Two Syracuse law firms were among nine entities whose decertification as Empire Zone Business Enterprises were upheld by an Appellate Division, Third Department, panel.
Both Melvin & Melvin and Alexander & Catalano acknowledged they fell under the Department of Economic Development’s classification as “shirt-changers” for purposes of the Empire Zone program, meaning they underwent corporate changeovers in order to qualify. The panel said neither firm showed the “extraordinary circumstances” necessary for an exemption to rules barring shirt-changers from the program.
