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8B Sunday,March 2,2008 WATERTOWN DAILY TIMES PROGRESS 2008 BUSINESS UPDATE SLU makes commitment to go green Housing council focuses on affordable residences CANTON — For more than 26 years, the St. Lawrence County Housing Council, 19 Main St., has been working to help residents of St. Lawrence County get access to decent and affordable housing. The 14-member staff focuses on four areas: helping first-time homeowners purchase and keep properties; providing financial assistance and guidance for the renovation of substandard residences; managing rental properties including several for older residents and people with disabilities; assisting communities with planning, and obtaining grants for downtown revitalization and infrastructure improvements. Since 1981, the housing council has brought more than $40 million in grants to the county, many of which have been supplemented by local contributions. In the past year, 152 households participated in the council’s homeownership classes and 57 families purchased their first homes with the assistance of the council’s homeownership staff. The owners of 28 homes in Edwards, Morristown and Stockholm were able to make critical repairs to their homes with the help of the council. Two hundred twenty-four people currently live in apartments managed by the council’s property management team. Community facilities team members have recently completed or are engaged in projects in Potsdam, Heuvelton, Edwards, Canton, Hermon, and the tri-town area. The housing council is a charter member of NeighborWorks America, a nationwide network of 240 trained and certified community development organizations at work in more than 4,000 communities across America. Working in partnership with others, Neighbor- Works organizations are leaders in strengthening communities and creating affordable housing opportunities for low-andmoderate-income families. The council’s executive director is Chris Rediehs. The agency has 14 employees, up from eight five years ago, and five 10 years ago. The council is supported by administrative fees, grants, and donations. More information is available at www.slchc.org. CORE UNIVERSITY VALUE: College continues to develop Environmental Action Plan CANTON — As St. Lawrence University President Daniel F. Sullivan recently noted in a message to the campus community, significant progress is being made toward the university’s goal of producing a smaller carbon footprint and being a better environmental citizen. “In 2006, after a year-long process of thoughtful discussion on campus and within several of its committees, our board of trustees approved, with great enthusiasm, a resolution to adopt a commitment to the environment as a core university value,” he said. “This institutional commitment to living and promoting a more sustainable lifestyle extends from our curriculum to procedural, procurement and building efforts aimed at reducing consumption and waste while increasing energy efficiency.” In 2007, Sullivan joined colleagues at American colleges and universities in committing to“carbon neutrality” in its campus operations by signing the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment. “As students, faculty, and staff continue to make changes in their activities and operations, we’re seeing real movement toward a smaller carbon footprint,” he stated. Specific examples cited by Sullivan include continuing development of an Environmental Action Plan, with leadership on campus and collaboration by all facets of the community, including students, faculty, staff and alumni; the decision to purchase only appliances rated with the Energy Star label; a plan under way to purchase electricity from renewable sources through renewable energy credits. “We have decided to purchase only energy-efficient appliances labeled Energy Star, and to ensure a minimum of 15 percent of our electricity is generated with renewable sources by September of 2008,” Sullivan stated. “In pursuit of these goals, we have recently replaced all of the washing machines on campus with Energy Star machines and have become an Energy Star Partner. This partnership will enable greater measurement, tracking and improvement of energy efficiency across campus. We have also already begun to purchase electricity from renewable sources through our purchase of Renewable Energy Credits: 50 percent of the electricity for the student center for 2007-2008 has been purchased from New York hydroelectric facilities and 50 percent of the electricity for the Johnson Hall of Science for 2007- 2009 has been purchased from national wind farms.” Sullivan also said that the next steps in honoring the Climate Commitment include developing a plan to achieve climate neutrality; completion of a greenhouse-gas inventory; and shifting the University’s energy needs to renewable sources. “Our recent movements toward sustainability give me confidence that signing the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment was the correct decision for St. Lawrence,” Sullivan stated. “With Conservation Council, administrative operations and the many committed faculty, staff, students, administrators and alumni leading the way, I know we will reach all of the goals of the climate commitment while creating a better university and a better world. In closing, I wish to thank the entire university community for your efforts toward a sustainable campus and society, and ask that you continue to push us forward.” At the U.S. Green Building Council’s Greenbuild International Conference and Expo held in the fall, former President Bill Clinton announced that the Clinton Climate Initiative was partnering with the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment. This partnership was created to help colleges that have signed the commitment with funding for energy-efficiency projects. Five global financial institutions have pulled together $5 billion to be shared with colleges and universities through performance-contracting with energy services companies; the money saved from the improvements will be used to pay back the financial firms. The arrangement relieves academic institutions from having to provide the initial capital investment to make the upgrades, which is important because improvements often have long payback periods. St. Lawrence is not only eligible, as a climate commitment signatory, to receive the benefits of such a partnership, but has been chosen asapilot institution, thereby guaranteeing financial assistance and expediting projects. In the fall, the Sustainable Endowments Institute gave the university a “green grade” of B-minus when it issued its second College Sustainability Report Card for 200 public and private universities with the largest endowments, ranging from $230 million to nearly $35 billion. The report card is the only independent sustainability evaluation of campus operations and endowment investments. St. Lawrence’s grade placed the university in the top third of all schools evaluated. The cumulative grade distribution for the 200 schools was A, 3 percent; B, 28 percent; C, 42 percent; D, 25 percent; and F, 2 percent. Grades were determined by reviewing publicly available information, conducting surveys of appropriate school officials, and then assessing performance across 39 indicators in eight main categories. Talk to us about Membership! Featuring • Grow By One, “eliminating unemployment one person at a time” • On line computer training programs • Northern Adirondack Trading Cooperative • Member to Member discount programs • Tourism Promotion • Economic Development • And Much More Call us at 386-4000 or email us at slccoc@northnet.org We’ll be happy to send you a Membership Packet or more information about Various Programs What is quality healthcare in a word? Well, it’s competence, dedication, technology, compassion, teamwork, and commitment. It’s hard to sum up in just two words that say it all: quality healthcare. Fully Accredited with the JCAHO Gold Seal of Approval One Hospital Drive, Massena (315)769-4200 massenahospital.org
PROGRESS 2008 WATERTOWN DAILY TIMES Sunday,March Day,Month Date,Year 2,2008 C5 8C BUSINESS UPDATE Seaway Agency provides various financial services MASSENA — Bradley Dufrane, 213 Main St., operates the Seaway Agency, a branch of Greater Syracuse Agency, an office of MetLife. Founded in 1996, the Seaway Agency employs 20, up from 12 five years ago and 10 in 1998. The GSA has 108 employees. The Seaway Agency’s staff includes 16 financial service representatives. “Our projected growth for 2008 is 15 percent,” Mr. Dufrane said. The agency’s products and services include financial needs analysis; pension payout alternatives; mutual funds; fixed and variable annuities; traditional, Roth, and educational IRAs; 401(k) / 403(b) / SEP / SIMPLE IRAs; life insurance; retirement funding vehicles; disability income insurance; longterm care insurance; estate conservation analysis; college funding strategies; business succession strategies; group employee benefits; variable life insurance; fixed and variable annuities and brokerage accounts. For more information call the Seaway Agency at 764-0201 or see the parent agency’s Web site, www.greatersyracuse.metlife.co m . SeaComm credit union named to business hall MASSENA — SeaComm Federal Credit Union, 30 Stearns St., reports a successful 2007 highlighted by induction into the New York Business Hall of Fame. Another highlight was payout of the first ever member/owner dividend in March. Over $1.2 million was distributed to members based on the amount of business they did with the credit union during 2006. SeaComm’s suite of electronic services was enhanced with the addition of E-notifications. This allows members to receive automatic home branch alerts, newsletters, rate change notification and up- to- the- minute information about special promotions and events via e-mail. The credit union also upgraded the credit card portfolio from classic and gold to platinum with cash-back or reward points options. SeaComm employees raised money for local veterans and the Salvation Army Angel Tree in Massena, the BOCES Lifeskills class at Potsdam High School, Meals on Wheels in Malone, and Renewal House in Canton. The credit union also partnered with Alcoa, General Motors, the New York Power Authority and St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corp. in Massena to collect over 2,500 food items and nearly $20,000 to replenish community food pantries for the holidays. As 2008 begins, SeaComm is introducing the newly formed positions of commercial lender and business development coordinator. SeaComm will continue with community service as well as implement member education sessions to allow each branch to better serve its local membership. SeaComm will be entering into community partnerships such as the Franklin County CA$H Coalition, which provides free tax preparation for the working poor with a goal of increasing family financial health through assets, education and partnership. Scott Wilson is president and chief executive officer. Membership is open to anyone who lives, works, worships or goes to school in St. Lawrence County and the 15 northern townships of Franklin County. Family members of current members are also eligible. For more information see www.seacomm.org. Wireless World reports $8.1 million in 2007 sales Wireless World operates locations in the Seaway Plaza, Ogdensburg; 11 Market St., Potsdam; Main Street, Gouverneur; St. Lawrence Plaza, Massena, Route 11, Malone; and in Saranac Lake. Founded in 1985, the Verizon Wireless premium retailer has 62 employees and reports $8.1 million in 2007 sales. This year it projects $10.5 million. New developments include Web-based phones and services and improved coverage in the region. “Prospects for next five years in the north country are good,” reports CEO Timothy Oechsle. “They include expansion of retail locations into more communities and continued growth of the Verizon Wireless network.” Local managers are Mike Gardner, Ogdensburg; Rodney Gray, Potsdam, Gouverneur, Massena and Malone, and Jared Stark, Saranac Lake. The parent corporation is Wireless WorldWide Inc., 3793 S. Main St., Marion. For more information visit www.HelloWirelessWorld.com. SUNY Canton continues to grow CAMPUS EXPANSION: Plans announced for $36m athletic center CANTON — SUNY Canton’s continuing growth has been accentuated by the addition of three new four-year degrees in the past 12 months. Most recently, the college added bachelor’s degrees in graphic and multimedia design, dental hygiene and industrial technology management. The college now offers 15 bachelor’s degrees in addition to 22 careerdriven associate degrees and eight certificate programs. Future four-year programs include applied psychology, nursing, forensic science technology, management information systems and health information administration. The college’s hands-on approach to education and continued development of in-demand programs has resulted in the second largest enrollment in college history. This year 2,776 students enrolled, topping the previous year’s 2,618 headcount. Applications are already up 10 percent from last year and up 100 percent from 5 years prior. SUNY Canton OnLine has also experienced explosive growth locally, nationally and internationally. As an example, more than 100 students from the American University in Bosnia and Herzegovina began their SUNY Canton education this fall. The college has redeveloped its Web site in order to allow for the delivery of new and expanded content, including Web video. See www.canton.edu. The college has announced plans for a $36 million athletic and convocation center. Construction is set to begin later this year, and plans call for a field house, an ice rink, a swimming pool, a new fitness center and athletics offices. The expansion follows crosscampus renovations including a new lighted, synthetic, outdoor turf field, a new baseball diamond, a solar-powered classroom in Nevaldine Technology Center and other energy-saving enhancements. The athletic teams joined the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics and the Sunrise Conference this year, allowing students to compete in their respective sports for four years. The Kangaroos sent two teams to national tournaments this past fall. The SUNY Canton Foundation has grown a pool of scholarships that allows more students than ever to attend college. Prospective students should go to www.canton.edu to learn more about attending SUNY Canton. 16
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