>> COMING UP TONIGHT: JOIN US AS WE HIGHLIGHT THE ROME CAPITOL THEATRE AND HOW THEY'RE USING GRANTS TO BRING THE THEATRE BACK TO ITS HISTORICAL STATE OF THE 1930'S.

THEN, SEE HOW THE POLICE ACADEMY AT HERKIMER COLLEGE IS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF VIRTUAL REALITY TO TRAIN THEIR WORKFORCE.

AND FOR OUR SPOTLIGHT J DANIEL PLUFF SIT DOWN WITH THE CEO OF BYRNE DAIRY CARL BYRNE TO LEARN ABOUT THIS FAMILY OWNED COMPANY THAT HAS BEEN SUPPORTING LOCAL AGRICULTURE SINCE 1933.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> 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 LAIZA SEMIDEY.

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.

ROME NEW YORK.

THE ROME CAPITOL THEATRE SECURED A $2.5 MILLION-DOLLAR GRANT THROUGH THE NEW YORK STATE DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION INITIATIVE TO RESTORE ITS THEATRE FACADE TO ITS ORIGINAL 1930'S STATE.

LET'S TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THIS EXCITING INITIATIVE.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> AS THE LARGEST PLAY HOUSE EVER BUILT IN ROME, IT WAS BUILT AT A TIME WHEN WE HAD A THRIVING DOWNTOWN AND WE WENT THROUGH SOME DIFFICULT TIMES IN ROME.

WE WENT THROUGH URBAN RENEWAL IN THE 1970s, GRIFFITH AIR FORCE BASE LEAVING IN THE 1990S, AND ROME KIND OF HIT ROCK BOTTOM I.

HAS BOUNDED BACK A BIT AND WE LIKE TO THINK THE CAPITAL THEATER IS A LARGE PART OF THAT.

ROME RECEIVED A GRANT OF $10 MILLION, CAPITAL THEATER RECEIVED $2.5 MILLION, PART OF THE DOWNTOWN INITIATIVE.

WE RESTORED THE THEATER TO 1939 AND THE FACADE TO 128, THE ORIGINAL MARQUIS AND SIGN.

>> SO THE CAPITAL WE LIKE TO THINK OF AS ROME'S LIVING ROOM.

THE PLACE WHERE EVERYBODY COMES TO DO THINGS WE ARE WE ARE WHERE GOING TO BE TOGETHER.

A LOT OF IT HAD SEEN BETTER DAYS SO WE WERE LOOKING FOR RESTORATION OF PLASTER, RESTORATION OF SEATS SOME WE BROUGHT BACK THE ORIGINAL STYLE CARPET.

WE PAINTED EVERY SURFACE IN THE BUILDING.

>> CONTRACTORS WERE ABLE TO TAKE A CAST OF THINGS THAT EXISTED AND RECREATE A PIECE THAT HAD BEEN THERE BEFORE AND HAVE IT LOOK SEAMLESS WHICH IS REALLY FASCINATING TO WATCH.

>> WE HAD A $40,000 GRANT FROM THE COUNTY, ONEIDA COUNTY, TO GO TOWARDS OUR HVAC SYSTEM.

WHAT WE REALLY WANTED TO DO WITH THAT FUNDING IS ELIMINATE THE DISCOMFORT THAT PEOPLE MIGHT HAVE THAT TAKES THEM AWAY FROM THAT IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE.

>> THE LARGEST PART OF THIS IS THE MARQUIS AND BLADE SIGN AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T JUST AFFECT THE... AFFECT THE OPERATION.

IT AFFECTS THE WHOLE DOWNTOWN AND WHOLE CITY OF ROME BECAUSE IT'S VISIBLE FROM ALL OVER THE PLACE AND THAT'S BROUGHT MOORE EVENTS INTO THE BUILDING AND OF COURSE THEY ALL PLAY ON EACH OTHER.

SO THE MORE EVENTS WE BRING HERE, THE MORE VIABLE WE ARE.

>> WE HAVE A COMBINATION OF EARNED INCOME WHICH IS OUR ACTUAL TICKET SALES, AND THAT ROUGHLY COVERS MAYBE 40 TO 50% IN A GIVEN YEAR.

WE HAVE DONORS THAT WILL GIVE TO OUR ANNUAL FUND.

SO OUR FUNDS PROGRAM, SO PEOPLE WHO ARE LOYAL AND COME A LOT AND THEY'RE LIKE WE WANT TO GIVE YOU GENERAL MONEY DO WHAT YOU DO BECAUSE WE RESPECT THAT AND WE APPRECIATE WHAT YOU ARE DOING NOW SO WE TRUST TO YOU DO THAT.

WE'VE ALWAYS HAD DREAMS TO CREATE LIKE A LITTLE THEATRICAL MUSEUM FOR ROME.

SO SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO OUR 95th ANNIVERSARY AND GOING INTO OUR 100th ANNIVERSARY, WE WANT TO REDOUBLE OUR EFFORTS TO FOCUS ON THE HISTORICAL NATURE OF THE BUILDING.

SO GOING AFTER MORE PRESERVATION GRANTS, GOING AFTER MORE HISTORICAL AWARENESS GRANTS, WHERE WE ARE ABLE TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE BUILDING.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE CONFUSED ABOUT THE FACT THAT A THEATER LIKE THIS WAS BUILT TO SHOW MOVIES, BUT IN THE 20s AND 30S, THIS IS A FAIRLY COMMON PLACE TYPE STRUCTURE FOR EXHIBITING MOVIES.

WE DON'T FORGET OUR HISTORY.

WE KNOW WE OPENED AS A MOVIE THEATER.

WE ARE NOT ASHAMED OF THAT.

WE ARE PROUD OF THAT AND SHOW MOVIES ON A REGULAR BASIS IN ADDITION TO LIVE PERFORMANCE AND SOMETHING WE INTEND TO CONTINUE DOING.

UP NEXT IS OUR COMMON CENTS AND JOINING US TONIGHT IS VICKI BRACKENS, PRESIDENT & FINANCIAL PLANNER AT BRACKENS FINANCIAL SOLUTIONS NETWORK, LLC.

SO I'M BRINGING YOU ON BECAUSE IT HAS GOTTEN VERY EXPENSIVE TO JUST LIVE LIFE.

AND MY QUESTION TO YOU IS WHY IS IT SO EXPENSIVE TO BE SINGLE?

>> ONE OF THE KEY THINGS THAT YOU HAVE TO REALIZE IS THAT WHEN YOU ARE SINGLE, THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR EVERYTHING IS YOURS AS FAR AS ALL OF YOUR FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS AND EXPENSES.

BECAUSE OF THAT, YOU PROBABLY ARE GOING TO SPEND ANYWHERE FROM 6 TO $9,000 MORE PER YEAR ON THE SAME THING THAT A MARRIED COUPLE OR TWO PEOPLE LIVING TOGETHER WOULD BECAUSE YOU ARE PAYING FOR EVERYTHING YOURSELF.

SO, YOU KNOW, UNFORTUNATELY, YOU GET THE GOOD WITH THE BAD.

THERE IS NICE, YOU KNOW, FREEDOM IN BEING SINGLE.

BUT THAT FREEDOM COMES WITH A COST.

>> IT SURE DOES.

WITH THAT BEING SAID, IS THERE A BENEFIT TO BEING MARRIED OR HAVING SOMEONE IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD?

>> WELL,THE TAX LAWS SAY SO.

>> OKAY.

>> BECAUSE THE FIRST THING YOU SHOULD NOTICE IS THAT WHEN YOU ARE LOOKING AT THE TAX LAWS RELATIVE TO BEING MARRIED, A FEW YEARS AGO, BACK IN I THINK IT'S LIKE 2017, THEY CORRECTED ONE OF THE ISSUES AS FAR AS THE MARRIAGE PENALTY SO THAT NOW THERE IS A LURING OF THE EXPENSE AS FAR AS YOUR TAXES ARE CONCERNED IN BEING MARRIED.

AS A SINGLE INDIVIDUAL NOW, YOU ARE ACTUALLY PAYING ABOUT 40% MORE IN TAXES THAN A MARRIED COUPLE WOULD.

I KNOW THAT-- I'M SORRY.

THAT'S THE IMPACT OF THAT.

SO-- BUT THE OTHER THING IS THIS.

SOME OF THE DEDUCTIONS YOU HAVE AS FAR AS CHILD CARE CREDITS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE ARE ALSO MORE IMPACTFUL AS A MARRIED COUPLE.

AND THE THIRD THING THOUGH IS AT FACT THAT AGAIN, YOU ARE SHARING EXPENSES AND THAT SHARING OF EXPENSE MAKES IT MUCH EASIER TO LIVE AND, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DON'T TALK ABOUT A LOT IS THE ACCOUNTABILITY ISSUE.

AS A SINGLE INDIVIDUAL, WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO STAY ON BUDGET, WHO ARE YOU ACCOUNTABLE TO?

AS A PERSON WHO HAS A PARTNER OR A MARRIED COUPLE, YOU HAVE SOMEONE THERE AS YOUR ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNER.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

REALLY QUICKLY.

WHAT ARE SOME THINGS AS SINGLE PEOPLE WE SHOULD LOOK AT AS FAR AS FINANCIALS AND BUDGETING?

>> I ALWAYS FOCUS ON A COUPLE OF THINGS.

ONE IS YOUR CASH FLOW, AS FAR AS ARE LIQUIDITY SHOULD BE HIGHER.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE GREAT DISABILITY COVERAGE, THERE IS NO ONE YOU CAN DEPEND ON IF YOU ARE OUT FROM WORK BECAUSE YOU ARE DISABLED.

SO PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR DISABILITY COVERAGE.

AND THE THIRD THING IS WHAT I WOULD CALL COLLECTIVE PURCHASING.

>> OKAY.

>> PURCHASE WITH OTHERS IN BULK AND DIVIDE AND THEN WOULD YOU GET THE BENEFITS OF COLLECTIVE PURCHASING.

AND DIVIDE AND THEN WOULD YOU GET THE BENEFITS OF COLLECTIVE TONIGHTCOMING ON TONIGHT VICKI BRACKENS, I'M DELIGHTED TO HAVE YOU HERE OUR THANKS AGAIN TO VICKI BRACKENS, PRESIDENT & FINANCIAL PLANNER AT BRACKENS FINANCIAL SOLUTIONS NETWORK, LLC FOR JOINING US TONIGHT TO DISCUSS WHY IT IS SO EXPENSIVE TO BE SINGLE, THANK YOU!

ON TO OUR TECH BYTES SEGMENT • THE HERKIMER COLLEGE POLICE ACADEMY HAS INTRODUCED A NEW METHOD FOR TRAINING CADETS TO BECOME POLICE OFFICERS.

THE VIRTRA SYSTEM PROVIDES REALISTIC TRAINING TO CADETS IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT.

USING THIS VIRTUAL REALITY SYSTEM, POLICE OFFICERS ARE TRAINED IN AREAS LIKE DE-ESCALATION, USE OF FORCE, INTERACTING WITH MENTALLY ILL OR DISABLED PEOPLE, AND COMMUNICATION AND DECISION-MAKING.

TAKE A LOOK!

>> HERKIMER COLLEGE HAS HAD BASIC COURSE FOR POLICE HERE FOR FIVE YEARS NOW, AND OVER THE FIVE YEARS, WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT RAMPING UP OUR TRAINING FOR STUDENTS AND CADETS TO BETTER PREPARE THEM FOR THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON ON THE STREET IN TODAY'S DAY IN LAW ENFORCEMENT.

SO, IN THAT DISCUSSION, THE VIRTUAL SIMULATOR WAS PUT ON THE AGENDA TO PURCHASE AND THIS YEAR BECAME A REALITY.

>> THE MONEY TO PURCHASE THIS SIMULATOR CAME FROM A GRANT FROM SUNY.

IT WAS ROUGHLY ABOUT $400,000, SOMEWHERE IN THAT RANGE.

THAT WHOLE TOTAL GRANT MONEY WE GOT WENT TO NOT JUST THE SIMULATOR BUT ALSO ALL THE EQUIPMENT, THE FURNITURE.

AND NOW WE HAVE A DEDICATED CLASS FOR THE ACADEMY WHICH WE DIDN'T HAVE BEFORE.

VIRTUAL TRAINING SIMULATOR HAS OVER 500 SKILL SETS, MARKSMANSHIP AND SCENARIO-BASED TRAINING TO FULLY IMMERSE THE RECRUIT INTO REAL LIFE SCENARIO.

THE MANY SCENARIOS THAT ARE IN THE SYSTEM, SCHOOLS, BYESES.

PARK, STREETS, ALL DIFFERENT LOCATIONS, AND THE SYSTEM ALSO PROVIDES THE ABILITY TO BUILD A SCENARIO WITH WHATEVER ENVIRONMENT THAT YOU WANT TO ALSO.

SO WE CAN BASICALLY RECREATE AN ACTUAL INCIDENT ON THE STREET.

WE CAN CHANGE UP A LOT OF THE VAIRATIONS OF HOW THAT, THE OUTCOMES OF THAT INCIDENT, BASED ON THE ACTIONS OF THE CADET.

>> DROP THE KNIFE.

THERE YOU.

>> >> WE JUST WANT TO HELP YOU.

DROP THE KNIFE.

>> BUT IT ON THE GROUND.

PUT THE KNIFE ON THE GROUND.

>> IT'S OKAY.

>> USING THE CELL PHONES AND TABLETS AND COMPUTERS, THE ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE WITH PEOPLE REAL LIFE IS SOMETHING WE DEFINITELY NEED TO TRAIN.

THIS SIMULATOR ALLOWS US TO CREATE THAT AND WE BASICALLY FORCE THEM TO HAVE TO, IF THEY DON'T INTERACT AND LEARN HOW TO TALK TO SOMEBODY AND LEARN HOW TO DEESCALATE THAT, BAD THINGS HAPPEN.

>> BEING ABLE TO IMMERSE YOURSELF INTO A SITUATION THAT IS REALISTIC BUT YET NOT REAL, I MEAN HOPEFULLY YOU DON'T EVER HAVE TO GO INTO A REAL SCENARIO TO TRAIN.

SO BEING ABLE TO TRAIN IN SOMETHING LIKE THIS, I THINK, WILL DEFINITELY GIVE US THE UPPER HAND TO REPEATEDLY GO IN AND GO AT IT TO REHEARSE AND KNOW EXACTLY WHAT TO DO IN THOSE SITUATIONS.

>> SO WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A DECISION AND THEN HAVE CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM ON HOW TO MAKE A BETTER DECISION.

>> ABLE TO CRITIQUE THAT AFTERWARDS AND CHANGE THE WAY THEY HANDLED THE SITUATION AND GIVE THEM OTHER OPTIONS.

LETHAL FORCE IS A GO-TO, ALWAYS HISTORICALLY TRAINED.

TEACHING THEM LESS LETHAL, POSSIBLY LESS LETHAL OPTIONS AND BEING ABLE TO GO BACK AND FORTH BECAUSE SOMETIMES LESS LETHAL IS NOT AN OPTION.

>> KNOWING YOU ARE GOING HAVE A SPLIT SECOND TO MAKE A DECISION.

IT'S DEFINITELY IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY FOR SOMEBODY THAT HAS NEVER BEEN IN A SITUATION THAT IS SO LIKE, YOU NEED TO CHOOSE WHETHER YOU ARE GOING TO USE LETHAL OPTION OR NON-LETHAL OPTION.

AND THAT COULD ALSO COST YOU YOUR LIFE, YOUR JOB OR SOMEBODY ELSE'S LIFE IMPORTANTLY.

>> IT IS INEVITABLE THERE IS GOING TO BE AN IMPROVEMENT BY THE TIME THEY GET TO THE SECOND PHASE OF THE PROGRAM, AND THE END AND TO THE STREET.

ALTHOUGH WE HAVEN'T SEEN IT YET, I GUARANTEE WE ARE GOING TO SEE IT IN THE END.

>> DO YOU HAVE KIDS IN COLLEGE OR SOON TO HAVE KIDS IN COLLEGE?

LISTEN UP TONIGHT FOR BY THE NUMBERS WE LEARN ABOUT THE NEW FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID.

AKA FAFSA.

AFTER YEARS IN THE MAKING, FAFSA HAS MADE SIGNIFICANT CHANGES THAT COULD AFFECT FINANCIAL AID PACKAGES.

HERE ARE SOME OF THE MAJOR CHANGES: THE TIMELINE FOR COLLEGES TO REVIEW, OFFER A FINANCIAL AID PACKAGE AND FOR FAMILIES TO CHOOSE THEIR SCHOOL HAS BEEN CONDENSED BY THREE MONTHS SO IF YOU HAVE MULTIPLE SCHOOLS YOU'RE CONSIDERING ADD THEM ALL TO YOUR FAFSA SO THERE'S NO DELAYS APPLICATION IS SHORTER AND SIMPLER.

QUESTIONS ON THE FORM HAVE BEEN CUT BY NEARLY HALF.

MORE STUDENTS WILL QUALIFY FOR PELL GRANTS.

AND GET THE MAXIMUM AWARD OF UP TO 7400 THIS YEAR.

FAMILIES WITH MULTIPLE KIDS WILL NO LONGER GET A DISCOUNT.

I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU ABOUT THE I THINK I NEED TO START A 529 ACCOUNT FOR MY SON.

THESE ARE YOUR NUMBERS FOR TONIGHT!

WE CONTINUE NOW WITH OUR SPOTLIGHT SERIES WITH J DANIEL PLUFF.

THE SERIES HIGHLIGHTS BUSINESSES AND PEOPLE DOING SOMETHING SPECIAL IN OUR AREA.

IT'S HARD TO KEEP A FAMILY BUSINESS RUNNING AFTER A GENERATION OR TWO, BUT FOUR GENERATIONS AND NEARLY ONE HUNDRED YEARS LATER, LOCALLY OWNED BYRNE DAIRY IS DOING BETTER THAN EVER.

IT MAY SURPRISE YOU HOW THIS 'OLD SCHOOL' BUSINESS WHICH STARTED OUT JUST BOTTLING AND DELIVERING MILK, HAS GROWN AND NOW EMPLOYS SEVERAL HUNDRED EMPLOYEES.

BUT IT WASN'T ALWAYS EASY AND THE BYRNE FAMILY DIDN'T GET ITS START IN THE MILK BUSINESS AT ALL.

ON THE MONEY'S DANIEL PLUFF MET WITH CARL BYRNE, THE COMPANY'S PRESIDENT, TO LEARN ABOUT BYRNE DAIRY'S HISTORY, ITS CURRENT OPERATIONS AND WHAT MAY BE IN STORE FOR THIS LOCAL COMPANY THAT SHIPS ITS PRODUCTS GLOBALLY.

>> THANKS FOR HOSTING US HERE AT THE HEADQUARTERS IN DEWITT.

ON PREVIOUS SHOWS WE HAVE DONE, WE TALK A LOT WITH SMALLER COMPANIES START-UPS, COMPANIES COMING OUT OF THE TECH GARDEN, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE BRAND NEW.

BYRNE DAIRY, I MEAN YOU ARE PUSHING 100 YEARS.

YOU HAVE BEEN AROUND.

THAT'S PRETTY IMPRESSIVE.

YOU STARTED OFF BASICALLY JUST IN DOWNTOWN SYRACUSE, CORRECT?

AND THEN KIND OF EXPANDED A LITTLE BIT FROM THERE BUT BACK IN THE DAY, IT WAS PRETTY MUCH JUST ALL BOTTLED MILK, RIGHT?

THAT WAS THE BUSINESS.

>> YES, IN THE, IN REALLY A SMALL PART OF THE CITY, MAYBE ONE MILE RADIUS OF THE PLANT.

>> YEAH I WAS THINKING THERE WAS NO PROBABLY GOOD REFRIGERATION TECHNOLOGY.

YOU COULDN'T GO VERY FAR WITH IT, RIGHT?

>> HORSE AND BUGGY.

>> EXACTLY.

I SAW OR READ AN INTERESTING SIDELINE THAT IT WAS MATTHEW WHO WAS YOUR GRANDFATHER, CORRECT?

>> YES.

>> STARTED OUT IN THE TIRE BUSINESS, WENT THROUGH THE CRASH OF 1929 AND ALL OF A SUDDEN NOW WE ARE IN MILK.

IS THAT WHAT HAPPENED REALLY?

>> YEAH, HE WAS IN THE TIRE BUSINESS AND IN THE BASEMENT OF THE BYRNE SQUARE BUILDING WHICH STILL SITS ON GENESEE STREET IN SYRACUSE, SOME GUYS RENTED OUT THE BASEMENT AND THEY WERE GOING TO BUILD A DAIRY IN 1928 AND THEY RAN OUT OF MONEY.

THE MARKET CRASHED.

AND HE STRUGGLED AS WELL IN THE TIRE BUSINESS, BUT IN '33, HE GOT SOME MONEY FROM TERRY BURELL AND FINISHED THE DAIRY PLANT HIMSELF AND THAT'S HOW WE GOT STARTED IN THE DAIRY BUSINESS.

>> THAT WAS A GOOD MOVE FOLLOWING THE CRASH OF '29.

IT WORKED OUT.

LET'S MOVE INTO CURRENT AND FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS.

IF I HAVE IT, 1970s RANGE, NOW BYRNE DAIRY IS GOING OUT AND GOING DIRECTLY TO THE FARMS TO PICK UP MILK, CORRECT?

>> STARTED PICKING UP MILK A LITTLE EARLIER THAN THAT, MAYBE AS LATE AS THE LATE 50s.

>> OKAY, YEAH AND WHAT WAS THE BENEFIT OF THAT?

HOW DID YOU BENEFIT FROM THAT?

>> WELL, WITH GOING TO THE FARM, YOU CUT OUT THE MIDDLE MAN AND YOU ARE NOT COUNTING ON SOMEONE ELSE TO BUY THE MILK, PROCURE THE MILK AND THE QUALITY OF THE MILK YOU CAN MANAGE IF YOU PICK IT UP DIRECTLY AND HAVE A RELATIONSHIP DIRECTLY WITH THE FARMERS.

SOME OF THE FARMS THAT STARTED IN THE 60sS AND THE EARLY 70s ARE STILL WITH US TODAY.

>> WHICH IS KIND OF NEAT.

>> AND IT'S A SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP.

YOU KNOW, WE ARE COMMITTED TO THEM.

THEY'RE COMMITTED TO US.

WE KNOW ALL ABOUT THEIR FARM.

THEY KNOW ALL ABOUT BYRNE.

AND WE HAVE A GROWTH PLAN FOR THEM AND FOR US THAT WORKS HAND IN HAND.

>> I WOULD THINK THAT ALL OF WHAT YOU ARE PRODUCING, ALL OF WHAT YOU ARE MAKING ON THE DAIRY SIDE IS ALL LOCAL, RIGHT?

ALL FROM FARMS AROUND THE REGION.

IS THERE SOME ADDED BENEFIT TO THAT, DO YOU THINK, OPPOSED TO WHAT WE MIGHT FIND ON A WIDER BASIS, NATIONAL CHAIN OR WHATEVER?

IS IS THERE A BENEFIT TO THE LOCAL FARMERS?

>> THE LOCAL FARMER DOESN'T HAVE TO PAY TRANSPORTATION COST.

TYPICALLY THE WAY THE GOVERNMENT SET UP MILK PRICING FOR THE FARMS, THE FARMER HAS TO PAY TO GET IT TO MARKET SO IF HE HAS A BUYER IN BOSTON OR PHILADELPHIA OR THE CAROLINAS, HE HAS TO PAY THAT FREIGHT.

IF HE HAS A BUYER HERE IN CENTRAL NEW YORK, YOU KNOW, FREIGHT MIGHT BE 10% OF WHAT IT IS.

SO MORE MONEY ENDS UP STAYING AT THE FARM.

>> AND YOU CONTRACT, RIGHT?

YOU ARE-- THE FARMS HAVE A CONTRACT WITH YOU OR VICE VERSE HAVE, TO PROVIDE THE PRODUCT.

>> AS MUCH MILK AS THEY MAKE EVERY MONTH, EVERY YEAR, I HAVE TO BUY IT ALL.

>> I WAS GETTING TO THE POINT THOUGH THAT I THINK SOME PEOPLE -- AND I'M ONE OF THEM-- YOU ALMOST WANT TO SUPPORT LOCAL SO YOU KNOW, YOUR PRODUCT COMES LOCALLY, YOU SELL IT LOCALLY.

YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE IS SOME ADVANTAGES TO THAT MAYBE, TOO.

I MEAN YOU ARE EMPLOYING PEOPLE OBVIOUSLY.

IT'S ALL A NICE CIRCLE, I THINK.

>> YEAH, ANY TIME YOU CAN BUY, YOU KNOW, GROW SOME CORN IN CAYUGA COUNTY OR ONONDAGA COUNTY AND HAVE FARMS THERE AND BRING IT IN AND PROCESS IT THROUGH THE MILK PLANT AND GO TO THE LOCAL GROCERY STORE AND BUY IT, I MEAN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT A RIPPLE THROUGH THE ECONOMY.

>> SURE.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE PROCESS BEFORE I TALK TO YOU ABOUT EXPANSION AND ALL OF THAT.

I REALLY DON'T KNOW A LOT OF WHAT HAPPENS.

BUT I MEAN I GET IT BASICALLY, YOUR TAKER SHOWS UP TAKES THE FRESH MILK FROM A LOCAL FARM BUT THEN WHAT HAPPENS?

WHAT IS THE PROCESS FROM THERE?

>> FROM THE FARM, THEY COME DIRECTLY TO THE PLANT.

WE OFF LOAD IT.

IT IS STORED IN A SILO BRIEFLY, MAYBE UP TO 24 HOURS, AND THEN WE RUN IT THROUGH THE PLANT.

WE PASTEURIZE IT.

>> THE BIG SILOS I SEE OUTSIDE?

THAT'S WHAT YOU ARE STORING MILK IN THOSE?

>> AND CREEP.

THERE IS A BIG CREAM FACILITY AS WELL.

WE PROCESS A LOT OF HEAVY CREAM AND MAKE A LOT OF HALF & HALF HERE.

>> ONE THING I WAS THINKING ABOUT.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S A CHALLENGE FOR YOU OR WHAT, BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU CONTROL THE SUPPLY-DEMAND EQUATION.

BECAUSE ON THE ONE HAND I'M THINKING MAYBE THERE IS TIMES WHEN THERE IS MORE MILK IN CONSUMPTION, IT OCCURS TO ME THAT WE EAT MORE ICE CREAM IN JULY THAN IN FEBRUARY.

BUT NO ONE TELLS THE COWS THAT.

I MEAN THEY'RE STILL PRODUCING MILK.

SO HOW DO YOU CONTROL WHAT I THINK MIGHT BE A SUPPLY-DEMAND ISSUE?

>> WE EXCLUSIVELY BUY FROM THE FARMS THAT CONTRACT WITH US BUT WE ALSO CONTRACT WITH MILK COOPERATIVES IN THE AREA AND THEY WILL FLOAT WITH US AND MEET THOSE EBB AND FLOWS OF SUPPLY AND DEMAND.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE FOURTH QUARTER, FOR EXAMPLE, PEOPLE EAT MORE FOOD IN THE FOURTH QUARTER THAN ANY OTHER TIME AND THAT'S WHEN THIS PLANT IS THE BUSIEST.

>> THANKSGIVING AND CHRISTMAS.

>> RIGHT.

>> SO SOME WEEKS I WILL BE BRINGING IN, YOU KNOW, 50 TO 100 TRACTOR-TRAILER LOADS OF MILK IN THE FACILITY IN ADDITION TO WHAT WE NORMALLY RUN.

THAT IS SUPPLIED BY LOCAL MILK COOPERATIVES.

>> AS YOU HAVE BRANCHED OUT, IS MILK STILL THE CORE PRODUCT?

WE TALK MONEY A LOT ON THIS SHOW.

WHERE IS THE PROFIT MARGIN THE GREATEST FOR YOU?

IS IT MILK OR IN THE STORES OR, YOU KNOW, WHERE IS YOUR EMPHASIS THESE DAYS.

>> THERE ARE TWO SEPARATE BUSINESSES.

WE PROCESS THE MILK.

HALF ABD HALF HEAVY CREAM, ORGANIC MILK AND THE STORES OBVIOUSLY ARE BASICALLY A CONVENIENT STORE WITH A FOOD OFFERING.

THE STORES ARE BIGGER IN SALES RIGHT NOW.

THEY'RE ALSO BIGGER IN PROFITS.

THAT HASN'T ALWAYS BEEN THE CASE BUT THAT'S BEEN MORE THE CASE THE LAST FIVE YEARS.

>> THERE WAS A BIG MOVE.

JUST FROM ME LOOKING AT IT, IT SEALS LIKE THEY STARTED OUT WITH SMALLER STORES AND YOU ARE UP TO 70 OR 90 STORES OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

>> 74 STORES.

>> 74 STORES AND NOT ONLY THAT, I HAVE BEEN IN A COUPLE THAT ARE BIG.

>> SO MY BROTHER, MARK, STARTED HERE THE SAME YEAR I STARTED RIGHT OUT OF COLLEGE IN 197.

HE RAN THE STORE DIVISION AND I RAN THE DAIRY PROCESSING DIVISION AND HE HAD TO REBUILD ALL THOSE STORES.

AT ONE TIME THEY JUST SOLD MILK, ICE CREAM, MAYBE A FEW CONVENIENT ITEMS.

NONE OF THEM HAD GAS, NONE OF THEM OFFERED FAST FOOD OR FOOD AND PIZZA AND SANDWICHES AND STUFF.

AND THAT DIVISION IS OPERATED SEPARATELY FROM THIS.

WE SHARE A COMMON BOARD, BUT THEY HAVE DONE VERY WELL.

>> NICE.

PULLING IN AGAIN, WHAT STRIKES ME AS IS THE SIZE OF THE PLACE.

HOW MANY EMPLOYEES?

>> AT THIS SITE THERE ARE 250 EMPLOYEES AND THE DAIRY GROUP 550 EMPLOYEES.

WE HAVE A SISTER PLANT IN CORTLAND, A WAREHOUSE HERE IN MAGNA UNDERSTAND A BIG WAREHOUSE BY THE BALL PARK AND REGIONAL MARKET.

>> HOW DIFFICULT IS IT FOR YOU IN THIS INDUSTRY, IN THIS BUSINESS, AT BYRNE SPECIFICALLY, TO RETAIN EMPLOYEES AND OR HIRE THEM BECAUSE YOU ARE GROWING?

ARE YOU FIND THAT A CHALLENGE?

>> WELL, IF IT IS A CHALLENGE, WE ARE NOT REALLY DOING OUR JOB.

I DON'T EMPLOY TENS OF THOUSANDS OR HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS.

I NEED 550 PEOPLE TO KEEP IT RUN RUNNING.

>> THAT'S A LOT.

>> THAT'S A LOT BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF SKILL SET.

WE PAY PEOPLE VERY WELL.

WE ARE CONSTANTLY REVIEWING BENEFITS.

WE ARE ADDING PAID TIME OFF, WE ARE MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE TREATING OUR PEOPLE RIGHT.

IT'S A CHALLENGE PLACE TO WORK.

IT'S A GOOD PLACE TO COME IF YOU WANT TO GROW.

BUT THERE IS ALSO ROOM HERE FOR PEOPLE THAT HAVE A SKILL SET THAT WANT TO COME INTO A JOB.

>> I LIKE THE CONVERSATION BUT WE ARE RUNNING LONG.

AS WE LOOK TO THE FUTURE MAYBE SOME CONCERNS AND WHAT NOT, AGAIN EARLIER YOU MADE A COMMENT ABOUT PEOPLE DRINKING HABITS, IF YOU WILL.

AND I WONDER AS DEMOGRAPHICS HAVE CHANGED, ARE WE DRINKING LESS MILK NOW?

HAVE YOU HAD TO SCALE BACK A LITTLE BIT FOR THE DEMAND OF THE PRODUCT?

>> WE HAVEN'T.

PEOPLE ARE DRINKING LESS MILK, BUT THEY'RE USING MORE CREAM AND MORE HALF & HALF, MORE ORGANIC MILK.

WHEN WE STARTED THE SEGMENT, WE TALKED ABOUT ONLY GOING A MILE FROM THE PLANT.

WELL NOW WE EASILY COVER FROM MAINE TO SOUTH CAROLINA.

SO MY MARKET IS A LOT BIGGER.

SOME OF THE PRODUCT IS SHIPPED OVERSEAS AS FAR AWAY AS GUAM, FOR EXAMPLE.

SO OUR MARKET IS ALSO AROUND THE GLOBE.

>> YOU ARE TELLING ME THAT OVERSEAS I WOULD FIND A BYRNE DAIRY PRODUCT?

>> EITHER A BYRNE DAIRY PRODUCT OR A PRODUCT THAT WE MAKE THAT IS SOME SOMEONE ELSE'S NAME ON IT.

>> I WASN'T AWARE OF THAT.

VERY INTERESTING.

I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME TODAY.

IT IS A LOT MORE GOING ON HERE OBVIOUSLY THAN JUST MILK.

SO WE ARE HAPPY TO REPORT ON THAT.

WE MIGHT CHECK BACK WITH YOU.

BUT CARL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.

>> OUR THANKS AGAIN TO CARL BYRNE FOR JOINING US • 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.

I ALSO WANT TO SEND A PERSONAL THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU FOR WELCOMING AND SUPPORTING ME THIS SEASON - MY HEART IS FULL OF GRATITUDE.

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 ALL OF OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS, AS WELL.

I'M LAIZA SEMIDEY, THANKS AGAIN FOR WATCHING!