Month: January 2017

Saratoga County Chamber Of Commerce To Sponsor Wellness Week From January 17 to 23

January 6, 2017January 9, 2017

Todd Shimkus, Susan Cuda, center, and Angela Amedio promote Health and Wellness Week. ©2017 Saratoga Photographer.com — Todd Shimkus, Susan Cuda, center, and Angela Amedio promote Health and Wellness Week.
*©2017 Saratoga Photographer.com*

By Jill Nagy

“We want to make sure that Saratoga County is one of the healthiest places to live,” said Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce President Todd Shimkus, announcing the chamber’s third annual Health and Wellness Week, Jan. 17-22.

The county is already ranked by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation as the healthiest place to live in New York state, up in the ranking from number 5 three years ago, he said.

During the week, businesses in the county will introduce the community to activities and resources to help them meet fitness goals for the New Year. All events are free but most require prior registration.

‘Work Force Strong’ Program Helps Employees, Employers Deal With Health, Fitness Issues

January 6, 2017January 11, 2017

This equipment at Fitness Artist can be used in the company’s new program, Work Force Smart. The program will also send staff on site to do fitness and wellness programs for employees. Courtesy Work Force Strong — This equipment at Fitness Artist can be used in the company’s new program, Work Force Strong. The program will also send staff on site to do fitness and wellness programs for employees.
*Courtesy Work Force Strong*

By Liz Witbeck

A good business owner knows how essential it is to keep employees healthy and motivated in the workplace. Recently, Travis Gil and his team at Fitness Artist, launched a new program to help other companies do just that.

Gil is the owner of Fitness Artist, a personal training studio. The program integrates highly customized, one-on-one sessions or “exclusive” small group classes to help clients achieve their goals. He founded Fitness Artist in 2010. He has three locations: Saratoga Springs, Clifton Park and Loudonville.

He saw opportunity to grow his business and help supply a fitness and injury prevention program to other businesses, which inspired him to launch Work Force Strong. It is a corporate wellness program designed to increase productivity and decrease injuries.

CEO Of nfrastructure Hopes Concerted Effort Can Improve The Health Of Area Residents

January 6, 2017January 9, 2017

As chairman of the Capital Region Heart Ball on Feb. 25, Dan Pickett, CEO of nfrastructure in Clifton Park, is bringing together organizations and businesses to help improve the health of Capital Region residents. “The American Heart Association is one of the most impactful of its type in our community,” Pickett said. “One of...

Event Offers Tours Of Area Wedding Facilities

January 6, 2017January 9, 2017

The Saratoga Convention & Tourism Bureau is launching an event called Tie the Knot in ‘Toga, a Destination Wedding Weekend Event.

The inaugural event will take place Jan. 27-29

Officials hope it will attract engaged couples, bridal parties, destination wedding planners and industry media to Saratoga Springs from throughout New York and New England, the New York City metro area, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey and neighboring areas.

It kicks off with an event Friday night at the Saratoga Springs Heritage Area Visitor Center, 297 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, featuring DJ Trumastr, cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, an interactive fashion show.

Business Briefs January 2017

January 6, 2017January 9, 2017

Saratoga National Bank and Trust Co. partnered with the Saratoga Affordable Housing Group on a grant application for funding to assist low-income homeowners.

The Federal Home Loan Bank of New York announced a $720,000 grant for the Saratoga Affordable Housing Group, which will go toward the Allen Drive Preservation Project.

Saratoga National submitted the grant application on behalf of the Saratoga Affordable Housing Group. Each application must be sponsored by a member in partnership with a community-based organization.

The Federal Home Loan Bank of New York is one of 12 regional banks that comprise the Federal Home Loan Bank System. Together, they have distributed more than $5.1 billion in Affordable Housing Program funds since the first awards were granted in 1990.

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Saratoga Hospital has again earned an A for patient safety from the Leapfrog Group, ranking among the safest hospitals in the U.S.

A national patient safety watchdog, the group recently released its Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grades, which assign A, B, C, D and F letter grades to hospitals nationwide and provide the most complete picture of patient safety in the U.S. For fall 2016, Saratoga Hospital was one of 844 hospitals nationwide—and just 15 in New York state—to receive the highest ranking of A.

Economic Outlook 2017 – Barry Potoker

January 6, 2017January 9, 2017

eco-outlook-potoker-c By Barry Potoker

The real estate market has seen a steady and solid activity pace over the last 12-plus months, including an especially renewed upturn in new home construction.

The Saratoga Builders Association is coming off one of its most spectacular Showcase of Homes event this past fall. The event had 19 new properties on display in Saratoga County, with nearly 4,000 visitors touring them. Those are very healthy business and consumer signals.

The 16 award-winning builders (and we have some of the most talented in the nation) were thrilled and optimistic with the enthusiasm in their new construction and developments. In fact, the show generated significant new home sales, lot holds and interested new home buyers.

Economic Outlook 2017 – Mark Shaw

January 6, 2017January 9, 2017

By Mark Shaw

It is coming. The last three years have lead up to this revolution. Microsoft started this years ago with the “to the cloud” commercials.

Now here we are. The OpEx (Operating Expense) Cloud-based revolution is here. The outlook for 2017 is “cloudy” and that is perfectly clear.

Yes, we are talking about the cloud again. The cloud has been on the forethought of people’s minds and our yearly outlook for the past two years. 2017 is the year of the cloud.

Why do we think this? Because the solutions are now cost effective, robust, and make business sense. They have caught up with demand and the local internet service has been boosted as prices fall and speeds increase. It is the old DVD analogy, 15 years ago a DVD player was thousands of dollars and today it’s a $30 expense. The same has happened in the last few years to the cloud.

Economic Outlook 2017 – Janet Besheer

January 6, 2017January 9, 2017

eco-outlook-janet-besheer-c By Janet Besheer

As we herald in 2017, I am taking a moment to reflect on 2016 and the many changes that occurred in our region.

It was the year of “moving up the Northway.” New construction projects began, including new or improved hotels/motels, contract on upgrading Northway Exit 17, upgrading at the outlets in Queensbury, new apartments in downtown Glens Falls and an uptick in sales throughout Warren, Washington and northern Saratoga Counties. So what lies ahead?

A month ago, the report came out that Glens Falls is on the top of the lists of best places to live in the U.S. Glens Falls has been on the top of lists for upcoming cities for years. 2017 could be the year that the promise of a Glens Falls “Renaissance” will come to fruition.

Economic Outlook 2017 – Dennis Brobston

January 6, 2017January 9, 2017

eco-outlook-brobston-c By Dennis Brobston

It’s hard to recall a year with as many twists, turns and unexpected news as 2016. Amid the turmoil, Saratoga Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) remained a steady hand delivering tangible job creation and economic growth results. In the four years through 2016, SEDC efforts have stimulated over $2.4 billion of new investment generating nearly 2,000 new and retained jobs and $71 million in employee payroll. 2016 alone produced $51 million of new investment leading to 627 jobs. These jobs will add over $23 million of annual household income in area communities.

Promoting Saratoga county, retaining, and growing jobs and wages are SEDC’s mission. We are pleased to report our progress in 2016 because it previews expectations for success in 2017. SEDC helped homegrown advanced manufacturers like AgroChem stay and expand in Saratoga Springs even as they could have been recruited across the country. SEDC attracted key semiconductor supply chain investment through PeroxyChem’s new plant. We realized job retention supporting local small and mid-sized business expansions and landed corporate headquarters with operations of Arnoff & SKS moving to Saratoga county. JW Danforth expanded into Halfmoon with SEDC’s help, adding good jobs and diversifying its tax base.

Economic Outlook 2017 – Stephen Kyne

January 6, 2017January 9, 2017

eco-outlook-kyne-c By Stephen Kyne

If there’s a consensus about 2016, it seems to be that it was entirely too long. It wasn’t bad enough that it was a leap year. There was even a “leap second” on Dec. 31.

The year that killed the celebrities we loved just wouldn’t seem to die. Now that it’s over, and Betty White is safe, we can reflect on the year that was and turn an eye toward the new year.

Once again, U.S. GDP grew as expected last year, with annual figures likely to come in somewhere in the 2.1-2.5 percent range, which has been the average growth rate since the recession. We do anticipate potential for increased growth in the coming year as many economic, policy, and regulatory headwinds dissipate. At worst, we expect the same slow growth to continue and expect the likelihood of an imminent recession to be extremely low.