Question of the Month: Why should you expand your business in Greater Binghamton?

There is no better place than Upstate New York. We are within easy reach of 60% of the North American population including two of the most important metroplexes in the world: Boston-Washington in the United States and Toronto-Montreal in Canada. In Greater Binghamton, located along the southern tier north of Scranton and south of Syracuse, you will find one of the most innovative economies in North America. The Milken Institute's Best Performing Cities ranks us #1 in the United States for our clusters of high technology industries. Our patents per capita, workforce quality, and research capacity rank up there with Cambridge, Austin, and San Jose. WIRED, the magazine for geeks, says Binghamton is an "emerging epicenter" for high tech growth. Binghamton features strong clusters in aerospace, software, advanced manufacturing, communications, simulation, food production and distribution. In Binghamton, your company will join a variety of household name companies including Lockheed Martin, Gannett, IBM, Frito Lay, L-3 Communications, Endicott Interconnect and BAE Systems. Our economy is bouncing back more quickly than the state and national average. Over the last year we have added more than 2,200 private sector jobs making us one of the top five fastest growing metros in the state. Businesses that choose Binghamton get the advantage of working with Binghamton University, a premier public institution ranked by Kiplinger's Personal Finance as one of the best values anywhere. This summer, governor Cuomo announced a challenge grant for the university that means construction of a $70 million state-of-the-art energy research and development facility and the addition of 2,000 students, 150 faculty and 175 professional and support staff to develop new and strengthen existing academic programs. Regional leaders gathered in August to announce development of a $20 million high technology incubator in downtown Binghamton. The facility will offer developing companies state-of-the-art laboratories, connections to industry, and linkages to business and faculty mentors. The university's growth has added momentum to the revitalization of our downtown. Newman Development Group, a national leader in commercial retail and student housing real estate, recently opened Twin River Commons, a $20 million student housing community at the confluence of the Susquehanna and Chenango Rivers. Twin River Commons features apartments for 373 students with spectacular views of the rivers. Alfred Weissman, a commercial real estate investor, owner, and developer is converting 20 Hawley St., a downtown landmark, into student housing. The nine story building will have student suites on the upper floors and retail and recreation space on the lower floor. It is anticipated that over the next two to three years more than 800 students will be living downtown. We'd love to show you the Charles Street Business Park in Binghamton. Charles Street is a 32 acre state-of-the-art urban industrial park on the city's west side. This former industrial site has been readapted into one of the premier technology business parks in the northeast. The site is anchored by Emerson Network Power's 40,000 s/f Binghamton headquarters. Charles Street is in a Federal HUBZone creating many potential advantages for businesses that locate there. Please call me or visit www.bcida.com for more information. Another great location, the Airport Corporate Center, offers more than 175,000 s/f of available space for warehouse, manufacturing, and office. The center is located just minutes from Rte. 17/Interstate 86 providing easy access to points in all directions. In Binghamton, the people who work for you will have access to excellent schools, an opera and a symphony, strong minor league baseball and hockey, Division I athletics, and a fast-growing arts scene. We have more family-owned, authentic restaurants per capita in Binghamton than most communities in the United States. According to U.S. News and World Report, Binghamton is among the most affordable places to retire in the United States. The Farmers Insurance Group ranks Binghamton the 8th safest place to live among communities its size. Binghamton's superb transportation system makes it possible to get to the Adirondacks, the Poconos, and amazing fly-fishing along the Delaware River in a matter of hours. We have some of the best golf courses in the northeast. In the metropolitan area you can wait hours for a tee time. In Binghamton, its a mere few minutes. And if you like winery tours and tastings we are a short distance from the Finger Lakes, one of the Wine Spectator's emerging wine regions in the world. Binghamton's location, technology and quality of life make more sense than ever. For more on business in our region, visit the BCIDA's website, www.bcida.com which includes a searchable property database, an interactive profile of the area, and links to our incentives and programs. Patrick Doyle is the director, business development at Broome County IDA, Binghamton, N.Y.