TDO and TAG Group offer local manufacturers aid

CNY Business Journal (1996+), Jul 19, 2002 by Fitting, Beth

SYRACUSE - Manufacturers that are trying to find their way through the maze of economic-development organizations, local, state, and federal, can turn for help to a partnership just formed between a private consulting group, and the local Technology Development Organization.

The Central New York Technology Development Organization (TDO) has retained the services of the TAG Group, LLC to assist Central New York manufacturers in taking advantage of the various economic-development benefits offered by the State of New York, local governments, and other business organizations. According to an issued statement from TDO, such assistance will include understanding Empire Zone benefits, various grant opportunities, low-interest loans, and work-force training programs.

"It's hard to understand the mire of resources out there," says Susan Kuhns, TDO's marketing and communications director. "It's not just funding. It depends on the company's needs. For example, we might put them in contact with an autoindustry specialist at Empire State Development."

The principal consultant from TAG for the TDO will be Timothy A. Frateschi. Frateschi's experiences working as the Central New York regional director for Empire State Development (New York State's economic-development arm), state and local governments, and as a corporate attorney will help provide businesses with a comprehensive understanding of the economic-development benefits and how best to access them.

"Improving Central New York through economic development has always been a passion of mine. The TAG Group will work with businesses to ensure that they take full advantage of the array of programs that are available to them," said Frateschi, who is the chief operating officer of the TAG Group, in a statement.

Kuhns says that businesses "can take it as far as they want to. We can write a separate contract, if necessary, to help them write a grant request."

So far, says Kuhns, TDO and TAG Group have received several calls in response to letters they sent to area manufacturers. "We have two clients already set up," she adds.

In addition to economic-development assistance, the TDO provides services to help manufacturing and technology bu sinesses become more competitive, productive, and profitable, including lean manufacturing, ISO9000:2000, e-business development, export marketing assistance, strategic planning, work-force development, industrial marketing, and OSHA and safety consulting.

For more information, contact Robert Trachtenberg at the TDO at (315) 425-5144 or mail@tdo.org.