IC Connect Project Launched and Recognized

USA Datanet is a founding sponsor and
key player in regional technology initiative

ICConnect is the result of the collective efforts of a great number of individuals and organizations whose commitment to the welfare of our Central Upstate region is endless. From state and local government, regional economic development agencies and a wide mix of university and business leaders, the overall support for ICConnect has been tremendous.

The Metropolitan Development Association had the foresight to incorporate this technology based project into the Essential New York Initiative when it was formulated in 2004. It is part of their Optimizing Key Industry Clusters Strategy, which is an organized effort to expand the regions key industries to create jobs and generate sustainable long term growth. The MDA is firmly committed to ICConnect, as is evident by their substantial financial contribution and on-going staff support.

Our state government is also firmly committed to ICConnect. Governor Pataki has made high technology economic growth a top priority. Under his leadership New York State has seen the creation of 5 Centers of Excellence around the state, including the Center of Excellence in Environmental and Energy Systems in Syracuse. Governor Pataki has also created the New York State Office of Science, Technology and Academic Research (NYSTAR) to foster economic development through high technology investments. NYSTAR, through its Matching Grants Leverage Program, has committed to the development of ICConnect by approving a funded project to research, design and launch the ICConnect website.

Many other organizations and people have contributed to ICConnect as well. Our four founding sponsors (Strategic Computer Solutions President Jim Carrick, Seneca Data President Kevin Conley, USA Datanet President David Montanero and Dolphin Technologies President Mike Miravalle) were instrumental in their contributions, which not only provided some necessary capital, but also established the momentum for ICConnect that was needed to bring their vision to fruition.

Many other organizations are behind ICConnect as well. The Greater Syracuse Chamber of Commerce, including Technology Garden, and the Manufacturing Association of Central of New York are both collaborating with the ICConnect initiative to ensure success without duplication. Syracuse University and the Case Center, which is their incubation center for entrepreneurial based technology startups, provided a number of essential ideas and observations for ICConnect as the vision was being created.

While the success of ICConnect is contingent on the vision of these entities and others, it’s true success can only be measured by the degree to which ICConnect influences the direction of our technology sector in future years, and that is a function of how we, as a region, capitalize on the resources that ICConnect makes so readily available.

Visit the IC Connect website