NY Economic Development: Greater Binghamton: One of the most innovative economies in North America

If your company is considering an expansion or relocation in 2014, Greater Binghamton may be the perfect place. Our region is 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 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 put us in the same league as Cambridge, Austin, and San Jose. WIRED, a leading magazine for creators, says Binghamton is an "emerging epicenter" for high-tech growth. Binghamton features strong clusters in aerospace, healthcare, software, advanced manufacturing, communications, simulation, food production and distribution. In Binghamton, your company will join a variety of household names including Lockheed Martin, Gannett, IBM, Frito Lay, L-3 Communications, Rockwell Collins, and BAE Systems. Businesses that choose Binghamton get the advantage of working with Binghamton University ranked in the top 100 national universities and top 40 public universities in the United States. Earlier this month governor Cuomo revealed he was including $10 million in the 2014 state budget for a pharmacy school. The building is expected to be 40,000 s/f and cost in the neighborhood of $60 million. The school would be home to 240 graduate students as well as 60-100 Ph.D. students and 30-40 faculty members. The University will soon begin construction on a $70 million energy research and development facility for solar energy and fuel cell technologies, innovative energy storage methods, and improved efficiencies in computer and electronic systems. In the coming years, Binghamton will add 2,000 students, 150 faculty and 175 professional and support staff to develop new and strengthen existing academic programs. It is anticipated that over the next five years more than 1,000 jobs will be created through the University's efforts. Plans are well underway to construct a high-technology incubator in downtown Binghamton. The facility will offer developing companies state-of-the-art laboratories, connections to industry, and access to technology transfer and commercialization expertise at Binghamton University. Newman Development Group, developer of Twin River Commons, a $20 million student housing community in downtown Binghamton, announced plans to develop the Metroplex at University Plaza which will add 500 beds to the more than 700 that exist at the Vestal location between the University and 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. Another great location, the Airport Corp. Center, offers more than 175,000 s/f of available space for warehouse, manufacturing, and office. The Center is located just minutes from Route 17/Interstate 86 providing easy access to points in all directions. And the Huron Campus in Endicott features more than 250,000 s/f of high quality office space as well as 100,000 s/f for manufacturing and 60,000 s/f for warehouse. 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. 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. 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. Kevin McLaughlin is the executive director of the Broome County IDA, Binghamton, N.Y.