CENTERSTATE CORPORATION FOR ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY

Administers the Innovation Hot Spot, a five-year tax incentive program for formative-stage technology and manufacturing companies in Central New York, to stimulate economic growth and business retention.

Provides business development assistance, resources, and networking opportunities to businesses of all sizes across a twelve-county region, including Oswego County, through the Greater Oswego-Fulton Chamber of Commerce. Facilitates connections among member businesses and supports competitiveness through advocacy, training, and regional partnerships.

Provides fiscal sponsorship for community-based projects such as Food Access Healthy Neighborhoods Now!, Fulton Block Builders, and Oswego Renaissance Association, enabling local leaders to secure funding. Supported the Creative Communities Initiative with an $800,000 Ford Foundation grant, contributing to the creation of the Greater Syracuse Land Bank and regional land use strategies.

Advances business and community interests through targeted policy and government advocacy efforts on behalf of regional businesses, particularly in the Oswego-Fulton region and across a twelve-county area centered in Syracuse, NY.

Supports early-stage entrepreneurs and startups through accelerator programs including Syracuse Surge Accelerator, Up Start Start It!, GENIUS NY (a global competition for uncrewed systems, IoT, and robotics), and a cleantech accelerator linked to higher education. Provides access to capital, skill building, problem solving, and professional services matching.

Operates the Growth + Equity Fund, which provides micro-grants, loans, and customized support to entrepreneurs from historically marginalized populations to help them establish and grow their businesses, including awardees such as Khadijah's Kitchen, BeeJay's Experience, and Ma’s Wings and Things.

Plays a lead role in redeveloping key urban properties and districts, including the Galleries of Syracuse, Jefferson Street Armory (now The MOST), Jefferson-Clinton Hotel, 300 block of South Salina Street, Electronics Park, and the Central New York Regional Market. Secures public grants, assembles land and funding, and acts as developer or contracting entity to transform blighted or underutilized sites into mixed-use, commercial, or housing developments.

Hosts annual signature events including the GOFCC Annual Meeting, Golf Social (featuring a four-person captain-and-crew tournament), and Holiday Social to foster networking and member engagement. Also organizes educational sessions, roundtables with government officials, Trades Signing Day, and other gatherings to strengthen business community ties.

Runs the OsweGO advertising, marketing, and social media campaign to promote the Oswego County business community. Partners on initiatives such as Project Bloom (flower installations), Oswego-Fulton Farmers Markets, Oswego County Restaurant Week, and employee discount programs with major employers to drive local economic activity.

Operates workforce initiatives such as Work Train, Syracuse Bridge to Manufacturing Careers, and ON-RAMP to improve access to long-term career pathways in high-demand fields like advanced manufacturing and construction for underrepresented and underemployed individuals. Co-founded Syracuse Build and leads Upstate Build to expand these models regionally.

Conducted the Oswego Minority Business Needs Study to identify barriers and opportunities for strengthening inclusive economic growth and supporting minority-owned businesses.