MORRISVILLE, NY—Morrisville State College officials are looking forward to working with two new business partners, Empire Farmstead Brewery, Inc., and K16 Corporation, the first companies approved to operate tax-free in partnership with the college under Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s START-UP NY program.
They are among the latest batch of businesses that are either starting under or expanding under the START-UP NY program, which creates tax-free areas associated with colleges and universities across the state in order to spur economic growth.
Both Empire Farmstead Brewery and K16 Corporation have ties to the college’s academic strengths and bring a lot to the table, according to college officials.
“We are excited to be partnering with these businesses,” said Jennifer Bowden, associate director of business affairs for the Morrisville Auxiliary Corporation (MAC) at Morrisville State College. “They will help to create economic growth in the community with increased job opportunities and provide hands-on education for our students.”
The partnerships will also help advance the college’s academic mission.
Empire Farmstead Brewery, Inc., is a new business which will create a stand-alone manufacturing and agri-tourism facility in Cazenovia, a site that is considered a tax-free area under MSC’s START-UP NY campus plan.
As the college implements its plans for a new brewing studies program, they will work directly with Empire to manage the facility and educate students with first-hand practical business experience in production brewing. Empire Brewing will create 52 net new jobs while investing $5.9 million, according to a news release from the governor’s office.
Empire Farmstead will serve as a teaching site for students and also offer internships, according to Bowden.
K16 Corporation is a new technology device and software development firm focused on developing technology based solutions in teaching methods. K16 has plans to operate on-campus and to create two net new jobs and invest $10,000, according to the governor’s office.
“Students will be working with K16 Corporation to develop products from start to finish,” Bowden said. “K16 will provide educational technology innovations based on the needs of schools, using MSC’s computer technology and marketing students to help write the codes for the products and then marketing the products,” she explained.
Launched in October 2013, START-UP NY provides incentives for eligible businesses to relocate, start-up or expand tax-free on or near campus for 10 years and their employees will pay no state or local income taxes.
The plan will enable the college to attract new businesses into the area and create synergies between them and the campus itself. Morrisville seeks to locate businesses that align with the college’s mission and academic strengths. The college is focused on businesses aligned with agriculture, technology and innovative entrepreneurship.
Several other businesses have also expressed interest in the college’s START-UP NY program and are in the process of filling out applications to gain necessary approval from the college and Empire State Development, according Bowden.
Morrisville State’s curricula are enriched with applied learning and pave the way for opportunity at both the Morrisville and Norwich campuses. An action-oriented, interactive learning lab, the college is a national leader in technology and has been lauded for its exemplary, innovative and effective community service programs.
In addition to being named to the 2014 President’s Higher Community Education Service Honor Roll, the college was recognized by U.S. News and World Report as an institution in the top tier of the Best Regional Colleges list and ranked second among regional colleges nationwide for outperforming its anticipated graduation rate.