTS HERE AND THERE THAT THEY WANT.

SO A LITTLE BIT TOUGH BUT I THINK THE FACT THAT WE MOVED VERY DELIBERATELY HAS TEMPERED IT DOWN SO WE CAN HAVE AN IMPACT THAT WE WANT.

>> LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE WHOLE TECH SECTOR.

THESE COMPANIES ARE HARD TO ATTRACT.

EVERYBODY, EVERY MUNICIPALITY WANTS A BIG TECH COMPANY COMING.

YOU'VE GOT A NUMBER OF BIG NAMES DOWN HERE.

WAS THERE SOMETHING THAT YOU ARE SHOWING THEM ABOUT ONEIDA COUNTY THAT THEY LIKED?

WHAT WAS THE ATTRACTION HERE?

>> IT TOOK A LONG TIME.

IT REALLY WASN'T OVERNIGHT AND THEN WE HAD TO WORK HARD AT IT.

AND I THINK IT WAS, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE ALWAYS STRIVED FOR IN TERMS OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF THIS COUNTY HAS BEEN QUALITY OF LIFE.

COST OF LIVING.

GOVERNMENT DOESN'T-- AND WE GET INTO THIS DEBATE ALL THE TIME.

YOU KNOW, WE DON'T CREATE JOBS.

WE HAVE TO CREATE THE ENVIRONMENT THAT'S CONDUCIVE FOR THE JOBS AND ATTRACTING THOSE COMPANIES.

IT'S WHAT I BELIEVE GOT MOST COMPANIES TO COME HERE.

>> DO YOU SEE ONEIDA COUNTY BENEFITING FROM WHAT THE CHIPS BILL?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK IT FITS WELL FOR ONEIDA AND ONONDAGA.

AND I THINK THE PARTNERSHIP THAT WE HAVE, TOO, YOU KNOW, IN WORKING WITH THAT SO THAT WE ARE NOT ENTIRELY COMPETING WITH EACH OTHER, BUT REALLY PLAYING OFF EACH OTHER IN TERMS OF WHAT WE HAVE TO OFFER AND HOW EITHER ONE CAN ATTRACT AND HAVE THE OTHER PARTNERS WITH SUPPLY CHAIN OR OTHER PIECES THAT ARE SURROUNDING IT.

>> HEALTHCARE.

WE WERE DOWN HERE AT THE NEXUS CENTER AND THE HOSPITAL GOING UP ACROSS THE STREET.

BEAUTIFUL.

MAKES ME A LITTLE NERVOUS.

I WORRY ABOUT EVERYTHING BECAUSE WE HAVE TWO MAJOR HOSPITALS TRYING TO COME TOGETHER IN SYRACUSE NEW YORK BECAUSE THAT IS A DIFFICULT BUSINESS.

AND THERE WAS A BRAND NEW HOSPITAL GOING UP.

YOU GET THE EMPLOYEES IN THERE.

>> WE CAN.

THE HOSPITAL SYSTEMS MERGED 10 PLUS YEARS AGO: WE HAD TWO DIFFERENT SYSTEMS AS WELL IN UTICA.

WITH ST. ELIZABETH AND ST. LUKE'S THAT'S ONE... >> WHEN WILL WYNNE BE COMPLETED?

>> WYNNE SHOULD BE COMPLETED IN OCTOBER OF NEXT YEAR OF 23.

>> SPEAKING OF JUST GETTING EMPLOYEES, ONE OF THE RECURRING THEMES THAT HAVE COME UP WHEN I TALK TO BUSINESS OWNERS AND PEOPLE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY IS WE CAN'T GET THE PEOPLE.

WE CAN'T GET-- WE'VE GOT-- I'M MAKING THIS UP BUT WE HAVE 22 OPENINGS AND EIGHT APPLICANTS.

DO YOU SEE THAT ACROSS ONEIDA COUNTY AS WELL?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I SEE IT IN THIS WORKFORCE.

I HAVE BEEN HERE 15 YEARS AS COUNTY EXECUTIVE.

I HAVE NEVER SEEN THE VACANCY RATE AS HIGH FOR US IN GOVERNMENT.

USUALLY WE ARE LAST ONES TO FEEL THAT BECAUSE WHEN THE ECONOMY GOES BAD, OUR BUSINESS PICKS UP SO WE ARE DOING MORE.

IN THIS CASE WHEN THE ECONOMY WENT BAD, IT WENT BAD ALL ACROSS AND EVEN THE GOVERNMENT SECTOR.

I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE HEALTHCARE.

I'M NOT SAYING IT'S A GIVEN.

I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT IT.

I DO THINK THOUGH THAT A STATE-OF-THE-ART NEW HOSPITAL, YOU KNOW, IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA THAT HAS OTHER AMENITIES AROUND IT, CAN BE AN ATTRACTION TO YOUNGER WORKERS IN THE FIELD, NEW MORE DOCTORS, OBVIOUSLY OUR DOCTORS ARE AGING OUT IN DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES.

>> WE ARE ALL AGING OUT.

AND SO THAT'S GOING TO BE THAT'S WHY I THINK THE FACT, I KNOW, I RECOGNIZE THE PROBLEM BUT I THINK THAT WE ARE DOING DIFFERENT THINGS TO MAKE THAT MORE ATTRACTIVE YOU AND THE GOVERNOR GET ALONG QUITE WELL.

WHAT IS LACKING AT THE STATE LEVEL HERE?

WHAT IS LACKING AT THE STATE LEVEL IS WHAT HAS BEEN LACKING FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.

THERE IS NOT A LOT OF COMMUNICATION I COME WITH UPSTATE.

>> EVERYTHING DOWNSTATE.

>> EVERYTHING IS DOWNSTATE AND AND HOPE INS A BETTER CHANGE WITH THE GOVERNOR WHEN SHE CAME IN, BUT WE DIDN'T SEE A LOT OF THAT.

WE SEE MORE OF THE SAME.

I'M STILL CONCERNED ABOUT THE UPSTATE-DOWNSTATE DISCONNECT.

BUT ALSO I LIKE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, THE INVESTMENT IN IT AND WHAT WE HAVE SEEN PARTNERSHIPS WHETHER IT HAS BEEN IN NEXUS OR THE HOSPITALS OR OTHER THINGS, IT'S REALLY MORE ABOUT A STRONGER PRESENCE AND WORKING TOGETHER.

>> SO LET'S TALK ABOUT FUTURE THINGS.

NEW DISTRICT REDEVELOPMENT.

THAT'S WHERE THE NEXUS CENTER IS.

WE SPENT SOME TIME THERE.

QUITE A BIT GOING ON.

>> WE ARE PART OF, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF NEXUS, OBVIOUSLY THE HOSPITAL, WE ARE BUILDING THE PARKING GARAGE FOR THE HOSPITAL DOWNTOWN.

WE ARE WORKING ON OUR TRAIN STATION, UNION STATION, REA WING, THE HISTORIC SITE, SECTION OF THAT TO BUILD A FOOD EMPORIUM.

IT IS ALL PART OF THE U DISTRICT BECAUSE I LOOK AT THE U DISTRICT GOING FROM WHERE UNION STATION IS DOWNTOWN TO THE ADIRONDACK BANK CENTER AND UTICA IS, FROM THE THRU-WAY, IN TERMS OF ACCESS, AND THIS IS WHAT MAKES THE U DISTRICT SO ATTRACTIVE TO ME AND AS FAR AS... >> YOU ARE TALKING TO A SYRACUSE GUY THOUGH.

>> I UNDERSTAND THAT.

BUT IN UTICA, HERE, YOU GET OFF THE THRU-WAY IN UTICA.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO TRAVEL.

WHETHER IT'S FIVE MILES, 10 MILES, 20 MILES.

>> I HEAR YOU.

>> THAT'S THE ONLY EXIT IN UPSTATE NEW YORK IN WHICH IT'S THE ONLY EXIT THAT, WHEN YOU GET OFF THAT EXIT, YOU ARE IN THE CITY.

SO THE BENEFIT OF THAT U DISTRICT AND THE BENEFIT OF NEXUS IS YOU GET OFF THE THRU-WAY, YOU ARE RIGHT IN THE CITY AND IT'S EASY AND YOU ARE THERE.

>> A TENDED YOUR STATE OF THE COUNTY ADDRESS, BIG NEWS REALLY, A GREAT PARTNERSHIP FORMED WITH ONEIDA NATION.

AFTER MANY YEARS OF NOT, MAYBE SUCH A GREAT RELATIONSHIP, OKAY, GOOD FOR THE COUNTY?

>> OUTSTANDING FOR THE COUNTY.

>> REVENUE.

>> OUTSTANDING.

>> FUTURE GROWTH?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

FUTURE GROWTH.

EVERY TIME THEY PUT A SHOVEL IN THE GROUND SOMETHING NEW AND BIG.

THE INVESTMENT THEY MADE AT SYLVAN BEACH AND OPENED UP THIS YEAR WAS TREMENDOUS FOR US AND WE ARE LOOKING AT MORE IN TERMS OF TRANSFORMATION FOR PLACES LIKE THAT, THE RESORT AREA.

I WOULD LIKE NOTHING BETTER THAN TO HAVE THEM AS A PART OF THE U DISTRICT IN SOME FASHION AND WE ARE GOING TO WORK ON THAT.

BUT WE HAVE WORKED ON SO MANY OTHER ASPECTS OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, THE PARTNERSHIP HAS BEEN TREMENDOUS,.

>> YOU HAVE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH RAY HALLBRETTER.

>> IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT THE ECONOMICS.

IT'S ABOUT WHETHER IT'S HEALTH RELATED, PUBLIC SAFETY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

IN TECHNOLOGY THEY'RE WORKING WITH US ON OTHER AREAS.

>> AS WE WRAP UP, WHAT IS ON YOUR WISH LIST RIGHT NOW?

>> MY WISH LIST IS HOPEFULLY WE GET ANOTHER FAB AS I MENTION TO COMPLET WHAT IS HAPPENING AT WOLFSPEED.

WE NEED TO DO MORE IN THE HOUSING MARKET TO SO WE ATTRACT YOUNG PROFESSIONALS IN TECHNOLOGY.

WE HAVE PLACES FOR THEM AND WHAT THEY WANT I WANT TO BUILD UP THE U DISTRICT MORE AND SEE THAT THAT REALLY BECOMES THE ENTERTAINMENT CENTER OF THIS COUNTY AND THEN REALLY BLENDS IN WITH EVERYTHING WE HAVE BEEN DOING ACROSS.

FOR MOTOR OF THIS INTERVIEW YOU HAVE BEEN SMILING.

I WISH YOU CONTINUED SUCCESS.

OUR THANKS ONCE AGAIN TO ANTHONY PICENTE.

PRETTY IMPRESSIVE THINGS COMING OUT OF THE MOHAWK VALLEY AND THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE WAS FUN TO TALK WITH.

THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT - NEXT WEEK -- WE MEET CAERESA RICHARDSON WHO'S HELPING SYRACUSE BLACK ENTREPRENEURS ACHIEVE THEIR GOAL OF RUNNING THEIR BUSINESS.

THEN WE VISIT AN ITHACA COMPANY WHO'S WORKING ON CONVERTING CAPTURED CARBON DIOXIDE INTO LIQUID FUEL WITH RENEWABLE ENERGY.

AND FINALLY A SPECIAL SPOTLIGHT WITH CONGRESSMAN JOHN KATKO WHO'S LEAVING OFFICE AT YEAR END.

WE LOOK BACK ON HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS BUT ALSO HOW WASHINGTON HAS CHANGED IN RECENT YEARS.

MEANWHILE, THERE'S STILL 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.