Ithaca Area Economic Development

10/08/2026

The fall cohort of Tompkins Build has hit the ground running! In their first few weeks, the 15 participants have already earned their OSHA 10 certifications, are working toward CPR/First Aid certifications, and have gone on two field trips to local union training centers.

Thank you to the Painter and Allied Trades DC #4 (IUPAT DC 4 of WNY & CNY) and the Operating Engineers Local 158 (IUOE Local 158) for hosting the class! Participants learned about apprenticeship opportunities and practiced their skills using the tools and equipment at the training centers. Whether it's hand-cutting glass or operating an excavator, Tompkins Build participants are always ready to jump in and try something new!

Thank you to Tompkins Build sponsors LeChase Construction and UA Local 81 . Your generous support provides the foundation for everything we do.

09/30/2026

Three Ithaca companies are finalists in the 2026 Grow-NY Food and Agriculture Competition!

Congratulations to CryoBio, RETRN Bioworks, and Quantera Analytical. These startups make up 15% of this year’s global cohort, highlighting the strength of Ithaca's innovation ecosystem.

The finalists will receive mentorship and training before heading to the Grow-NY Summit in November to compete for a share of $3 million in investments, including a $1 million grand prize.

Funded by Empire State Development and administered by Cornell Center for Regional Economic Advancement (CREA), Grow-NY connects high-growth startups with opportunities across Central New York, the Finger Lakes, and the Southern Tier.

We are proud to see these homegrown businesses scale up and drive economic growth in our region!

➡ Click the link in the comments to learn more about Grow-NY

09/22/2026

Please join us in welcoming Andrew Beckmann to Ithaca Area Economic Development as the new Director of Business Services!

In this role, Andrew will manage relationships with businesses, entrepreneurs, and referral partners — providing technical and financial assistance and overseeing IAED's Revolving Loan Fund, along with the administration of the Tompkins County Industrial Development Agency (TCIDA) and Tompkins County Development Corporation (TCDC).

Andrew graduated with highest honors from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and the University of Hawaii, earning both Bachelor's and Master's degrees in quantitative economics. He most recently served as a Financial Analyst for Cornell University Real Estate Asset Management.

"Andrew will be a great addition to IAED and the TCIDA/TCDC. He has a strong background in finance and capital stacking, and his attention to detail is unmatched," says Deborah Dawson, Tompkins County Legislator and TCIDA/TCDC Chairperson. "I am confident he will do great things for businesses and communities in Ithaca and Tompkins County."

Welcome to the team, Andrew!

09/21/2026

The wait is finally over! The brand-new IAED cohort, Pathways to Apprenticeship, officially kicks off today!

Of the record-breaking 59 applicants, we selected 15 final participants. A massive congratulations to those chosen to take part in this program! Over the next 11 weeks, they will learn the fundamentals of commercial construction directly from active industry professionals.

As always, a special thank you goes out to our incredible sponsors: LeChase Construction and UA Local 81. This milestone cohort would not be possible without your vital backing, generosity, and commitment to investing in our community.

To our participants: welcome, get ready to dive deep, and let's make this cohort an unforgettable success. Drop a comment below to congratulate the new class! 👇

09/17/2026

The next cohort of our Tompkins Build: Pathways to Apprenticeship program launches Monday, September 21! 🛠️

A huge thank you to LeChase Construction for their continued partnership and sponsorship. Their hands-on involvement since the beginning helps us connect local talent directly with real-world training and career opportunities in the building trades.

One example of the program's impact is Jack Allport, a Tompkins Build graduate, who joined the Carpenters Union, and through LeChase’s connection with the union and the program, had an opportunity to work on multiple LeChase projects in the Central NY region. "The experience has changed my life," Jack said. We look forward to seeing more success stories like his through this apprenticeship program.

09/14/2026

The funding is in place, the steering committee is set, and the application portal is open!

The October 1 deadline for Ithaca’s $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) open call will be here before you know it. If you are an organization, business owner, or community partner with a project that will strengthen Ithaca's downtown, now is the time to apply. Our President, Kurt Foreman, serves on the steering committee and is reviewing submissions. If your business, non-profit, or property group has a project plan ready, you can apply for funding online.

Review the eligibility requirements and apply here: www.ithacadri.com/open-call

09/01/2026

Back in April, Ithaca officially secured a $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) grant, kicking off an exciting two-year transformation to make our downtown even more vibrant and thriving. Now it’s time to put those dollars to work—and the call for project proposals is officially open. IAED President Kurt Foreman is proud to represent our team on the steering committee, and we want to see your best ideas.

Do you have a project that will elevate downtown? Applications are open now through October 20th! Click the link to learn more and submit your proposal!

Ithaca DRI Downtown Renaissance The City of Ithaca is the recipient of a $10 million grant award from New York State Governor Kathy Hochul and the Southern Tier Regional Economic Development Council (STREDC) through the ninth round of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI).The DRI award marks....

08/14/2026

🎉 Huge news for our region! Our Schuyler County neighbors at FLX Gateway (SCOPED) have officially earned their AEDC accreditation!

IAED first gained this elite designation back in 2020 and is thrilled to see FLX Gateway join us in holding this international honor. A massive shoutout goes to Judy Cherry, whose incredible leadership and vision paved the way for this milestone.

Having both of our organizations accredited proves exactly what we already know: the Southern Tier is a true leader in economic development.

Cheers to Judy and the entire FLX Gateway team—let's celebrate this massive win for our community!

FLX Gateway has been recognized by the International Economic Development Council as an Accredited Economic Development Organization, or AEDO.This accreditation places FLX Gateway among a select group of economic development organizations recognized by IEDC for professional excellence. According to....

08/07/2026

Recently we wrapped up a great three-day visit with our International Economic Development Council (IEDC) Peer Review Team! As part of our Accredited Economic Development Organization (AEDO) reaccreditation process, reviewers Brett Doney and Michelle Kakacek met with our staff and over two dozen local partners. We also gave them a firsthand look at our community assets via driving, walking, and boating tours.

First accredited in 2020, IAED remains the only Accredited Economic Development Organization in New York State. We go through this review every three years to ensure we keep delivering the highest standards for our region.

Thank you to all the partners and allies who took the time to meet with the team. We look forward to their official report in the coming weeks!

08/04/2026

In case you missed it, our very own Mira Kuroyedov hit the airwaves!

Mira (our Workforce Development Manager) recently spoke with Jeff Kulikowsky over at NewsChannel 9 WSYR Syracuse. She did a fantastic job spreading the Advance 2 Apprenticeship program, showing everyone how advanced manufacturing is booming right here in Tompkins County.

From talking about cash stipends for students to highlighting how we help cover childcare and transportation, Mira made it clear that we’re here to help our community succeed.

We are so proud to have you on the IAED team, Mira! Thank you for being such a champion for local workforce development.



If you missed it, catch her full interview here:

Kuroyedov, the workforce development manager for Ithaca Area Econom...