Category Archives: Business Briefs

The Ballston Spa Public Library and the Friends of the Library (FOL) partners are launching a capital campaign called Funding Our Future – Brick by Brick and Book by Book.

The money raised through the campaign will be used to renovate, redesign and increase the library’s role in the community.

The total cost of the proposed project is approximately $3 million, a sum that includes built-in inflation costs. The capital campaign aims to raise approximately $750,000 of the total costs. The campaign has already applied for more than $450,000 dollars in grant awards.

The project includes the addition of a reading room and local history room, an enhanced children’s area, teen space and a renovated community meeting space. Funds will also be used to improve accessibility, use of technology and energy sustainability.

The completion of the project is expected to result in an increase in the number of public programs offered as well as the number of programs hosted at the library by partner groups.

Additional information about the campaign will be shared on the Friends of the Ballston Spa Public Library  Facebook page, and the Ballston Spa Public Library website as the weeks progress.

To donate community members can either send a check made out to Friends of the Ballston Spa Public Library at 21 Milton Ave., Ballston Spa, NY 12020, Attn: Friends of the Ballston Spa Public Library, or visit the website bspl.sals.edu.

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The Ballston Area Community Center (BACC) has received a $2000 grant from the Adirondack Trust Co. Community Fund for its 2023 Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) program. The grant monies will be used to fund the use of Chromebook and/or iPad technology in the UPK classroom.

BACC board member Molly Pezzulo attended a reception at Longfellow’s Restaurant in Saratoga Springs on Dec. 1 and was honored to accept a check on behalf of the BACC.

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 The 36th annual Stewart’s Holiday Match Campaign kicked off on Thanksgiving Day and runs through Christmas day at all shop locations. 

The program supports nonprofit organizations impacting children. To date, it has raised nearly $34 million for children’s charities.

Last year, customers donated over $1 million to the program, doubling to more than $2 million with the Stewart’s match. The funds were able to support 1,716 local children’s organizations across the 32 counties where Stewart’s Shops are located.

Local organizations impacting children are encouraged to apply for funding online. The deadline for submission is Jan. 31. All groups applying must be locally based, benefit children under 18, and be a qualified, charitable 501c3 organization. 

All donations are tax-deductible. Stewart’s  accepts funds from groups or businesses, but only matches individual donations.

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DeCrescente Distributing Co. of Mechanicville recently announced its employee-funded DeCrescente Scholarship Fund  awarded $12,000 in college scholarships to 24 children of company employees for the fall semester.

Established in 1995, the scholarship fund has given more than $480,000 in financial assistance to employees and their children since its inception almost 30 years ago.

Over the years, the scholarship fund has transitioned from company funded to now being 100 percent funded by employees through voluntary payroll deductions. Currently, about 160  employees contribute to the fund.

Candidates can apply for the award every semester they attend college, but they must meet certain eligibility criteria, including attending school full-time and meet GPA requirements.

The $12,000 allocation is the first of two awards that will be granted for the 2022-23 academic year, with the next rollout coming ahead of the spring 2023 semester.

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The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame’s fourth annual Photo Finish exhibition has opened in the von Stade Gallery and will remain on display through Feb. 5. 

The exhibit’s images will also be available on the Museum’s website at racingmuseum.org/exhibits/photo-finish-juried-photography-exhibition.  The online exhibition will be available through October 2023.

Photo Finish features selected amateur and professional photographs that document the entire racing experience, from the farm and the backstretch to the winner’s circle. Each image captures an element of the strength, beauty, and emotion of the sport of racing. Photographers from 17 states and Ireland are represented in the exhibit.

Remi Bellocq, Alicia Hughes, Sally Jeffords, and Tod Marks, served as the judges for Photo Finish, providing representation from the racing and arts communities.

The call for submissions for the fifth annual Photo Finish exhibition will be announced in 2023.

For more information about the museum, including special events and program offerings, please call (518) 584-0400 or www.racingmuseum.org.

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The Ballston Spa Business & Professional Association will hold its 20th annual “The Way We Were” car show on Sunday, Oct.  9 on Front Street.

The event typically draws over 400 show cars. Organizers are anticipating a large turnout for the 20-year anniversary. 

In addition to cars and trucks, there will be food and merchandise vendors, a kid’s zone with a bounce house and activities, live music and a trophy presentation at the end of the day.

“We are really excited for this year’s show,” said Dan Barner, car show committee chairperson. “It’s always a great event that brings people downtown to support our businesses and it is an important fundraiser to support the excellent work that the Ballston Spa Business & Professional Association does. We’re doing our very best to make it extra special this year in celebration of the show’s 20th anniversary.”

Pre-registration for show cars is now open. Sponsorship and vendor opportunities are also currently available for businesses and organizations that would like to be a part of the show. 

The event is free to spectators. To learn more, visit www.ballston.org.

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In a newly released rating of fried chicken from coast to coast, The Food Network dubbed Hattie’s Restaurant one of the best spots in the country and the best in New York state for fried chicken.

“Hattie’s, in Saratoga Springs, has received many accolades for their standout fried chicken over the years, and even beat Bobby Flay in fried chicken on Throwdown! with Bobby Flay,” said The Food Network in its review. 

As part of the Business for Good family of businesses, Hattie’s Restaurant aims to grow and amplify a community positive business, while maintaining the quality and character of its product, the vision of its present ownership, and the legacy of its founder, Miss Hattie Moseley Austin, the company said. 

All profits of the Hattie’s Restaurants are donated to local charity, aligning with the Business for Good mission. Miss Hattie’s locations include Hattie’s Restaurant on Phila Street, Hattie’s Chicken Shack in Wilton, Hattie’s Track Shack at the Saratoga Race Course and soon-to-open Hattie’s Albany.

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The Saratoga Springs Rotary Education Foundation held its twenty-second annual community service awards dinner on June 10, awarding scholarships totaling $85,000 to 15 seniors attending both Saratoga Springs High School and Saratoga Central Catholic High School. 

Awards ranged from $2,500 to the $20,000 Rotary Club of Saratoga Springs Presidential Scholarship. The foundation also honored Cindy and Brien Hollowood for their contributions to the community. 

 Established in 1997, the Saratoga Springs Rotary Education Foundation raises funds to support the post-secondary education and vocational training of graduates from public and private high schools in the greater Saratoga community. The annual awards event, held this year at Longfellows Hotel and Restaurant, is the foundation’s major fundraiser and all proceeds go to fund future scholarships.

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The Veterans Business Council (VBC) of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce announced the 2022 scholarship program. 

Under the Program, one $5,000 scholarship will be awarded to a veteran or service member that lives in, attends college in, or works in Saratoga County. 

For full program details, eligibility criteria and online application, visit chambermaster.blob.core.windows.net/userfiles/UserFiles/chambers/2254/File/Scholarship-Application-Fillable-2022.pdf. 

Applications must be postmarked on or before Aug. 12.

The mission of the Veterans Business Council of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce is to facilitate opportunities for our military veterans residing in Saratoga County. Efforts will be to connect them with the business community to enhance their knowledge of employment opportunities, job or entrepreneurial training, and new business development. 

The council will also seek additional opportunities in support of  local veterans. Veterans interested in this opportunity should reach out to Denise Romeo at the Chamber  at 518-584-3255 or dromeo@saratoga.org.

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CAP COM Federal Credit Union and its charitable giving arm, the CAP COM Cares Foundation, announced the foundation’s Infrastructure Grant Initiative. 

A total of $100,000 will be awarded to 10 Capital Region nonprofit organizations at a special luncheon later this year.  

The Infrastructure Initiative program formalizes the CAP COM Cares Foundation’s commitment to be a strong community partner and support projects that nonprofits often find difficult to fund. 

 The beneficiaries of the Foundation’s initiative rogram include:

AIM Services Inc., Saratoga County; BlueLight Development Group, Albany County; Eden’s Rose Foundation, Albany County; Foster Can Inc., Rensselaer County; Literacy Volunteers of Rensselaer County, Rensselaer County; SAFE Inc. of Schenectady, Schenectady County; Senior Citizens Center of Saratoga Springs, Saratoga County; St. Catherine’s Center for Children, Albany County; To Life!, Albany County; and Women’s Employment Resource Center (WERC), Albany County.

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The Saratoga County History Center announced the publication of a new book on local history. 

“Off the Northway” is a compilation of 83 articles written by longtime local journalist Stephen Williams, who retired after a 42-year career at the Daily Gazette in Schenectady.

The book, a collection of his weekly “Off the Northway” columns and other stories spanning the period from 2005 through 2020, will be released and become available for sale beginning at 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 28 at a presentation and book signing by the author at Brookside Museum, 6 Charlton St., Ballston Spa, the home of the History Center. 

Pre-registration for the event can be made at brooksidemuseum.org. The book will also be available at local bookstores, additional book signing sessions to be announced, and at amazon.com

“Off the Northway” provides a reporter’s up-close perspective on the events that impacted people living in Saratoga County during this 15-year period and reflects on the changes seen across the county stemming from the construction of the Adirondack Northway six decades ago.

For more information, please contact the Saratoga County History Center or James Richmond at saratogacohistoryroundtable@gmail.com.

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Franklin Community Center was awarded two grants in support of its low-income housing program. The building serves as a safe haven for individuals who may be faced with homelessness, living in substandard conditions or waiting for subsidized housing to become available.  

It offers 17 single-occupancy efficiency apartments that serve as permanent, safe housing for low-income adults. The funding assistance will support needed improvements on the 35-year old building, located centrally in downtown Saratoga Springs.

The Troy Savings Bank Charitable Foundation’s community development funding stream issued a grant in the amount of $11,500. The program also received an award of $3,000 from The Glens Falls Foundation in support of the on-going improvements. 

These grants, plus an additional $3,000 from the Adirondack Trust Co. Community Fund awarded in December of 2021, will help to fill a gap in financial resources for one of Franklin Community Center’s crucial key programs.

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The Saratoga County History Center is seeking vendors of handmade crafts, antiques and farm products for the annual craft fair on Saturday, June 18, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.  

No mass-produced or commercially-made items will be permitted. Spaces are available outdoors, with limited spaces available indoors.  This is a rain or shine event. 

Contact Beth Silvestri for more information at (518) 885-4000 or bsilvestri@brooksidemuseum.org

Brookside Museum is located at 6 Charlton Street, Ballston Spa.

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The 2022 Ballston Spa Farmers’ Market, sponsored by the Ballston Spa Business and Professional Association (BSBPA), will run from June 11 through Sept.. 29. 

The markets will be held on Thursdays 3-6 p.m. and Saturdays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Wiswall Park on Front Street in the heart of downtown Ballston Spa. 

The markets have been serving the local community since 2003. The mission is to bring together local farms and food/craft producers with consumers and to promote locally created products.

The market is accepting vendors for the 2022 season.  New and returning vendors can apply online at www.ballston.org/category/farmers-market.  

The market bylaws are posted on the application page. The BSBPA is also looking for community volunteers to help on market days. Volunteer help assures that the Ballston Spa Farmers’ Market will continue to be a presence in the village. Contact farmers’ market chairperson Nora Osuchowski at nora@ballston.org to find out more.

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The 35th Annual Stewart’s Holiday Match campaign kicked off on Thanksgiving Day and runs through Christmas Day at all shop locations. 

The program supports nonprofit organizations impacting children.

Last year, customers donated an incredible $895,000 to the program, doubling to more than $1.88 million with the Stewart’s match. The funds were able to support 1,715 local children’s organizations across the 32 counties where Stewart’s Shops are located, company officials said.

Local organizations impacting children are encouraged to apply for funding online at www.stewartsshops.com/holiday-match/holiday-match-overview. The deadline for submission is Jan. 31. All groups applying must be locally based, benefit children under 18, and be a qualified, charitable 501c3 organization. A listing of all the local organizations that received funds last season is available online.

Stewart’s Holiday Match is a 501c3 foundation; all donations are tax-deductible. Stewart’s gladly accepts funds from groups or businesses, but only matches individual donations.

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The Village of Ballston Spa is looking to update its Comprehensive Plan to best define the needs of this evolving community and articulate a vision that will guide decisions affecting physical development and redevelopment within the village.  

The Comprehensive Plan is expected to focus most significantly on effects of IT and climate change, buildings and village character,  non-conforming land uses, village infrastructure, quality of life and local and regional economics. 

A steering committee has been formed to work in conjunction with a professional planning consultant to identify and study several topics over the course of the next year in order to create a final plan for approval by the village board of trustees.  

The committee is currently looking for additional members from the Ballston Spa community who would be interested in contributing their knowledge, skills and ideas.  Meetings will be held twice a month, on the first and third Thursdays, at 7 p.m. at the Saratoga County Office building at 50 West High St.  All meetings are open to the public and are Zoom accessible. Interested persons can contact steering committee chairperson Karen Martell  at karenmartell27@gmail.com or the Village Office at 518 885-5711, villageclerk@villageofballstonspa.org.

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