>> COMING UP TONIGHT: AN EXPANSION IN MARCELLUS IS JUST STEP ONE FOR BALTIMORE WOODS NATURE CENTER -- FIND OUT WHAT'S NEXT FOR THEM.

A LOCAL ACCELERATOR IS HELPING INNOVATIVE COMPANIES THRIVE.

AND FOR OUR FINAL SPOTLIGHT OF THE SEASON, WE'LL HAVE AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY CHANCELLOR KENT SYVERUD.

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 MARCELLUS.

THIS PAST APRIL, BALTIMORE WOODS NATURE CENTER ANNOUNCED ITS ACQUISITION OF 90 ADDITIONAL ACRES OF LAND ADJACENT TO THE EXISTING PRESERVE, WHICH EXPANDS THE FACILITY TO OVER 270 ACRES.

THE PURCHASE OF THE ADDITIONAL LAND REPRESENTS THE FIRST PHASE OF THE NATURE CENTER'S "EXPANDING BOUNDARIES CAMPAIGN," WHICH IS AIMED AT CREATING NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUTDOOR RECREATION, ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION, AND RESEARCH IN THE CENTRAL NEW YORK REGION.

BUT - THERE'S A SECOND PHASE COMING - AND ON THE MONEY WENT TO MARCELLUS TO FIND OUT MORE WHAT IS REALLY UNIQUE ABOUT BALTIMORE WOODS AS A NATURE PRESERVE IS THAT WE HAVE OVER SIX MILES OF TRAILS AND THEY'LL TAKE YOU THROUGH SOME VERY DIFFERENT PLACES THAT REPRESENT A LOT OF HISTORY IN CENTRAL NEW YORK.

PARTS OF IT USED TO BE A PASTURE AND AWE FARM.

OTHER PARTS OF IT YOU CAN REALLY SEE HOW THE GLACIERS CAME THROUGH AND CARVED OUT A VALLEY.

AND THERE IS ALL SORTS OF DIFFERENT FORESTS TO LOOK AT.

THE EXSPANNEDDING BOUNDARIES CAMPAIGN STARTED IN 2019, AND IT STARTED WITH A VISION TO PHYSICALLY GROW THE PRESERVE FOR US TO HAVE MORE TRAILS, MORE PROGRAMS, MORE PLACES PEOPLE COULD EXPLORE.

SO THE 90 ACRES DIRECTLY ADJACENT TO THE PRESERVE WAS FOR SALE AND WE WERE ABLE TO WORK WITH THE OWNERS TO COME UP WITH A PLAN TO PURCHASE THE PROPERTY IN THREE YEARS.

A LOT OF THE INITIAL FUNDING CAME FROM INDIVIDUALS WHO GOT CAMPAIGN STARTED.

ONE OF THE EARLIEST THINGS WE DID, WHICH WAS ABSOLUTELY FOUNDATIONAL TO THE CAMPAIGN, WAS APPLY IT TO THE NEW YORK STATE PARKS AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION FUND GRANTS.

SO EARLY ON, 2019, WE RECEIVED A GRANT, WHICH IS A REIMBURSEMENT GRANT, THAT WOULD GIVE BACK UP TO HALF THE PURCHASE PRICE, WHICH IS SIGNIFICANT FOR A SMALL NON-PROFIT, AND THEN PLACE THE LAND INTO A NEW YORK STATE PARKS CONSERVATION EASEMENT FOREVER.

THERE IS MORE WETLANDS ON OUR NEWEST ADDITION.

THERE IS MORE FLAT AREA THAN SOME OF THE VALLEYS HERE THAT WILL ALLOW US TO INCREASE ACCESSIBLE TRAILS FOR DIFFERENT MOBILITY NEEDS.

THE SECOND PHASE OF THE CAMPAIGN IS TO EXPAND THE JOHN WEEKS INTERPRETIVE CENTER AND TO ALSO CREATE A STEWARDSHIP ENDOWMENT TO TAKE CARE OF THE NEW 90 ACRES THAT WE ADDED TO THE PRESERVE THIS APRIL.

PEOPLE HAVE HELPED TO BUILD THE TRAILS, PEOPLE HAVE HELPED TO PLANT TREES.

GIVING BOATS TIME AND MONEY-- BOTH TIME AND MONEY TO HELP US SEE THE NEXT PHASE OF THE ORGANIZATION THROUGH.

WE WANT PEOPLE TO HAVE VERY EXPERIENCE USUALLY PLACE BASED IN-DEPTH ENGAGING MOMENTS IN NATURE WHERE YOU GO IT TO HOLD A SALAMANDER OR GO INTO A STREAM TO CATCH A CRAY FISH.

THAT CAN HAVE CHALLENGES, TOO, SO OUR TEAM IS BOTH TRYING TO CONNECT PEOPLE WITH THE WORLD AND ALSO RESTORE IT AND PROTECT IT AND CONSERVE IT SO THAT THIS IS ALWAYS HERE AS A RESOURCE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

OUR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION TEAM IS DOING PROGRAMS ALL YEAR ROUND WITH KIDS AS YOUNG AS THREE AND FOUR WITH OUR PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS, ALL THE WAY UP TO RETIRED ADULTS AND EVERYBODY IN BETWEEN.

WE SEE PEOPLE COMING OUT HERE TO TAKE PHOTOS.

WE SEE PEOPLE SETTING UP THEIR CANVASS TO DO ART.

THERE ARE SOAP DIFFERENT WAYS TO FIND THAT MOMENT OF PEACE, THAT MOMENT OF QUIETING YOUR MIND AND JUST LISTENING TO ALL THE SOUNDS OF NATURE AROUND YOU.

PROBABLY ONE OF THE BENEFITS WE DON'T TALK ABOUT ENOUGH OF BEING ABLE TO GET OUTSIDE AND RESTORE OURSELVES AS WELL AS JUST EXPLORE.

I THINK A LOT OF TIMES THE KIDS WE SEE OUT HERE, THEY'VE GOT ALL THE QUESTIONS.

THEY WANT TO, YOU KNOW, THROW THE PILE OF LEAVES IN THE AIR BUT IT'S JUST AS IMPORTANT FOR ADULTS TO RECONNECT WITH THOSE MOMENTS OF BEING OUTSIDE AND ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT WE SEE AND KEEP LEARNING ABOUT IT ALL.

AND IT'S A PERFECT PLACE TO DO ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

YOU KNOW, I'VE NOT BEEN TO BALTIMORE WOODS AND THAT PIECE IS ENCOURAGING ME TO GO.

I'LL HAVE TO CHECK IT OUT MYSELF.

SOME COMMON CENTS PIECE TONIGHT THERE WERE CHANGES IN THE I.R.S.

FOR 2023 REGARDING THE AMOUNTS THAT WE CAN PUT INTO 401(K) PLANS IF YOU PARTICIPATE IN ONE SO HERE ARE SOME NEW NUMBERS TO CHECK OUT.

IN 2023, THE CONTRIBUTION LIMIT NOW GOES TO 22,500.

THAT'S UP 2,000 FROM THE LAST YEAR'S NUMBERS.

HOWEVER, IF YOU ARE 50 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER, YOU CAN SAVE A MAXIMUM OF $30,000 IN YOUR 401(K) PLAN.

HERE ARE SOME INTERESTING STATS AND MAYBE A LITTLE DISTURBING.

ONLY 14% OF THOSE SURVEYS, THAT IS TO SAY PARTICIPANTS IN 401(K) PLANS ARE SAVING THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT.

IT'S A LOW NUMBER, UNFORTUNATELY.

SO WE WILL HAVE TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT GOING FORWARD.

THE GOOD NEW IS THAT IN 2021, NEARLY HALF OF ALL PARTICIPANTS IN THESE RETIREMENT PLANS INCREASE THE AMOUNT THEY CONTRIBUTED IN 2021.

THAT'S GOOD NEWS.

BUT HERE WHAT IS I'M WORRIED ABOUT.

STILL UNCLEAR AS TO WHAT WILL HAPPEN FOR 2022 GIVEN HIGH INFLATION, THE POSSIBLE ECONOMIC SLOWDOWN, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THOSE NUMBERS CONTINUE TO RISE BUT WE WILL HAVE TO SEE.

BOTTOM LINE IS SAVE AS MUCH AS YOU CAN FOR RETIREMENT.

COMMON CENTS TONIGHT AND WE HEAD TO OUR TECH BYTE SELLINGMENT.

WHERE WE BRING YOU SOME NEW AND INTERESTING TECHNOLOGIES FROM CENTRAL NEW YORK.

TO DATE, 33 TEAMS HAVE GRADUATED FROM THE MEDICAL DEVICE INNOVATION CHALLENGE -- THIS IS HEADED BY SUNY UPSTATE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY'S BIOTECH ACCELERATOR.

NOW IN ITS SIXTH YEAR, THE PROGRAM OFFERS A 6-MONTH MENTORSHIP AND NETWORK EXPANSION, RICH IN RESOURCES.

WE MET WITH THE ACCELERATOR'S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, KATHI DURDIN ALONG WITH SOME PAST GRADUATES, TO SEE FIRSTHAND WHAT THE PROGRAM PROVIDES TO OUR AREA.

>> WHAT WE DO IS WE SUPPORT FOR-PROFIT COMPANIES.

THAT ARE WORKING TO COMMERCIALIZE A BIOTECH RELATED PRODUCT OR SERVICE.

THOOR EITHER PHARMACEUTICAL BIO LOGIC MEDICAL DEVICE COMPANIES, OUR FACILITY PROVIDES SPACE THAT THEY LICENSE AT A PRETTY REASONABLE RATE AND THEY GET TO COULD BEES STRAIGHT ON DEVELOPING THEIR TEAM, DEVELOPING THEIR PRODUCT, TESTING THEIR PRODUCT, GETTING THAT PROOF OF CONCEPT STAGE TO WHERE THEY CAN START TO GET INVOLVEMENTS.

HAVING THE MEDICAL DEVICE BACKGROUND, HAVING LARGE MEDICAL DEVICE MANUFACTURERS IN THE AREA IS A STRENGTH FOR CENTRAL NEW YORK AND IT JUST MADE A LOT OF SENSE DEVELOP A MEDICAL DEVICE PROGRAM FOR EARLY STAGE INNOVATORS THAT IS VERY MENTOR INTENSIVE PROGRAMS.

THESE ARE COMPANIES THAT EITHER ARE JUST STARTING OUT WITH PROTOTYPE DEVELOPMENT, THEY NEED SOME HELP WITH THEIR INTELLECTUAL PROTECTION.

THEY NEED TEAM BUILDING.

>> WE HAVE HEARD ABOUT THE PROGRAM BEFORE, WHEN WE SAW THE ANNOUNCEMENT BEFORE MEDICAL DEVICE CHALLENGE, IT SEEMED LIKE A VERY NATURAL FIT FOR US.

THE PRIMARY FOCUS WAS HELPING US THINK ABOUT HOW WE GO TO MARKET.

AND I WOULD ACTUALLY HAVE TO SAY OF ALL THE INCUBATORS WE HAVE PARTICIPATED IN, THE ONE WHERE WE GOT THE MOST BENEFIT AND GUIDANCE AND HELP WAS IN NEW YORK, THE BIO ACCELERATOR.

>> TECHNOLOGY THAT WE ARE INTERESTED IN, DOES IT MEET AN UNMET NEED?

SO, FOR INSTANCE, LAST YEAR WE HAD AN AUTISM SPECTRUM GROUP THAT WE SELECTED.

AND IT IS FEMALE FOUNDED.

>> DEVELOPING AN INTELLIGENCE MEDICAL DEVICE FOR CHILDREN ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM.

IT IS NON-INVASIVE BRAIN STIMULATION AND IT IS DESIGNED TO INCREASE RESPONSIVENESS, IMPROVE COMMUNICATIONS AND REDUCE SOCIAL ANXIETY.

TO DATE WE HAVE HAD ONE CLINICAL TRIAL THAT WE COMPLETED LAST YEAR.

BASED ON THE RESULTS OF THAT STUDY, WE RECEIVED (INAUDIBLE) THIS YEAR WE RECEIVED NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION FUNDING AND WE ARE CURRENTLY RUNNING ANOTHER STUDY.

THE RESULT WILL BE PRESENTED NEXT MONTH IN DECEMBER AT THE SYMPHONY 2022 CONFERENCE BUT WE ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT AT THIS POINT.

>> WE PROVIDE HOME PULMONARY FUNCTION TESTING.

A LOT OF THESE PEOPLE, BECAUSE OF THEIR RESPIRATORY CONDITION, HAVE A HARD TIME TRAVELING TO AN OFFICE OR DOCTOR'S CLINIC.

SO WE ALLOW THEM TO STAY HOME WHILE THE DOCTOR CAN MONITOR THEIR CONDITION AND ADJUST MEDICATIONS OR PRESCRIBE DIFFERENT AREAS, IN TERMS OF EXERCISE OR WHAT HAVE YOU, TO HELP THEM WITH THEIR CONDITION.

ULTIMATELY THIS IS CONTRIBUTING TO PATIENT CARE.

IT'S CONTRIBUTING TO JOBS.

SYRACUSE IS ON THE MAP.

>> AND AS ALWAYS, WE FINISH UP TONIGHT WITH OUR SPOTLIGHT SERIES WHERE WE MEET WITH SOME INTERESTING PEOPLE OR HIGHLIGHT SOMETHING SPECIAL - IT CAN BE EASY TO TAKE SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY FOR GRANTED - IT'S HISTORY DATES BACK OVER 150 YEARS SO IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S BEEN THERE FOREVER.

BUT SU HAS A MAJOR IMPACT ON CENTRAL NEW YORK, BOTH FROM A COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC STANDPOINT.

IT REMAINS ONE OF THE LARGEST EMPLOYERS, IT INTERACTS WITH COUNTLESS VENDORS, HAS A HUGE REAL ESTATE FOOTPRINT AND DRAWS PEOPLE HERE FROM AROUND THE WORLD.

BUT COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES ARE FACING SOME NEW CHALLENGES - ENROLLMENTS ARE DECLINING, STUDENTS ARE SEEKING NEW WAYS TO LEARN, AND WITH STUDENT LOAN DEBT RISING, SOME FEAR A COLLEGE EDUCATION IS JUST TOO EXPENSIVE.

IN A SOMEWHAT RARE AND OPEN INTERVIEW, SU CHANCELLOR KENT SYVERUD TACKLED THOSE TOPICS AND MORE.

HE DISCUSSED THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SU AND SYRACUSE, OFFERED HIS THOUGHTS ON THE FUTURE OF EDUCATION, AND EXPLAINED THE ROLE SU PLAYED IN HELPING TO ATTRACT MICRON - AND HOW THE SCHOOL IS NOW PREPARING FOR THE NEXT PHASE OF THIS HISTORIC DEVELOPMENT.

ONE HOPES THAT WE ARE PAST THE CRISIS OF THE PANDEMIC.

BUT LOOKING BACK, IT SEEMS LIKE THE EDUCATIONAL SECTOR GOT HIT PARTICULARLY HARD FROM GRADE SCHOOL UP TO HIGHER EDUCATION.

AND THE RESPONSE, IN MOST CASES, WAS TO SHUT DOWN.

YOU AND SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY DECIDED TO REMAIN OPEN.

AND LOOKING BACK, WAS IT THE RIGHT DECISION AND HOW DID YOU ARRIVE AT THAT TOUGH CALL?

>> THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO REMEMBER-- AND IT'S HARD TO REMEMBER BACK TO APRIL OF 2020-- BUT WE WERE CLOSED FOR SIX TO EIGHT WEEKS.

AND BACK IN APRIL IN 2020, THE QUESTION WAS WHAT AUTOS GOING TO BE BETTER FOR OUR STUDENTS?

BEING OPEN AND HAVING THEM IN PERSON HERE FOR ALL THE ACTIVITIES THAT HAPPEN IN A NORMAL SCHOOL YEAR OR HAVING THEM HOME IN THEIR BEDROOMS WHERE THEY WOULDN'T BE EXPOSED TO ALL THE OTHER STUDENTS AND THEREFORE POTENTIALLY TO THE VIRUS.

AND IT WASN'T OBVIOUS WHICH WOULD BE BETTER IN THE LONG-TERM FOR OUR STUDENTS.

BUT IT WAS PRETTY CLEAR THAT IF IT WAS POSSIBLE TO BE OPEN SAFELY, WE SHOULD DO THAT FOR THE SAKE OF OUR STUDENTS.

>> DURING AND COMING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC, WAS THAT MANY BUSINESSES, SCHOOLS, RELIED UPON OR DISCOVERED TECHNOLOGY, NEW AND OLD, AND CLEARLY THAT HAPPENED HERE.

>> SURE.

WE DID A LOT OF INNOVATION AND TESTING IN COMMUNICATIONS, IN MONITORING, AND EVENTUALLY IN DELIVERY OF VACCINES, EVEN IN HOW WE MOVED PEOPLE INTO ROOMS OR MOVED PEOPLE INTO THE UNIVERSITY.

WE DID A LOT OF THINGS DIFFERENTLY.

AND TECHNOLOGY HELPED A LOT WITH THAT.

>> I SPOKE WITH JUST CASUALLY, YOU MIGHT GET A KICK OUT OF THIS, THE DEAN OF THE COLLEGE OF LAW CRAIG BOYS AND HE WAS TELLING ME HOW THEY STARTED THE FIRST ONLINE PROGRAM FOR LAW STUDENTS, WHICH SURPRISINGLY GAVE ACCESS TO STUDENTS THAT MIGHT NOT NORMALLY BE ABLE TO ATTEND LAW SCHOOL.

BUT IT SEEMS LIKE WE ARE LOOKING INTO THE FUTURE HERE.

IS THE FUTURE OF EDUCATION MOVING MORE AND MORE TO ONLINE LEARNING?

>> IT ALREADY WAS MOVING VERY SUBSTANTIALLY TO A BROADER TYPES OF PLATFORMS AND WAYS TO DELIVER EDUCATION.

WE WERE-- WE WERE FACING BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, A GREAT UNBUNDLING OF THE TRADITIONAL UNITS OF EDUCATION, THE CREDIT AND THE COURSE AND THE SEMESTER AND THE DEGREE.

AND WE WERE INCREASINGLY SEEING ALL SORTS OF PEOPLE WANT EDUCATION IN THE PORTION THEY WANTED WHEN THEY WANTED IT IN THE FORMAT THEY WANTED IT IN, WHEREVER THEY WERE IN THE WORLD.

AND SO WE HAVE BEEN MOVING AGGRESSIVELY NOT JUST IN THE LAW SCHOOL, BUT LAW SCHOOL CERTAINLY WAS THE LEADER IN THAT.

BUT WITH THE PANDEMIC HITTING, IT'S BEEN ACCELERATED SUBSTANTIALLY.

>> LET ME CHANGE UP.

WE TALKED ABOUT MONEY AND ECONOMIC IMPACT A LOT ON THIS SHOW.

AND YOU MIGHT FIND THIS INTERESTING.

I DID AN INTERVIEW WITH THE ONONDAGA COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY A COUPLE OF SHOWS AGO AND HE SAID AS IT RELATES TO THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF CRIME, OBVIOUSLY IN A NEGATIVE WAY, HE SAID THERE ARE THREE AREAS THAT WE CONCENTRATE ON.

NOW THAT THE CRIME IS ANY LESS IMPORTANT BUT ECONOMIC STANDPOINT, ARMORY SQUARE, PUBLIC DOWNTOWN DESTINY AND GUESS WHERE?

>> SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY.

>> SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY CAMPUS AND SURROUNDING AREAS, MAJOR, MAJOR IMPACT.

SO WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT DECISIONS YOU ARE MAKING UP HERE, AGAIN, IT MUST ENTER YOUR MIND THAT YOU HAVE SUCH AN IMPACT ON NOT JUST SYRACUSE BUT THE SURROUNDING AREAS.

IT IS A MAJOR CENTER.

>> SO, OF COURSE I DO.

I GREW UP IN UPSTATE NEW YORK AND MY FATHER WORKED FOR EASTERN KODAK AND I WATCHED KODAK GO FROM BEING A DOMINANT ECONOMIC FORCE AND HAVING A SPECTACULAR CAMPUS LIKE KODAK PARK DID WITH 50,000 EMPLOYEES, TO BEING A SHADOW AND SHELL OF ITSELF, LARGELY BECAUSE OF SOME MANAGEMENT DECISIONS TO BE COMFORTABLE AND COMPLACENT RATHER THAN TO LOOK AT THE FUTURE AND DO WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO REMAIN A MAIN STAY OF THE REGION.

AND SO WHEN I LOOK OUT AT THIS CAMPUS, I FEEL THAT RESPONSIBILITY, THAT WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO BE A MAINSTAY AND THERE ARE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF JOBS THAT ARE HERE BECAUSE OF THE STUDENTS, FACULTY AND STAFF HERE.

AND THAT MEANS THAT WE ACTUALLY HAVE TO CHANGE SOMETIMES IN ORDER TO GROW AND BE DYNAMIC.

AND CHANGE IS UNCOMFORTABLE FOR PEOPLE.

>> BIG TOPIC IN THE NEWS, MICRON.

>> YEAH.

>> YOU'VE HEARD?

LISTEN, I DON'T KNOW MUCH BUT I KNOW THAT IT'S NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO GET A $100 BILLION COMMITMENT FROM AN ENTITY UNLESS A LOT OF PARTIES COME TOGETHER.

AND ON THE POLITICAL SIDE WE HAD A GOVERNOR WORKING WITH A U.S.

SENATOR WORKING WITH A COUNTY EXECUTIVE WORKING WITH A MAYOR ON THE.

ON THE BUSINESS SIDE YOU HAD ALL THESE BUSINESS LEADERS, CENTERSTATE C.E.O.

INVOLVED.

BUT THE OTHER PART OF IT WAS OUR SCHOOLS.

AND I CAN'T HELP BUT WONDER, SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY PERHAPS, YOU PERSONALLY, HAD TO HAVE A HAND IN SECURING MICRON.

>> I THINK PROBABLY THE MAIN ROLE WE PLAYED WAS HELPING TO CONVINCE THE MICRON FOLKS THAT THERE WAS A TALENT POOL HERE, BOTH NATIVE TO HERE AND COMING THROUGH HERE BECAUSE THE UNIVERSITY, INCLUDING VETERANS, THAT MADE IT AN ATTRACTIVE PLACE.

>> I SAW A CLIP OF YOU FROM A PRESS CONFERENCE WHERE, I MEAN, NO DISRESPECT.

IT SEEMED MOST ANIMATED I'VE SEEN YOU.

AND I THINK I'M QUOTING WHEN I SAY SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT, YOU SAID I'VE NEVER BEEN MORE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE FUTURE OF CENTRAL NEW YORK THAN I AM NOW.

NOW THOSE ARE BIG WORDS.

AND I WONDER WERE YOU CAUGHT UP IN THE MOMENT?

ARE WE PUTTING TOO MUCH ON MICRON?

OR DID YOU REALLY MEAN THAT?

>> NO, THAT IS WHAT I REALLY BELIEVE.

WE ARE GOING TO GROW.

THERE IS GOING TO BE POTENTIAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR EVERYBODY.

BUT IT'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF HARD WORK.

>> DON'T MEAN TO BE SILLY ABOUT THIS IN THE LEAST BUT IT'S THAT ANALOGY THAT THE DOG THAT CHASES THE BUS AND NOW THE DOG HAS CAUGHT THE BUS.

NOW WHAT?

MEERN IS COMING-- MICRON IS COMING AND TO WHAT YOU SAID A MOMENT AGO, WE HAVE A NOW WHAT MOMENT IN THAT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF HURDLES WE HAVE TO GET OVER, BUT FROM S.U.

'S PERSPECTIVE, AND FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE, MAYBE TWO YOU CAN HELP WITH.

NUMBER ONE, HOW TO ATTRACT AND BRING IN THE THOUSANDS OF WORKERS WE ARE GOING TO NEED AND MORE SPECIFICALLY WE NEED TO EDUCATE THEM.

SOME OF THESE ARE VERY SPECIALIZED JOBS.

CAN S.U.

HELP WITH THAT?

>> WELL, OF COURSE.

AND WE ARE.

WE ARE COORDINATING CONSORTIUM OF EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS FOR MICRON THAT IS FOCUSING ON THE TRAINING, THE CERTIFICATION, THE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS THAT WILL PRODUCE THAT WORKFORCE.

AND OF COURSE WE CAN DO IT BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE DO NOW.

I MEAN THIS BUILDING, 25,000 PEOPLE ARE TRAINED OUT OF THIS BUILDING EVERY YEAR.

>> THE VETERANS.

>> AS THEY COME OUT OF THE MILITARY FOR JOBS WITH BOEING AND ALL SORTS OF COMPANIES AROUND THE WORLD.

WE ARE JUST ABOUT TO DO IT FOR A COMPANY HERE.

AND WE HAVE PROGRAMS IN OUR COLLEGE PROFESSIONAL STUDIES, WHICH HAVE LONG EXISTED AND EXPANDED GREATLY THAT DO THE SAME THING.

>> WILL YOU NEED TO DEVELOP A SPECIALIZED CURRICULUM?

BECAUSE SOME OF THESE JOBS ARE QUITE SPECIALIZED.

>> WITH OUR PARTNERS, WHICH INCLUDE O.C.C.

AND LeMOYNE AND MANY INSTITUTIONS IN THE REGION.

>> GOOD, GOOD, GOOD.

>> OF COURSE WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BE NIMBLE AND ADAPT TO WHAT IS NEEDED; AS CANDIDLY INSTITUTIONS HERE HAVE FOR A LONG TIME.

I DON'T THINK IT'S A DOG THAT CAUGHT THE BUS.

I THINK IT'S, YOU KNOW, CINDERELLA AND PEOPLE SUDDENLY REALIZING SHE IS BEAUTIFUL.

>> I LIKE YOUR ANALOGY BETTER.

>> INCLUDING CINDERELLA REALIZING SHE IS BEAUTIFUL BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THIS WAS A BAD PLACE BEFORE MICRON.

I THINK IT WAS SPECTACULAR.

>> WHEN I SPOKE TO CONGRESSMAN KATKO, I SAID TO HIM AND HE AGREED, THAT THIS MICRON ANNOUNCEMENT, BIGGEST THING TO HIT CENTRAL NEW YORK SINCE THE ERIE CANAL, AND HE AGREED.

AND YET, CHANCELLOR, I REMEMBER SOMETIME AGO HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH PEOPLE WHEN THEY ANNOUNCED INTERSTATE 81.

AND WE SAID THEN, THIS IS THE BIGGEST THING TO HIT CENTRAL NEW YORK SINCE THE ERIE CANAL.

NOW WE HAVE TWO MAJOR PROJECTS.

AND MY QUESTION TO YOU, AS S.U.

'S CHANCELLOR, IS CENTRAL NEW YORK TAKING ON TOO MUCH AT THIS TIME?

CAN WE DO IT?

>> OF COURSE WE CAN DO IT.

THE THING TO REALIZE THOUGH IS WE SHOULD NOT BE CELEBRATING LIKE WE WON THE SUPER BOWL.

WE JUST GOT INTO THE COMPETITION.

WE HAVE HAD THE KICKOFF AND WE ARE ON THE 25-YARD LINE AND WE HAVE TO GET IT OVER THE GOAL LINE AND IT'S GOING TO BE HARD AND IT'S GOING HAVE SOME SURPRISES, OKAY?

AND IT'S GOING TO REQUIRE US TO DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY IN CENTRAL NEW YORK THAN WE HAVE DONE FOR MANY YEARS WITH WE WEREN'T GROWING.

I THINK WE'VE GOT THE ABILITY TO GENERATE A WORKFORCE AND TO ATTRACT PEOPLE TO THE REGION TO DO 81 AND MIESH MICRON AT THE SAME TIME AND CANDIDLY THERE WILL BE OTHER THINGS, TOO BECAUSE SUCCESS BREEDS SUCCESS.

BUT WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO VETO ANY TIME SOMEBODY WANTS TO BUILD A HOUSE AND HOUSE 50,000 NEW EMPLOYEES IN CENTRAL NEW YORK.

AND WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE THIS GROWTH AND NEVER WIDEN THE ROAD OR SEE A NEIGHBORHOOD CHANGE BECAUSE THEY ARE GOING TO CHANGE.

AND SO IT'S GOING TO REQUIRE SOME PATIENCE AND THIS WONDERFUL TEAM THAT WORK TOGETHER TO BRING THEM HERE, TO STICK TOGETHER IN THE CONTROVERSIES THAT ALSO WILL COME.

>> INTERSTATE 81 WILL PHYSICALLY CHANGE THE LANDSCAPE OF CENTRAL NEW YORK.

THAT'S A GIVEN.

DO YOU FEEL MICRON WILL CHANGE THE ECONOMIC LATCHED SCAPE-- LANDSCAPE?

>> I THINK WE WILL BECOME A MUCH MORE TECHNOLOGICALLY SOPHISTICATED REGION.

I THINK THE POPULATION WILL GROW AND I THINK THAT WILL CHANGE PATTERNS OF HOW YOU LIVE, WORK AND SHOP.

AND IN WAYS THAT I CAN'T FULLY PREDICT.

AND I SAY THAT BECAUSE I WATCHED IT HAPPEN IN NASHVILLE AND THERE IS CHANGES IN NASHVILLE THAT THOSE OF US THAT WORKED ON TRYING TO PREPARE FOR IT, COULD NOT HAVE IMAGINED.

IN 1997.

>> I ATTEMPT TO STEWARD IT ON A GOOD DAY.

YOUR WORDS NONETHELESS.

IT'S MAJOR.

IN YOUR ROLE, WHAT TYPE OF ADVICE-- WHAT GUIDANCE MIGHT YOU GIVE OUR POLITICAL LEADERS, OUR BUSINESS LEADERS, AS WE NAVIGATE THROUGH THESE TWO MAJOR PROGRAMS.

81, MICRON.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO THEM AND WHAT SHOULD WE AVOID?

WHAT SHOULD WE WATCH OUT FOR?

>> WELL, COMING BACK TO WHAT YOU WERE DESCRIBING, THE POLARIZATION AND PARTISANSHIP, FOCUS ON WHERE WE COME FROM.

WE HAVE HAD POLITICAL LEADERS FROM BOTH PARTIES, JOHN KATKO, RYAN McMAHON, BEN WALSH, KATHY HOCHUL, WHO PUT ASIDE THEIR PARTY ALLEGIANCES AS THE PRIMARY ALLEGIANCE AND DID WHAT WAS NECESSARY FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE REGION.

AND THEY DID IT OCCASIONALLY KNOWING THEY MIGHT NOT GET ALL THE CREDIT FOR THE HARD WORK THEY ACTUALLY DID.

AND THEY WERE ALL GREAT LEADERS IN DOING THIS.

AND SO FIRST OF ALL I FEEL UNBELIEVABLY FORTUNATE THAT THAT WAS THE TEAM WE HAD IN PLACE WHEN THIS OPPORTUNITY CAME.

SO WE NEED TO REPLICATE THAT.

WE NEED TO KEEP BOTH THE PUBLIC SERVANTS AND THEIR PRIVATE PARTNERS FROM WHICH I'M PROUD TO BE ONE, TO REMEMBER THAT YOU HAVE GOT TO DO THE RIGHT THING FOR THE REGION EVEN THOUGH SOMETIMES YOU WON'T GET THE RIGHT CREDIT FOR IT.

>> WE COULD HAVE SPENT MORE TIME AT S.U.

TALKING WITH HIM, BUT OUR THANKS AGAIN TO SU CHANCELLOR KENT SYVERUD -- IT WAS A PLEASURE TALKING WITH HIM AND LEARNING MORE ABOUT ALL THAT SU IS DOING.

WELL, THAT'S IT FOR TONIGHT - AND OUR SEASON.

WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS PAST YEAR AS WE'VE BROUGHT YOU SOME PEOPLE, BUSINESSES AND OTHER HAPPENINGS WHICH CONTINUE TO SHAPE THE CENTRAL NEW YORK ECONOMY.

BUT EVEN THOUGH OUR SEASON IS OVER, IT'S IMPORTANT WE STILL HEAR FROM YOU - 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, PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT WCNY.ORG/ONTHEMONEY.

AND YOU CAN FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.

FROM ALL OF US WHO BRING YOU ON THE MONEY, I'M DANIEL PLUFF, THANKS AGAIN FOR WATCHING.