Building Your Future on Clarkson's Downtown Campus

QEZE Sales Tax Exemptions: Qualified Empire Zone Enterprises (QEZEs) are granted a 10-year exemption from State sales tax on purchases of goods and services (including utility services) used predominantly in an Empire Zone.
QEZE Credit for Real Property Taxes: Qualified Empire Zone Enterprises are allowed a refundable credit against business or income tax equal to a percentage of real property taxes paid in the zone.
QEZE Tax Reduction Credit: Qualified Empire Zone Enterprises are allowed a credit against business or income tax equal to a percentage of taxes attributable to the zone enterprise.
EZ Wage Tax Credit: This credit is available for up to five consecutive years for companies hiring full-time employees in newly created jobs. For employees in special targeted groups, this credit equals $3,000 per year, with a credit of $1,500 per year for all other new hires.
EZ Investment Tax and Employment Incentive Credits: Businesses that create new jobs and make new investments in production, property and equipment may qualify for tax credits of up to 19% of the company's eligible investment.
New Business Refund: Businesses new to New York State are entitled to a 50% cash refund of unused EZ-WTC and ITC amounts. Other businesses may carry forward unused credits indefinitely.
Utility Rate Savings: Special reduced electric and gas rates may be available through investor-owned utilities in New York State. Businesses that locate or expand their operations in an EZ may receive significantly reduced rates.
Zone Capital Credit: A 25% tax credit against personal or corporate income taxes is available for contributing or purchasing shares in a zone capital corporation; or for a direct equity investment in a certified zone business; or for contributions to approved community development projects within an EZ.
Sales Tax Refund or Credit: Purchases of building materials to be used for commercial or industrial real property located in an EZ are eligible for a refund or credit of NYS sales taxes. A similar refund or credit of local sales tax may also be available from the locality.
Real Property Tax Abatement: EZs may offer tax abatements from an increased assessment, with the abatement value based on improvements to real property for up to 10 years. This holds true for up to seven years at 100%, decreasing over the last three years of the exemption.
Special Low-Interest Loans and Priority Attention: State agencies that have a role in economic development have special programs and services targeted to Empire Zones and will expedite applications received from zone businesses.

Qualifications for some of the Empire Zone Program incentives listed above are based on business structure, job creation factors, company assets, wage compensation ratios, and corporate tax structure. It is important that you discuss your specific business with Potsdam Development Office staff in order to assess what benefits you may be eligible for. For more detailed information about the Empire Zone Program, visit Empire State Development.

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Wired Buildings

Once dependent solely upon the University's T3 lines, organizations in the Downtown Campus Business Center are now able to tap into high-speed internet and telephony as the result of a 2002/2003 project funded by the New York State Wired Buildings program and installed by Slic Network Solutions. The new fiber optic loop provides high-speed connectivity to all of the Business Center buildings.

The Wired Buildings program, which was first outlined by Governor Pataki in his 2000 State of the State Address, helps developers outfit existing buildings to accommodate the needs of small Information Technology (IT) companies. Administered by Empire State Development, the Wired Buildings program was established to increase the availability of affordable, "wired" workspace required by small IT businesses, such as those developing e-commerce applications, offering online services, or engaged in software research and development - as well as for those businesses that require connectivity in order to grow their business competitively.

Connected with 4,400 feet of fiber optic cabling, the fiber loop connects end-user networks inside each of the buildings to high-speed data network and Internet service options. Business Center tenants have access to telecommunications service options - superior to anywhere else in the region. Slic offers business class broadband Internet, point-to-point connectivity, guaranteed service level agreements, web hosting, domain email, virus scanning and SPAM filtering. Packages are available to meet your business' specific connection needs. Housed on campus, Slic Network Solutions' technical personnel are available for on-site consultations, installation and on-going maintenance. The installation of the fiber optic loop was completed through the cooperative efforts of Clarkson University personnel and Slic Network Solutions to provide businesses locating in the downtown campus buildings with the infrastructure necessary for business growth.

Since shifting the university's operations to the Hill Campus, Clarkson has been marketing the buildings located in the Downtown Campus Business Center to potential tenants for commercial development. The occupied space in Lewis House, Clarkson Hall, and Peyton Hall, which house the critical business operations for Slic.com's growing Internet support center, Sunmount Developmental Services, Canton-Potsdam Hospital's Physical Rehabilitation Services, Clarkson's Physical Therapy program and multiple small business operations - is evidence of this development. Currently, the three buildings house more than 170 employees.

The availability of high-speed Internet access is considered to be a key component in marketing any building to a potential business. CITEC - Manufacturing & Technology Solutions, working with Clarkson in the redevelopment of the downtown campus buildings, points to the interest of tenants in having cost-effective, quality business space to expand, or develop, a business. But, without the high-speed network, a critical component of promoting the offices would be missing.

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Economic Development Assistance

A number of local, county, regional and State programs are available to help your new or expanding business with technical assistance and funding needs. Some of the programs available include:

The Potsdam Planning and Development Office can originate loans or equity investments to businesses locating or expanding within one of its Empire Zones in order to help with job creation. For more information on the Zone Capital Credit Program contact Paul Stevenson, Director of the Planning and Development Office at 315.265.1670.
The Micro-Enterprise Loan Fund, administered by the Potsdam Planning and Development Office, offers loans of up to $25,000 to businesses with five or fewer employees, including the owner(s). Funds can be used for working capital, leasehold improvements, machinery and equipment, and real estate development. Contact Paul Stevenson at 315.265.1670 for details.
The Regional Revolving Loan Trust Fund, established by the North Country Alliance, provides loans for short and medium-term working capital. Enterprises that may be eligible for these loan funds include businesses with 100 or fewer full-time employees and a minimum equity interest in the business of at least 10%. Contact the president of the NCA, Tom Plastino, at 315.268.3778 or email at solutions@citec.org.
The St. Lawrence County Office of Economic Development administers a variety of employment and training programs under the Job Training Partnership Act. For information, phone 315.386.3276 or visit them at www.slconestop.com.
The county's Industrial Development Agency (IDA) administers a county-wide revolving loan fund limited to manufacturing firms. The IDA also works with the Office of Economic Development to assist firms in preparing and submitting loan applications to appropriate government agencies and banks. And, the IDA works on behalf of investors to obtain tax abatements and other business incentives. For details, contact them at 315.379.2283 or visit their website at www.slcida.com.

For details on these and other programs available to you, contact:

Paul Stevenson
Potsdam Office of Planning and Development
Civic Center, Park Street
Potsdam, NY 13676
phone: 315-265-1670
fax: 315-265-6020
email: pstevens@vi.potsdam.ny.us

C. Randall Beach
Empire State Development
Plattsburgh Office
401 West Bay Plaza
Plattsburgh, NY 12901
phone: 518-561-5642
fax: 518-561-8831
email: rbeach@empire.state.ny.us

Tom Plastino
CITEC, Inc.
Box 8561 Clarkson University
Potsdam, New York 13699-8561
phone: 315-268-3778 x24
fax: 315-268-4432
email: plastino@citec.org