$1.5 million New York state grant to Syracuse business incubator will focus on 'green' companies

The Post-Standard reported that The Tech Garden business incubator center in Syracuse has won a $1.5 million state grant to assist entrepreneurs and startup companies in the fields of renewable energy and clean technology, Gov. David Paterson announced Tuesday.


The grant, one of four to institutions across New York state, is aimed at helping "green" companies in a 12-county region of Central New York, said Linda Dickerson Hartsock, who recently joined the Tech Garden as director of its Center for CleanTech Entrepreneurship.

During the four years covered by the grant, Tech Garden employees will collaborate with colleagues at the Syracuse Center of Excellence, the Metropolitan Development Association and Central New York colleges and universities to assist new companies involved with renewable energy or clean technology.

The article also mentions Paterson's announcement about the energy-efficiency programs that NYSERDA will undertake during the next few years with $277 million in additional funding to be collected from utility ratepayers.

The state Public Service Commission in mid-2008 authorized an increase in energy-efficiency funding from $175 million a year to $347 million a year through 2011. The money is collected through the "system benefit charge" on utility bills. Some goes to NYSERDA, some to utility programs.


Here's how NYSERDA will spend its new money:

• $16.9 million for technical assistance to businesses, nonprofits and schools.

Read more here.