Category Archives: Business News

The Town of Ballston has received a $200,000 Microenterprise Grant targeted to small business start-ups, agribusinesses and commercial enterprises with five or fewer employees.

The money comes from the state Community Development Block Grant program. Approved businesses may be eligible for a minimum $5,000 to maximum $35,000 award, according to Ballston Town Board member and program liaison Kelly Stewart.

Each microenterprise business must be either owned by a person of low to moderate income or the project must result in the creation of at least one full-time equivalent position to benefit a low-to-moderate income person. The grant can fund up to 90 percent of the total project cost.

“The micro-enterprise grant program is an excellent opportunity for small businesses in Ballston,” said Stewart. “We look forward to helping entrepreneurs start up or expand their businesses in our town.”

The LA Group in Saratoga Springs is assisting the town in the administration of the grant application process. The Chamber of Southern Saratoga County will provide the necessary entrepreneurial training for recipients of the award.

“The training component of the program that the Chamber will provide is mandatory and is a crucial component to the enduring success of the entrepreneurs who participate in the program,” said Jim Martin, senior planner and economic development specialist for the LA Group.

The Saratoga Economic Development Corp. (SEDC), along with the Saratoga-Warren-Washington Workforce Development Board and the Washington-Saratoga-Warren-Hamilton-Essex (WSWHE) BOCES, are collaborating with employers and school districts to launch the inaugural annual Career Jam.

The event, to be held at HVCC’s TEC-SMART, 345 Hermes Road, Ballston Spa, on Oct. 25 in Malta, aims to promote area job opportunities to raise awareness among eighth and ninth grade students, their families and educators of the direct skills and jobs needed in the region.

Organizers said highlighting these job options earlier can help influence student education and training choices and retain their talents to fill local jobs that can drive future growth.

“We are excited to partner with key stakeholders in business and education to deliver this first-of-its-kind event in our region,” said Dennis Brobston, president of SEDC. “This student-employer exchange is in direct response to the voiced concerns of business leaders and educators wanting to better align skills development with needed workplace job opportunities.

“The number one challenge for businesses of all sectors and sizes in recent years is finding workplace ready employees. By collaborating with area school districts, the regional BOCES, and the area Workforce Development Board, we identified from our friends in the North Country this fun, engaging method to bring young people and employers together.”

The Adirondack Trust Co. Community Fund announced launched its fifth Autumn of Giving Match Campaign on Oct. 1. The campaign brings together the ATC Community Fund, Adirondack Trust Co.  and community-minded individuals and businesses to raise donations to benefit the Fund’s annual, local, charitable Lend-A-Hand Grant Program.

The campaign’s goal is to raise a minimum of $50,000 in donations from the community, similar to the results of last year’s match campaign, officials said.

Contributions are derived from donations, fund raising initiatives sponsored by generous local business campaign partners, and sponsorship/ticket sales for the signature event, An Evening of Autumn of Giving, which will be held at Longfellow’s on Wednesday, Oct. 25.

Adirondack Trust will match all money raised during the month of October.

Speaking on behalf of the ATC Advisory Committee, volunteer chairwoman Caroline Putman said the campaign offers an opportunity for all contributors “to ‘double’ their money for their community with their donations for this campaign. We are extremely grateful to the Community Fund’s supporters that have been with us since the beginning, and those that have since joined. With community members participating in our business partners’ innovative October events, everyone can add even more.”

The Small Business Administration (SBA) has awarded $754,700 in STEP funding to New York State Empire State Development to increase the number of small businesses that begin to export and increase the value of exports for small businesses that currently export. 

The funding will be used to assist New York State small businesses in: participation in foreign trade missions, foreign market sales trips, subscription services provided by the U.S. Department of Commerce, website and/or marketing material translation services, export trade show exhibits and international trade workshops that align with the program objectives.

STEP is designed to increase both the number of small businesses that begin to export and the value of exports for small businesses currently exporting.  Expanding the base of small business exporters and making the process as easy as possible is a key component of the Administration’s small business strategy.

By Liz Witbeck

Halliday Financial, an independent wealth management firm based on Long Island, is expanding into Clifton Park. It will become the company’s fourth office. Other offices are in Glen Head, L.I.; Albany, and Sarasota, Fla.

The company recently closed on the deal and officials hope to be moved in to the new location at 4 Executive Drive by December.

The company has seen much success in recent years. This year alone, it hired eight new financial advisors.

Scott Solomon, president and chief operations officer at Halliday Financial, said the Albany office at 14 Corporate Woods Boulevard has outgrown itself.

“We want to bring our operations team and our wealth management team to the new location,” he said. “We really enjoy this area. It’s a great area, a great community and we got a great little firm here.”

The Executive Drive space has 9,600 square feet. It comes with 50 parking spaces to accommodate staff and clients. Closing price was approximately $800,000, said Solomon.

He said there will be modest renovations done to the building. It is currently constructed for two tenants. Renovations will be completed so Halliday Financial can occupy the entire building.