SYRACUSE -- Proponents hope that CenterState CEO will emerge as the new force for economic development in central New York. CenterState CEO is the new name for the merger between the Metropolitan Development Association and the Greater Syracuse Chamber of Commerce. CEO stands for Corporation for Economic Opportunity.
The merger allows the 2-thousand member organization to focus on such things as business expansion and retention, entrepreneurship, regional marketing and lobbying government. "We're going to have one staff and one unified agenda." said CenterState President Robert Simpson, "I think that enables us to be more effective advocates whether we're in Albany or Washington."
The merger of the MDA and the Chamber of Commerce isn't without controversy. Before it could go through, the City of Syracuse had to forgive an old debt on the Syracuse Technology Garde, which is run by the Chamber.
The garden is home to about 30 high tech businesses, 100 employees and provides a $4 and a half million dollar payroll. The City leased the building to the Chamber which over a period of years failed to pay its electric bill to the City. It added up to $216-thousand dollars. One City Councilor called it a wedding present.
Councilor Jean Kessner was one of two lawmakers who opposed forgiving the chamber's utility bill. "The City needs every dollar it can get." Kessner told CNY Central.
Mayor Stephanie Miner felt the debt to City Hall should not stand in the way of the MDA / Chamber merger. "We needed to move forward." Miner explained, "The Chamber allowed this City to use all of City Hall Commons for a significant period of time with no cost. If they had charged us rent that would have been an amount we would have had to pay"
In March the Common Council did away with the $216-thousand dollar utility bill which cleared the way for CenterState CEO.
EARLIER COVERAGE:
The merger between the Greater Syracuse Chamber of Commerce and the Metropolitan Development Association has given the resulting organization a new name.
The CenterState Corporation for Economic Opportunity (CenterState CEO) was unveiled at a luncheon Monday at the Oncenter, which attracted more than a thousand business and community leaders.
“By combining the resources of these two organizations, and joined by partners across the region, CenterState CEO becomes much more than a typical business or economic development organization,” said Robert M. Simpson, president and CEO of CenterState CEO in a statement to the media. “We are now better positioned than ever to be more efficient and effective, applying unprecedented levels of innovation and collaboration to transform the region, with a goal of total community prosperity.”
Simpson said the new organization can focus on seven areas including business expansion, innovation and entrepreneurship as well as government relations and advocacy for its 2,000 members.
For more information visit CenterState CEO.
To watch a video on the merger, click here.
