Operation Oswego County (OOC) held its 73rd annual meeting on Thursday, June 19th at the Lake Ontario Event and Conference Center in Oswego, NY.
Peter Cullinan, president of the OOC board of directors, welcomed 170 representatives of businesses, government, education, labor and other community organizations to the meeting.
Keynote speaker Dr. Peter Nwosu, President of SUNY Oswego, joined OOC Executive Director Austin Wheelock for a fireside chat on education and workforce development. They discussed SUNY Oswego’s Vision 4040 Plan, how the college is aligning with evolving workforce demands, and its role in supporting Micron’s historic investment in Central New York.
Austin Wheelock, Executive Director of OOC, reported that in 2024, projects assisted by OOC and the County of Oswego IDA (COIDA) resulted in the creation or retention of 605 jobs and over $165 million in capital investment, supporting 53 new, expanded, or retained facilities. These projects were located throughout Oswego County, including the cities of Oswego and Fulton, the villages of Parish, Phoenix, and Pulaski, and eight towns. Many aligned with the key industry clusters-manufacturing, transportation and logistics, healthcare, tourism and hospitality, agribusiness and energy. The annual meeting highlighted three transformative local projects: ConnextCare’s $11.8 million new facility in downtown Oswego, NET & Die’s $6.7 million renovation of a former retail space in Fulton, and the $8.5 million revitalization of the historic Old City Hall into a brewery and apartments, along with the $1.5 million Foundry project. Together, these initiatives showcase significant investments in healthcare, manufacturing, and community revitalization across the region.
Wheelock also reported on OOC’s marketing and promotion highlights as well as several collaborative initiatives with key stakeholders such as the U.S Economic Development Administration, National Grid, Oswego County Government, SUNY Oswego, the Port of Oswego Authority, Empire State Development, the Greater Oswego Fulton Chamber of Commerce, Integrated Community Planning of Oswego County and the Richard S. Shineman Foundation.
Three business organizations, a successful entrepreneur and a long-standing economic development advocate were also honored for significant contributions to economic development and job creation in Oswego County.
The Ally Award for 2025 was presented to the Greater Oswego Fulton Chamber of Commerce in recognition and appreciation of the vision, commitment and leadership exhibited by the Greater Oswego Fulton Chamber of Commerce to support local businesses through comprehensive membership services, operating the Oswego and Fulton Farmers Markets supporting local agriculture, partnering with Operation Oswego County on ribbon cuttings and groundbreakings, participating in special initiatives like the Oswego County Childcare Investment Fund and the Oswego County Micron Strategy Steering Committee and for being a vital and essential partner in economic development in Oswego County, NY.
The Business Excellence Award for 2025 was presented to Sorbello and Sons Farms in recognition and appreciation for demonstrating outstanding leadership and commitment in operating and retaining Sorbello and Sons Farms in Oswego County; for showing resiliency, adaptation and growth as the 4th generation owners in an evolving agribusiness market; for the investment in expanded facilities and new technology to improve crop yields while reducing carbon footprint, and for over 100 years of agriculture and business excellence in the Town of Granby in Oswego County, NY.
The 2025 Jobs Award was presented to Oswego Industries in recognition and appreciation of the significant contribution and economic impact of Oswego Industries on the Oswego County economy by providing contract textile manufacturing and other specialty services in the City of Fulton; for employing over 100 persons with disabilities and 165 total jobs; for the continuing adaptation to the needs of the populations they serve; and for its 57 year history of business and community growth in Oswego County, NY.
Scott Antonacci received OOC’s 2025 Dee Heckethorn Entrepreneur Award in recognition and appreciation of exceptional entrepreneurial spirit, creativity and dedication for starting multiple advanced manufacturing and prototyping businesses in the Town of Schroeppel; for his collaborative efforts with Genius NY participants furthering entrepreneurial activity across upstate NY, and for his vision to bring investment and innovation in emerging industry sectors like unmanned aerial vehicles and 3D additive metal printing to the Oswego County Industrial Park.
Ron Tascarella was honored with the 2025 Martin Rose Economic Developer Merit Award in recognition and appreciation of Ron Tascarella’s outstanding record of leadership, expertise, support and commitment to enhance the economic vitality of Oswego County’s businesses, industries, communities and citizens; by being employed most recently as the Executive Vice President and Chief Lending Officer at Pathfinder Bank for eighteen years; for playing an integral role in the Bank’s success, growing their loan portfolio by hundreds of millions within Oswego County; for contributing to the local banking industry for over four decades; and for serving on numerous boards and organizations that are vital to economic development and quality of life such as the Oswego Health Board of Directors, Red House Board of Directors, the Gifford Foundation, and the Central Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired.
The OOC board of directors elected new members Peter Redmond, Novelis and Bob Chetney, Fulton Savings Bank for three-year terms. The OOC board of directors also re-elected board members Eric Behling of Behling Orchards, Joseph Demars, Huhtamaki, James Mason, North Atlantic Carpenters, Colin Palm, Fulton Companies,Abby Weaver, Alberts Group, and Richard Weber, Bond Schoeneck & King to three-years terms. The OOC Board also elected Ron G. Tascarella, Pathfinder Bank, to a two year term as Treasurer.
Retiring from the OOC board of directors was Diane Benedetto, after 2 years of service; and Tom Greco, after 39 years of service.
For more information about economic development services in Oswego County, call OOC at 343-1545 or visitwww.oswegocounty.org.
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