Governor Cuomo Announces Farm to Fork Solutions Forum

LongIsland.com

In celebration of U.S. Manufacturing Day, forum will help food and beverage manufacturers grow business.

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Albany, NY - September 15, 2014 - Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the Farm to Fork Solutions Forum, which will focus on helping New York State food and beverage manufacturers grow their business, to be held on October 3 at the Rochester Institute of Technology. FuzeHub, a statewide initiative announced last fall, will host the forum and connect businesses with technical experts to identify solutions to overcome challenges to growth. To date, FuzeHub has assisted more than 450 manufacturing companies across New York.

“New York is home to some of the finest food and beverages in the world," Governor Cuomo said. "By linking these producers with the resources FuzeHub has to offer, we can help foster continued growth, jobs, and economic activity in what is already one of this state’s most rapidly growing industries. I encourage all who are eligible to attend this forum and see for themselves what is available to help them grow their company."

Solutions Forums are half-day events that are free to New York State manufacturing companies. They provide an opportunity for small to medium-sized manufacturing companies to learn about and connect with the available resources and programs within Empire State Development, the state's research universities, New York's Manufacturing Extension Partnership program and local economic development groups, in addition to networking and collaboration opportunities with other manufacturers statewide.

Empire State Development President, CEO & Commissioner Kenneth Adams said, “FuzeHub is a unique tool that has been successful in leveraging the state’s existing resources to help businesses grow and thrive across the state. We encourage manufacturers in the food and beverage industry to take advantage of FuzeHub’s free services and connect with experienced manufacturing, technical and business professionals live and in person at the next Solutions Forum in Rochester.”

FuzeHub Executive Director Laura Mann said, “Our goal with this Farm to Fork Solutions Forum is to attract small and medium food manufacturers who want to grow their businesses, whether you’re an aspiring food entrepreneur, businesses wanting to launch a food product, food technician, scientist or product developer, we can help. There is a growing need to assist manufacturers with everything from food processing to energy and water use, and FuzeHub brings forward these resources to analyze, problem solve and identify solutions to meet specific company needs.”

James Senall, President of High Tech Rochester, the NY-MEP center of the Finger Lakes Region said, “The Rochester region has positioned itself as a hub for attracting and growing food and beverage manufacturing companies. With more than 100 companies in the Greater Rochester Region alone, it is vital that these companies have access and knowledge of the assets and programs available not only in the region but throughout New York State to assist in their development."

The Farm to Fork Solutions Forum will be held October 3 at Rochester Institute of Technology from 8:30 am – 12:30 pm. Manufacturing companies can register by visiting fuzehub.com, and will be asked to submit their requests for assistance based on need, such as information technology, product development, prototyping and design, marketing development and much more.

A core team of technical and manufacturing professionals respond within 48 hours and work with the companies through live one-on-one discussions. These skilled representatives consult with the companies as trusted advisors and provide targeted connections to the specific set of experts and resources needed.

Rochester Institute of Technology Associate Provost and Golisano Institute for Sustainability Director, Nabil Nasr said, “Golisano Institute for Sustainability has enthusiastically supported the Farm to Fork movement by leading the Finger Lakes Food Processing Cluster Initiative and working with our region’s agricultural industry in related activities that help promote job growth, sustainability, and economic development. We are proud to participate and very excited to host this important Solutions Forum event at the Rochester Institute of Technology during Manufacturing Day.”

Organized by the National Association of Manufacturers, the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, and the Department of Commerce's National Institute of Standards and Technology, Manufacturing Extension Partnership, Manufacturing Day is designed to amplify the voice of individual manufacturers and coordinate a collective chorus of manufacturers with common concerns and challenges. (mfgday.com)

For more information on FuzeHub, please visit fuzehub.com or contact Laura Mann, Director of Strategy and Operations at laura@fuzehub.com.

About FuzeHub

FuzeHub is a new initiative that works to better connect New York’s small and mid-sized manufacturing companies to the resources, programs and expertise they need for technology commercialization, innovative solutions and business growth. FuzeHub unites and integrates a broad network of multi-disciplinary public and private sector technology, industry and commercialization services, experts and partners. FuzeHub was initiated by the partnering of a state and federal program with support from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s NIST MEP and Empire State Development’s Division of Science, Technology & Innovation.