Syracuse Hosts e200/Emerging Leaders Executive-Level Training Initiative for 2012

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has kicked off its 2012 e200 Emerging Leaders executive-level training initiative in 27 cities and communities, including Syracuse, New York. After a successful e200 program was implemented in Syracuse in 2011, the SBA has selected the city for the second consecutive year as an Urban Market to host the program.

Since 2008, the e200/Emerging Leaders initiative has helped approximately 1,000 promising small business owners in underserved communities across the country sustain and grow their businesses. In 2011, thirteen small companies in the Syracuse area completed over 40 hours of advanced management training, transforming them into potential companies for rapid expansion and job creation.

According to a SBA news release, SBA Administrator Karen Mills said, “Graduates of the program have increased their revenue, created jobs and helped drive local economic growth in their communities. Continuing with this year’s lineup of new classes builds on this success and provides even more entrepreneurs in underserved communities with the support, resources and skills to succeed.”

This year’s e200 initiative will kick off at the end of February. Small companies that have been in business for three plus years and looking to grow are encouraged to apply for the program. Eighteen participants will be accepted. Sessions, which will be held at The Tech Garden, are scheduled to start in April and end in October with a November graduation date.

Eligible businesses must meet the following criteria:

• In business for at least three (3) years. (This curriculum is not for start-up companies.)
• Annual revenue between $400,000 and $10 million per year.
• Must have employees
• Must be a C-level manager and the key decision maker in the business.

For more information about e200 Emerging Leaders, or to contact the respective local SBA District office in the area go to www.sba.gov/e200. 

Calling All Entrepreneurs!

The 2012 Venture Forum, a partnership between the Center for Economic Growth's (CEG SmartStart UNYTECH and Western New York’s Bright Forum, is reaching out to venture-ready companies and early-stage university start-ups to present to potential investors  at a Buffalo, NY event scheduled for May 16-17.

Early-stage, high-tech companies are of particular interest for the event. Presenting companies will have the opportunity to pitch their business plans to more than 70 Angel and VC investors from the Northeast, New England, Mid-Atlanta, Niagara-Canadian, Boston and NYC corridors.

For the full release and complete description of eligible companies, view here

Discussion of Nanochip Plant Opening In Central New York

There is recent discussion about opening a nano manufacturing plant at Electronics Park in Salina, the second chip manufacturing plant to open in New York State. According to a news article, APIC Corp., a Los Angeles company that has pioneered the integration of photonics technology with electronics, hopes to open the chip fabrication plat by the end of the year. The new plant is projected to create about 200 high-tech jobs.

Partnered with the Department of Defense and SUNY Albany’s College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering, APIC intends to make a new generation of chips for the U.S. Navy to use in the avionics for ships, submarines and planes. The chips will be lighter, use less power, take up less space and require less updates. 

U.S. Senator Charles Schumer is on board with the construction of the plant which is investing more than $1 billion to become a global center of nanotechnology. According to a Post-Standard news article, Sen. Schumer described his vision for Central New York to be a hub for manufacturing nanochips and cutting edge research. “Securing a new high-tech chip manufacturing operation could be a game-changer for Syracuse and would bring a brand new industry home to Central New York,” stated Schumer. 

For the full article view here