Clinton Square

Central New York

Central NY UAS

A region on the rise, lifted by a diverse economy and a strategic location

Central NY UAS

Picture your business at New York’s center, where top talent is drawn to the region’s diverse economy, from life sciences and cleantech to agribusiness. Other emerging sectors, such as bioprocessing, medical devices — and industry-leading technology including sensors and radar — also contribute to the region’s economic vitality.  

Central New York is also a rising hub of the Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) industry, with development of a state-of-the-art drone testing facility and a 50-mile Beyond Visual Line of Sight flight testing corridor. 

The region is preparing a 21st century workforce by  expanding on demand-driven workforce-training programs and community-wide initiatives and building on the region’s top-tier higher educational institutions to incubate innovation and entrepreneurial success — including the UAS-focused GENIUS NY global business competition.  

 

Key Industries in Central New York

Drone hovering in the air

Homeland and Cybersecurity

New York State’s growing homeland and cybersecurity sector produces defense industry and commercial data protection products and services.
A New York State farm.

Agribusiness

New York State agribusiness, supporting leading companies, is fueled by farms, rich natural resources and innovative agricultural startups.

Biotech and Life Sciences

Investment in biotech research and development, life science companies and talent, is building this world-class New York State industry.
Three wind turbines in a large field

Cleantech and Renewable Energy

New York State, a leader in clean tech and renewable energy resources, is growing a green economy—aiming for 100% clean power by 2040.
I am excited to … support the region’s unsurpassed ‘innovation friendly’ environment for UAS research, testing and operations.
Ken Stewart, President and CEO, NUAIR
UAS Traffic Management Conference

Central New York and the Mohawk Valley are home to a robust network of companies with significant research and manufacturing capabilities, including Lockheed Martin, Harris Corporation, AIS, Saab, SRC and Gryphon Sensors. The region’s UAS innovation corridor stretches from Syracuse to Griffiss International Airport in Rome, one of seven designated FAA-designated test sites.

Worker inside a bottling plant

Central New York’s diverse businesses create opportunities to capitalize on a ready customer base—such as unmanned systems developers serving a $3.1 billion agribusiness industry or $1.8 billion transportation and logistics industry. That diversity ranges from INFICON, a leading provider of world class instruments for gas analysis, measurement and control, which has expanded in Syracuse, to the Good Nature Farm Brewery, a homegrown craft brewery. Syracuse University, SUNY Upstate Medical University, SUNY Morrisville, Colgate University and others—contribute to a highly educated workforce and talent pool for regional innovation and industry.

Syracuse Airport

Convenient air access is available via the now state-of-the-art Syracuse Hancock International Airport (SYR) and Oswego County Airport (FZY).  The region’s excellent quality of life draws anglers from around the globe to Lake Ontario and the Salmon River— and the Great New York State Fair is an annual visitor draw. In Syracuse, mixed-use redevelopment along the Inner Harbor is adding new vibrancy to the city as well as the refurbishment of historic buildings, including the Hotel Syracuse, and central to downtown revitalization. 

Central New York By The Numbers

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icon representing biotechnology and life sciences

$6.3B

annual output of advanced industries in the Syracuse metro area

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Teal Icon stats breaker funding graphic.

$35M

committed by New York State to help grow the unmanned aerial systems industry in Central New York 

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Icon image of a tractor

$690M

in agricultural goods produced annually in Central New York

Population 2024

Labor Force Status 2024

Age Distribution 2024

Education Attainment 2024

Data source: ZoomProspector (Applied Geographic Solutions)

Doing Business in Central New York

Construction of the New NY Bridge in New York's Mid-Hudson Region.

Tax-Based Incentives

All forms of tax incentives that enable savings and cost advantages to businesses.

Operational Support

Programs offering assistance or training to ensure more competitive businesses.
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Growth Support

Funds, loans and other means of financial support to stimulate business growth.
People working and talking in co-working space in the Thomas R. Beecher, Jr. Innovation Center

Innovation Development Support

Leverage New York State’s unparalleled investment in world-class tech assets, programs and expertise to grow your business.

The Upstate Revitalization Initiative

The URI-winning CNY Rising plan identifies strategic investments and initiatives, geared to regional strengths and growth.

Central New York Regional Economic Development Council

Visit the REDC site for more information on members, projects, economic data and funding applications.

Regional Office

The Central New York regional office works hand-in-hand with new and existing businesses to help identify economic development programs to support business growth and expansion—for building new facilities, relocating a business, expanding operations and workforce and entering new and global markets.  

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Headshot of Daniel Kolinski
Daniel Kolinski
Acting Regional Director

620 Erie Boulevard West
Suite 112
Syracuse, NY 13204
United States