Category Archives: Business News

Exercise Yard At McGregor State Prison Will Be Utilized By Historic Grant Cottage

May 8, 2022

This residence is where President Ulysses S. Grant went to complete his memoirs.
Courtesy NYS Parks and Recreation

The former Mount McGregor State Correctional Facility’s four-acre exercise yard has been transferred to Grant Cottage State Historic Site,

The newly transferred land will accommodate new site amenities, including an outdoor pavilion for programs and events, accessible parking and historical interpretation of the original Hotel Balmoral, the first development on Mount McGregor.

The cottage, on the hotel grounds, was offered as a residence to President Ulysses S. Grant to complete his memoirs at the end of his life. Before his death in July 1885, Grant spent the last five weeks of his life at the cottage, writing his memoirs while battling cancer. The cottage, which has since been linked to the 18th president, became a historic site in 1890 and remains essentially the same as during his stay.

In April, to celebrate Grant’s 200th birthday and promote the opening of the 2022 season, State Parks and the Friends of Grant Cottage unveiled a National Historic Landmark plaque, which is inset into a boulder at the base of the flagpole in front of the cottage.

The site was named a National Historic Landmark by the National Park Service in January 2021, making it one of only 275 properties to receive the designation in New York state. National Historic Landmarks are historic properties that illustrate the heritage of the United States.

State Grant Funds Will Help Grow Programs Along Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park

May 8, 2022

Part of the $3.4 million in Conservation Partnership Program grants announced by the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) will benefit the Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park.

There will be 80 grants funded through New York’s Environmental Protection Fund and will leverage an additional $2.7 million in private and local funding to support projects that protect water quality and farmland, boost public access for outdoor recreation, and conserve open space. The Land Trust Alliance administers the Conservation Partnership Program in coordination with DEC.

“We applied for the grant under the Catalyst category”, said Margo Olson, executive director of Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park. “This category is for innovative partnerships and we reached out to Saratoga PLAN. It was a natural outgrowth of past collaborations with them and a great opportunity to further conservation, environmental education, and outdoor recreation in our community.”

The Preserve & Park’s unique partnership structure whereby they do not own the protected lands on which they operate, has allowed them to embrace their role as environmental educators and facilitators to the community’s outdoor recreational opportunities.

Over the past decade, WWPP has worked hard to develop a year-round program of both educational and recreational programming, offering activities to the public with a robust series of programs for local schools, summer programs, afterschool, and other groups in the area. These walks and programs take place on lands owned by DEC, the Town of Wilton, and Saratoga County; the partners of the Preserve & Park.

Saratoga Casino Hotel Owners Buy Magnolia Bluffs Casino & Hotel In Mississippi

May 8, 2022

Located on the Mississippi River, Magnolia Bluffs Casino Hotel opened in 2012.
Courtesy Magnolia Bluffs Casino & Hotel

Saratoga Casino Holdings LLC, owner of both Saratoga Casino Hotel in Saratoga Springs, and Saratoga Casino Black Hawk in Black Hawk, Colo., has entered into a definitive agreement with Casino Holding Investment Partners LLC to acquire Magnolia Bluffs Casino & Hotel in Natchez, Miss., subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.

“We are proud to add Magnolia Bluffs Casino Hotel to our portfolio of gaming assets and further diversify our business,” said Sam Gerrity, Saratoga Casino Holdings CEO. “We are committed to operating first class gaming facilities, and we do that by creating lasting relationships with our guests, team members and the communities that we serve. We look forward to welcoming Magnolia Bluffs guests and team to the Saratoga family.”

Located on the Mississippi River, Magnolia Bluffs Casino Hotel opened in 2012 and features over 450 slot machines, 14 table games, restaurant and bar, sportsbook and a 141-room hotel located off-site in the heart of the city.

“While this was an extremely tough decision for our partnership, it will truly leave our team and valued customers in the best hands possible,” said Kevin Preston, Partner and president of Magnolia Bluffs Casino & Hotel. “Due to the long history we have here in Natchez, it was important for us to ensure we found the right company that has the same values and passion we do for the community and our team members here at Magnolia Bluffs Casino & Hotel.

Wind-Chill Factory In Ballston Spa Offers Ice Cream, Food Off The Grill And Mini-Golf

May 8, 2022

Brandon and Keely Whalen of Wilton recently opened Wind-Chill Factory.
©2022 Saratoga Photographer.com

By Christine Graf

Husband and wife Brandon and Keely Whalen of Wilton recently opened Wind-Chill Factory, a seasonal ice cream, food, and miniature golf business at 3 Trieble Ave. in Ballston Spa.

The flagship location of Wind-Chill Factory was opened in Ticonderoga in 1996 by Brandon’s father, Bobby Porter. Brandon grew up working at Wind-Chill Factory. He met his future wife while they were classmates in high school. Keely’s parents, John and Roberta Cooper, own Frenchy’s, a roadside food and ice cream business in Crown Point in Essex County.

“They purchased it when I was two years old, so I literally was born and raised in the industry,” said Keely Whalen of Frenchy’s. “Brandon was also raised in the exact same kind of business. He worked there all through high school and up until he joined the Navy.”

The couple married in 2015 and lived for several years in Connecticut while Brandon was stationed there They relocated to the Capital Region in 2019 after he was reassigned to the Nuclear Power Training Unit in Ballston Spa where he serves as an instructor.

The Whalen’s have always dreamed of opening their own Wind-Chill Factory location.

“We’ve always said that we wanted to do that,” said Whalen. “Brandon’s getting out (of the Navy) in a year-and-a half, and we saw the place in Ballston Spa and decided to ask if the owner was open to selling.”

The business, Mr. Bill’s, was not for sale at the time. The owner made the decision to sell after being approached by the Whalens.

Before opening Wind-Chill Factory on April 7, they restored the miniature golf course with 18 new greens. They also purchased some new equipment and reconfigured the interior.

Small Business Association Creates Training Program For Use By Small Business Leaders

May 8, 2022

The U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Upstate New York District Office announced the start of local recruitment for T.H.R.I.V.E. (Train, Hope, Rise, Innovate, Venture, Elevate), a free national training program for small business leaders.

The SBA is currently recruiting small business applicants who have been in business for at least three years; who have annual revenues of at least $250,000; who have at least one employee other than the owner; and who can commit to participating in the six-month program from July 5 to Dec. 16.

“T.H.R.I.V.E. is a unique SBA program that can be instrumental for entrepreneurs aiming to grow or expand their small businesses. Throughout the course, participants will receive core business knowledge, work directly with a business coach, meet with peers and develop a three-year Strategic Growth Plan,” said SBA Upstate New York District Director Bernard J. Paprocki. “We will select 20 participants for the Upstate New York cohort, and I strongly encourage small business owners who are ready for growth to consider applying for this opportunity by the May 31 deadline.”

T.H.R.I.V.E. provides complimentary entrepreneurship education and training for executives of high-performing small businesses. Over six months, the executive entrepreneurship training series includes in-person coaching and virtual, self-paced instruction. Paprocki said the hybrid program allows participants to work with a network of experienced subject matter experts in core business topics like accounting, business strategy, marketing, and human resources customized for the unique needs of small business owners.

Organizers Of Chowder Fest Report That Attendance At Annual Event Topped 30,000

April 11, 2022April 11, 2022

People crowd Broadway in Saratoga Springs during the Saratoga Chowder Fest ’N Tour on March 26. Discover Saratoga organized the event.

The Saratoga Chowder Fest ‘N Tour in March involved 74 vendors, including 12 first-time participants, who sold 83,931 bowls of chowder, according to Discover Saratoga which organized the event.

Over 30,000 people attended the event, officials said.

It was held Saturday, March 19, through Saturday, March 26. Chowder lovers had the opportunity to dine-in or purchase pints and quarts of chowder to-go at participating locations throughout the week.

The 24th annual Chowderfest celebration took place on Saturday, March 26, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Event-goers sampled a variety of chowder from participating vendors for $2 each and voted for their favorite.

Winners were chosen in eight different categories. The Chowder Fest ‘N Tour winners are:

• People’s Choice 500 bowls or less: The Mill on Round Lake, Bubba Gump Chowder.

• People’s Choice 501-750 bowls: Dizzy Chicken Wood Fired Rotisserie, Brazilian Smoked Seafood Chowder.

• People’s Choice 751-1,000 bowls: Ribbon Cafe, Southwest Shrimp Corn Chowder Topped Tequila Lime Bacon and a Wonton Popper.

• People’s Choice 1,001-1,500 bowls: Wheatfields Restaurant & Bar, Crawfish Cajun Corn Chowder.

CEG Analysis Says Saratoga County Saw Population Gain During The Pandemic

April 11, 2022

The Capital Region continued to grow through the pandemic, making it one of only two economic development regions in the state to see total population gains between July 1, 2020, and July 1, 2021.

Even more, the eight-county region had New York’s greatest number of annual net domestic movers during that period, according to a Center for Economic Growth analysis of new U.S. Census Bureau estimates.

CEG said Saratoga County saw the state’s second biggest gain in annual net domestic movers and also had third largest total population annual gain in state.

Warren County ranked 12th for annual net domestic movers, the agency said.

“We are a million-strong region and getting bigger. The Center for Economic Growth launched our CapNY talent attraction campaign in April 2021,” said CEG President and CEO Mark Eagan. “We sensed that if we could raise awareness about all the opportunities and lifestyle in the Capital Region, then more people would want to come here to work and live. We were onto something, and these Census Bureau population estimates show that.

“The GoCapNY.com website is attracting much traffic, especially from the New York City and Boston areas, and we will be launching new initiatives to engage and connect with interns this summer.”

Former Owners Of Carney’s Tavern Open ‘Finnigan’s On The Lake’ On Ballston Lake

April 11, 2022

By Christine Graf

Finnigan’s on the Lake is a new tavern and grill located on Ballston Lake.

The space at 175 Lake Road was previously occupied by Villago Pizzeria, which operated there for seven years before closing in July of last year.

Before opening Finnigan’s on the Lake, owners Matt and Stephanie Finnigan operated Ballston Lake’s Carney’s Tavern from 2013 until 2021.

The couple made the decision to close Carney’s after an inspection of the building revealed structural problems that would be too costly to repair. They began looking for a location to establish a new eatery in either Clifton Park or Latham.

“We had looked at this location (175 Lake Road) a year prior. It had been for sale for a while, but it just wasn’t turnkey enough for the price they were asking at the time,” said Matt Finnigan. “As luck would have it, the stars just kind of aligned and somebody else bought the property and we ended up coming up with the lease option on the building where we have first option to buy. We had just begun looking at spaces, and it was inside of three weeks that this just kind of landed in our laps.”

The Finnigan’s do not own or operate the boat launch that is across the street from the eatery. In prior years, boaters were able to pay at the restaurant to use the launch, but that is no longer the case.

Return-To-Work Grant Program To Help Tourism Businesses Rebound From COVID

April 11, 2022

The New York State Tourism Return-to-Work Grant Program, created to incentivize employment growth by providing financial assistance to businesses in the tourism industry that suffered economic hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic, has grants of $5,000 up to $200,000 to incentivize employment growth for businesses in the tourism industry.

Qualifying tourism businesses will be eligible for grants of up to $5,000 per net new full-time employee, and $2,500 per net new part-time employee hired.

To receive a full benefit, employers will have to maintain employment increases over six months.

Grants will be limited to for-profit or nonprofit businesses servicing the public and engaged in a tourism-related fields including accommodations, arts, entertainment, sightseeing, transportation, tour operators, convention and visitor groups, or other businesses that, in ESD’s sole discretion, qualify as businesses in the tourism industry.

Further, to qualify for grant assistance, all eligible applicants must:

• Increase their average employment between Jan. 1, 2022 and June 30, 2022 by at least 2 net new full-time equivalent jobs;

• Continue to be in operation as of the date of application.

‘Cooley Kill Restaurant & Bar’ Opens At Van Patten Golf Course; Operates 4 Days A Week

April 11, 2022

Van Patten Golf Club in Clifton Park, known for its quality golf course and scenic views, will officially open its Cooley Kill Restaurant & Bar on April 14.
Courtesy Van Patten Golf Course

Van Patten Golf Club in Clifton Park will open its Cooley Kill Restaurant & Bar on Thursday, April 14.

A grand opening is planned for 2 p.m. that day.

The opening celebrations will continue Friday, April 15, with the golf course opening for play at 8 a.m. for the first time of the season. Later that evening will feature live music from Skippy and The Pistons from 7-10 p.m., and a firework display starting around 8:30 p.m.

The Cooley Kill Restaurant & Bar opened for guests on Wednesday, April 6. Passholders and the general public are invited to visit Wednesday through Saturday, with hours of operation from 4-9 p.m.

Reservations are requested at www.CooleyKillRestaurant.com.

The restaurant’s name and re-designed logo pay homage to the Cooley Kill, a once vital water supply resource to the early settlers of what is now Clifton Park, according to the owners.

Today, Cooley Kill remains an important asset to Van Patten Golf Club as it functions as the club’s main drainage line, pulling water from the course and depositing it into the property’s ponds. Once there, the water is then used to irrigate the course.

Cooley Kill will offer both a bar and dining menu that will feature several fresh seafood offerings including fish and chips, jumbo shrimp, calamari, scallops, lobster tail, and honey chili salmon. The menus will also feature favorites and staples such as the Smokehouse Burger, filet mignon, prime New York strip, braised short ribs, pasta plates, salads, and desserts such as carrot cake, bread pudding and flourless chocolate cake.