Courtesy Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce
Matt Jones, senior partner at Jones Steves Grassi LLP, has received the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce’s 2026 Joseph Dalton Community Service Award.
Jones was honored May 7 during the chamber’s Annual Chamber Celebration Night at The 1863 Club at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs.
“Volunteerism is such a huge part of the role of the Chamber of Commerce and making things happen here in Saratoga Springs and Saratoga County,” Jones said during his acceptance remarks.
The award, created by unanimous vote of the chamber’s board of directors in 2017, recognizes an individual who has been faithful and loyal to the Saratoga County community for more than 25 years.
Jones focuses his law practice on land use and development matters in Saratoga County, representing clients involved in major development projects. Over nearly five decades of practice, he has represented GlobalFoundries, Saratoga Hospital, Skidmore College, Regeneron and others.
Jones has held community leadership roles, including vice president of the New York State Bar Association and member of its Executive Committee; president of the Saratoga County Bar Association; president of the Saratoga Springs Board of Education; chairman of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce board of directors; president of the Saratoga County YMCA Board of Directors; president of the Saratoga Springs Lions Club Foundation Board of Trustees; and vice chairman and founding director of the Saratoga Springs City Center Authority.
He also has served on local civic and nonprofit organizations, including the West Avenue Redevelopment Advisory Committee, Saratoga Springs Committee on Recreation, Saratoga Springs Charter Review Commission, Leadership Saratoga Advisory Board, Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation, Blue Streaks Hall of Fame Committee, Saratoga County Bar Association Mock Trial Program and Saratoga Springs Smart City Commission.
“Based upon the activities, involvement, and leadership in the community over the past 47 years,” past Joseph Dalton Community Service Award recipient L. Clifford Van Wagner said in his nomination of Jones, “I can say without reservation that he has proven through his actions to be honorable, ready, relevant, innovative, and versatile while always doing what is right for the community.”
Todd Shimkus, president of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce, said Jones has been a trusted community leader for decades.
“I worked very closely with Matt the year he chaired the chamber’s board of directors and his advice and counsel was always based on what was best for the community,” Shimkus said. “He’s given his time, talent and treasure to so many vital parts of our community for decades, and he is one of those leaders everyone respects for the positive difference he makes. The City Center, Saratoga Hospital, the Saratoga Springs School District, and the Saratoga Regional YMCA just to name a few are all better because of Matt’s leadership.”
Jones previously received the Leadership Saratoga Distinguished Alumnus Award for Outstanding Service and Achievement to the Community by a Graduate of the Leadership Saratoga program, the YMCA Outstanding Volunteer Service Award, the Community Leadership Association Distinguished Leadership Award and the 2024 Liberty Bell Award. He was inducted into the Saratoga Springs High School Hall of Distinction in 2022.
The award is named for Joseph Dalton, who served as president of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce from 1970 to 2010. During his tenure, the chamber’s membership, influence and impact grew through Dalton’s leadership and commitment to Saratoga County.
Past recipients include Steve Sullivan, Tom Roohan, John Munter Sr., Julie Stokes, L. Clifford Van Wagner, Dr. William Long, Cindy Hollowood and Colleen Carlson.
Tom Bellhouse of West Point Thoroughbreds also was honored for serving as the chamber’s 2025 board chair. Nil Ghoshal of Polyset is the chamber’s current board chair.
Provided by Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce; edited for style and length.