Courtesy Capital Region Chamber
BY PETE BARDUNIAS
For decades, Saratoga County has been blessed with multiple large organizations supporting economic development, including chambers of commerce, EDCs, local development agencies, IDAs, and more.
One of these, the Chamber of Southern Saratoga County (CSSC), was founded in 1967 to promote Clifton Park and Halfmoon, eventually providing support for the towns, villages and suburbs just north of the Mohawk River. By its 50th anniversary, the organization had grown to be in the top 10-12 percent of chambers statewide, despite still being the “small” chamber in Saratoga County.
Like many nonprofits in the past decade, the CSSC board evaluated potential partners for collaboration, affiliation or outright merger, culminating with affiliation into the 2600 member Capital Region Chamber in 2020, just weeks before the onset of the COVID pandemic.
As one of three large chambers making up the Capital Region Chamber (along with the eight-county Center for Economic Growth), the CSSC continues to be the official chamber of commerce of Clifton Park and Halfmoon, the administrator of the Saratoga County Community Development Program (funded in part by the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors) and the operator of the visitor center inside of the Clifton Park rest area at Northway Exit 8 that sees over 200,000 visitors annually.
It remains committed to supporting events such as the festivals in Waterford, the Great Upstate Boat Show, the Saratoga County Fair, Clifton Park July 4, movies, concerts and car show in the village of Ballston Spa, the Burnt Hills Flag Day parade, the Malta Business Community Alliance, and much more.
Additionally, because all members of the CSSC are also members of the Capital Region Chamber and vice versa, local businesses are connected to networking events across the region. Programs, initiatives, technical advice, education, compliance, advocacy and even financial support are also within reach thanks to the regional Chamber’s large staff and resources. By being grant-funded, some Capital Region Chamber functions are even available to non-members, extending the organization’s reach still further.
Simply put, there is an unprecedented array of resources available through a chamber of commerce for businesses in Saratoga County thanks to the combination of the local affiliate with the greater regional organization.
The Capital Region Chamber runs Entrepreneur Bootcamp, an award-winning 60-hour intensive training program that guides would-be entrepreneurs and existing businesses through the step-by-step process of starting, operating and managing a business. When a business is having a problem or needs connection to professionals with expertise, the chamber offers technical assistance to overcome those roadblocks.
The Chamber offers assistance with MWBE Certification, is a nationally recognized leader in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and its implications for businesses, and was the recent recipient of a $1.5 million grant from Key Bank, CDPHP and Business for Good for a BIPOC Business Growth Initiative that provides targeted, customized, no-cost assistance and growth acceleration support to small and mid-sized BIPOC-owned businesses in the Capital Region.
The Capital Region Chamber administers several loan programs to help fuel business development, including microloans and larger low-interest loan programs. At the other end of the spectrum, the Center for Economic Growth affiliate works with the Saratoga Economic Development Corp. and others to attract investment and talent, grow manufacturing and workforce capabilities, leverage industry clusters, and develop the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Looking ahead, the Chamber sees significant workforce, supply chain, energy, infrastructure and compliance issues. Its 2023 Advocacy Agenda for Prosperity supports members of all sizes and types, including area farms, the marine industry, and entrepreneurs and huge global companies. The Capital Region Chamber’s reputation as a trusted public policy advocate goes a long way in influencing outcomes and shaping polices that make the region more competitive and lead to job creation.
The regional Chamber is definitely involved in the big picture and helps Saratoga County have a seat at the table for large, regional discussions. At the same time, the Chamber of Southern Saratoga County facilitates everything from local cleanup and maintenance projects to literature distribution, attending town meetings, hosting community forums and leading ribbon cutting celebrations.
Big and small, the affiliation between southern Saratoga County’s local chamber and the Capital Region Chamber has proven to be a rewarding and beneficial one for the business communities north of the Twin Bridges.