>> COMING UP TONIGHT: SEE HOW A SYRACUSE NOT-FOR-PROFIT IS TRAINING YOUTH FOR FUTURE CAREERS IN ENVIRONMENTAL FIELDS.

WE'LL LEARN HOW A SYRACUSE LAB IS ON CONSTANT SURVEILLANCE FOR THE EVER-EVOLVING COVID-19 VIRUS.

AND OUR SPOTLIGHT SERIES TAKES US TO THE LARGEST AMAZON DISTRIBUTION CENTER IN THE STATE.

THE PLACE IS - HUGE.

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 SYRACUSE.

THE ONONDAGA EARTH CORPS IS BASED ON THE HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL YOUTH CONSERVATION CORPS MODEL, IT'S BEEN USED TO ADDRESS CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL AND HUMAN SERVICE NEEDS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES SINCE THE 1930S.

A RANDOM ASSIGNMENT STUDY CONDUCTED BY ABT ASSOCIATES AND BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY IN 1997 CONCLUDED THAT YOUTH SERVICE AND CONSERVATION CORPS ARE INVALUABLE RESOURCES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.

NEXT, YOU'LL SEE HOW THIS PROGRAM IS TRAINING LOCAL YOUTHS FOR FUTURE CAREERS IN ENVIRONMENTAL FIELDS.

>> LAY DOWN 500 AND TRY GET THEM ALL IN THE GROUND BY 1:00.

>> THE MISSION OF THE ONONDAGA EARTH CORPS IS CREATING POSITIVE CHANGE FOR THEMSELVES AND NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE ENVIRONMENT.

WHEN THE PROGRAM STARTEDDED, THE FOUNDERS SAID LET'S HAVE THE BIGGEST IMPACT IN NEIGHBORHOODS THAT NEED THIS THE MOST.

LOOK FOR LEADERS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT WERE ALREADY IN THE COMMUNITY TO LEAD THIS PROGRAM TWO MORE DAYS UNTIL THE END OF THE SEASON.

>> AS THE PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT TEAM LEADER, I COORDINATE AND CO-FACILITATE OUR PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT SECTION FOR OUR YOUNG ADULTS.

I, MYSELF AM FROM AN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITY AND SO FOR ME, BEING ABLE TO SERVICE PEOPLE FROM A PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT STANDPOINT, BEING ABLE TO LEARN A SKILL AND THEN TEACH IT TO SOMEONE ELSE IS IMPACTFUL TO ME, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THAT'S A RESPONSIBILITY THAT I NEVER HAD PRIOR TO COMING TO THIS.

>> YOUNG PEOPLE ARE SERVING THE COMMUNITY FOR PUBLIC BENEFIT.

THEY'RE GETTING CIVICALLY ENGAGED.

THEY'RE GETTING JOB READINESS SKILLS.

THEY'RE GETTING REVENUE TO SUPPORT THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES AND THEY'RE GETTING KIND OF AN OPPORTUNITY TO STEP AND GROW AND THINK ABOUT WHAT THEY DO BEYOND OUR PROGRAM BECAUSE WE ARE HERE TO KIND OF PROPEL THEM INTO WHATEVER THEIR CAREER AND EDUCATION GOALS ARE.

>> YOU KNOW, SOME FOLKS, THEY COME TO US AND THIS COULD BE THEIR FIRST JOB OPPORTUNITY.

AND I'M NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT THE 15-18 YEAR OLDS THAT YOU WOULD ASSUME BUT EVEN SOME OF THE 19-25 YEAR OLDS.

HELPING THEM TO GET FAMILIAR OR GET THE BASICS DOWN PAT OF THE JOB READINESS SKILLS THAT IS A BIG PART OF WHAT WE DO.

>> SOME OF THE ECONOMIC BENEFITS ARE APPARENT.

WE'VE EMPLOYED PEOPLE FOR 104 HOURS AND MULTIPLY THAT BY THE WAGE AND WE ARE HAVING THAT IMPACT ON THEIR FINANCIAL POCKETBOOKS.

THEY'RE LEARNING HOW TO USE THAT MONEY AS PART OF THE PROGRAM THERE ARE FINANCIAL BENEFITS MEASURED THROUGH THE ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE LENS.

THE BENEFITS THE STORMWATER MANAGEMENT, THE BENEFITS TO AIR QUALITY.

SYRACUSE URBAN FORCE MASTER PLAN WAS THE CULMINATION BY OUTREACH DONE BY CREW MEMBERS.

SO THEY TALK TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS ABOUT WHAT THEY WANTED TO SEED FOR TREES IN NEIGHBORHOODS.

HOW CAN WE GET MORE CANOPY WHERE IT'S LACKING.

NEIGHBORHOODS THAT HAVE BEEN NEGLECTED HISTORICALLY.

THERE HAVE BEEN GOALS IN THE PLAN SHAPED BY THE COMMUNITY AND YOUNG PEOPLE LEADING THAT WAY AND THERE IS A GOAL TO INCREASE CANOPY% OVER THE NEXT 20 YEARS.

WE HAVE PROBABLY PLANTED ABOUT 10,000 TREES IN THE CITY AND OUTSKIRTS.

ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, THEY'RE ABOUT $120,000 WORTH OF ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS PER YEAR BASED ON THE TREES WE PLANTED.

OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS, EARTH CORPS HAS INVESTED THROUGH OUR PROGRAM, ABOUT $6 MILLION IN YOUTH EMPLOYMENT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT.

SO WE THINK IT'S A WIN-WIN HAVING THAT SENSE OF GRATITUDE, THE SENSE OF PRIDE, SEEING THE WORK I'VE DONE, IT'S IMPACTFUL TO ME BECAUSE THAT'S A RESPONSIBILITY THAT I NEVER HAD PRIOR TO COMING INTO THIS POSITION.

>> WE ARE PLANTING SEEDS IN YOUNG PEOPLE, PUTTING THEM ON A GOOD PATH BUT WE ARE ALSO PLANTING SEEDS AND IMPROVING THE ENVIRONMENT THAT WILL CONTINUE TO GROW FOR GENERATIONS.

>> SOME GREAT STORIES FROM THE ONONDAGA EARTH CORPS, APPRECIATE THAT REPORT.

REAL ESTATE IN THE NEWS.

IT HAS BEEN SOMETHING SINCE EVEN SEASON ONE OF THE PROGRAM WHEN WE HAD PEOPLE LINING UP TO BUY HOMES, THE MARKET IS CHANGING DRAMATICALLY.

LATER TONIGHT I'LL TALK TO YOU ABOUT MORTGAGE RATES THAT OBVIOUSLY ARE UP, FORCING SOME APPLICATIONS TO COME DOWN.

WE'LL GET TO THAT IN A SECOND.

RIGHT NOW CHIP HODGKINS JOINS US AGAIN.

HODGKINS HOMES.

YOUR MARKET IS PROBABLY MOVING AS FAST AS THE STOCK MARKET THESE DAYS BECAUSE THINGS WERE FULL BORE AND NOW I'M SENSING, AND YOU CAN CORRECT ME, BUT I'M SENSING A CHANGE.

THINGS ARE SLOWING DOWN.

ARE YOU SENSING THAT AS WELL?

>> THERE IS A LOT-- IT'S MOVING ALL OVER THE PLACE.

THERE ARE COMPONENTS THAT ARE SPEEDING UP, COMPONENTS SLOWING DOWN.

FIRST TIME HOMEBUYERS HAVE DROPPED OFF THE FACE OF THE EARTH.

THERE IS A BIG REASON FOR THE THAT.

INTEREST RATES HAVE GONE UP AND A LOT OF FIRST TIME HOMEBUYERS CAN'T AFFORD THE HOUSE THEY WANTED BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE ANY SCWICT LEFT FROM WHAT IS HAPPENING-- ANY EQUITY LEFT FROM WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE MARKET.

HOME SELLERS HAVE THE EQUITY IN THEIR HOUSE SO THEY CAN SELL THE HOUSE TO MOVE FORWARD, BUT FIRST TIME HOMEBUYERS DON'T HAVE THE EQUITY.

AND THEREFORE WE HAVE SEEN FIRST TIME HOMEBUYERS GO TO THE HIGHEST AGE THAT THEY HAVE EVER BEEN, THE AVERAGE FIRST TIME HOME BUYER IS 46 YEARS OF AGE.

THAT SLOWED DOWN.

OTHER PARTS OF THE MARKET HAVE SPED UP.

>> YEAH, BUT I MEAN, YOU ARE NOT TELLING ME WHY.

DOESN'T A LOT OF THIS HAVE TO DO WITH INTEREST RATES SKYROCKETING THIS YEAR?

>> INTEREST RATES HAVE RAISED AT A FASTER RATE THAN WE'VE EVER SEEN BEFORE.

AND THAT IS DRAMATICALLY CHANGED THE MARKET.

WHAT WE ARE WORKING ON IS FIRE BUYERS THAT USED TO AFFORD A $300,000 HOUSE CAN ONLY AFFORD A 200,000 HOUSE BECAUSE INTEREST RATES HAVE GONE UP.

THAT'S AN ACCELERATED RATE THAT HAS CHANGED OUR MARKET.

>> I'VE HEARD THIS A THOUSAND TIMES BUT THEY SAY REAL ESTATE IS VERY MUCH A LOCAL MARKET.

SO WHAT IS GOING ON IN TENNESSEE MIGHT NOT BE WHAT IS HAPPENING IN CENTRAL NEW YORK.

WE DO HAVE THIS THING CALLED MICRON COMING TO DOWN.

LOOK AT YOU SMILE.

IS THAT GOING TO CHANGE THE MARKET?

WHAT DOO YOU THINK?

>> THE MICRON EFFECT IS CHANGING THE LAND MARKET RIGHT NOW.

IT IS IMMEDIATELY CHANGED THE LAND MARKET.

SO IF YOU HAVE 10 ACRES, YOU COULD TELL IT FOR $10,000.

NOW YOU CAN SELL IT FOR A MILLION DOLLARS.

THAT'S HAPPENING IF YOU ARE WITHIN A MILE OF THE MICRON PLANT.

HOUSING.

HOUSING IS GOING TO SLOW DOWN FOR THE NEXT PROBABLY YEAR AND THEN WE ARE GOING TO SEE IT KICK IN.

THE MICRON EFFECT IS GOING TO KICK IN IN PROBABLY 18 MONTHS TO TWO YEARS WHEN PEOPLE START MOVING TO SYRACUSE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION WORK AND THE ACTUAL EMPLOYMENT.

SO WE ARE ABOUT TWO TO THREE YEARS AWAY FROM ACTUALLY SEEING THE MICRON EFFECT HIT YOUR HOUSE AND YOUR HOME.

>> I THINK THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS WILL BE VERY INTERESTING IN YOUR LINE OF WORK.

I MEAN, IT'S INTERESTING YOU ARE SAYING THE SLOWDOWN AND THEN MAYBE AN UPTICK.

IT'S KIND OF INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THAT IS GOING TO PLAY OUT.

WE HAVE TO WATCH.

>> I'M IN TOUCH WITH THE PEOPLE IN BOISE AS TO WATCH THE REALTORS IN BUYS BOISE TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM WHEN MICRON DID THEIR BIG GROWTH THERE AND I'M IN TOUCH WITH THE PEOPLE IN NEW ALBANY AND THEY'RE GROWING SO WE ARE ABLE TO FORECAST WHAT IS COMING DOWN THE ROAD BASED ON OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH THOSE TWO.

>> INTERESTING STUFF.

YOU HAVE BEEN A GREAT GUEST ON THE PROGRAM.

THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE INSIGHT.

WE WILL SEE HOW THIS PLAYS OUT.

APPRECIATE IT.

CHIP HODGKINS WITH HODGKIN'S HOME SALES.

>> STOCK MARKET, BOND MARKET, REAL ESTATE MARKET, EVERYTHING IS HOPPING THIS YEAR.

SO INTERESTING STUFF FROM CHIP.

THANK YOU.

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

SURPRISINGLY, OVER SEVENTY-FIVE PERCENT OF THE STATE'S COUNTIES ARE HAVING THEIR WASTEWATER TESTED RIGHT HERE IN SYRACUSE.

SINCE 2020, QUADRANT LABORATORIES HAS BEEN ANALYZING WASTEWATER SAMPLES FROM SCHOOLS, COLLEGES, AND MUNICIPALITIES IN ORDER TO PROVIDE OUR HEALTH OFFICIALS AND POLICYMAKERS WITH EARLY INDICATIONS AND INFORMATION REGARDING THE PRESENCE OF COVID-19 IN A COMMUNITY.

THIS HAPPENING EVEN IN THE ABSENCE OF INDIVIDUAL HUMAN TESTING DATA.

ROLLED OUT AND IMPLEMENT ADD CROSS THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITH A FOCUS ON TESTING IN COMMUNITIES, UNIVERSITIES, AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS.

IT BECAME VERY CLEAR THAT WE NEEDED WAYS TO TEST LARGE PORTIONS OF THE POPULATION THROUGH SURVEILLANCE TESTING.

>> WE ARE ABLE TO TEST AN ENTIRE COMMUNITY THROUGH A VERY SMALL VOLUME OF WASTE WATER.

>> A GOOD EXAMPLE, THEY WERE, WE GET THESE WATER SAMPLES FROM ALL OVER NEW YORK STATE INCLUDING 55 DIFFERENT COUNTIES WHICH COVERS ABOUT 95% OF THE STATE.

IT'S A GREAT WAY FOR THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO GET AN IDEA OF WHAT COVID VARIANTS ARE WHERE, HOW PREVALENT POSITIVE CASES ARE WITHOUT THE BURDEN OF INDIVIDUAL PERSONAL TESTING.

>> SURVEILLANCE TESTING HERE AT QUADRANT LABORATORIES CAN DETECT ONE VIRUS IN A POPULATION OF 10,000 PEOPLE.

>> WE START WITH AN PROCESS WHICH PREPS THE SAMPLE FOR RNA EXTRACTION AND WE FINISH UP WITH QPCR.

WE CAN TELL IF THE SAMPLE CONSISTS OF 80% OF VARIANT A, 20% OF VARIANT B, AND SO FORTH.

WE DO IN OUR CURRENT STANDING ABOUT 200 SAMPLES PER WEEK.

THE SAMPLES ARE MAILED OVERNIGHT TO US AND WE RECEIVE THEM IN THE LAB THE NEXT DAY AND WE HAVE RESULTS BACK TO THE COMMUNITY BY THE DAY AFTER THAT THEY TAKE THE SAMPLE.

WE ARE VERY PROUD OF OUR TURN AROUND AND WE DO BELIEVE THAT THE SPEED AND QUALITY HELPS US PLAY A HUGE PART IN KEEPING PEOPLE SAFE.

>> THE WASTEWATER TEST WAS DEVELOPED IN COLLABORATION WITH Dr. FRANK MIDDLETON AT SUNY UPSTATE, Dr. HYA GREEN AT ESF AND Dr. DAVE LARSON AT SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY.

THEY WORKED WITH THE TEAM AT QUADRANT BIOSCIENCES TO DEVELOP THE WASTEWATER TEST TO MAKE IT EFFICIENT AND COST EFFECTIVE.

>> THERE IS NOT NECESSARILY A RED FLAG IN THE WATER.

SORRY WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR IS A GENOME THAT IS IN A HUMAN.

IT'S SHED OUT OF A HUME-- IN HUMAN IN FECAL MANNER.

WE ARE DEFINING A CONCENTRATION OF THAT AND A CONCENTRATION OF COVID THAT WE CAN CREATE A RATIO OF TO SEE ABOUT HOW MANY CASE 2-Z ARE IN THAT POPULATION.

>> HOUR PARTNERSHIP WITH BIO TECH ACCELERATOR AND SUNY UPSTATE ALLOWS US ACCESS TO EQUIPMENT THAT WE WOULDN'T OTHERWISE HAVE ACCESS TO.

THAT EQUIPMENT HAS ALLOWED US TO DEVELOP AND BRING TO MARKET THE WASTEWATER SURVEILLANCE TEST AS WELL AS THE SALIVA TEST ACROSS NEW YORK STATE.

>> SEVERAL TIMES THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THE PANDEMIC, WE HAVE SEEN A RISE IN POSITIVITY AND CONCENTRATION OF THE COVID IN THE SAMPLES WEEKS BEFORE YOU SEE IT IN THE NEWS.

SO WE ARE ABLE TO ALERT THE STATE AHEAD OF TIME FOR, BEFORE WE THINK IT BECOMES A CONCERN.

ALL THE DATA AND TRENDS WE HAVE FOUND GIVES US A GREAT WAY TO PREDICT WHAT IS TO HAPPEN, THE BEST WAY TO PREDICT THE FUTURE IS TO STUDY THE PAST.

IT'S GOING TO HELP US WITH THE FUTURE.

>> ON THE HEELS OF WHAT TRIP WAS TALKING ABOUT EARLIER ON THE SHOW, WE THOUGHT WE WOULD TALK ABOUT THE PROBLEM IN THE REAL ESTATE MARKET AND THAT CONCERNS INTEREST RATES.

LOOK AT THE NUMBERS.

AT THE END OF LAST YEAR, YOU COULD GET A MORTGAGE FOR ABOUT 3%.

IN FACT, IF YOU WERE LUCKY, UNDER 3% RATHER ON A 30-YEAR MORTGAGE.

LOOK AT WHERE THEY'VE GONE.

UP OVER 7% NOW IN 2022.

THAT'S AN ENORMOUS MOVE IN INTEREST RATES IN A RELATIVELY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.

NOW BECAUSE OF THAT, LET'S LOOK AT THE IMPACT.

MORTGAGE APPLICATIONS FOR A 30-YEAR MORTGAGE, THEY'RE DOWN 41% ON A YEAR OVER YEAR BASIS.

BIG DECLINE IN JUST A FEW MONTHS TIME.

REFINANCING?

MAJOR HIT HERE.

IF YOU HAVE REFINANCED ALREADY, GOOD FOR YOU.

REFINANCING IS DOWN 85% ON A YEAR OVER YEAR BASIS.

CONTINUING OUT, LET'S LOOK AT SOME OTHER NUMBERS HERE.

ADJUSTABLE RATE MORTGAGES CAUGHT MY EYE BECAUSE THEY'RE UP 25% THIS YEAR.

I UNDERSTAND WHY BECAUSE RISING RATES, YOU WANT TO GET SOMETHING AS LOW AS YOU CAN BUT THERE COULD BE PROBLEMS IF RATES CONTINUE TO RISE.

AND SALES OVERALL, THEY ARE DOWN.

REAL ESTATE, OF COURSE, VERY LOCALIZED MARKET, BUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY, SALES ARE DOWN ABOUT 18% AND MANY PEOPLE ARE TELLING US THIS IS ALL ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE RISE IN INTEREST RATES THAT WE HAVE SEEN JUST THIS YEAR.

SOME INTERESTING NUMBERS TONIGHT AND WITH THAT, WE FINISH UP TONIGHT IS WE DID WITH OUR SPOTLIGHT SERIES AND HERE WE MEET WITH SOME INTERESTING PEOPLE OR HIGHLIGHT SOMETHING SPECIAL THAT IS HAPPENING IN OUR AREA.

YOU KNOW, IF YOU HAVE EVER DRIVEN BY THE AMAZON DISTRIBUTION CENTER IN CLAY, NEW YORK, YOU KNOW IT'S A VERY LARGE FACILITY.

ON THE OTHER THAN WENT INSIDE AND IT'S ONLY THEN AND THERE THAT YOU CAN FULLY APPRECIATE THE MASSIVE SIZE.

THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS OF PRODUCTS AND PACKAGES CONTINUALLY MOVE THROUGH THAT CENTER THROUGH A COMPLEX NETWORK OF CONVEYOR BELTS, HUMAN BEINGS AND EVEN ROBOTS.

THE SCALE AND PRECISION OF THIS CONSTANT OPERATION IS HARD TO DESCRIBE.

BUT PLANT MANAGER GAVE US AN INSIDE LOOK ALONG WITH WHY AMAZON CHOSE THIS SPOT FOR ITS LARGEST DISTRIBUTION CENTER IN ALL OF NEW YORK STATE.

>> I HAD HIGH EXPECTATIONS COMING IN HERE.

I THOUGHT IT'S GOING TO BE BIG, BUSTLING AND A BUZZ.

IT'S OVER THE TOP.

WHEN YOU GET IN HERE, IT'S JUST HUGE.

FOUR MILLION SQUARE FEET OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT?

>> WE HAVE OVER 14 MILES OF CONVEYANCE, FIVE FLOORS, OUR CAPACITY JUST FOR ITEMS WE CAN HOLD, UPWARDS OF ALMOST 40 MILLION.

SO IT IS BIG.

>> FROM WHAT I READ OR HEARD, 350 MILLION OR THRESHES TO BUILD THE PLACE.

A LOT OF MONEY.

>> I'M NOT SPECIFIC ON HOW MUCH EXACTLY.

>> A LOT.

>> BUT IT IS A LOT.

>> NOW GIVEN THE SPACE AND IF YOU WERE HONEST, YOU WOULD SAY YOU HAVE GOTTEN LOST IN HERE ONCE OR TWICE BUT HOW MANY EMPLOYEES HERE TOTAL RIGHT NOW?

>> WE HAVE AROUND 2600 EMPLOYEES RIGHT NOW.

AND WE ARE GROWING ABOVE 3,000.

>> I'M GOING TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THAT IN A SECOND.

I'M CURE WHY US WHEN SOMETHING THIS BIG COMES TO TOWN, WHAT OTHER PLACES-- AND BY THE WAY, I SHOULD HAVE MENTIONED, YOU WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN OPENING SOME OTHER FACILITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY SO YOU'VE GOT SOME EXPERIENCE HERE.

WHAT OTHER PLACES WERE CONSIDERED AS OPPOSED TO THIS LOCATION WHEN AMAZON SAID WE NEED ANOTHER FULL FULFILLMENT CENTER.

>> LOOKING AT CENTRAL NEW YORK.

ATHE ABILITY TO GROW HERE I.

WAS A NATURAL SPOT TO PARTNER AND GROW.

>> LOCATION WISE THOUGH WAS PROBABLY ENTERED INTO IT?

WE ARE IN A NEAT SPOT, I WOULD THINK, IN TERMS OF WHERE YOU ARE SHIPPING TO.

TALK ABOUT THAT?

>> YEAH, SO I MEAN WE ARE, AS YOU MENTIONED, A PIVOTAL POINT, MID POINT.

WE HAVE SO MANY MAJOR CITIES WITHIN FOUR AND A HALF HOURS.

WE CONNECTED TO PHILADELPHIA, OHIO, NEW YORK CITY, BOSTON.

>> THAT'S A BIG RANGE.

WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE AND WE ARE ABLE TO HELP KIND OF WITH OUR TRANSPORTATION JUST GET, YOU KNOW, BE ABLE TO FULFILL CUSTOMER ORDERS IN A MUCH FASTER MANNER FROM HERE.

>> CLEARLY I'M SO IMPRESSED WALKING THROUGH HERE.

I MEAN ALL THE PRODUCTS THAT ARE WHIZZING AROUND OUT THERE WHAT TYPE OF PRODUCTS COME THROUGH THIS BUILDING?

IS IT EVERYTHING YOU CAN THINK OF OR IS THERE A LIMIT?

>> IT'S EVERYTHING YOU CAN THINK OF TO A CERTAIN SIZE.

SO IF YOU THINK OF ANYTHING THAT CAN KIND OF-- I WOULD SAY THE EASIEST THING YOU CAN FIT ON A BOOK SHELF, RIGHT.

ARE WE GOING TO HAVE BIG TVs?

WE ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE THEM HERE.

THEY WILL BE AT DIFFERENT FULFILLMENT CENTERS.

BOOKS, VIDEO GAMES, C.D.s, ALL THE THINGS WE CAN FULFILL, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE THAT HERE.

>> I SAW A LOT OF THE YELLOW CRATES.

LOOK LIKE RECYCLING BINS, RIGHT?

SO SOMETHING THAT WOULD FIT INTO THAT SIZE, IS THAT A GOOD IDEA?

>> YEP.

>> ON AVERAGE, HOW MANY PRODUCTS MOVE IN AND OUT OF HERE?

>> YEAH, SO WE ARE PRETTY MUCH TAKING IN ABOUT 300,000 AND WE ARE ALSO SENDING OUT ABOUT 300,000.

>> EVERY DAY?

>> EVERY DA I.

SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

>> THAT HAS TO RAMP UP AS WE GET INTO THANKSGIVING TO CHRISTMAS.

>> WE ARE GOING TO PROBABLY INCREASE ABOUT 50 TO 100,000 AS WELL ON BOTH SIDES OF THE HOUSE.

OBVIOUSLY TAKING IN INVENTORY AND FULFILLING CUSTOMER ORDERS THROUGH BOXES.

>> YOU ARE PRETTY NEW HERE.

ARE YOU SURE YOU CAN HANDLE THAT KIND OF VOLUME?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> IT STRIKES ME THAT THERE IS A KIND OF INTERESTING BALANCE BETWEEN OUGHT AUTOMATION AND HUMANS WEIRD.

>> I'LL TELL YOU HERE OUR LATEST AND GREATEST TECHNOLOGY EQUIPPED BUILDING AND 2500 ASSOCIATES WORKING TOGETHER TO STREAMLINE, TO BECOME MORE ERRING AN ONLYICALLY EFFICIENT TO MAKE SURE THE ROBOTS AND WORKERS ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO IMPROVE EFFICIENCY, IMPROVE SAFETY WE MIGHT SEE MORE OF THAT IN A PLACE LIKE THIS WITH ROBOTS.

>> WE ARE GOING TO CONSISTENTLY DO WHAT IS RIGHT FOR OUR INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL CUSTOMERS.

WE HAVE A PLETHORA OF ROBOTS AND THAT HELPS TO STREAMLINE OUR PROCESS AND MAKES IT MORE EFFICIENT.

>> AMAZON IS HUGE.

THE FACILITY IS HUGE, IT HAS AN IMPACT ON CENTRAL NEW YORK AND I THINK WE ARE STARTING TO SEE SOME SIGNS OF THAT.

YOU KNOW, HOW DO YOU MEASURE THE IMPACT, THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THIS AREA.

>> Y WANT TO BE A POSITIVE EMPLOYER FOR ALL PARTS.

PARTNER IS WITH WHETHER IT'S FESTIVITIES OR ANYTHING GOING ON IN THE COMMUNITY AND MAKING SURE WE ARE A VOICE.

WE ARE GOING TO BE A PLACE THAT, YOU KNOW, GROWS TALENT WITHIN.

AND WE HAVE THAT TRACK RECORD WITHIN AMAZON AND US BEING HERE OVER FOUR MONTHS.

WE ARE GOING TO GROW TALENT.

>> THE PROJECTED TO HIRE UP TO 3,000 DURING THOSE PEAK SEASONS.

AND DID I READ STARTING PAY HERE IS ABOVE MINIMUM WAGE?

>> AMAZON ANNOUNCED INCREASING WAGES ACROSS THE U.S. FOR US WE START AT $17 AND MANY OF OUR WORKERS ARE ABOVE THAT AS WELL.

>> THEY TALK ABOUT ADVANCEMENT.

IF A YOUNG MAN OR WOMAN STARTS OUT ON THE LINE, DO THEY HAVE SOMEWHERE TO GO EVENTUALLY?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WHAT IS GREAT ABOUT AMAZON, NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GROW WITHIN, A TEAM LEAD, AREA MANAGER POSITION.

WE OFFER FOLKS THE ABILITY TO DO CAREER CHOICE.

THAT'S HAVING THE OPTION TO SIGN UP FOR COLLEGE LEVEL CLASSES TO GET CERTIFICATIONS.

SO IF YOU DON'T NECESSARILY WANT TO, YOU KNOW, BE WITHIN AMAZON ALL THE TIME, YOU CAN BE IN ANOTHER FIELD AND WE ARE GOING TO HELP YOU GET THERE.

>> I READ AND I HOPE YOU CAN CONFIRM THIS.

I HOPE THIS IS TRUE.

YOU PROVIDE TUITION ASSISTANCE.

>> YEAH.

>> I WILL TELL YOU, THERE ARE COMPANIES THAT HAVE LONG GONE OUT OF BUSINESS, IF HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR ALLIED AND THEIR TUITION ASSISTANCE, I WOULD NEVER HAVE GONE TO S.U.

THAT'S A BENEFIT THAT DOESN'T GET ENOUGH CREDIT.

IF YOU ARE PROVIDING THAT AND I THINK YOU ARE, THAT'S A BIG BENEFIT TO YOUNG PEOPLE.

THERE WAS SOMETHING RELATIVELY NEGATIVE-- IN MY DAY JOB I READ A LOT OF BLOOMBERG REPORTS AND BLOOMBERG PUT OUT AN ARTICLE INDICATING THAT AMAZON AS A WHOLE, NO THE NECESSARILY HERE, BUT AS A WHOLE, A LOT OF TROUBLE WITH RETENTION.

A LOT OF TURNOVER.

AND THERE WAS ONE STAT I SAW TURNOVER RATE WAS AS HIGH AS 150%.

SEEMS LIKE YOU ARE CONSTANTLY HIRING.

IS THAT A PROBLEM?

>> I THINK WHAT WE WANT TO DO HERE IS MAKE SURE WE SET UP FOLKS FOR SUCCESS TO GROW WHERE THEY WANT TO GROW.

AND THAT'S WHERE WE TALKED ABOUT CAREER CHOICE, GRIEVING THAT OPTION.

THAT'S FOLKS IF THEY DON'T RETAIN WITH US, THEY'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING WITHIN CENTRAL NEW YORK, THAT'S A GREAT THING FOR THE COMMUNITY OVERALL.

SO WE STILL HAVE A SOLID DEVELOPMENT PLAN TO GET FOLKS TRAINED WHERE THEY NEED TO BE AND WE ALSO HAVE THE ABILITY TO MOVE SHIFTS, MOVE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS AS WELL.

OUR GOAL, AGAIN, WE CAN'T SPEAK TO THE WHOLE AMAZON THING, BUT FOR US HERE, TO BE PART OF THE COMMUNITY AND NOT EVERY PART OF STAYING HERE, WE ARE STILL GOING TO BE A POSITIVE INFLUENCE.

>> ON THE FLIP SIDE OF THAT, TOO I READ THE TURNOVER IS NOT A NEGATIVE IN THAT IT KEEPS THE WORKFORCE FRESH.

SOME OF THE POSITIONS, YOU CAN GET STAGNANT SO MAYBE IT HELPS TO HAVE PEOPLE COMING AND GOING OR MOVING THEM AROUND?

>> WE WANT TO PROVIDE THE BEST POSSIBLE AVENUE FOR ANYONE TO GET WHERE THEY WANT TO BE.

WE HAVE A LOT OF MECHANISMS LIKE I MENTIONED ABOUT SHIFTING DEPARTMENTS, SHIFTING COHORTS.

WE WORK WITH OUR DIFFERENT BUILDINGS AND AREAS, SHIFT FOLKS THAT THEY WANT TO.

BUT AS FAR AS WHETHER IT'S GOOD OR BAD, OUR GOAL IS TO GET FOLKS WHERE THEY WANT TO BE.

>> AS WE WRAP UP SELFISHLY, I'M CONCERNED NOT ABOUT AMAZON BUT CENTRAL NEW YORK.

THIS FACILITY, YOU SEE IT STAYING STRONG.

YOU SEE IT BEING VIBRANT, NO WORRIES OF CLOSURE DOWN THE ROAD.

THIS IS WORKING HERE.

>> YEAH AMAZON IS HERE TO STAY IN CENTRAL NEW YORK.

AND I THINK WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUOUSLY, OVER THE YEARS, INVEST NOT ONLY HERE IN SYRACUSE BUT IN CENTRAL AND UPSTATE NEW YORK AS WELL.

>> ON A SIDE NOTE, I HAD TO USE THE MEN'S ROOM AND I THOUGHT I WOULD GET LOST.

THAT PLACE IS SO BIG.

OUR THANKS FOR GIVING US AN INSIGHT LOOK AT THIS IMPRESSIVE CENTER.

THAT IS OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.

- BUT BELIEVE IT OR NOT, NEXT WEEK WE CLOSE OUT OUR SEASON.

AND TO END WE HEAD TO MARCELLUS TO LEARN ABOUT BALTIMORE WOOD'S "EXPANDING BOUNDARIES" PROGRAM AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR THE AREA.

WE HIGHLIGHT A SYRACUSE BIOTECH ACCELERATOR THAT'S HELPING COMPANIES THRIVE.

AND FOR OUR SPOTLIGHT SERIES WE HAVE A RARE AND SOMEWHAT OPEN CONVERSATION WITH SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY CHANCELLOR KENT SYVERUD WE'LL DISCUSS THE UNIVERSITY'S IMPACT ON CENTRAL NEW YORK, HOW HIGHER EDUCATION IS CHANGING AND WE'LL SEE THE ROLE SU WILL PLAY AS MICRON COMES TO TOWN.

THERE'S JUST ONE MORE EPISODE 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.ORG.

TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR PROGRAM, 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.