Category Archives: Business Briefs

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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The Saratoga Farmers’ Market indoor winter season returned to the Wilton Mall on Nov. 6.

Alongside many returning vendors, the winter market also features some new vendors and products, such as alcohol-infused ice cream at Boozy Moo!, (house) plants at J. Adkins Cultivation, Scandinavian baked goods at parchment, and several fan favorites who were new vendors at the markets this summer.

This season, the market was also be able to bring back several of its seasonal events, such as holiday celebrations, Maple March and more.

Markets will run each Saturday from 9:30 am to 1:30 p.m. and will feature 50-plus vendors selling a full range of locally produced items including fresh farm items, ready-to-eat foods, artisanal products, and holiday gift items.

The market will be located in the mall’s food court, accessible from the TrustCo mall entrance or from the building’s interior.

Although face coverings are not required inside the Wilton Mall, the mall and the Saratoga Farmers’ Market both recommend customers wear a mask to help keep the indoor markets as safe as possible.

The market will continue to space vendors out where possible and provide extra hand washing and sanitizing opportunities. Management is evaluating returning its online ordering and curbside pickup program.

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The Ballston Spa Business & Professional Association (BSBPA) is encouraging all businesses in the village’s downtown area to decorate their storefronts for the shopping season.

For the past few years, the BSBPA has recognized businesses whose window decorations and displays have enhanced the Village of Ballston Spa during the holiday season. Businesses with decorated windows whose lights are on the evening of Nov. 30 will be judged and the winners will be announced in time for village festivities on Dec. 3, including the Holiday Parade, village Christmas tree lighting and First Friday. 

Winners will be presented with specially designated “contest winner” signs to display in their businesses for the holiday season and photos of the windows will be featured on social media and on the BSBPA website, ballston.org.

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The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame changed its hours in October and will be open five days a week, Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The museum will be closed on Mondays and Tuesdays through May. It will also be closed on Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 25), Christmas Eve (Dec. 24), Christmas Day (Dec. 25), New Year’s Eve (Dec. 31), and New Year’s Day (Jan. 1).

The museum’s new signature film “What It Takes: Journey to the Hall of Fame” will be shown daily at 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m., and 3:30 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased in person at the museum or online at www.racingmuseum.org.

Families visiting the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame as part of the Discover Saratoga Family Fall Event weekends on Oct. 23-24 and Oct. 30-31 will receive a fall take-away bag with goodies and autumn-inspired activities.

The museum is also offering free admission to students ages 6-18 and college students with school identification from Friday, Nov. 26, through Sunday, Nov. 28. Families visiting those days can take part in a museum-wide scavenger hunt. Children ages 5 and under are always free with an accompanying adult.

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

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The Saratoga Economic Development Corp. (SEDC) will hold its  annual golf outing fund raiser on Thursday, Sept.23, at Airway Meadows Golf Club, 262 Brownville Road, Gansevoort.

The event consists of registration and a  “grab ‘n go lunch” at 11:30 a.m. The 9-hole scramble shotgun start begins at noon. And there will be a party on the patio cocktail reception from  2:30-4 p.m.

The cost is $175 for members and $225 for non-members. The cost for the party on the patio only is $45 for members and $60 for non-members,

To register, visit saratogaedc.com/our-investors/events/2021-annual-sedc-golf-registration.

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The Adirondack Trust Co. Community Fund continues to accept grant applications from eligible nonprofit charities until the submission deadline of Aug. 31.

Grant information and application forms may be obtained from the Adirondack Trust Company Community Fund website at ATCCF.org.

The fund was established in 2009. The primary mission is to perpetuate the spirit of giving that is integral to the quality of life in our region by providing flexible options for planned giving. The resulting yearly Lend-A-Hand Grants help improve the quality of life and address issues of common concern in the area.

In 2020, the Community Fund awarded 37 Lend-a-Hand Grants to local nonprofit organizations.

Since the inception of the Autumn of Giving Match Campaign in 2013, the Lend-A-Hand Grants program has provided more than 235 grants, totaling nearly $462,000 to local nonprofits. Grant awards have supported programs in such diverse areas as veterans outreach, STEM education, summer lunch programs, wildlife education, homelessness prevention, youth services, the arts, and more.

Grant recipients will be announced by the Fund’s Independent Advisory Committee in December. The Community Fund welcomes nonprofit organizations to apply for grants that represent new and creative programs.

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The Saratoga Builders Association Inc. announced the awarding of two student scholarships.

One is the annual SBA scholarship for $1,000 and the other is the annual “Bob Best” memorial scholarship for $500.

Luke Baringer of Wilton, a senior at Saratoga Springs High School, won the SBA scholarship. He  will be attending Clarkson University in the fall to study civil engineering and architecture design.

Brendan Lee, a senior at Salem Central School, won the $500 scholarship. She attends WSWHE BOCES at the F. Donald Myers Education Center.

The Saratoga Builders Association makes student scholarship awards available annually to high school seniors or college students who are planning to pursue a career in the construction industry.

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Saratoga Mortgage, a service of Saratoga’s Credit Union, is offering a unique outdoor expo to help consumers better prepare and understand the home buying process. 

The expo will be held 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, July 10, at Saratoga’s Credit Union’s Ballston Spa branch, 444 Geyser Road, Ballston Spa.

The event is open to the public and all are welcome to stop by and meet with representatives to gain knowledge on how each organization plays a role in the home buying process. 

Representatives include a mortgage originator, a real estate agent, financial advisor, and home insurance agent who will collectively educate attendees on how they can help new and existing home owners. Each representative will be ready to meet with individuals to discuss their needs.  Meet with one or with all representatives and learn how they can help you on your journey.

Reservations are not required.

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The Saratoga Economic Development Corp. is hosting a virtual six-part Summit Session Series as an extension of SEDC’s recent 2021 Economic Summit. Each Session will delve deeper into an essential topic affecting economic development and possible solutions to challenges within Saratoga County.

The first Session addressing workforce will be held virtually 9-10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, June 23.

The workforce session panelists are Joseph Dragone, PhD, senior executive officer of Capital Region BOCES; Dr. Turina Parker, assistant superintendent educational and support programs, WSWHE BOCES; Nancy DeStefano, assistant superintendent instructional programs; John Jablonski, vice president academic affairs of SUNY Adirondack; and Jenniffer McCloskey, director of Saratoga County Employment and Training.

Additional topics to be covered in upcoming session include transportation, 5G technology, zoning/planning, water/sewer, and gas/electric.

To register for the workforce SEDC Summit Session and/or to find information on upcoming Sessions, please visit saratogaedc.com/general-news/summit-session-series.