Jan 6

Jan 6 Oneida County 2025: Year in Review By Anthony Picente

As we close on 2025, the significance of this year’s accomplishments can be measured not just in one calendar year but in the last quarter century. I recently had the honor as the keynote speaker at the Genesis Group’s 25th anniversary celebration to recap the last 25 years of growth in our region. Beginning in the year 2000, Genesis certainly was a catalyst for reigniting the spirit of the Mohawk Valley Region and challenging all residents, businesses, educational institutions, and certainly elected officials, to focus on the positive. That focus has inspired many organizations, including government, to adopt the “why not here” theme that has led to the growth we have experienced over the last 25 years.

I often state that our region, and particularly Oneida County, looks dramatically different than it did 10 years ago. However, to really examine the difference one must go back to the year 2000 and see where we were.

At that time, we were still reeling from the loss of Griffiss Air Force Base, Lockheed Martin and Chicago Pneumatic along with the workforce and population that exited with them. Those losses were then exacerbated by empty space and acres of land. It was in 2000, that the late local real estate developer and businessman Joe Carucci planted the seed for a new organization that would focus on the positive of the region and look to leaders in all aspects of the community to step up their game. He enlisted the help of people like Sherry Boehlert then congressman and Peter Cayan, then President of SUNY. Others came along and Genesis was born.

No one could have predicted what was next when the attacks of September 11, 2001 affected everyone and everything. The economy was struggling, and more businesses were closing. In Oneida County, the once largest employer Oneida Limited could succeed no more.

There was some promise on the horizon as the Griffiss Business and Technology Park began taking shape. A new aviation employer was there, and planes were flying in once more. Other businesses came to the park and Con-Med, a locally-owned business founded in Utica, expanded to take the plant that formerly housed Lockheed Martin. Other new retail establishments came and growth was happening. But once again we would face a challenge. In 2005, the federal government came calling once again with another base closure process. This one targeting Rome Lab and DFAS. So once again, we had to defend those assets and solidify not only a major piece of our economy but assure the community that we would not buckle and go through another exodus of people. All hands were on deck from our federal representative, the governor, state officials, county and city governments and the community. We were not only successful, but overwhelmingly. The solidification of the lab ensured that the technological aspect of our growth plan would continue.

As the first decade of the new century was moving forward, the economy again took another slide. The nation saw another recession as the markets took a dive, and every community was dealing again with job loss and tax increases. Throughout all this, the region plowed ahead. Still focused on nanotechnology and the redevelopment of old industrial sites.

Genesis continued to see the glass half full and focused with us on attraction and recruitment. It was in 2012 and 2013 that the glass began to fill up even more. First the American Hockey League, which had existed in Utica in the 90s, was convinced by Rob Esche, Frank DuRoss and a united community that professional hockey could succeed at the Utica Memorial Auditorium. Through their investment hockey was back and with it an enormous fan base. With state and county leadership $10 million was invested in the building and the season began in 2013. Another $10 million was invested a year later to add luxury suites to the now Adirondack Bank Center. Months before the first puck was dropped a settlement was reached with the Oneida Indian Nation. The agreement between the state, Oneida and Madison counties and the Nation ended 30 years of litigation. This historic agreement began with a partnership that generates millions of dollars in revenue for the county and established a working relationship centered around tourism and economic development with the largest employer in central New York. The agreement paid immediate dividends, as the AHL brought its All-Star game to Utica in 2015, just two years after the Comets arrival. With the OIN as the main sponsor, the game broadcast Oneida County around the world. It was so successful that we landed it again two years later.

The dynamic changed again in 2015 with the announcement that Mohawk Valley Health Systems had secured $300 million in state funding to build a new hospital in downtown Utica. The pieces were coming together. A new hospital, a refurbished Aud and the prospect of the semi-conductor plant that we were waiting for all happening at the same time. We also got into the drone business becoming one of only seven FAA test sites in the U.S., again making Griffiss a key player in new aviation technology. We secured Wolfspeed to build the largest silicon carbide wafer fab in the world. We then planned and began the process of building what would become the Utica University Nexus Center. Three more sheets of ice for hockey or soccer or lacrosse.

Even a pandemic could not stop us, as construction continued throughout that time on the hospital, Wolfspeed and Nexus. Nexus opened in December of 2022 and in 2023 the others followed. Wolfspeed opened in the spring and the hospital in the fall with a donation of $50million from former Utican and casino entrepreneur Steve Wynn.

As Nexus thrived, it has since held the International Ice Hockey Federations Women’s World Championship, with nine countries and the USA playing over the course of 14 days. Months later the World Lacrosse Box Championship was held, this time with 37 countries and both men and women’s teams.

I recap these events of the past 25 years as a reminder of how far we have come and what can be accomplished when a community continues to move forward despite outlying circumstances and the occasional negative commentary. We look different as a community and most important we feel different. We have had some great challenges but have persevered. We have seen damaging storms with flooding and heavy snow, and over the last two years devastating tornadoes in which neighborhoods were destroyed in the first one and lives lost in the second. But we responded as a government and as a community. Donations in the hundreds of thousands of dollars from our residents and millions from our county government. A recent study showed that Oneida County was one of the most generous communities when responding to tragedy. That is who we are.

This last year of the quarter century mark was another for the ages. In the spring we announced that Chobani, the famed yogurt and natural food producer, would build a 1.4 million square-foot facility, the largest natural food processing facility in the nation in Rome at the Griffiss Business and Technology Park. The shovels are already in the ground, and we look to early 2027 for opening. But it doesn’t stop there. Our friends and partner the Oneida Indian Nation will open the Turning Stone Evolution in June with a new hotel and restaurant, and in the fall, the largest convention center in upstate New York. With their current hotels and the new one, Turning Stone’s resort will rival any other convention center with room availability and space capacity.

Plans are also in the works to retrofit the large hangars at Griffiss into a multi-use sport complex to compliment Nexus. When complete, “The Runway” will provide indoor fields and courts for soccer, baseball, pickleball and basketball. Plans also envision a food court and other recreation amenities. We are continuing to invest in Union Station and the REA Wing to create a food hub as well as renovations to the main building.

Our vision for the U-District continues with the proposed Nexus neighborhood on Oriskany Street. With the potential for retail and residential buildout. We are also continuing to improve and expand the housing stock in our county. The recent study we commissioned outlined the need for 6,000 new units in the next five years. With Chobani, Turning Stone and all our existing businesses growing, we will need them.

Above all we continue to provide essential services to all our county residents. Whether in public safety, where we are installing street cameras throughout cities, towns and villages. Or in public health, where we continue to monitor and work with our health care system to ensure all are taken care of. We are leading. We will continue to assist all municipalities as the need arises, and keep our roads, bridges and water systems at the highest standards possible.

I began this column talking about Genesis and how it started in the year 2000. While the word is generally associated with the first book of the Old Testament, its other definition is a beginning. We can look at these last 25 years as a beginning of sorts. While some may argue the point, the facts tell the story. There were many that had written off our region, and in particular this county, after many setbacks and population loss. But that is why I love our home, because we don’t quit, we help our neighbor like no one else does, we continue to look ahead and not behind, and we know that the future was yesterday. Today is our time and it keeps getting better. Nothing was done by one person or entity. In all our investments, partnerships are number one. Thanks to Genesis and the people that got in that room and said “we need to be the catalyst for positive change.” Twenty-five years have shown it worked.

I have been writing a year-end column for many years and always end it with gratitude. I appreciate the honor to serve as your County Executive. I appreciate the love and support of my wife and family. And I am proud of the family of Oneida County. This is our time, and we are not stopping.

As we enter 2026, I wish you the happiest holiday season, a Merry Christmas and the best New Year we can all have. May good health and love surround you and let 2026 be filled with both. God bless our home Oneida County.

Anthony Picente, a Utica University alum, is the Oneida County Executive

Special thanks to The Genesis Group for facilitating this article. The Genesis Group is a civic organization that unites Business and Community Leaders working to advance regional Economic, Social and Cultural interests, and to foster unity and cooperation in the Mohawk Valley region of Upstate New York. For more information on this type of analytical and analysis and data collection technologies, please visit the Genesis Center for Analytical Analysis website at TheGenesisGroup.org