Category Archives: Business News

The New York State Association of Counties released an updated economic impact report in late July that says counties and New York City face a catastrophic $13.5 billion loss in revenue over two fiscal years because of COVID-19 circumstances that could lead to significant cuts to services and permanent layoffs, slowing the economic recovery and threatening gains made against the virus.
“This is terrible news for New York and the United States as the taxpayers of New York are major donors to the United States Treasury,” an organization statement said.
The group said a U.S. Senate plan from the Republicans fails to deliver aid to state and local governments.
“While there are elements of this plan that are laudable, it simply does not deliver for our residents who will face cuts to essential services, or for the essential workers who fought this pandemic on the front lines and now face layoffs. As Congress continues negotiations, we will remain laser focused on fighting to ensure that the final bill includes unrestricted and flexible aid to allow states and local governments to offset expenses and significant revenue loss attributable to COVID-19 so our essential workers can continue providing essential services,” said Dan McCoy, Albany County executive and president of the New York State Association of County Executives and County Executives of America.
“Counties have reached a critical juncture in which the loss of revenue due to reduced economic activity and increased expenses from COVID-19 response have pushed them to the breaking point. Without direct, flexible state and local aid, counties across the state will be forced to cut local services and programs including transportation infrastructure improvement projects, services like county libraries and parks, senior meals on wheels, and human service programs benefiting thousands of New Yorkers,” said John F. Marren, president of the New York State Association of Counties and chairman of the Ontario County Board of Supervisors.

SUNY Empire State college has developed a new advanced certificate in nursing education to help address the looming shortage of nurses and nurse educators across the U.S.
The flexible certificate program was designed for working professionals, consisting of four courses that can be completed entirely online in as few as two terms. The certificate will help those with a master’s degree in nursing improve their skills and marketability when pursuing teaching positions in academia or practice settings. Enrollment is currently open for fall 2020.
Colleges and universities across the country have been forced to turn away qualified applicants from undergraduate and graduate nursing programs due to an insufficient number of faculty, access to clinical sites, or budget constraints. According to the American Association of Colleges and Nursing (AACN), more than 75,000 qualified applicants were rejected from baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs in 2018, while nearly 3,000 were denied admission to doctoral programs.
As fewer colleges and universities are able to meet student demand, concerns about the country’s nursing shortage mount. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that there are currently three million nurses working in the United States, and by 2024 there will be more than one million vacancies for registered nurses. This impending shortage means fewer nurses in hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living and long-term care facilities, schools, clinics, in the military, and in homes.

A team of Saratoga Hospital doctors and laboratory professionals say they have demonstrated that pooled testing for COVID-19 can save time, preserve scarce resources and improve safety for patients and staff.
At a time when hospitals nationwide are hampered by shortages of testing materials, pooled testing has enabled Saratoga Hospital to test all patients before they’re admitted and isolate those who have the novel coronavirus, according to officials.
Pooled testing combines samples from several low-risk people in a single vial. If the test is negative, everyone whose sample was combined has tested negative for COVID-19—using supplies for only a single test. If the test is positive, each person must be retested individually.

By Jennifer Farnsworth
Geico’s new Central Avenue location in Albany came at the perfect time for insurance agent Rick Schrade.
The relocation may not seem like a major change, but Schrade said the new space has allowed him to open up in a safe way that is pandemic ready. The office reopened in late June.
“The new space has really given us the capability to create something that is safe for our employees and for our customers,” he said.
The agency moved in late spring. When the coronavirus pandemic hit they immediately got to work, making sure to meet health and safety precautions that were being asked of them, according to Schrade.
“We’re now fully open and ready for people to come in and shop for a policy that works for them,” he said.
In response to the coronavirus, Schrade said some of the safety precautions include contactless photo inspections, daily temperature checks for employees, frequent hand washing and disinfecting surfaces on a regular basis. The new lobby includes ceiling-to-floor plexiglass.
“We really invested into ensuring that the health and safety of our office was our top priority. The new 5,000 square foot location has really been a bright spot for us. The space allows us to be socially distant, have cubicles for our employees, and really be spaced out in a safe way,” said Schrade.
He said the pandemic has had a financial impact on not only his office, but insurance nationwide. While people are looking to find ways to save money within personal and family budgets, saving on insurance is something many people seem to overlook.