Saratoga Business Journal

CARES Act Funds Are Still Available For Small Business Loans In Eight Counties

March 16, 2021March 16, 2021

Beth Gilles, director of the Lake Champlain-Lake George Regional Planning Board, says there is plenty of money in a revolving loan fund for businesses dealing with COVID-19 issues.
©2021 SaratogaPhotographer.com

By Lisa Balschunat

In September 2020, to assist small businesses affected by coronavirus restrictions, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration invested $22.8 million through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding that created a revolving loan pool to help small businesses.

For the past six months, $2.94 million of those funds have been managed in the north country by the Lake Champlain-Lake George Regional Planning Board (LCLGRPB).

Planning Board Director Beth Gilles said there is plenty of money still available for small businesses in the eight-county area of Clinton, Essex, Hamilton, Jefferson, Lewis, St. Lawrence, Warren and Washington counties. Funds target working capital projects, equipment, and purchases related to COVID-19 issues, such as personal protective equipment (PPE) and facility upgrades.

Entrepreneurs and small business owners who may be retooling their business models could benefit from the CARES dollars.

“A restaurant owner who expanded seating with outdoor dining in the parking lot last summer might now decide permanent outdoor seating would be good for business. This loan program could cover that,” Gilles said.

LayerEight, Formerly PrimeLink Managed Services, Grows IT, Cybersecurity Services

March 16, 2021March 16, 2021

By Jennifer Farnsworth

It has been a little over a month since LayerEight, formerly PrimeLink Managed Services division, has reintroduced itself to the business community as a new subsidiary of the 118-year -old Champlain Telephone Co.

In keeping with the telephone company philosophy, LayerEight officials said it will focus on personalized customer service by specializing in IT, cybersecurity and construction services for telecommunications infrastructure.

The company is based out of Plattsburgh, however Vicki A. Marking, its sales and marketing director, said there are a number of well established clients as far reaching as Saratoga County, with the ability to serve satellite offices across New York State.

“The demographic in the Glens Falls and Saratoga area really match with what we have in the Plattsburgh area. We have a sweet spot for certain size businesses who are looking for personalized, local IT support,” said Marking.

Race Track Will Have New Childcare Center

March 16, 2021March 16, 2021

The Belmont Child Care Association says its new childcare center serving families and children of the backstretch community at Saratoga Race Course is scheduled to open this summer.

The 4,300-square-foot center will be located on the Oklahoma side of the Saratoga backstretch. Funded by Michael and Lee Dubb, the facility will be named Faith’s House in honor of Faith Dubb, mother of BCCA founder and board chairman Michael Dubb.

Faith’s House will provide child care and early education programs for infants, toddlers and preschool-aged children. The center will be open seven days a week from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. to accommodate the schedules of backstretch workers and horsemen.

“All working parents deserve to know that their children are being cared for in a safe, healthy and enriching environment during the workday,” said Dubb, who is a prominent thoroughbred owner in addition to his work with the BCCA. “We are thrilled to extend this important program to the hardworking families of the Saratoga backstretch community, who provide a vital service to the racing community.”

ADK Trust Fund Gives Relief To Nonprofits

March 16, 2021March 16, 2021

The Adirondack Trust Co. Community Fund has awarded COVID-19 relief funding to local nonprofit organizations through the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York, as well as Christ’s Cupboard Food Pantry at the First Baptist Church of Ballston Spa.

This contribution will help local nonprofits combat food insecurity throughout Saratoga, Warren, and Washington counties and was made possible through the ATCCF COVID-19 Relief Donor Advised Fund, officials said.

The ATCCF COVID-19 Relief Donor Advised Fund was created in 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Funding for the fund was made possible by donations made by community members.

“The Adirondack Trust Co. Community Fund is thankful to be able to provide funding to these critical organizations that directly help others,” said Advisory Committee Chair Brian Straughter. “Supporting the local organizations that provide direct aid in their time of need is important, and we are grateful to assist in their work.”

Medical Center Near Hospital Moving Ahead

March 16, 2021March 16, 2021

Saratoga Hospital has taken the next step toward developing a medical office center on Morgan Street in Saratoga Springs, by submitting a sketch plan application for review by the city Planning Board.

The property is located on land behind Saratoga Hospital, which is at 211 Church St.

The hospital presented preliminary sketches to the Planning Board to get feedback from board members and the community.

The preliminary plans include a medical office center that would allow Saratoga Hospital to bring physicians from offices throughout the city to a single location, where they could more easily collaborate on patient care, officials said.

Equally important, because of the site’s proximity to the hospital, in emergency situations surgeons and other physicians could get to Saratoga Hospital in minutes, according to hospital officials.

Sabor Azteca Mexican Restaurant In Clifton Park Offers Customers An Upscale Experience

March 16, 2021March 16, 2021

Sabor Azteca at 20 Maxwell St. in Clifton Park, once the home of Ruby Tuesday’s. It is the third business venture in the area for the owners.
©2021 SaratogaPhotographer.com

By Susan Elise Campbell

A new restaurant in Clifton Park Center Mall, Sabor Azteca, is offering upscale food and a “taste of the Aztecs” to lovers of authentic Mexican cuisine.

Alejandro Morales and business partner Rafael Escamilla have owned restaurants together since 2004. They opened Pancho’s Restaurant on Central Avenue in Albany and left there to open La Fiesta in Clifton Park.

Sabor Azteca is their third business venture.

“Clifton Park is a big area and has room for another Mexican restaurant, especially one with higher quality ingredients,” Morales said. “Most of these restaurants offer the same food and menu items.”

Morales said Sabor Azteca is distinguishing itself by using “a better grade of meat and seafood, such as hormone-free chicken and gluten-free ingredients. When you use real crab meat instead of imitation, people appreciate that. If they try the dish, they know the difference.”

Family Plans To Open Italian Deli In The New Rexford Landing Shopping Center

March 16, 2021March 16, 2021

Raffaele’s Italian Deli and Import is a new business coming to the Rexford Landing shopping center on Grooms Road. Owner Raffaele Mele expects to open in late April or early May.
©2021 SaratogaPhotographer.com

By Jill Nagy

A large Italian family is pooling its experience and expertise to create Raffaele’s Italian Deli and Import at the new Rexford Landing shopping center on Grooms Road.

Still under construction, the shop is expected to open in late April or early May.

Raffaele Mele, for whom the enterprise is named, is one of 12 children in a family that immigrated from Calabria in 1973.

After a short time in New York City, the family settled in south Troy, near relatives that were already in the food business. Mele now lives in Clifton Park.

“The family has restaurants all over,” he said, including Latham and Albany and Sarasota, Fla. He has worked in many of them, beginning at age 11. A brother had a pizzeria in the Troy Atrium back in the days when it was a thriving shopping mall.

Mele’s wife, Melinda, and a brother, Francesco, own the business along with him. He expects to have other siblings, nieces and nephews helping out.

New Shop Off West Avenue In Saratoga Offers Healthy Shakes And Nutritious Teas

March 16, 2021March 16, 2021

Michael Haggerty and Sarah Dauphinais are part owners of Incredible Nutrition in Saratoga Springs. The business produces and sells healthy teas and shakes.
©2021 SaratogaPhotographer.com

by Jennifer Farnsworth

Michael Haggerty, co-owner of Incredible Nutrition in Saratoga Springs, said his new shop started as an idea to help his fellow Saratogians live a healthier lifestyle.

Haggerty said the main goal is to provide healthy and delicious alternatives to a standard diet, with a focus on healthy teas and shakes. They already have favorite tea flavors like the Whitney, a strawberry raspberry pink lemonade, Cranberry Blue Razz and Firecracker.

Haggerty, opened the business in West Hill Plaza at 99 West Ave. in Saratoga Springs. with Sarah Dauphinais and Cynthia Ward—a team on a mission to not only better themselves but others.

Haggerty said they knew they wanted to open a business in the city that they love, adding that when they saw their current location open up as a possibility, they knew they had to act.

Desire To Move Out Of Large Cities, Is A Factor In Popularity Of West Ave. Condos

March 16, 2021March 16, 2021

Scott Varley of Keller Williams in Saratoga Springs says the West at Saratoga condos are selling well, in part inspired by people moving from large cities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
©2021 SaratogaPhotographer.com

By Andrea Harwood Palmer

The West at Saratoga, at 116 West Ave. in Saratoga Springs, is a luxury high-rise condo inspired by buyer demand and a desire to live in high-rise condominiums that already exist on Broadway, according to real estate broker Scott Varley of Keller Williams in Saratoga Springs.

He is the listing agent for the condos. He said interest in the condos is running high.

The average sale price of the Broadway condos is well over $1 million dollars, said Varley. The COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with many people working from home, have driven buyers away from larger cities.

“There are many people who would love to live that kind of lifestyle, but at half that price. In the condo category of the Saratoga Springs market, half a million dollars is very reasonable,” said Varley.

“Real estate is the fuel for the engine of a booming economy,” said Varley. “And our area is benefiting from the pivot northward happening in the state right now.”

Momentive Performance Materials Acquires Silicones Business With Global Facilities

February 18, 2021February 19, 2021

This is the Momentive Performance Materials facility in Waterford. The company is acquiring KCC Corp. Silicones business in Korea and the United Kingdom.

Momentive Performance Materials Inc., which has a facility in Waterford, has reached a definitive agreement to acquire KCC Corp. Silicones business in Korea and the United Kingdom, as well as its sales operations in China, further enhancing its global capabilities in advanced silicones and specialized applications.
Officials said the acquisition will move the capabilities of KCC’s Silicones business from KCC Corp., Momentive’s majority shareholder, to Momentive, consolidating the companies’ combined capabilities and expertise in advanced silicones.
The company also announced that Ravago Chemicals will serve as its authorized distributor of Momentive products into the plastics industry in the United States and Canada.
Momentive develops advanced silicone and specialty products for customized applications in healthcare, telecommunications, electronics, personal care, construction, transportation, agriculture, energy, and many other industries.