A Message from the County Executive

One of the surest signs that fall has arrived is the annual ON Farm Fest held every September. This year was the biggest and best yet and I want to thank our team in Planning, the Onondaga Agriculture Council and all our local farms who made this the most successful one yet! I am so proud of our rich agriculture community and diverse range of agritourism sites. We also are launching a mini-series on social media highlighting our local agricultural community. Be sure to check out our #ONAgritourism Videos on Facebook, X, or Instagram.

This month, I delivered the 2025 Budget Address which included a 9% tax cut, additional investments in housing development, school-based mental health programs, lead poisoning prevention and capital grants for child care centers. The 2025 Budget continues to be aspirational for the future and reflects our unwavering belief in the potential of our community.

I also had the honor of kicking off and participating in the Suicide Prevention Month Initiative “Chalk the Walk'' by covering sidewalks with uplifting and positive messages in chalk to spread hope and awareness for mental health awareness and Suicide Prevention Month.

I also had the privilege of joining community leaders for a solemn ceremony to honor the memory of those we lost on September 11, 2001. We will never forget the lives lost and the families forever changed.  

My team continues to work hard for our community and look forward to sharing more announcements throughout the upcoming months. 

Below you will find more updates on all the exciting events and announcements made over the last month. As always, it is an honor to serve as your County Executive and if you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact my office.

Sincerely,

Ryan

Labor Day, observed the first Monday in September, is an annual celebration of the social and economic achievements of American workers. Rooted in the late 19th century, the holiday honors when labor activists pushed for a federal holiday to recognize the many contributions workers have made to America’s strength, prosperity and well-being.

To learn more about the history of Labor Day, please click below:

Each year National Hispanic Heritage Month is observed from September 15th to October 15th by celebrating the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America.

The day of September 15th is significant because it is the anniversary of independence for Latin American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua.

Throughout history, millions of Hispanic Americans have enriched and strengthened the American way of life through their love of family, leadership and wisdom within our communities.

To learn more about National Hispanic Heritage Month, please click below:

September also marks National Preparedness Month--the annual recognition to remind everyone in America how important it is for individuals, families and communities to prepare for disasters and emergencies that can happen at any time.

Our Department of Emergency Management works with partners to promote life safety and property preservation through a cycle of emergency and disaster preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation.

To learn more about the Department of Emergency Management, please click below:

September was first declared as National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month in 2008. Since then, September has been a time to acknowledge those affected by suicide as well as raise awareness and connect individuals with suicidal ideation to treatment services. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), each year more than 41,000 individuals die by suicide, leaving behind friends and family members to navigate the tragedy of their loss. Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death among adults in the U.S. and the 2nd leading cause of death among people aged 10-24 and these rates are increasing.

September 8 is 988 Day, a national initiative to raise awareness about the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline that can help those struggling with their mental health. First implemented in 2022, the federally mandated crisis number, 988, became available to all landline and cell phone users at no charge to provide access to call centers, crisis counseling, resources and referrals.

To learn more about Mental Health Services available in Onondaga County, please click below:

County Executive McMahon Helps Kickoff Suicide Prevention Month Initiative "Chalk the Walk"

County Executive McMahon was joined by the Onondaga County Suicide Prevention Coalition (OCSPC) and Contact Community Services. Inc. to announce the launch of a weeklong suicide prevention and mental health awareness initiative called "Chalk the Walk" in honor of Suicide Prevention Month. The goal was to cover sidewalks with uplifting and positive messages in chalk to spread hope and awareness for Suicide Prevention Month.

Over 150 satellite sites participated throughout the week of September 23rd-- September 27th including school districts and colleges, not-for-profits and various other organizations throughout Onondaga County. The kickoff event included youth artists from Syracuse University, LeMoyne College, East-Syracuse Minoa High School and Syracuse City School District (SCSD) as well as community members and staff from Onondaga County and partnering organizations such as the Everson Museum of Art.

If you or someone you know may be struggling and in need of support, please dial 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. For more information about resources available in the community, please click below:

County Executive McMahon Delivers

2025 Executive Budget Address

On September 12th, County Executive McMahon presented the 2025 budget to the Onondaga County Legislature. The presentation prioritized key initiatives for poverty, infrastructure and economic development in the proposed $1.562 billion budget while delivering another historic property tax cut.

County Executive McMahon's 2025 budget included a 9% property tax cut, additional investments to housing development, in-school mental health programs, funding grants for child care centers to fill the increasing demand for child care, lead poisoning prevention initiatives and expanding educational opportunities.

To watch the full executive budget address, please click below:

County Executive McMahon Honors Those Lost on 9/11

County Executive McMahon joined Mayor Ben Walsh, Fire Chief Michael Monds and Police Chief Joe Cecile at Firefighters Park for a solemn ceremony to honor the memory of those we lost on September 11, 2001. The ceremony featured 17 minutes of silence representing the time between the first and second planes hitting the World Trade Center Towers. They stood together to pay tribute to the victims, first responders and heroes whose courage and sacrifice will never be forgotten.

We will never forget the lives lost, the families forever changed and the spirit of a nation that rose together.

County Executive McMahon Attends Labor Day Parade

County Executive McMahon was proud to join and march with our brothers and sisters in labor for the annual Labor Day Parade and Rally at The Great New York State Fair!

Micron Selects Downtown

Syracuse Office Location

Micron will be adding their logo to the Syracuse skyline inside Downtown Syracuse’s One Lincoln Center on West Fayette Street!

Micron’s planned office space will help house local Procurement and Facilities Construction teams as well as Operations, Government and Public Affairs and other team members in the years ahead. Micron’s office will also include a street-level space for a community welcome and recruitment center which will serve as the hub for people from across the region to drop in to learn more about the project and to access recruiting resources.

County Executive McMahon said, "The momentum and progress happening in our community is undeniable thanks to the historic investment being made by Micron. With the announcement today that they have selected One Lincoln Center in downtown Syracuse as the home of their new office space, along with the addition of their logo atop the building, our community will soon have a visible reminder that Onondaga County and Central New York is now poised to become the hub for semiconductor memory technology in the county and the world. Just as important, this planned office space includes a welcome and recruitment center which will provide members of our community with the opportunity to learn more about this historic project and the various way they can seize upon this unique opportunity."

County Executive McMahon Presents Proclamation to

Ronald McDonald House Charities

of Central New York

County Executive McMahon attended the Ronald McDonald House Charities (RHHC) ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate their fourth-floor expansion. He was joined by Mayor Ben Walsh to honor Ronald McDonald House of Charities with a proclamation for all their hard work and dedication to the children and families in our community by proclaiming September 5th, 2024, as "Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central New York Recognition Day." Congratulations on the expansion and thank you for all you do!

County Executive McMahon

Kicks Off #ONAgritourism

County Executive McMahon kicked off #ONAgritourism, a video campaign to promote Agritourism and showcase the many spectacular farms in Onondaga County.

Agritourism helps promote farm viability while also benefiting our local economy. Our many agritourism destinations are part of what makes the quality of life in our community so special!

Watch the first #ONAgritourism Videos Below:

ON Farm Fest 2024

On September 21st, 2024, the Onondaga Agriculture Council held its 8th annual ON Farm Fest. Thousands of visitors enjoyed a free day of family friendly fun as local farms across Onondaga County opened for tours to learn about life on the farm and discover the latest advances in agriculture. ON Farm Fest included local products and food for sale, live music and interactive exhibits. Until next year ON Farm Fest!

WEP FEST 2024

The Department of Water Environment Protection (WEP) celebrated a major milestone--the Metropolitain Syracuse Wastewater Treatment Plant's 100 years of service to the community!

Since its founding in 1924, the Metropolitan Syracuse Wastewater Treatment Plant (Metro) has been a cornerstone of public health and environmental protection for the Syracuse area. To commemorate this centennial, the community was invited to join WEP in celebrating Metro’s legacy and to explore the essential role wastewater treatment plays in our lives at this year’s WEP Fest, the Department’s Open House event. The 100th anniversary of Metro is not only a celebration of the facility itself but also a tribute to the dedicated professionals who have worked tirelessly to sustain and enhance its operations over the years. From engineers and operators to environmental scientists and maintenance teams, generations of workers have contributed to Metro’s continued success.

County Executive McMahon said, “Our Metro Plant celebrating its 100th Anniversary is proof of this County’s track record of continued investments in our local infrastructure. My administration remains committed to making strategic investments in our sewer and water systems infrastructure.”

County Executive McMahon Speaks at Bluefors' Factory Expansion

County Executive McMahon spoke and assisted in the ribbon cutting of Bluefors' Factory expansion celebration. The expansion marks a major milestone for Bluefors', as it will significantly increase their production capacity of Cryomech cryocoolers and enable them to manufacture dilution refrigerators in the United States for the first time.

County Executive McMahon said, "Bluefors' expansion in Onondaga County is a significant investment for our community. The Syracuse facility is home to 180 talented employees who are at the forefront of innovations in cryogenics. The cryocoolers manufactured in Syracuse are critical to the rapidly growing quantum technology industry. Building on Cryomech's legacy, this investment enhances Bluefors' capabilities and underscores our region's role as a global leader in advanced manufacturing."

To learn more about Bluefors' and their expansion, click below:

County Employees Honored for Contributions to Syracuse Workforce Run!

County Executive McMahon and Alexis Varamogiannis, Assistant Commuinications Director

County Executive McMahon honored Alexis Varamogiannis, Marissa Lathrop and Catherine Rich for their contributions and race times for the Syracuse Workforce Run that took place on June 6th, 2024. Team Onondaga County was the largest team represented with 221 entrants from various county departments. Team Onondaga "raced" to honor our fallen heroes, Officer Michael E. Jensen and Lieutenant Michael Hoosock. 

The Syracuse Workforce Run, previously known as the J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge is where over 3,000 coworkers, friends and families come together annually to run or walk the 5K (3.1-miles) racecourse at Onondaga Lake Park. 

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