COMING UP TONIGHT: WE MEET AN ONEIDA NONPROFIT THAT'S A VEHICLE FOR FUNDING COSTLY HEALTHCARE NEEDS IN RURAL AREAS.

WE VISIT A ROBOTICS COMPANY COMBINING HELICOPTER AND GYROCOPTER TECHNOLOGY.

AND WE SPOTLIGHT HERITAGE HILL, A FAMILY FARM THAT CONTINUES TO GROW ITS BUSINESS THROUGH EXPANSIONS ACROSS SEVERAL MARKETS.

OH, AND WHAT A VIEW.

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 SOMETIMES LOST AND FOCUS ON PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES AFFECTING US LOCALLY.

OUR FIRST REPORT TAKES US TO ONEIDA.

ON THE MONEY TRAVELED TO ONEIDA TO LEARN HOW THE ONEIDA HEALTH FOUNDATION ACTS AS AN ECONOMIC ENGINE FOR ANSWERING THE HEALTHCARE NEEDS OF RURAL MADISON AND ONEIDA COUNTIES.

AS A NONPROFIT, THEY GENERATE CAPITAL TOWARD THE EXPENSES INSURANCE DOESN'T COVER.

THIS YEAR ALONE THE FOUNDATION RAISED OVER $150,000 FROM A SINGLE FUNDRAISING EVENT AND HAVE MADE A NEAR MILLION DOLLAR EXPANSION TO THEIR CANCER CARE FACILITY.

BUT THE FOUNDATION FACES CHALLENGES IN THE CURRENT HEALTHCARE ENVIRONMENT AND MUST CONTINUALLY ADAPT.

MADISON COUNTY AND ONEIDA COUNTY ARE FACED WITH RURAL POVERTY BUT ALSO JUST BEING RURAL IN GENERAL.

WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE CHALLENGES THAT ARE FACED BY BOTH OUR RESIDENTS AND PATIENTS, AND THEIR FAMILIES IN THIS COMMUNITY, AND IT INCLUDES LACK OF TRANSPORTATION.

IT INCLUDES NOT BEING ABLE TO GET TO AND FROM DOCTORS APPOINTMENTS THAT ARE NECESSARY TO FIGHT CANCER.

OR HAVING TO MAKE THE DECISION BETWEEN PAYING FOR AN AMBULANCE BILL AND COMING TO THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT IN A CRITICAL TIME.

IN ADDITION, NOT HAVING THE INCOME, NOT HAVING THE RESOURCES AND THAT'S HUMAN RESOURCES, FAMILIAL RESOURCES, AS WELL AS NOT HAVING ENOUGH PROVIDERS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

SO MADISON AND ONEIDA COUNTY ARE ALREADY FACING A DEFICIT.

THEY'RE ALREADY FACING A CHALLENGE.

THE RESIDENTS CANNOT ACCESS THE SERVICES AND NEEDS THAT THEY HAVE FROM A HEALTH PERSPECTIVE.

AND OUR FOUNDATION HELPS TO BRIDGE THE GAP.

ONEIDA HEALTH FOUNDATION WAS BIRTHED AS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT COULD SERVE THE COMMUNITY AND TRULY BE PART OF INNOVATION AND PART OF CHANGE.

IT'S A VEHICLE.

WE STARTED TO REALLY SEE A NEED FOR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM, AND THAT'S WHERE WE STARTED TO CREATE THE STEP FUND.

A YEAR WHERE PROGRAMMATIC DOLLARS ARE NEEDED TO SUPPORT MENTAL HEALTH OR REDUCE SMOKING IN OUR COMMUNITY, SO THE PERCENTAGES DO CHANGE, BUT IN TERMS OF THE AMOUNT OF SCHOLARSHIP, THAT CONTINUES TO INCREASE.

WE STARTED AT $10,000, NOW WE ARE AT $30,000 A YEAR.

TECHNOLOGY STARTED AT 50, NOW WE ARE AT 200,000, 150,000 EVERY YEAR TO SUPPORT HEALTH OUTCOMES IN OUR COMMUNITY.

WE RAISE MONEY IN A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT WAYS.

FIRST THERE IS GRANTWRITING.

THROUGH THE FOUNDATION WE WRITE GRANTS IN COLLABORATION WITH OUR COMMUNITY AS WELL AS INDIVIDUALS WITHIN THE HOSPITAL SYSTEM.

WE ALSO RAISE DOLLARS THROUGH CORPORATE EVENTS SUCH AS OUR ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT.

THE FIRST YEAR IT WAS $20,000 AS A GOAL.

THIS PAST YEAR IT WAS 150,000.

WE HAVE EXCEEDED OUR GOAL EVERY YEAR AND WE LOOK TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT.

IN TERMS OF CAPITAL PROJECTS FOR ONEIDA HEALTH FOUNDATION RAISES MONEY FOR CAPITAL CAMPAIGNS AND BUILDINGS ON THE CAMPUS AND IN THE COMMUNITY.

FOR EXAMPLE, WE BROUGHT CANCER CARE TO OUR REGION BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE TRAVELING 90 MINUTES OR MORE TO RECEIVE RADIOLOGY OR TO RECEIVE INFUSION TREATMENTS FOR CHEMOTHERAPY.

ORIGINALLY THERE WAS A LARGE CAMPAIGN TO BUILD THE INITIAL BUILDING.

WE HAD SO MANY PATIENTS THAT WANTED TO REMAIN LOCAL FOR CARE THAT WE HAD TO EXPAND THAT BUILDING AFTER ONLY TWO YEARS OF BEING OPEN.

WE HAD TO RAID $950,000 QUICKLY.

WE WENT TO THE GRIFFIN FOUNDATION WHO WAS ONE OF OUR MAJOR BENEFACTORS FOR THE FIRST TWO BUILDINGS.

AND SAID WE NEED TO EXPAND THIS.

WHAT CAN WE DO TO WORK WITH YOU.

WE WROTE A A GRAND AND THEY GAVE US ANOTHER $500,000.

UNFORTUNATELY THERE IS NEVER ENOUGH MONEY BECAUSE THE NEEDS CONTINUE TO GROW, THE COST OF HEALTHCARE CONTINUES TO GROW AND THE NEEDS OF RURAL RESIDENTS CONTINUE TO GROW.

WHAT WE DO IS WE CONTINUE TO MOVE AND CHANGE AND BECOME INNOVATIVE WITH THE FUND WE RAISE AND PUT THEM TOWARDS THE MOST COMMUNITY NEEDS FOR HEALTHCARE FOR LONG-TERM HEALTH OF THIS COMMUNITY.

>> WELL, OF COURSE WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE EQUITY AND BOND MARKETS ALL THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, BEEN A CHALLENGING TIME NO QUESTION AS WE START TO WIND THE YEAR DOWN.

ONE WONDERS CAN WE FIND ANYTHING GOOD HERE GIVEN ALL THAT HAS GONE ON?

IS THERE ANY BENEFIT TO BE HAD?

HELPING US ON THE WITH THAT QUESTION, KEVIN SULLIVAN JOINS US, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER.

TOUGH YEAR.

BUT YOU SAY THERE MAY BE STRATEGIES HERE WE CAN TAKE A LOOK AT?

>> YES, THERE ARE, DAN.

AS YOU JUST ALLUDED TO, 2022 HAS BEEN A VERY TOUGH YEAR FOR MOST INVESTORS.

THE FIRST TIME IN MANY YEARS PEOPLE HAVE HAD HELD SECURITIES THAT ARE WORTH LESS THAN WHAT WE PAID FOR THEM, AN UNREALIZED LOSS.

BY REALIZING THAT LOSS, THEY CAN HARVEST A TAX BENEFIT THAT WILL POTENTIALLY REDUCE THEIR TAXABLE INCOME OR POTENTIALLY OFFSET FUTURE CAPITAL GAINS.

>> SO KEVIN, ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK THAT YOU ARE GETTING TO IS IN THIS MARKET THAT HAS BEEN SO BAD, IF THERE IS LOSSES THAT WE HAVE IN A PORTFOLIO THAT WE CAN USE, YOU WANT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT NOW, CORRECT?

>> THAT'S CORRECT, DAN.

BUT LET'S HAVE BEEN VERY CLEAR.

THOSE LOSSES CANNOT BE REALIZED IN A ROTH I.R.A., 401(K) OR ANNUITY.

IT HAS TO BE A PERSONAL OR TAXABLE ACCOUNT.

>> IF WE DON'T HAVE GAINS REALIZED THIS YEAR, SOMEONE CAN STILL REALIZE SOME LOSSES AND DOES THAT COME OFF INCOME?

THEIR INCOME LEVEL?

>> TO THE EXTENT THAT THERE ARE NO CAPITAL GAINS, IT'S NOT LIKELY THE MUTUAL FUNDS WILL PASS OUT DISTRIBUTED CAPITAL GAINS THIS YEAR, BUT IF SOMEBODY HASN'T SOLD ANYTHING THIS YEAR AT A PROPHET PROFIT, THEY WON'T BE LOOKING AT GAINS SO THOSE LOSSES CAN BE USED TO OFFSET ORDINARY INCOME OR BE USED IN THE FUTURE WHEN THERE ARE CAPITAL GAINS DISTRIBUTIONS OR THEY GENERATE REALIZED CAPITAL GAINS IN THEIR PORTFOLIO.

>> QUICK FOLLOWUP SAY I HAVE XYZ STOCK.

IT'S DOWN.

BUT I REALLY LIKE IT.

I SELL IT.

CAN I REBUY IT?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION, DAN.

THERE ARE SOME RULES TO ROUNDING TAX LOSS HARVESTING.

I DON'T RECOMMEND PEOPLE TRY TO DO THIS ON THEIR OWN, UNLESS THEY HAVE AN ADVISER THEY CAN SPEAK WITH OR DO A FAIR AMOUNT OF READING AND RESEARCH ON THE TOPIC.

THERE IS A 61 DAY WINDOW THAT THEY CAN'T MAKE AND THEY CAN'T BUY IT WITHIN 30 DAYS AFTER THEY HAVE SOLD IT.

I WOULD ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO READ UP ON IT.

CALLED A WASH SALE.

>> ROCK RIDGE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, KEVIN SULLIVAN.

I MAY GRAB YOU BACK BEFORE THE YEAR ENDS, BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WELCOME TO COME BACK.

>> THANKS AGAIN TO KEVIN.

SOME GOOD REPORTING THERE.

NEXT IS OUR TECH BYTES SEGMENT WHERE WE BRING YOU SOME NEW AND INTERESTING TECHNOLOGIES FROM CENTRAL NEW YORK.

LAST MAY, AIRIAL ROBOTICS' DEBUTED ITS GYROTRAK GT20 AT THE UAS TEST SITE IN ROME, NY.

THIS HYBRID HELICOPTER AND GYROCOPTER IS THE FIRST OF ITS KIND.

ITS PURPOSE IS TO USE THE ADVANTAGES OF BOTH TECHNOLOGIES TO CREATE LONGER FLIGHT TIME, INCREASED PAYLOAD, AND HIGHER SPEED.

ON THE MONEY CHECKED IN TO SEE HOW THIS TECHNOLOGY WAS DEVELOPED AND WHERE IT CAN GO FROM HERE.

>> DISRUPTIVE MEANS THAT YOU DO SOMETHING FUNDAMENTALLY DIFFERENT THAN ANYBODY ELSE.

AND IF YOU IMAGINE THAT NONE OF THE BIG BOYS LIKE THE BOEINGS OR AIRBUS OR LOCKHEED MARTIN WERE ABLE TO MERGE HELICOPTER AND GYRO COPTOR BEFORE, YOU CAN SEE HOW DISRUPTIVE THIS IDEA IS.

WE ARE TRULY THE FIRST COMPANY IN THE WORLD THAT WAS SUCCESSFUL IN DOING IT.

WE DECIDED TO ANALYZE THE UAV MARKET IN 2017 AND REALIZED THAT THERE IS A NEED OF A MUCH SAFER AND MORE OPERABLE SYSTEM TO TURN THE DRONE INDUSTRY INTO SOMETHING THAT WILL MAKE MONEY IN THE FUTURE.

IT'S VERY, VERY SAFE.

WHICH WILL ALLOW YOU TO FLY IN DOWN TOWN ZURICH LIKE A MANNED HELICOPTER.

THAT MAKES IT VERY DIFFERENT FROM ANYTHING ELSE.

THE OTHER THING, IT'S ALMOST ALL WEATHER CAPABILITY SO IT CAN FLY IN HIGH WINDS AND IN REALLY BAD WEATHER WHEREAS OTHER SYSTEMS NEED-- WILL BE GROUNDED.

SO THAT OPENS UP THE WHOLE ENVELOPE OF THE COMMERCIAL OPERATION.

>> ORIGINALLY WE WANTED TO DO ALL THE MANUFACTURING AND PRODUCTION IN HUNGARY BUT WITH ALL THE POLITICAL PROBLEMS OCCURRING RIGHT NOW IN EUROPE, NOW WE ARE LOOKING INTO MANUFACTURING IN NEW YORK STATE TO GO DO THE MANUFACTURING AND ASSEMBLYING, I THINK WE WILL NEED AT LEAST 100 PEOPLE.

>> I'M THE C.E.O.

I'M FROM GERMANY WHERE THE ECONOMIC HEADQUARTERS OF THE COMPANY IS.

OUR C.T.O.

IS HUNGARIAN.

WE HAVE A CO-FOUNDER IN LONDON WHERE HE OPERATE AN AIRFIELD FOR TRAINING AND DOCUMENTATION AND ZURICH, WHO IS VERY SIMPLE.

NEW YORK IS THE LARGEST INCUBATOR PROGRAM.

WE PARTICIPATED IN THE COMPETITION 2021, AMONG 680 APPLICANTS, WE MADE THE FINAL 5.

GENIUS NEW YORK THROUGH CENTERSTATE C.E.O.

INVESTEDDED $500,000 U.S.

DOLLARS INTO OUR COMPANY.

>> AS WE JUST FINISHED WITH THE GENIUS PROGRAM WHICH MEANT THAT WE WILL SET UP AN AMERICAN SUBSIDIARY, GET SOME EMPLOYEES ON BOARD.

THAT'S THE NEXT STEP.

THE MOST IMPORTANT STEP RIGHT NOW IS TO SET UP A PRODUCTION SITE, A MANUFACTURING SITE AND REALLY MOVE MOST OF THE PARTS, EVEN THE R & D FROM HUNGARY TO THE U.S.

THE UNIQUENESS OF OUR FUTURE, I THINK IS THAT WE ARE VERY INTERNATIONAL AND A LOT OF COMPANIES, THEY DON'T DARE TO INVEST INTO THESE DRONE COMPANIES BECAUSE OF REGULATIONS ARE NOT CLEAR AND WE WANT TO HAVE A BROAD ONE REGULATION THAT WILL BE REALLY FANTASTIC.

>> THE COMPANY IS, UP TO NOW, SELF FUNDED BY THE OWNER WITH MORE THAN $5 MILLION U.S.

DOLLARS AND WE ARE LOOKING FOR ADDITIONAL INVESTORS THAT WILL HELP US DEVELOP AND SCALE UP OUR COMPANY.

WE HAVE FIVE PRODUCTS THAT ARE READY FOR PRODUCTION AND THREE OF THOSE PRODUCTS WILL GO TO MARKET AROUND OCTOBER THIS YEAR.

SO WE ARE LOOKING FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE INTERESTED IN IT AND WE HAVE INITIATIVES ALSO WITH THE HELP OF GENIUS TO FIND ADDITIONAL INVESTORS INTO THE COMPANY.

>> HELICOPTERS, GYROCOPTORS, O'MY.

ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR QUESTIONS FINANCIAL ADVISERS GET, HOW MUCH MONEY DO I NEED TO RETIRE?

TOUGH TO ANSWER.

NORTH WESTERN MUTUAL DID SOME DISPLAYS AND THERE IS AN AVERAGE NUMBER.

SOME INTERESTING NUMBERS TO LOOK AT IN THE MEANTIME.

WHEN WE ASK INVESTORS WHERE WILL INCOME COME FROM WHEN YOU RETIRE, WELL, THE MOST OF WHAT WE SEE AND OF COURSE WILL COME FROM THE 401(K), PEOPLE SAY ABOUT 27% POST RETIREMENT INCOME SHOULD COME FROM THEIR 401(K) PLANS.

SOCIAL SECURITY CAME IN SECOND, 26%.

THAT'S WHAT WE THINK INCOME WILL BE COMING FROM SOCIAL SECURITY.

AND THEN FINALLY 22% COMING FROM PERSONAL SAVINGS.

NOW THERE IS OTHER SOURCES OF INCOME FOR SURE BUT THOSE ARE THE TOP THREE.

THE AVERAGE RETIREMENT SAVINGS ACCOUNT HOWEVER, BAD NEWS, HAS DECLINED.

IT'S DOWN 11% FROM THE NUMBERS WE SAW IN 2021, EVEN WITH THE ADDITIONS THAT MIGHT HAVE GONE IN THIS YEAR.

BUT THE AVERAGE BALANCE NOW IS JUST ABOUT 86,800 FOR ALL AGES.

OLDER PEOPLE ARE THE MORE THEY GENERALLY HAVE IN THE PLANS.

BUT ON AVERAGE, IT'S A LOWER BALANCE THAN YOU MIGHT THINK.

ACCORDING TO NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL, HOW MUCH DO I NEED TO RETIRE?

THEY ESTIMATE THE AVERAGE PERSON WILL NEED 1,250,000 TO RETIRE.

INTERESTING NUMBERS TONIGHT AS ALWAYS, WE FINISH TONIGHT WITH OUR SPOTLIGHT HERE IS.

SPOTLIGHT SERIES.

WHERE WE MEET WITH SOME INTERESTING PEOPLE OR HIGHLIGHT SOMETHING SPECIAL - AS WE SAW FROM OUR REPORT ON THE OVERTIME THRESHOLD ISSUE FOR FARM WORKERS, FARMING CAN BE A DIFFICULT BUSINESS.

MANY FARMS ARE BRANCHING OUT INTO NEW AREAS OF REVENUE OFTEN UNRELATED TO FARMING.

HERITAGE HILL IN POMPEY NEW YORK IS DOING JUST THAT - THIS FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED BUSINESS HAS BEEN AROUND FOR THREE GENERATIONS AND WHILE FARMING REMAINS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THEIR OVERALL ACTIVITIES, A BREWERY, RESTAURANT AND VENUE FOR PARTIES AND CORPORATE EVENTS HAVE ALL BEEN ADDED TO THE BUSINESS PLAN.

CO-OWNER DAN PALLADINO HOSTED US RECENTLY TO SHARE HIS VIEWS ON LOCAL PRODUCTS AND INGREDIENTS, SUSTAINABILITY AND EVEN HOW THE HILLS OF POMPEY MAY BENEFIT FROM THE MICRON ANNOUNCEMENT-- AND BY THE WAY-- JUST CHECK OUT THESE VIEWS.

THE FARM ITSELF IS 177 YEARS OLD, MY GRANDFATHER AND GRANDMOTHER BOUGHT IT IN 1951.

IT HAS BEEN IN OUR FAMILY FOR 71 YEARS.

AND MY BROTHER AND I ARE THIRD GENERATION TO RUN THE FARM AND IF MY KIDS CHOOSE SO, THEY WILL BE THE FOURTH.

BUT IT WAS PALLADINO FARMS IS THE NAME OF THE FARM AND WE KEPT THAT.

FOR THE BREWHOUSE, WHEN INITIALLY WENT TO COME UP WITH A NAME, WE CAME UP WITH HILL COUNTRY FARM BREWERY BECAUSE WE WERE IN THE HILL COUNTRY AND SCRIPTIVE.

TALKING ABOUT IT WITH MY OTHER BROTHER ONE DAY I SAID WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE NAME.

HE SAID IT'S SCRIPTIVE AND DOESN'T SPEAK TO THE HISTORY.

HE SAID WHAT IS HERITAGE IN ITALIAN.

FORGET ABOUT ITALIAN, HERITAGE HILL IS IT.

THAT'S HOW THE NAME CAME ABOUT AND OUR LOGO BECAME PART OF OUR HISTORY.

>> IS IT STILL A WORKING FARM?

>> YEAH.

>> WHAT CONFRONTS, CAT-- CROPS, CATTLE?

>> BEEF CATTLE OVER HERE THAT WE USE IN THE RESTAURANT WHEN POSSIBLE, PARTICULARLY FOR OUR GROUND BEEF.

THIS IS ALL HAY FIELDS HERE, CORN FIELDS, SOY BEAN FIELDS, ALL ORGANIC CROPS.

>> YOU HAVE A PRETTY SUCCESSFUL RESTAURANT HERE.

>> YES.

>> WHOSE IDEA WAS THAT?

>> IT GOES HAND IN HAND.

IF YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE BEER IN POM BY AND THERE IS NO OTHER RESTAURANT AROUND, HAVE YOU TO HAVE FOOD.

AND I WANTED TO SELL OUR BEEF IN THAT WAY.

AND I KNEW PEOPLE WOULD ENJOY OUR BEEF AS MUCH AIS THEY WOULD ENJOY THE VIEW.

I ENDED UP, OVER TIME, EVOLVING.

I LET THE BUSINESS AND THE PEOPLE SHOW ME WHAT THEY WANTED AND IT BECAME CLEAR A BARBECUE FOCUSED CASUAL MENU WOULD DO US RIGHT.

I FOUND A GREAT CHEF WHO HAS WON AWARDS ON THE CIRCUIT.

I HIRED A GREAT YOUNG BREWERRER WHO HAS WON A COUPLE MEDALS.

>> I HEAR YOU AND I'VE SAMPLED BOTH.

I'LL GLYPH GIVE YOU THAT.

YOU ARE A SMART GUY.

DOING TWO TOUGH BUSINESSES.

FARMING.

RESTAURANT FAILURE RATE IS VERY HIGH.

ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT THAT?

>> THAT'S WHERE MY VALUES KICK IN.

I'M NOT OUT THERE COOKING IN THE KITCHEN OR BREWING THE BEER.

I HAVE AN MBA STRATEGY FROM ROCHESTER.

I HAVE GREAT DEGREES AND THAT MBA COURSE WHEN I LEARNED STRATEGY AND GAME THEORY, GOT US THROUGH COVID AND WE MADE A LOT OF MOVES THAT WERE THE RIGHT MOVES.

>> AND YOU HAVE CONTINUED TO MOVE INTO SOME OTHER AREAS AS WELL.

THERE ARE EVENTS.

DO YOU DO WEDDINGS.

>> CORPORATE EVENTS ARE THE BIGGEST THING.

MAJOR FOCUS.

I DO SOME WEDDINGS.

>> IT'S A GREAT VENUE FOR A WEDDING.

>> IT IS BUT HAVE YOU TO UNDERSTAND THE DYNAMICS OF A WEDDING.

A CORPORATE EVENT, THEY'RE HERE AND THEY SEE THE ENERGY AROUND, SEE KIDS OUT IN THE PLAYGROUND OVER WITH THE ANIMALS, PEOPLE OVER HERE.

THEY LIKE THAT.

THEY FEEL THEY'RE PART OF SOMETHING.

YOU ARE 15 MINUTES AWAY FROM SYRACUSE IF YOU KNOW THE DIRECT ROUTE.

>> I DO.

>> BUT WHEN YOU ARE HERE, YOU FEEL LIKE YOU ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ADIRONDACKS OR OUTSKIRTS.

SO I WOULD SAY IT'S AN ESCAPE CLOSE THIS ENOUGH TO CALL HOME.

>> THROUGH THE SEASON WHEN I HAVE MET WITH BUSINESS OWNERS OR PEOPLE RUNNING A BUSINESS PERHAPS I WOULD SAY WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES?

WHAT IS DRIVING YOU CRAZY?

WHAT DO YOU FIND YOUR BIGGEST HURDLES TO BE?

>> LABOR WITHOUT A DOUBT.

>> I'VE HEARD THAT BEFORE.

>> IT'S SAD BECAUSE MY GOAL IS TO HAVE A FAMILY LABOR FORCE.

TAKE CARE OF EMPLOYEES.

YOU ARE NOT JUST RUNNING A FACTORY.

FARMING HELPS TO GET RESTAURANTS.

SO YOU DO AS MUCH AS YOU CAN.

SO I BUT A 401(K) RETIREMENT PLAN AND MATCH IT.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, PARTICULARLY AFTER COVID, THINGS CHANGED AND PEOPLE ARE NOT THERE TO DO THE JOB.

SO YOU HAVE TO FIND THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE GOOD PEOPLE THAT YOU HAVE.

SO, YOU KNOW, COMPENSATE THE GOOD PEOPLE AND THEN FUNNEL DOWN.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO TAKE EVERY OPPORTUNITY THAT COMES TO YOU.

AND SO WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT, THAT'S WHY WE ARE LOOKING HARD AT OUR EVENTS.

OUR EVENTS, WE CAN ATTRACT PEOPLE TO DO OUR EVENTS AND THEN IN THE RESTAURANTS, WE HAVE TO FIND WAYS.

WE HAVE TAKEN OUR HOURS DOWN, CONCENTRATED OUR DAYS.

>> MINIMUM WAGE GOING UP.

>> MINIMUM WAGE ISN'T EVEN IN THE DISCUSSION FOR US.

I'M OVER MINIMUM WAGE ON EVERYTHING.

EVEN A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT I PAY MORE THAN MINIMUM WAGE.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO FIND WAYS TO AUTOMATE YOUR BUSINESS OR FOCUS YOUR BUSINESS ON THE EMPLOYMENT POPULATION THAT YOU HAVE.

>> ONE LAST PROBLEM I SUSPECT YOU ARE FACING RISING COSTS OF EVERYTHING ELSE, WAS WE CALL INFLATION.

>> THAT'S HUGE.

THAT'S WHY YOU ARE SEEING RESTAURANTS CLOSE UP BECAUSE WHAT HAS HAPPENED IS YOU ARE YOUR EMPLOYMENT COSTS ARE UP 40%.

FOOD COSTS ARE UP 40% AND OVERHEAD COSTS ARE UP OVER 40%.

YOU KNOW, PROPANE, FUEL, GAS, ALL OF THAT.

YOU CAN'T RAISE YOUR MENU PRICES THAT MUCH.

>> THAT'S WHERE I WAS GOING WITH YOU.

YOU ARE PAYING MORE THAN MINIMUM WAGE, YOU HAVE TURNOVER, INFLATION COMING IN, NOW OVERTIME, CAN YOU PASS THOSE COSTS ON?

>> NOT YET BECAUSE THE PROBLEM IS THE SAME PROBLEM WITH FARMING.

RESTAURANTS ARE GOING THROUGH WHAT FARMING WENT THROUGH 30 YEARS AGO.

AND IT'S THE SAME ISSUE.

AND IT'S THE FACT THAT THE RESTAURANTS ARE THE FACE OF THE CUSTOMER SO OUR FOOD SUPPLIERS, OUR ENERGY SUPPLIERS, YOU KNOW, ALL THE PEOPLE ALONG THE CHAIN, THEY'LL PASS ON THE COST DIRECTLY 100%.

THEY'LL KEEP THEIR MARGINS THE SAME.

THE CUSTOMER, THE CONSUMER IS NOT READY TO FACE 40% INCREASE IN MENU PRICES OR THEY BLAME THE RESTAURANT AND IT'S NOT THE RESTAURANT'S FAULT.

MY SOLUTION IS TO FIND WAYS TO TAKE MY COSTS DOWN AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

BUT WHILE I MAKE OUT DURING THE SUMMER, DURING THE WINTER, I'M GOING TO LOSE OUT.

THAT'S THE FOCUS ON EVENTS WHERE I CAN DO THAT WITH EVENTS.

>> I READ THAT YOU ARE DOING A LOT OF SPORTS STUFF F. THERE IS AN S.U.

GAME.

I KNOW YOU ARE A BILLS FAN IF YOU ARE NOT MISTAKEN.

>> BILLS AND S.U.

THERE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING HAPPENING THERE?

>> YES, SO YOU KNOW, IT'S PART OF, YOU KNOW,UNDERSTANDING WHAT HERITAGE HILL IS, A VERY CASUAL PLACE.

I WANT IT TO REFLECT THAT AND I WANT IT TO REFLECT OUR VALUES.

I LOVE SPORTS.

I LOVE FOOTBALL, I LOVE SYRACUSE SPORTS AND BASKETBALL.

AND WE BECAME A BILLS WATCH LOCATION THIS YEAR.

WE BUILT SURROUND SOUND TV AND EVERYBODY LOVES THAT AND THE ENERGY OF 150 PEOPLE CHEERING AT THE SAME TIME FOR SYRACUSE OR BUFFALO.

>> I LOVE THAT.

I CUT YOU OFF BUT I WANT TO GET THERE.

THE BREWERY.

SUCCESSFUL SO FAR?

>> VERY.

WE HAVE WON A NATIONAL AWARD, TWO STATE MEDALS,.

>> YOU DON'T GROW YOUR OWN HOPS?

>> NO, THE REALITY OF THINGS ARE WHEN I STARTED, WHEN I PUT THE PLAN TOGETHER FOR FOR THIS BUSINESS I WAS GOING TO GROW MY OWN BARLY AND HOPS AND SOURCE MY OWN STUFF FOR THE RESTAURANT.

I LEARNED DO WHAT DO YOU WELL AND LET OTHERS DO WHAT THEY DO WELL.

THE BEST HOPS, OVER 90% OF OUR INGREDIENTS FROM NEW YORK STATE, THERE ARE GREAT HOPS PRODUCERS FOCUSED SOLELY ON GROWING HOPTS SMS OUT THERE EVERY DAY LOOKING TO SEE IF THERE IS MOLDS GROWING ON THE VINES AND STUFF.

SO YOU NEED TO HAVE THAT.

THAT'S WHAT I REALIZED.

>> DON'T GET MAD AT ME.

SEEMS LIKE EVERYBODY HAS A BREWERY GOING.

HOW DO YOU DISTINGUISH YOURSELF BETWEEN THE 99 OTHERS THAT ARE OUT THERE?

>> OUR SPOT, OUR LOCATION DISTINGUISHES ITSELF.

YOU COULD, FOR ANY AMOUNT OF OF MONEY, HIRE BY CHEF OR BREWER OR BUILD A WEDDINGS EVENT FACILITY BUT NOBODY CAN DUPLICATE THAT.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, THAT'S ALWAYS YOUR VALUE PROPOSITION.

YOU SEE EVERY DECK ON THIS PLACE, EVERY STRUCTURE IS FACED TOWARDS THAT VIEW AND THAT'S WHAT WE ARE.

AND THEN IT'S JUST CONSTANTLY ADAPTING AND EVOLVING TO WHAT PEOPLE WANT.

SO WHAT ELSE IS IN STORE FOR HERE?

IS THERE ANOTHER MOVE?

YOU ARE SMILING.

ANOTHER EXPANSION COMING HERE?

WHAT AM I GOING TO FIND HERE IN TWO YEARS?

>> LAST WEEK WHEN THEY ANNOUNCED MICRON, I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT MY WHOLE LIFE UP HERE.

>> DO YOU KNOW HOW BIG THAT IS?

>> IT IS MASSIVE.

I HAVE BECOME REALLY CONNECTED WITH THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.

>> STOP RIGHT THERE.

YOU ARE SITTING HERE IN POMPEY, MICRON IS WAY OVER THERE.

GLUT BUT WHEN SOMEONE COMES FROM SAN FRANCISCO TO WORK IN MICRON AND SYRACUSE AND THEY HAVE BEEN OR DEALING WITH AN HOUR AND A HALF COMUT, DO YOU THINK THEY'RE GOING TO CARE ABOUT DRIVING 30 MINUTES TO WORK?

THEY'RE GOING TO COME HERE.

>> MAY BE GOOD FOR YOUR BUSINESS BUT IS THERE ANOTHER THING-- >> WITHOUT A DOUBT.

>> WANT TO TELL ME?

>> WANT TO TELL EVERYBODY?

LISTEN.

THERE IS A LOT OF US THAT UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS MEANS FOR THIS AREA AND IT'S NOT ABOUTIC TAKING ADVANTAGE OF IT.

IT'S ABOUT BEING A PART OF THIS TRANSFORMATION OF CENTRAL NEW YORK THAT IS GOING TO BE AMAZING.

I WANT HERITAGE HILL AND I WANT OTHER BUSINESSES THAT I FEEL SHARE THE SAME VALUES TO BE PART OF THAT EVERY WHERE AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE AWESOME.

>> WE WISH YOU WELL BUT YOU NEED TO GET A LITTLE MORE OPTIMISTIC I THINK.

THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.

>> TAKE CARE.

OUR THANKS AGAIN TO DAN PALLADINO, AND THE TEAM AT HERITAGE HILL - THAT WAS A NICE VISIT.

THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT - NEXT WEEK, WE HEAD TO AN ITHACA AIRPORT WHERE WE EXPLORE THE CAUSE-AND-EFFECT OF ONE MAJOR AIRLINER ENDING THEIR SERVICE TO THE AREA.

WE HEAD TO ROME TO SEE HOW ONE PROGRAM IS GETTING STUDENTS READY FOR THE GROWING DRONE JOB MARKET.

AND OUR SPOTLIGHT SERIES TAKES US TO SYRACUSE WHERE WE HIGHLIGHT GENIUS NEW YORK -- IT'S THE WORLD'S LARGEST BUSINESS ACCELERATOR COMPETITION FOR UNMANNED SYSTEMS.. AND IT'S LOCAL REACH IS EXTENDING TO EVERY PART OF THE GLOBE.

STILL MORE COMING THIS SEASON BUT 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 DOT ORG.

TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE PROGRAM, PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT WCNY.ORG/ON THE MONEY.

YOU CAN ALSO VIEW OUR PREVIOUS EPISODES THERE TOO.. AND YOU CAN FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER AS WELL.

I'M DANIEL PLUFF, THANKS AGAIN FOR WATCHING.