Located in the geographic center of New York State, we rank 43rd out of 351 metropolitan areas for the best quality of life in the United States. Syracuse is also the center of business, cultural, government, and educational activities in a 4 county area known as Central New York.

History
Records dating to the early 1600’s indicate activity in what is now Onondaga County. Indian tribes living in the area joined with other tribes to form the Iroquois Confederacy. French explorers and missionaries discovered the briny water yielding the salt that was a major industry through the early 20th century.

Onondaga County was established in 1794. Syracuse was incorporated as a village in 1825 and, as a city in 1848. Industries producing automobiles and automotive parts, electronics, heating and air conditioning equipment, candles and typewriters began to flourish and grow.

Travel to City
Syracuse International Airport is located 5 miles from the Central Business District. There are 26 flights daily to the international gateway cities of New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington, and Detroit.

Population: 406,217

Area: 794 square miles

Workforce: 232,100

Economy
Rated as the sixth-lowest cost place to do business in America, Syracuse is flourishing in commercial opportunities and growth. The wide spectrum of economic activity, our skilled and available workforce, affordable cost of operation, diverse economic incentive programs, and less-burdensome regulatory climate all contribute to the successful business in Syracuse.

Diverse manufacturing facilities and advanced technological firms make their home in architecturally unique downtown and in beautifully modern business parks. The many products manufactured include cryopreservation systems, undersea and land-based radar technology, cooling, heating, and ventilating equipment, veterinary pharmaceuticals, and linerboard for the corrugated packaging industry."

Syracuse and Onondaga County focus on the following industry clusters to which we believe our community offers a distinct competitive advantage.

Renewable Energy and Environmental Systems

The Syracuse region is a leader in clean tech and renewable energy. Syracuse’s industrial base is anchored by O’Brien and Gere Engineers, Clean Room Systems, Arcadis, Carrier Corporation, Blitzer Scroll, and Ashley McGraw. In addition, Syracuse has other notable assets in energy and environmental systems. Syracuse is home to the COE, SUNY ESF and The CleanTech Center. All three of these institutions collaborate with this industry cluster to various degrees.

The Center of Excellence for Environmental Energy Innovations (COE) is an industry-university collaborative organization that creates environmental and energy innovations for a sustainable future. The State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) exercises a multidisciplinary and collaborative approach to today’s inherently complex environmental issues. And the CleanTech Center, which assists entrepreneurs and early stage companies in developing into market leaders in this dynamic sector , was recently honored as one of the top 10 cleantech cluster organizations in the world (http://cleantech.com/news/5640/top-10-cleantech-clusters).

Companies: Blitzer Scroll • C&S Engineers Inc • Carrier Corp • Catalyst Renewables• Cleanroom Systems Inc • Cryomech Inc • Griffin Filters Inc • JT Systems Inc • King and King Architects, LLP • O’Brien & Gere

Area Assets: Syracuse Center of Excellence for Environmental Energy Innovations • The CleanTech Center •SUNY ESF • Cornell University • Honeywell – Onondaga Lake Project • Clean-Energy Business Incubator

Bio, Medical Devices and Life Sciences

A combination of industry leaders such as Bristol- Meyer Squibb, Seneca Data, Infimed and Welch Allyn and entrepreneurial starts ups like Blue Highway define our community as a prominent location for innovation of new devices and technologies for the diagnostic health-care industry.

Companies: Atlantic Testing Laboratories • Blue Highway • Bristol – Myers Squibb • Caltex International Ltd • Centrex Clinical Laboratories • Community General Hospital • Crouse Hospital • Hanford Pharmaceuticals LLC • Inficon, Inc. • Infimed Inc • Laboratory Alliance • Quest Diagnostics Clinical • Sullivan Schein Dental • St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center • Upstate University Hospital • Upstate Laboratories • Syracuse VA Medical Center • Welch Allyn

Area Assets: SUNY Upstate Medical University • Institute for Human Performance • Central New York Biotechnology Research Center • Central New York Medtech

Radar, Sensor, Wireless and other Electronic Devices

The Syracuse area has long been a leader in radar, sensor, wireless and other electronic devices with companies such as Lockheed Martin, Sensis and Syracuse Research Corporation. This area of expertise is further strengthened by CASE the Center for Advanced Systems and Engineering. CASE is New York’s premier research center in complex information intensive systems.

Companies: Anaren • Eagle Comtronics • Lockheed-Martin Maritime Systems and Sensors • Sensis Corporation • Syracuse Research Corporation

Area Assets: Center for Advanced Systems and Engineering

Major Cultural Events:
Professional minor league baseball, lacrosse, and hockey teams call Syracuse home, as well as top ranked NCAA college football, basketball, and lacrosse.

Annual Festivals and Events include:

Winterfest (February)
Hot Air Balloon Festival (June)
The Great New York State Fair (August)
LaFayette Apple and Craft Festival (October)

Ten Major Employers and Industry:

Employer	Industry
State University Health Center	Teaching Hospital
Syracuse University	University
Wegman's	Retail Food Stores
St. Joseph's Health Center	Teaching Hospital
Magna - New Process Gear	Automobile Components
Crouse Hospital	Hospital
Lockheed Martin	Defense
P&C Foods	Wholesale and Retail Food Stores
National Grid	Gas and Electric Utility
Carrier Corporation	HVAC Enginering