ELMIRA — The board of directors of Elmira Savings Bank (ticker: ESBK) has declared a 22 cents per share cash dividend on its common shares outstanding. 

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has launched a statewide surety-bond assistance program in a bid to boost state contracting among small businesses and businesses owned by minorities and women.

The program, which Cuomo kicked off yesterday, is called the New York State Surety Bond Assistance Program. A surety bond guarantees an obligation or contract.

ITHACA — Ithaca College is now home to the beta version of Fanattac, an online social-media site that connects music fans and artists. Hollywood–based Fanattac, Inc. announced today it had closed on a $1 million private-placement financing deal.

M&T Bank has introduced a new mobile banking service for business customers.

Businesses can pay bills, view accounts, perform transfers, and more online with the new service. Customers can use the new platform on mobile phones through mobile Web banking, text banking, or an iPhone app.

 More than 9,000 businesses were involved in a merger or acquisition in 2009, according to Mergerstat LLC. The vast majority of these transactions were less than $100 million. By 2012, nearly 62 million baby boomers should be heading for, or already in, retirement, potentially doubling the number of businesses that will have owners seeking an exit.