By Christine Graf
Momentive Performance Materials in Waterford announced plans to invest $15 million in specialized electronics materials production at its Waterford plant.
The company is investing $40 million overall as part of its global transition from commodity basics chemicals to specialty silicones.
Momentive officials also said they are moving forward with recently announced plans to sell its consumer sealants business to Henkel, a chemical and consumer good company headquartered in Germany. Although the sale will include GE-branded consumer sealants, GE-branded construction sealants are excluded.
Financial terms of the sale were not disclosed, and Momentive will continue to manufacture consumer sealants in Waterford through 2021, the company said.
The company has been in business since 1947 and has 36 offices in 17 countries. Its products are used in many industries including healthcare, telecommunications, electronics, personal care, construction, transportation, agriculture, and energy.
“The $15 million investment we are making is really going to augment our capabilities and our capacities in one of our most exciting, fastest growing business—electronic materials,” said Sandip Tyagi, president and general manager of formulated specialties. “This is really in line with our overall strategy of continuing to transform our company into a more specialty chemical business.”
The specialty chemical business targets several end markets that Tyagi described as “extremely exciting and fast growing.” They include telecommunications infrastructure, and e-mobility. The e-mobility market encompasses fully electric, plug-in hybrid, and hydrogen fueled vehicles as well as other electric powered technologies.
‘NBT Guided Investor’ Launched As Digital Investment Tool In Partnership With Schwab
NBT Capital Management, a business unit of NBT Bancorp Inc., has launched NBT Guided Investor, a new digital investment solution in partnership with Schwab Performance Technologies.
Guided Investor is a digital solution that offers fully-online investment management capabilities. According to bank officials, accounts can be opened in as little as 10 minutes and are supported by a dedicated financial advisor.
Bowling Alleys Cleared To Open, Looking Forward To Leagues Starting Up This Fall
©2020 Saratoga Photographer.com
By Lisa Balschunat
Patience was the name of the game for bowling centers in New York state. Some 200 lanes statewide were given the green light from the governor’s office to reopen recently with strict COVID-19 requirements in place.
“We are very excited here at Saratoga Strike Zone to be open again,” said owner Rich Sheldon. “We’ve got 30 leagues starting up. We have all of the protocols in place: barriers between lanes, plexiglass at the desk, social distancing reminders, masks and staff temperature checks.”
He said the Saratoga Springs granted Strike Zone a variance to offer outdoor seating at its restaurant and the state’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) helped his establishment weather the coronavirus storm.
“Pre-COVID, I had 78 employees. During the shutdown I had to lay off everyone. Now all of my full-timers are back. I am extremely thankful for PPP … We still have a closed arcade and cannot host birthday parties, so we’re doing our best with what we have.”
Website Has Monitoring For Home Health Groups
Brian and Mark Johnson have officially launched StayHomeNY.com, a start-up business focused on providing remote monitoring technology to home care agencies, independent, assisted living and memory care facilities.
Using 4D thermal imaging technology, nurses, staff and family members can remotely monitor a senior living at home or in a residential care community 24 hours per day, according to the owners, who are brothers.
The senior is not required to wear a bracelet or lanyard there is no video monitoring, ensuring the senior’s privacy. The technology detects all types of falls (gradual, fast and concealed) and recognizes activity of daily living patterns, such bathroom use, in bed sleeping, or wandering in the middle of the night, they said.
NYRA Donates $20,000 To Area Nonprofits Earned From The Sale Of COVID-19 Masks
Courtesy NYRA
The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) presented a $20,000 donation to several nonprofit organizations as a result of a joint initiative with Saratoga Springs to raise funds for the community through the sale of limited-edition Saratoga Race Course face masks.
The campaign, which launched in mid-June and was immediately met with high demand from racing fans, raised a total of $20,000 which will be divided evenly between AIM Services Inc., Franklin Community Center, Shelters of Saratoga and the SNACpack Program (Saratoga Nutrition Assistance for Children).
NYRA worked with Mayor Meg Kelly to identify the program’s four beneficiaries, which provide food, shelter and other critical resources during a time of increased need resulting from the coronavirus global health pandemic. A portion of proceeds from all mask sales was donated to the nonprofits.
“It was great to see this level of support for a campaign that not only serves as a unique sign of the times, but benefits the collective health of the Saratoga community in so many ways,” said NYRA President and CEO Dave O’Rourke. “We thank our fans for their enthusiasm surrounding the face masks, as well as Mayor Kelly and the City of Saratoga Springs for their continued partnership and leadership.”
“We are all grateful to NYRA and the Saratoga mask initiative for helping us ‘Mask Up’ and raise funds for four of our local non-profits,” said Kelly. “NYRA has demonstrated once again their commitment to the safety and well-being of our entire community. When we get through this, we will be able to look back with pride on the many ways the community pulled together. NYRA’s example is just one of many that make Saratoga Springs such a special place to live, work and visit.”
Passion For Baking Results In A Booming Business For Woman On Route 50, Saratoga
©2020 Saratoga Photographer.com
By Jennifer Farnsworth
Opening a business during a pandemic could be risky business for most, but Kelly’s Kitchen owner Kelly Groff said not even a pandemic can stop a sweet tooth.
This bakery owner is not only selling her baked goods at a steady rate in her new Wilton location, she says she is selling out on a daily basis.
“I’ve only been open a few weeks now but continue to meet new customers every day. Word of mouth has been my absolute best advertisement so far,” said Groff.
Kelly’s Kitchen opened in August at its 4300 Route 50 location, and business is booming. She had been baking and selling treats from her home, growing her business at such a fast pace that she knew it was time to bring it to a new location. The bakery is stocked with cakes, cupcakes, cookies, pastries and all types of desserts.
Business Briefs: September 2020
Plug Power Inc., a company with an office in Clifton Park, building clean hydrogen economy, has been named to the Top Green Providers list for 2020 by Food Logistics, the only publication exclusively dedicated to covering the movement of products through the global food supply chain.
Food Logistics’ annual Top Green Providers recognizes companies whose products, services, or exemplary leadership are enhancing sustainability within the food and beverage industry. Each year, the criteria for earning a spot on the list become more stringent for applicants. For example, the editorial staff evaluates a company’s participation in such programs as the EPA’s SmartWay and other recognized sustainability programs; facilities that are LEED-certified, and/or feature solar panels, LED lighting, and other energy saving installations and retrofits that produce measurable reductions in GHG emissions, to name a few.
Tanski Construction & Development Is Planning Projects In Stillwater, Halfmoon
Courtesy Bruce Tanski Construction
By Jill Nagy
Bruce Tanski Construction & Development, already a major player in southern Saratoga County, has plans in the works for several more projects.
Tanski has already built more than 2,000 single-family homes and apartments. New ventures include the first development under Halfmoon’s cluster zoning law, as well as a new townhouse development, also in Halfmoon, and senior housing in Stillwater.
Hank’s Hollow, the cluster development, if approved, would consist of 106 single-family homes on Staniak Road, he said. The houses would be in a cluster of 12,000-square-foot lots.
Business Report: What You Don’t Know Can Be Costing You
By Warren Evans
During the lockdown, there is some good news.
Pollution levels during the height of the pandemic lockdown fell dramatically because of the lack of economic activity and the interruption of worldwide travel.
The question is this: As we recover from the pandemic, is there anything we as individuals can do to maintain these low pollution levels with little or no sacrifice?
We believe the answer is yes, it is possible. On a personal level, while you were locked down you probably noticed many great things about your home, on the other hand, if you’re like me you also saw a lot of things you needed to fix or change. You can start out by getting a home comfort and energy assessment and completing the recommended solutions. That’s the way each of us can begin to lock in some of the benefits of the low pollution levels we saw during the lockdown and help to achieve an overall sustainable and resilient global recovery.
New York State Has Funds For COVID-19 Tracing And Flu Prevention For Fall Season
New York state has more than $30 million to enhance COVID-19 contact tracing and flu prevention in advance of the fall flu season.
The majority of funds, available to counties in the form of grants, will be used to increase local health department staffing capacity for enhanced detection, surveillance and prevention of COVID-19, state officials said.
The state also announced $2 million in additional immunization funds to expand flu vaccination rates statewide to prevent overwhelming the healthcare system in the event of a severe flu season.