By Christine Graf

According to The Conference Board, a non-profit that conducts economic research, the current U.S. labor shortage could  develop into one of the worst labor shortages of the last 50 years. Companies that employ blue collar and manual service workers are expected to be especially hard hit.

This country-wide labor shortage is being felt locally especially as businesses in Saratoga County gear up for the busy summer tourism season. According to Todd Shimkus, president of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce, the labor shortage is impacting every sector of the local economy.

“It’s affecting every type of business and every type of employer—large and small, entry level and professional.”

Although employment shortages existed pre-COVID, they have worsened during the pandemic due in part to the increase in unemployment benefits offered by the federal government. Shimkus said there are other factors at play.

“There aren’t many more people unemployed in Saratoga County than there were before the pandemic. There are maybe 1,000 to 1,500 more. We might have been at around 4,500 people unemployed before, and we’re at about 6,000 now. That’s out of a population of 230,000 people.”

Although Shimkus acknowledged that some people are choosing not to work because they are earning more on unemployment, he said the situation is more complicated than that.

GlobalFoundries, a global competitor in the microchip manufacturing industry, has decided to move its headquarters to its facility in Malta.

The announcement was made in April at an onsite event in Malta with U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.

GlobalFoundries calls the Malta Fab 8 its  most advanced semiconductor manufacturing facility. The change was made as the company positions itself for growth, strengthens partnerships with customers and recruits new talent, officials said.

GlobalFoundries has invested more than $15 billion in its Fab 8 facility over the last decade to support innovation and manufacturing capacity. In 2021, the company is doubling its planned investment to expand global capacity, with $500 million targeted for Malta alone.

The move from its previous headquarters to Malta is part of the company’s commitment to address the soaring global chip demand, with a focus on semiconductor manufacturing innovation. It will maintain a substantial presence in Santa Clara, Calif., in the heart of Silicon Valley, where many of its leading U.S. customers and ecosystem partners are based.

“Today, GF’s Fab 8 in New York is a $15 billion advanced semiconductor manufacturing facility and one that is playing a key role in the transformation of our industry to meet rapidly accelerating demand,” said GlobalFoundries CEO Tom Caulfield. “I am personally proud to be making upstate New York GF’s new headquarters. Our amazing 3,000-person workforce, in partnership with our local, state, and federal leaders, will together build on GF’s success, solidifying the Empire State’s place as one of a few world-class semiconductor manufacturing hubs at a time when our national and economic security depends more and more on what we can make here at home.”

Saratoga Springs City Center has partnered with Total Events to re-imagine trade show setups with safety and COVID-19 protocols in mind.

As the convention and meeting industry begins to emerge from the COVID-19 lockdown the entire business of trade shows must be redeveloped, center officials said.

“Health concerns from COVID-19 is the reason this change is occurring but it’s also time for the industry to consider how to make the forced change result in better return on investment for the vendors, hosting organizations and attendees,” officials said.

“Gone are the days of aisles packed with attendees, handshakes and hugs, people grazing on sponsor provided food & beverage as they browse the trade show floor—at least for now.”

Representatives from the City Center and Total Events are available to discuss the setups and those interested are encouraged to call the City Center at 518-584-0027 to schedule a time to view and discuss them. All COVID-19 social distancing protocols will be observed.

“We are very grateful to Rich and Melissa Carrier, owners of Total Events, for suggesting this idea,” said Ryan McMahon, Executive Director Saratoga Springs City Center. “Our sales team has been discussing with our decorating partners and clients for over a year how to re-imagine trade shows safely and effectively, this is a collaborative and valuable first step in the process”

“Trade Shows are so much more than a place to grab some swag, meet up with industry friends and grab a cup of coffee. They provide lead generation, sponsorship opportunities for organizations, brand awareness and opportunities to launch a new business”, said Melissa Carrier of Total Events.

By Christine Graf

Husband and wife Brandan and Kristen Greczkowski have expanded Purdy’s Discount Wine and Liquor, a third-generation family-owned business in Congress Plaza in Saratoga Springs.

Purdy’s is one of the Capital Region’s largest wine and liquor stores.

During its 60 years of operations, Purdy’s has been located at three different addresses in Saratoga Springs. The store has been in Congress Plaza for more than 20 years. During that time, it has expanded multiple times. The most recent occurred after Citizens Bank closed its 3,000-square-foot branch that was located next door to Purdy’s. All that space is now part of the liquor store.

The business was started in 1960 by Kristen’s grandfather, George Purdy. Her mother, Gail Purdy Brophy, took over store operations in 1963. Brophy was just 21 years old at the time and remained at the helm of Purdy’s until 2020 when she died at the age of 77.

“When my mom got sick, we moved back here and planned to take over the business,” said Kristen Greczkowski, a hair stylist who has worked on and off for Purdy’s for most of her adult life. She handles the financial aspects of the business and Brandan oversees buying, selling, and merchandising. 

It was Brophy’s idea to expand and take over the space.

The Saratoga Farmers’ Market, the area’s longest running farmers’ market, opened its 43rd outdoor market season May 1 at its current location at the Wilton Mall, in the former Bon-Ton and Bow Tie Cinemas parking lots.

The Wednesday market opened May 5 at downtown Saratoga’s High Rock Park.

This year’s Saturday markets, weekly from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., will feature around 65 local vendors selling fresh produce, dairy products, eggs, meats, flowers, baked goods, prepared foods, and more. At Wednesday’s markets, weekly from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., 20 vendors will be providing a similar range of items.

The decision to start the summer season in two locations was made to keep market vendors and customers safe while the COVID-19 pandemic still requires social distancing. The smaller Wednesday market fits comfortably at High Rock Park, but for the larger Saturday market a more expansive footprint is still needed, for which the Wilton Mall has proved a successful location. A survey conducted among customers, which gathered over 700 responses, indicated an even split in their location preferences.

The markets will continue to follow current COVID-19 safety guidelines for farmers’ markets by hosting socially distanced markets, offering hand washing and sanitizing opportunities, and following mask requirements for vendors and customers. The Saturday market will continue to offer its online pre-ordering and curbside pickup service. Market staff will continually assess market safety and updated operational guidelines for farmers’ markets and do not rule out moving back downtown when it is deemed appropriate to do so.