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, 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. President Obama visited the campus in August to unveil his plans for making higher education more affordable.
The university will soon begin construction on a $70 million state-of-the-art 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 840 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. $2 million from the Broome County IDA, and strong support from the federal government, Broome County, and the city of Binghamton has been pledged to the project.
There is momentum in Binghamton. Mountain Fresh Dairy has announced they are reopening the former HP Hood Plant on the city's south side to produce Cholov Yisrael dairy products. The project is expected to create nearly 90 jobs in three years. Observant Jews, those who live strictly in accordance with Jewish tradition, insist on Cholov Yisrael dairy products. Mountain Fresh Dairy plans to serve markets in Miami, Baltimore, Washington, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Boston, Montreal, Toronto and many cities in Ohio.
Weissmann Real Estate has converted 20 Hawley St., a downtown landmark, into student housing. The nine story building has suites on the upper floors and retail and recreation space on the lower floor. It is anticipated that over the next 2-3 years more than 800 students will be living downtown.
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.
Over the summer, SUNY Broome, our community college, broke ground on a 120,000 s/f four-story student housing project to be constructed on the campus. The building will support 300 students and is expected to a nearly $30 million impact on the community.
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 re-adapted 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/I-86 providing easy access to points in all directions. 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. The Broome County IDA is investing $250,000 in a permanent structure for a regional farmer's market in Broome County's most popular park.
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.
Patrick Doyle is the director, business development at Broome County IDA, Binghamton, N.Y. Tags: