A tech surge for Syracuse

Albany – often referred to as New York state’s “Tech Valley” – may soon no longer be the only upstate city getting a tech boost in the coming years. In his new budget proposal, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced economic development initiatives for upstate New York that would include, among other things, a project dubbed “Syracuse Surge,” which will be focused on tech-related priorities.

Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh will work with the state’s Regional Economic Development Council to identify tech priorities in the region. Initial proposals include renovating a vacant high school to one focused on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics), where most students will come from the Syracuse area; expanding the SUNY Educational Opportunity Center’s vocational training programs; and expanding the Technology Garden business incubator for startups focused on drones and other emerging tech industries.

As tech giant transplants like Google and Amazon expand in New York City, the notion of helping more startups get off the ground with training and education upstate is an increasingly promising one.

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