>> COMING UP TONIGHT: WE EXPLORE A TROUBLING TREND SURROUNDING SMALLER AIRPORTS.

THEN TO A HIGH IN THE SKY PROGRAM IN ROME AND FINALLY WE SPOTLIGHT GENIUS NEW YORK -- THE WORLD'S LARGEST ACCELERATOR IN UNMANNED AIR SYSTEMS - AND ITS IMPACT IS GOING GLOBAL - 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 ITHACA.

THIS PAST SEPTEMBER, AMERICAN AIRLINES CEASED SERVICE TO ITHACA TOMPKINS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.

AMERICAN CITED PILOT SHORTAGE AND WHILE THE INDUSTRY HAS BEEN HURT BY THE PANDEMIC, SMALL AIRPORTS LIKE ITHACA HAVE FACED EVEN MORE CHALLENGES.

PUBLISHED REPORTS INDICATE A TROUBLING TREND OF FEWER DEPARTURES OFFERED BY MANY REGIONAL CARRIERS.

ON THE MONEY MET WITH ITHACA TOMPKINS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT DIRECTOR ROXIN NOBLE TO SEE WHERE THEY GO FROM HERE.

>> WELCOME TO THE 20678 KINS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.

>> ITHACA AIRPORT, WE ARE NOT ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY.

YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE BUS SERVICE INTO ITHACA SO THE AIRPORT IS KEY TO, YOU KNOW, BRINGING PEOPLE HERE BUT ALSO GETTING PEOPLE ELSEWHERE.

I RECEIVED A CALL IN JUNE ABOUT AMERICAN AIRLINES DECIDING TO CEASE OPERATIONS OUT OF ITHACA.

THE SHOCK THAT I HAD WAS UNBELIEVABLE.

I WAS, YOU KNOW, IT STOAT ALLIE TOOK ME-- TOTALLY TOOK ME BY SURPRISE.

THEY HAVE BEEN A LONG-TERM TENANT HERE IN ITHACA.

IT IS NOTHING ASSOCIATED WITH ITHACA, THEY INDICATED.

IT'S THE PILOT SHORTAGE, THE FUEL COST.

THIS IS HAPPENING NATIONWIDE IN MANY OF THE REGIONAL AIRPORTS.

SO WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT, A LOT OF THE LARGER MAIN LINE CARRIERS, MAIN LINE AMERICAN, MAIN LINE DELTA, MAIN LINE UNITED, THEIR PILOTS WERE ABLE TO RETIRE.

THEY ALLOWED THEM TO RETIRE, GAVE THEM INCENTIVE PACKAGES TO HELP CUT DOWN ON COSTS THEY WERE EXPERIENCING DURING THE PANDEMIC WITH THE LOSS OF FLIGHTS AND PEOPLE NOT TRAVELING.

SO A LOT OF THE REGIONAL CARRIERS, PIEDMONT, WHICH OPERATES FOR AMERICAN AIRLINES, THEIR PILOTS MOVED UP TO THE MAIN LINE CARRIERS WHICH LEFT A HUGE HOLE IN A LOT OF THE REGIONAL CARRIERS OF PILOT SHORTAGE.

IT HAS AN IMPACT.

I MEAN WE ARE LOSING EMPLOYEES OF PIEDMONT THAT HAVE BECOME FAMILY HERE THAT WE HAVE WORKED WITH FOR MANY YEARS.

IT IS GOING TO IMPACT OTHER BUSINESSES ON THE AIRPORT.

WE BRING NOT ONLY DIRECT REVENUE BUT THERE IS REVENUE TO THE HOTELS, TO THE COMMUNITIES, AND THE REVENUE GENERATED-- I THINK THE LAST STUDY I READ WAS $68 MILLION FOR THE ECONOMIC IMPACT FOR TOMPKINS COUNTY AIRPORT WITHIN THE AREA.

OUR BUDGET IS RIGHT AROUND $4 MILLION.

SO AMERICAN AIRLINES, THEY WERE PROBABLY, OF THE AIRLINE REVENUE, PROBABLY 25 TO 30% OF OUR BUDGET, DEPENDING ON NUMBER OF FLIGHTS AND OPERATIONS.

THEIR LOAD FACTOR, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE ON THE AIRPORT, HAS BEEN OVER 90% THE LAST FEW MONTHS SO PEOPLE ARE FLYING.

PEOPLE ARE WANTING TO FLY.

SO WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT AND WORK HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT ITHACA REMAINS COMPETITIVE.

IT IS GOING TO BE TRICKY.

IT IS GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME TO RECOUP THAT TO THAT LEVEL.

BUT BY THE OTHER AIRLINES, WE ARE WORKING WITH THEM TO INCREASE FLIGHTS, ADD ADDITIONAL SERVICES TO THEIR CURRENT DESTINATIONS.

WE HAVE HAD MEETINGS WITH MULTIPLE LOW COST CARRIERS.

PEOPLE WANT TO TAKE VACATIONS.

PEOPLE WANT TO HEAD SOUTH WITH THEIR FAMILY.

SO A LOW COST CARRIER WILL ALLOW NOT ONLY FAMILY MEMBERS WITHIN TOMPKINS COUNTY TO LEISURE TRAVEL BUT COLLEGE STUDENTS THAT OF.

THAT WILL BE A BIG FACTOR THERE.

PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE HOW CLOSE WE ARE.

AND THE CATCHMENT AREA WE HAVE IS LIKE 250,000 PEOPLE THAT COULD USE THIS AIRPORT.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO DRIVE UP 81 TO SYRACUSE, IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO TRAVEL AND PAY FOR PARKING UP THERE, FARTHER AWAY, MORE EXPENSIVE, YOU KNOW, AND IF YOU CAN FLY OUT OF ITHACA, YOU KNOW, MANY PEOPLE WOULD RATHER DO IT.

I THINK WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO WORK THROUGH A STRATEGIC PLAN BY WORKING WITH THE CARRIERS, WORKING WITH OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, OUR AIR SERVICE BOARD, LEGISLATURE, MAKE THEM AWARE THAT AIR SERVICE IS CRUCIAL HERE.

IT IS CRITICAL TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF TOMPKINS COUNTY.

>> IN INTERESTING STUFF OUT OF THE ITHACA AIRPORT.

WOO EEL KEEP TRACK OF THEIR PROGRESS AS WELL.

LATER TONIGHT WE WILL BE TALKING TO FOLKS AT GENIUS NEW YORK OUT OF THE TECH GARDEN IN DOWNTOWN SYRACUSE.

AND GOT US THINKING MAYBE THIS IS A GOOD TIME FOR TIPS ON BUSINESS OWNERS AS WE HEAD INTO YEAR-END AND INTO 2023 AND WHO BETTER TO CALL THAN OUR FRIEND JON VERBECK, PRESIDENT OF VERBECK ASSOCIATES.

KIND OF A VIRTUAL CFO, AS I RECALL, JON.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> WITH SO MUCH HAPPENING, I GUESS IN THE COMING YEAR, YOU PROBABLY HAVE SOME THOUGHTS, ADVICE OR TIPS FOR BUSINESS OWNERS OR PEOPLE THINKING OF STARTING I BUSINESS IN THIS COMMUNITY?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

YEAH, THANKS, DAN.

BUSINESS OWNERS ARE UNDER A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF STRESS, JUST IN GENERAL, JUST OR DEALING WITH CUSTOMERS, VENDORS, CASH FLOW, MAKING PAYROLL.

I'VE SEEN BUSINESS OWNERS TAKE PAY CUTS, JUST TO MAKE PAYROLL.

THEY SIGN PERSONAL GUARANTEES SO IF ANYTHING HAPPENS TO THE BUSINESS, THE BANK COULD POTENTIALLY TAKE THEIR HOUSE.

THEIR EMPLOYEES, THE FAMILIES OF THE EMPLOYEES RELY ON THE BUSINESS TO BE SUCCESSFUL SO NOW IS PLANNING SEASON, THIS TIME OF YEAR, TO SET UP YOUR GOALS, BUDGETS, FORECASTS FOR 2023.

I HAVE BEEN DOING A LOT OF MODEL ING AND FORECASTING FOR 2023.

I THINK IT IS GOING TO BE AN INTERESTING YEAR.

PRIME RATES HIGH AT 7%.

AND IN COSTS, IN TALENT IS DIFFICULT, AND COST OF TALENT IS EXPENSIVE.

MEDICAL COSTS ARE GOING UP 10 TO 15%.

THE MAIN PIECES, I BELIEVE, IS REALLY NOT TO OVERESTIMATE THE SALES FORECAST, EXPECT SALES DO NOT EQUAL ACTUAL SALES.

I'VE SEEN IT TIME AND TIME AGAIN.

WE GEAR UP OVERHEAD FOR EXPECTED ASSESS AND THEY DON'T OCCUR.

SO I THINK WE NEED TO BE SOMEWHAT CONSERVATIVE ROLLING INTO 2023.

>> I GUESS QUICK INTERRUPTION, IF I COULD.

THAT IS IN LINE WITH SOME OF THE REPORTS I'M SEEING FROM SOME OF THE SO CALLED WALL STREET ANALYSTS SAYING WE COULD SEE A SLOWDOWN IN 2023.

IF YOU ARE TOO HIGH ON ES MATLE, THAT COULD BE A PROBLEM.

IS THAT WHAT YOU ARE GETTING AT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE ARE TYPICALLY, YOU KNOW, WE OVERESTIMATE SALES AND WE UNDERESTIMATE COST SO IT'S EASY WITH TECHNOLOGY TO GROW THE BUSINESS WITH SOCIAL MEDIA, EMAIL MARKETING, THOSE SORTS OF THINGS AND I THINK THERE ARE THINGS LIKE USING OUTSOURCED TALENT IN NECESSARY VERSUS HIRING.

THAT'S ANOTHER OPTION.

>> I'LL TELL YOU, JON, YOU WILL PROBABLY HAVE A BUSY YEAR IN 2023.

HIGHER RATES, INFLATION, POSSIBLE SLOWDOWN IN THE ECONOMY.

SO GOOD LUCK TO YOU.

I'M SURE YOU WILL BE BUSY BUT APPRECIATE THE TIPS TONIGHT.

>> THANKS.

>> JON VERBECK WITH VERBECK ASSOCIATES OUT OF CAZENOVIA NEW YORK.

THANKS TO JOHN.

IT'S GREAT GETTING HIS ADVICE AND THOUGHTS ON BUSINESSES IN THE AREA.

NEXT UP, OUR TECH BYTE SEG TMENT.

WE TALK ABOUT TECHNOLOGY THAT HAS BEEN DEVELOPED HERE IN CENTRAL NEW YORK OR IS BEING USED WIDELY.

IF YOU'VE BEEN WITH US FOR THE LAST TWO SEASONS, YOU'VE SEEN THE MOHAWK VALLEY IS A THRIVING DESTINATION FOR EVERYTHING DRONES.

WITH BUSINESSES GROWING, THERE'S A NEED FOR TALENT IN THE JOB MARKET TO HANDLE ALL THOSE SPECIALIZED TECHNOLOGIES.

TO ADDRESS THAT NEED, THE MOHAWK VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE IS NOW OFFERING A REMOTELY PILOTED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS PROGRAM.

WE WENT TO CHECK IT OUT.

>> READY TO LAUNCH.

>> ROGER THAT OPERATION... 1, 2, 0.

ADVISE COMPLETE.

>> WE'LL ADVISE WE ARE DOWN TO THE GROUND.

>> WAS WE-- IT IS REALLY IN THE CATEGORY OF ROBOTICS AND WHAT ROBOTICS CAN DO FOR US.

SIX YEARS AGO WE GOT A GRANT AND IT WAS TO BE USED FOR REMOTELY PILOTED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT.

SO I GOT TO THE CHARGE OF CREATING A TWO YEAR A.A.S.

DEGREE SO IT'S PRETTY COMPREHENSIVE.

GRADUATES GET A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING.

MECHANICAL SKILLS, ELECTRONICS, FLIGHT SKILLS, WE DO A LOT OF T.I.S.-- GIS, GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION SERVICES, HIGH RESOLUTION MAPPING.

AT THE END OF THE TERM, THEY'RE READY TO GET THEIR PILOTS LICENSE SO THEY CAN GO DIRECTLY TO WORK.

WE PRIDE OURSELVES IN PROVIDING STUDENTS WITH HIGH TECHNOLOGY, THINGS THAT THEY WON'T SEE AND THEY WON'T SEE IN ANY OTHER COMMUNITY COLLEGES IN THE AREA, OF COURSE.

ANYONE THAT IS IN THE EDUCATIONAL AND ACADEMIA CAN APPLY TO BE PART OF IT.

SO WE DID AND SO THAT GIVES THE WHOLE COUNTRY A LIST OF POSSIBILITIES AS FAR AS EDUCATION AND ALSO IT GIVES INDUSTRIES A DATABASE OF GRADUATES TO LOOK FOR POSSIBLE EMPLOYEES.

>> I REMEMBER GOING TO A CONFERENCE WHEN I WAS YOUNGER AND MVCC WAS SHOWING OFF ALL OF THEIR DRONE PROGRAMS.

AND THAT WAS AROUND THE TIME WHEN THEY STARTED THIS AND I WAS FASCINATED BY ALL THIS AMAZING STUFF THAT DRONES CAN DO.

I LOVE THIS KIND OF STUFF, AIRCRAFT, AUTOMATED SYSTEMS.

THIS STUFF IS DEFINITELY THE FUTURE.

WHAT VALUE DO THEY HAVE WHEN THEY GRADUATE?

THEY CAN WORK AS PILOTS.

WE HAVE A NUMBER OF THEM RIGHT NOW IN THE FIELD ONE IS WORKING FOR NEWAIR AS A PILOT AND THAT'S WHAT IT'S ABOUT, GETTING THEM JOBS.

THE FIRST GRANT I THINK WAS PROBABLY 600,000 TO 700,000 AND THAT GOT US OFF THE GROUND.

BEHIND ME REPRESENTS A QUARTER MILLION DOLLARS IN A FLIGHT SIMULATOR LAB, THE SAME FLIGHT SIMULATOR LAB THAT IS IN SYRACUSE.

WE CAN FLY JUST ABOUT ANYTHING FULL SCALE OR R.P.A.S.

>> WHAT I LOVE ABOUT THESE FLIGHT SIMULATORS WHAT I CAN TELL YOU ABOUT THIS IS FOR THE ACTUAL SIMULATIONS OF ACTUAL AIRCRAFT.

>> I CALL IT PERFECT PERFORMANCE UNDER PRESSURE UPON DEMAND.

>> IT ALLOWS US TO SIMULATE A LOT OF DIFFERENT SCENARIOS AND THEY'RE NOT COSTLY.

YOU CAN CRASH WHATEVER YOU WANT IN THE LAB.

DOESN'T COST A PENNY BUT IF STUDENTS CAN BENEFIT FROM THAT, LEARN FROM THAT AND CREATE A PERFECT PERFORMANCE UNDER PRESSURE UPON DEMAND, WE HAVE DONE OUR JOB ONE ELEMENT OF THE SKILL SET THAT I WOULD LIKE OUR GRADUATES TO HAVE IS A NICE FAT LOG BOOK WITH A LOT OF FLIGHT HOURS.

DEPLOYING THE AIRCRAFT, SETTING THEM UP, LEARNING HOW TO DEBUG PROBLEMS AND LEARNING HOW TO COLLECT THE DATA AND PROCESS IT TO AN END DELIVERABLE.

WE TRY TO GROUND UP OUR STUDENTS AND GRADUATES AND GIVE THEM DIFFERENT TOOLS IN THEIR WORKSHOP THAT THEY CAN GRAB AND USE IN THE INDUSTRY.

>> THIS IS GETTING US PREPPED FOR REAL WORLD FLIGHT.

I BELIEVE WE ARE FLYING A CESSNA RIGHT HERE, WHICH IS THE AIRCRAFT I WOULD FLY TO GET MY PILOT'S LICENSE.

>> WE ARE ALWAYS KEEPING OUR EYE ON WHAT IS OUT THERE, WHAT IS NEW, AND IF WE CAN BETTER OUR GRADUATES AT AND ADD ONE OR TWO MORE TOOLS TO THEIR TOOL BOX, I'M A HAPPY CAMPER.

>> OUR BY THE NUMBERS PIECE TONIGHTS TAKES A LOOK AT COSTS IN THE EDUCATIONAL FIELD.

WE THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE APPROPRIATE BECAUSE YOU KNOW IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS, WE HAVE A VERY EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW COMING UP WITH THE S.U.

CHANCELLOR.

WE THOUGHT WE WOULD LOCK AT WHAT COLLEGES ARE COSTING BECAUSE WE WILL TALK TO HIM ABOUT THAT F. WE LOOK AT THE TOP RAKED SCHOOLS TO BEGIN WITH, LET'S BE HONEST, WE ALL DIDN'T GET INTO THE TOP RANKED SCHOOLS, YOUR HOST DID NOT.

IF YOU LOOK AT PRINCETON, M.I.T., HARVARD, STANFORD AND YALE.

AVERAGE TUITION OF THESE SCHOOLS ALONE IS RUNNING ABOUT $5 5,000 PER YEAR.

THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE ROOM OR BOARD SO WHEN YOU TACK THOSE COSTS ON, YIKES.

$80,000 PER YEAR AND GOING UP FOR THOSE TOP SCHOOLS.

AGAIN YOU DIDN'T GET INTO ONE OF THOSE SCHOOLS.

AVERAGE TUITION AT A PRIVATE UNIVERSITY THESE DAYS JUST OVER $38,000 ANNUALLY, AGAIN, A LOT HIGHER WITH ROOM AND BOARD SO KEEP THAT IN MIND BUT HERE IS THE JARRING NOTE.

THAT NUMBER IS UP 100% JUST SINCE THE MID TO EARLY 90s.

SO COLLEGE COSTS HAVE BEEN INCREASING AT A RATE THAT EXCEEDS THE RATE OF INFLATION FORCING MANY FAMILIES TO THINK TWICE ABOUT IT.

WE HOPE YOUNG PARENTS OUT THERE ARE TAKING NOTE OF THESE NUMBERS AND PLANNING ACCORDINGLY, BUT THOSE ARE THE NUMBERS TONIGHT AND WITH THAT, WE FINISH UP TONIGHT WITH OUR SPOTLIGHT SERIES WHERE WE MEET WITH SOME INTERESTING PEOPLE OR HIGHLIGHT SOMETHING SPECIAL HAPPENING IN OUR AREA.

DAN TO WRITE IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN SYRACUSE, THE TECH GARDEN REMAINS HOME TO GENIUS NEW YORK - THIS BUSINESS ACCELERATOR IS THE LARGEST OF ITS KIND IN THE WORLD - OFFERING COMPETITIVE AWARDS FOR TECH FIRMS SPECIALIZING IN UNCREWED AIR SYSTEMS AND OTHER ROBOTIC START-UPS.

EACH YEAR TECHNOLOGY FIRMS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE COMPETE FOR A ONE MILLION DOLLAR AWARD WHICH IS USED TO GROW AND PROMOTE THEIR BUSINESS.

OVER FIFTEEN MILLION DOLLARS HAS BEEN AWARDED SO FAR WITH ABOUT NINETY MILLION DOLLARS OF VENTURE CAPITAL RAISED.

BUT THE PROGRAM OFFERS MORE THAN MONEY WITH WORKSHOPS, FUND RAISING SUPPORT AND OFFICE SPACE PROVIDED.

WE RECENTLY MET WITH JOHN LIDDY, INTERIM VICE PRESIDENT OF INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP TO CHECK ON THEIR PROGRESS AND WHAT MORE MAY BE COMING.

>> YOU KNOW, I HATE TO START OUT WITH SUCH A GENERAL QUESTION JUST TO HIT YOU WITH, BUT FRANKLY, WHAT GOES ON HERE?

WHAT IS THE MISSION.

>> GENIUS NEW YORK ACCELERATOR IS THE WORLD'S LARGEST U.D A.S.

ACCELERATOR AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS WE PROVIDE TEAMS WITH $3 MILLION OF FUNDING EVERY YEAR.

WE GET 200 TO 300 APPLICANTS, WE SELECT 20.

WE HAVE A TEAM OF EXPERT JUDGES.

THEY TAKE THAT GROUP DOWN TO FIVE.

IN THOSE FIVE TEAMS, EACH OF THEM, BY BEING AWARDED OR SELECTED TO THAT POINTED, WILL BE GUARANTEED $500,000 IN AWARDS.

>> I THINK I SAW SOMETHING WHERE IT'S ALMOST LIKE A SHARK TANK COMPETITION.

>> THEY HAVE FIVE MINUTES TO PITCH AND FIVE MINUTES OF QUESTION AND ANSWER FROM THE JUDGES.

>> THIS YEAR ALL FIVE TEAMS ARE INTERNATIONAL.

>> THAT'S INCREDIBLE.

SHOULD I BE IMPRESSED BY THAT.

>> IT IS.

WE HAVE SEEN A MIGRATION OF INTERNATIONAL TEAMS THAT HAVE AN INTEREST OF LANDING HERE IN THE UNITED STATES.

THEY LOOK FOR A FOOT HOLD, PROXIMITY TO THE TEST SITE.

>> THE WINNER GETS A MILLION DOLLARS.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

CORRECT ME, I THINK YOU SAID THE RUNNERS UP, $500,000 EACH.

>> SO BIG MONEY.

>> YES.

WINNER GETS A MILLION DOLLARS, THAT COMPANY CAN USE THAT AT THEIR DISCRETION?

>> WE CREATE MILESTONES FUNDED BY E.S.D., WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE CREATING JOBS AND GROWING THE ECOSYSTEM.

>> THAT'S WHERE I WAS GOING, NOT TO PICK IT, BUT YOU KNOW, THERE IS SOME FOLLOW-UP.

YOU DON'T JUST THROW THE MONEY AT THEM.

YOU WANT THEM TO DO CERTAIN THINGS I ASSUME?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

WE AGREE UPON THE MILESTONES AND THEY DIFFER BETWEEN THE COMPANIES.

SOME HAVE A WELL DEVELOPED PRODUCT, WE HAVE TO GET INTO MORE MARKETS.

ONE THAT HAS A LITTLE LESSER MIGHT NEED TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT.

WE HAVE TO HAVE A HEAD COUNT.

DEPENDING ON THE COMPANY, THE USE OF THE PROCEEDS WILL DIFFER.

>> YEAR SIX,... [ APPLAUSE ] >> ARCHANGEL IMAGING IS AN A.I.

COMPANY ORIGINALLY OUT OF OXFORD, YOU CAN, NOW SYRACUSE, NEW YORK.

WE MAKE MACHINES SMART ENOUGH TO BE DEPLOYABLE ALONGSIDE PEOPLE AS TEAMMATES.

USUALLY SO THEY CAN PROTECT VALUABLE STUFF IN DIFFICULT PLACES.

WHAT THAT CHECK ALLOWS US TO DO IS NUMBER ONE, START HIRING AND START BUILDING A U.S.

TALENT BASE HERE IN SYRACUSE.

BUT NUMBER TWO, IT ALLOWS US TO START MANUFACTURING AS A VERSION TWO OF OUR PRODUCT.

>> I DON'T WANT TO BLOW YOUR COVER BUT THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST KEPT SECRETS IN TOWN MUCH THERE IS A LOT OF COMPANIES COMING IN HERE, YOU ARE GETTING EXPOSED TO ALL KINDS OF NEW TECHNOLOGY.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IN THE GENIUS SPACE, UAS BUT IT'S ALSO-- >> AS IN UNCREWED AERIAL SYSTEMS.

AND WE ALSO DO I.O.T., AND INTERNET OF THINGS AND ROBOTICS.

>> SO WHY JUST THE UAS THOUGH?

WHY NOT LOOK AT OTHER SECTORS OF THE TECHNOLOGY MARKET?

>> WE MADE A CONSCIOUS DECISION SEVERAL YEARS AGO TO CONCENTRATE ON THIS SPACE.

WHAT WE SAW IS THE EMERGENCE OF THIS TECHNOLOGY, THE SKILL SETS THAT WE HAD IN THE COMMUNITY.

A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK OF UNCREWED SYSTEMS AS FLIGHT.

THEY'RE ALSO ROBOTICS.

WE DID AN APPLICATION TO THE STATE AND SAID WE WOULD LIKE TO CREATE AN ECOSYSTEM AND THIS IS OUR SIXTH COHORT SO WE DID THERE SEVEN YEARS AGO TO GO IT THIS ROLLING.

>> WHAT IS THE TIE-IN, JOB.

YOU ARE THIS ENTITY HERE.

BUT PART OF THE TECH GARDEN BECAUSE YOU SEE THE BIG SIGNS OUT THERE FOR SYRACUSE TECH GARDEN DOWNTOWN BUT YOU ARE PART OF THIS?

>> SO IF YOU THINK OF THE TECH GARDEN AS A BUILDING, IT'S A FACILITY AND IT HOUSES ACCELERATORS AND INCUBATORS WITHIN THAT AND THE GENIUS NEW YORK PROGRAM IS AN ACCELERATOR.

>> DON'T ROLL YOUR EYES AT THIS QUESTION BUT WHAT IS IT IN FOR YOU GUYS HERE?

WHY DO ALL THIS?

WHAT IS THE BENEFIT?

>> TO RAISE THE ECOSYSTEM AND RAISE THE COMMUNITY.

I HAD A MEETING EARLIER TODAY AND THEY MENTIONED THREE COMPANIES THAT THEY WERE INTERESTED IN, ALL THREE COMPANIES WERE PRIOR GENIUS NEW YORK COMPANIES.

WE ARE RAISING A WHOLE TIER OF TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES THAT HAVEN'T BEEN HERE BEFORE.

>> OTHER BUSINESSES IN TOWN, IN CENTRAL NEW YORK DO THEY PARTNER WITH YOU IN ANY WAY.

ARE THEY INTERESTED IN WHAT YOU ARE DOING.

>> THEY'RE ABSOLUTELY INTERESTED.

>> TELL ME ABOUT THAT.

>> THE CAZ KNOW IFIAN COMPANY, MARK COURT SWITCHES.

MAJOR MANUFACTURER.

GERMAN COMPANY IN THE AUTOMOTIVE SPACE MADE A CONSCIOUS DECISION TO MY GREAT INTO THE UAS SPACE.

WOULD I SUGGEST THREE OUT OF OUR FIVE COMPANIES IN THIS COHORT ARE IN CONVERSATIONS WORKING WITH THEM.

>> IF YOU ARE ATTRACTING 200 PLUS COMPANIES FROM ALL OVER, ISN'T THERE A NEAT MOMENTUM THING GOING ON HERE BECAUSE THE MORE THIS PROGRAM GETS OUT THERE I THINK THE MORE IT WILL ATTRACT, NO.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> EARLIER THIS YEAR I WAS AT A COMMERCIAL UAV CONFERENCE.

I WAS THERE.

WE HAD THE GENIUS BOOTH AND THERE WERE EIGHT OTHER CURRENT OR PRIOR GENIUS TEAMS REPRESENTED AT THE SHOW.

GREAT.

WE HAVE A STRONG PRESENCE.

AND THEN I HAD PROBABLY 20 DIFFERENT COMPANIES COME UP AND SPEAK TO ME AT OUR BOOTH WHO WERE APPLICANTS.

WE ARE A WELL KNOWN BRAND.

KUDOS TO THE MARKETING FOLKS AND THE COMPANIES THAT HAVE BEEN THROUGH IT.

>> WE HAVE GONE A FEW MINUTES AND HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT THE ELEPHANT, MICRON.

>> SURE.

>> YOU HAVE AUTOY HEARD OF THEM.

>> A LITTLE BIT.

HOW DO YOU VIEW THAT WHOLE ANNOUNCEMENT AND WHAT IS TO COME?

HOW ABOUT THAT IMPACT GENIUS?

HOW ABOUT THAT IMPACT THE SYRACUSE TECH GARDEN, IN YOUR OPINION?

>> PEOPLE WILL GET JOBS, WORK AT A COMPANY LIKE MICRON.

THEN THEY MIGHT MOVE TO ANOTHER COMPANY F. WE HAVE AN ENVIRONMENT, AN ECOSYSTEM WHERE PEOPLE HAVE MULTIPLE OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN THE SAME GEOGRAPHY, THAT RAISES ALL THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> FROM A COMMUNITY STANDPOINT, WITH THE DRONES, WHAT IS THE COMMUNITY IMPACT?

WHAT DO YOU SEE FROM THE COMMUNITY STANDPOINT?

>> LIKE ANY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TRICKLE DOWN.

THERE IS GOING TO BE ALL SORTS OF SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS REQUIRED AIS WE GROW OUR ECONOMIC BASE.

IF I HAVE A COMPANY, THERE IS GOING TO BE SCHOOL FOR MY KIDS, STORES, ALL THAT STUFF.

THE OTHER SIDE IS ON THE EDUCATION SIDE.

WE HAVE HAD COMMUNITY BASED EVENTS WITH DRONES OVER SYRACUSE.

WE BROUGHT IN SCHOOL CHILDREN TO TEACH THEM ABOUT DRONES AND ORGANIZATIONS LARGELY AIM SON IS DOING WORKFORCE TRAINING ORGANIZATIONS AS I GO FROM A LOW DOLLAR PAYING JOB TO I CAN BECOME A DRONE PILOT.

SO WE HAD A COMPANY IN THE VERY FIRST COHORT HAT DOES PILOT TRAINING.

>> IS IT ONE OF THE GOALS YOU WANT TO HAVE THESE COMPANIES HIRE PEOPLE.

>> ANY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION IS SEEKING TO CREATES JOBS AND THE FACT THAT THEY'RE HERE, THEY DO.

>> THEN AGAIN, IN SO MANY START-UPS, NOT TELLING YOU ANYTHING YOU DON'T KNOW, THE FAILURE RATE CAN BE PRETTY HIGH.

>> SURE.

>> WHAT ARE YOU SEEING HERE?

200 COMPANIES, YOU ARE DISMISSING A BUNCH OF THEM.

WHO KNOWS WHAT HAPPENS TO THEM BUT IT IS A HIGH FAILURE RATE INDUSTRY, IF THAT'S CORRECT TO SAY.

>> IT IS AND IT'S ALSO A REALLY NASIENT COMPANY.

THERE ARE NOT THOUSANDS OF COMPANIES DOING THE SAME THING, RINSE AND REPEAT N. THIS SPACE IT'S VERY NEW AND THERE IS A HIGHER PROPENSITY FOR FAILURE.

WHAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO IS ASSIST THE COMPANIES TO MAKE SURE THEY DON'T... >> SO TALK TO ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MAYBE SOME PREVIOUS SUCCESS STORIES.

I WANT TO YOU SAY THIS IS WORKING.

GIVE ME AN EXAMPLE.

>> FOTOKITE WAS IN OUR SECOND COHORT.

THEY'RE A COMPANY THAT DAME OUT OF SWITZERLAND, A TETHERED DRONE >> SWISS COMPANY?

>> YEAH, THEY WERE ONE OF OUR FIRST INTERNATIONAL COMPANIES WHAT THEY DID SUCCESSFULLY, THEY HAD A TECHNOLOGY, THEY HAD AN ABILITY, THEY PARTNERED WITH THE UNITED STATES SPACED TIRE TRUCK COMPANY MANUFACTURE MANUFACTURER AND THEY HAVE TAKEN THAT TECHNOLOGY AND THAT CAN THE, THEY HAVE MARKET PENETRATION AND ARE HELPING FIRST RESPONDERS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES.

>> THESE COMPANIES COMING HERE.

IN SOME CASES YOU GIVE THEM A LOT OF MONEY, A PLACE TO WORK YOU GIVE THEM ALL KINDS OF ASSISTANCE HOW DO YOU AREY TAIN THEM.

THE FINANCE IS GREAT.

IT'S THE ECOSYSTEM THAT WE ARE DELIVERING.

THE FACT THAT I CAN WALK NEXT DOOR AND TALK TO ANOTHER CAN COMPANY IN MY SPACE THAT CAN BE A SUPPLIER, HAS ACCESS TO INDIVIDUALS AND CAPITAL.

>> WHAT DO YOU SEE IN THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS COMING OUT OF GENIUS AND THE TECH GARDEN REALISTICALLY?

>> IT WILL BE SELF SUSTAINING EVENTUALLY.

IT WILL NOT REQUIRE OUTSIDE FUNDS BECAUSE WE WILL HAVE HAD SO MUCH SUCCESS WITH THE COMPANIES WE'VE INVESTED IN THAT THAT MONEY WILL REINVEST ITSELF TO AN EVERGREEN PROGRAM SO THE COMMUNITY WILL FLOURISH ON ITS OWN.

>> ONLY FOUR REASONS.

ACCESS TO CAPITAL, ACCESS TO PARTNERS, ACCESS TO CUSTOMERS AND CENTRAL NEW YORK HAS ALL FOUR OF THOSE.

WE REALLY COULDN'T BE HAPPIER >> OUR THANKS AGAIN TO JOHN LIDDY AND CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF THIS YEAR'S TEAMS.

THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT - NEXT WEEK, WE HIGHLIGHT A SYRACUSE NOT-FOR-PROFIT WHOSE EMPOWERING OUR YOUTH TO CREATE POSITIVE CHANGE FOR THEIR COMMUNITIES AND THE ENVIRONMENT.

WE'LL LEARN HOW A LAB IS TESTING WASTEWATER TO MONITOR COVID-19 VARIANTS.

AND OUR SPOTLIGHT SERIES BRINGS US TO CLAY NEW YORK WHERE WE VISIT THE AMAZON DISTRIBUTION CENTER - WE'LL GET A LOOK INSIDE THIS MASSIVE FACILITY AND SEE WHY THEY CHOSE CENTRAL NEW YORK AS A LOCATION FOR THIS IMPRESSIVE CENTER.

STILL A COUPLE MORE SHOWS COMING THIS SEASON SO IF YOU HAVE AN IDEA FOR A BUSINESS, PERSON OR JUST SOMETHING SPECIAL HAPPENING IN CENTRAL NEW YORK, CONTACT US BY EMAILING NEWS AT WCNY.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.