Green Business Opportunities
OPPORTUNITIES FOR GREEN & CLEAN TECH COMPANIES
The SALT District is an inviting, creative mixed-use neighborhood primed for the development of green and clean tech companies run by pioneering entrepreneurs. The NWSI - along with local economic development organizations - stands ready to help early-stage companies locate to the neighborhood and join an already flourishing industry sector.
In what ways is Syracuse a green and clean technology hub?
- The Near Westside is a LEED-Neighborhood Development Pilot Project, incorporating green building and technology into its sustainable urban development plan.
- Green and clean start-up companies already abound, incubated by the Center for CleanTech Entrepreneurship, the Creative Core, Syracuse Center of Excellence, and other economic development organizations.
- Three regional green and clean tech anchor organizations have invested in downtown Syracuse: King + King Architects, O’Brien & Gere, and Syracuse Center of Excellence.
- The Syracuse city government leads the way for regional organizations, adopting LEED equivalent standards, energy savings plans, alternative transportation, green infrastructure, and sustainable planning.
- Regionwide green and clean tech initiatives:
- Creative Core “Green Team” - A broad coalition of Central Upstate New York companies, universities, and other organizations dedicated to growing the region’s green and clean industry sector. Programs include “Grants for Growth” and the “Emerging Business Competition.”
- Syracuse Center of Excellence - SyracuseCoE accelerates the creation of environmental and energy innovations, engaging collaborators at 200+ organizations to address global challenges in clean and renewable energy, indoor environmental quality, and water resources. Members conduct research, demonstrate new technologies, commercialize innovations, and educate the workforce. Start-up company partnership rates are available.
- Citywide green and clean tech/entrepreneurial initiatives:
- Center for CleanTech Entrepreneurship - The Center for CleanTech Entrepreneurship at the Tech Garden is a NYSERDA-funded initiative focused on developing clean tech companies in Central Upstate. It offers support through incubation, acceleration, and retention.
- Entiative - An academic, industry, not-for-profit coalition led by Syracuse University to encourage entrepreneurship in technology, the arts, and across neighborhoods.
- Sustainable Enterprise Partnership - A collaboration among Syracuse University, SUNY-ESF, and SyracuseCoE offering world-class education and research on sustainable enterprise and providing in-depth understanding of sustainability policy and practice.
- Raymond Von Draun IDEA Award (“What’s the Big Idea?”) - A collaboration between Syracuse University and The Tech Garden to encourage and incubate student entrepreneurial ideas.
- Other Central Upstate green and clean tech-focused organizations:


