Density, a tech startup company that helps businesses track the number of people in a space, celebrated the opening of new space in the Whitlock Building, located along South Clinton Street. Density was founded in 2014 at The Tech Garden. Density created technology that anonymously keeps track of the number of people coming and going from a building using sensors and software. The new space totaling 21,000 square feet, will allow Density to expand its production capabilities to produce up to 400,000 sensors per year. Density has plans to create future offices, labs, warehouse, and a shipping center within the new facility, all located on the first floor of the Whitlock Building. The top two floors are home to 24 residential apartments. The Whitlock Building is the first building to operate free of fossil fuels. Density is the first "unicorn" to emerge from The Tech Garden - the distinction refers to a privately held startup valued at more than $1 billion. It grew quickly during the pandemic as there was a heightened attention to the amount of people in one space at a time.

The Redhouse Arts Center's 2022 - 2023 season features four productions that share a common theme: searching. The 2022 - 2023 season will open in October with Angels in America Part 1 - Millennium Approaches, set in America in the 1980s, the play follows people searching for the meaning of life and their purpose. Then, the holiday season will welcome A Christmas Story, The Musical, bringing the 1983 film to hilarious life through a musical, promising a "triple dog dare" kind of good time. After the New Year, audiences can look forward to, By The Way, Meet Vera Stark, a love letter to Black Hollywood actresses in the 1930s featuring a story about identity and self-discovery. And The Bridges of Madison County, will round out the season, inviting viewers to ask, "What if." This play shares the search for true love and happiness.

The Blue Man Group spent four weeks in tech rehearsals at The Redhouse Arts Center before kicking off its national tour at The Landmark Theatre. And, while the cast, crew and creative team were in Syracuse, they pumped $2.5 million into our local economy from travel, hotels, restaurants and business visits. According to Broadway in Syracuse, Broadway tours contribute an economic impact of more than three times the number of gross ticket sales when they come to town. To provide one example, the cast, crew and musicians accounted for 400 hotel room stays.

The Downtown Syracuse Foundation continues to accept applications for the Syracuse Festivals Fund, which was established to provide grant support for festivals and events that were negatively impacted by the pandemic. Applications may be downloaded at DowntownSyracuse.com/SyracuseFestivalFund and are due by 11:59 pm on Monday, March 21. Each event organizer is encouraged to submit an application as soon as possible to be considered for funding support. Please note, Round 2 and/or Round 3 funding is contingent upon fund availability. Applications may be submitted for grant amounts between $3,000 and $20,000.