Saratoga Business Journal

New CEO Of Saratoga Prosperity Partnership Has Passion To Help Business Communities

March 5, 2020March 5, 2020

Shelby Schneider is the president/CEO of the Saratoga County Prosperity Partnership.

By Christine Graf
A shortage of new, young talent in the workforce is one of the issues the Saratoga Prosperity Partnership deals with, said Shelby Schneider, its new president and CEO.
The economic development organization was established in 2014 to enhance economic growth in Saratoga County.
Schneider, a mother of four who lives in Wilton, earned a degree in management and business administration from Skidmore College. She entered the economic development field in 2000 and spent thirteen years working at Saratoga Economic Development Corporation (SEDC). During her early years at SEDC, she served as the Empire Zone Coordinator. The Empire Zone tax incentive program allowed qualified businesses to take advantage of a variety of tax credits.
“I oversaw the New York state tax incentive program and administered it on behalf of county,” she said.

Business Report: Consistent Leadership Key To Economic Success

March 5, 2020March 5, 2020

Kevin Hedley is the 2020 board chairman of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce.
Courtesy Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce

By Kevin Hedley
I first became involved in the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce at the invitation or more accurately the insistence of Jessica Petraccione of First National Bank of Scotia. The Chamber had just formed its Twin Bridges Council and Jessica was the first person to lead it.
Forming the Twin Bridges Council was part of a larger effort to get more business owners with operations in Clifton Park, Halfmoon, and Mechanicville more involved in the Saratoga County Chamber.
Soon after getting involved in the Twin Bridges Council, I was approached about serving on the Saratoga County Chamber’s board of directors and a year or so later became the organization’s treasurer.
And here we are in 2020 and I’m the volunteer chair of the board of directors of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce.
One of the reasons the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce is still thriving as it enters its 102nd year of operation is the fact that it has had tremendous volunteer and professional staff leadership.

Housing Authorities To Get State Grant Funds

March 5, 2020March 5, 2020

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has awarded more than $2.7 billion to public housing authorities in all 50 states, including those in Saratoga Springs, Mechanicville and Glens Falls.
The funding will allow agencies to make needed capital improvements to their properties. In New York, HUD awarded $653 million to housing authorities in the state.
Locally, the Saratoga Housing Authority received $764,749, the Mechanicville Housing Authority received $301,925 and the Glens Falls Housing Authority received $463,186.
The grants are provided through HUD’s Capital Fund Program, which offers annual funding to approximately 2,900 public housing authorities to build, repair, renovate, and/or modernize the public housing in their communities. Housing authorities use the funding to complete large-scale improvements such as replacing roofs or making energy-efficient upgrades to replace old plumbing and electrical systems.

Mohr Family Adds DeLucia’s Deli & Grocery To Its Capital District Real Estate Portfolio

March 5, 2020March 5, 2020

DeLucia’s Deli & Grocery is under new ownership, purchased by brothers David, Eric and Gregory Mohr in December. Just Meats will move their butcher shop into the location.
Courtesy DeLucia’s Deli & Grocery

By Andrea Harwood Palmer
DeLucia’s Deli & Grocery is under new ownership as long-time owners Ronald, Gilbert and Vince DeLucia exit the business.
Brothers David, Eric and Gregory Mohr purchased the business and some surrounding properties in December. The Mohr family, comprised of seven siblings, holds an expansive commercial portfolio in the Capital Region.
“We started in 2012, taking over Mohr’s Service Center in Saratoga Springs after our father passed away,” said David Mohr. “We also own the Mobil gas station on that corner, as well as a car wash nearby.”

Dr. Joel Reed Stepping Down As Head Of Saratoga Arts After 17 Years With The Group

March 5, 2020March 5, 2020

Saratoga Arts has announced that its executive director, Dr. Joel Reed, will be retiring at the end of March.
Reed was appointed to his current position at Saratoga Arts, then known as the Saratoga County Arts Council, when its founder Dee Sarno retired in January 2007.
Reed began working for the organization in June 2003 as its associate director after moving to the Saratoga Springs area from Syracuse.
The Saratoga Arts board of directors is engaged in a search for its next director. More information about the position and how to apply can be found at www.saratoga-arts.org/join-our-team.
Board member Meaghan Golden, principal of MGolden Design + Photo and the co-founder of the Women’s Art Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, will serve as interim director from April until the search is completed and a new executive director has settled in.

Gail Brophy, Longtime Purdy’s Liquor Store Owner, Renowned Athlete, Dies At Age 77

March 5, 2020March 5, 2020

Gail Purdy Brophy, 77, an outstanding area athlete and successful business woman, passed away at Saratoga Hospital on Sunday, Feb. 23.
Born on July 31, 1942, in Glens Falls, she was the daughter of the late George and Elizabeth Purdy, and sister to the late Anne Bliss. She was married to James “Bud” Brophy for 28 years, until he passed away at age 79 in 1998.
She is survived by her two daughters, Mary Brophy Magnus and Kristen (Brandan) Greczkowski. Five grandchildren, Sydney and Zayda Greczkowski, Evan, Kayla and Emily Magnus. Three nieces, Linda (Adrian) Stone, Laura (Dave) Borst, and Debra Apple.

‘Craft On Wheels’ Mobile Bar Company Serves Events In Region Including Saratoga

March 5, 2020March 5, 2020

Erin Murphy, left, Jim Murphy and Connor Neal are partners in Craft on Wheels, a mobile bartending service utilizing custom vintage vehicles to serve craft beverages.

By Andrea Harwood Palmer
Business partners Jim Murphy, Erin Murphy and Connor Neal have started a mobile craft beverage service based in Glens Falls, serving the Capital Region and North Country including Saratoga County.
Craft on Wheels is a mobile bar company utilizing vintage vehicles to bring craft beers, ciders and wines to serve at special events like weddings, corporate functions, private parties, festivals, and the like.

Shelby Schneider Is Named President Of Saratoga County Prosperity Partnership

February 10, 2020March 4, 2020

Shelby Schneider is the president/CEO of the Saratoga County Prosperity Partnership.
Courtesy Saratoga Prosperity Partnership

Shelby Schneider, a 17-year veteran of economic development in Saratoga County, is the new president/CEO of the Saratoga County Prosperity Partnership, a county-based economic development organization.
The announcement followed the resignation of Marty Vanags as president, effective Jan. 8. Vanags left in order to pursue new opportunities, the organization said.
For the last month, Schneider had served in the position as the interim president and CEO of the agency.
“I am honored to have the opportunity to lead the Partnership and lend my experience to leverage new public and private investment bringing more jobs and opportunities to our communities,” Schneider said. “I look forward to working closely with the board and am committed to fully engaging all of our stakeholders including elected officials, businesses, and community leaders.”
“As an organization, we look forward to helping our communities plan for future success, partnering with employers, developing our workforce, and serving as an advocate for initiatives that will drive our success into the future,” she said.
The Saratoga County Prosperity Partnership provides a point of contact for business retention and expansion, enabling a seamless delivery of programs and services for businesses seeking to grow, and spearheads semiconductor industry marketing and attraction, global trade assistance, community economic development, and data collection and planning.
“Shelby has over 17 years of experience working in economic development and is well respected amongst community and business leaders in Saratoga County and throughout the state. I know she will provide the organization with strong leadership moving forward. The Saratoga Partnership board and staff will continue to work with the public and private sectors to promote and plan for long-term growth and a strategy for unified economic development in Saratoga County,” said Kevin Hedley, Partnership board chairman.
Under Schneider’s leadership, the Saratoga Partnership team will continue Next Wave Communities Initiative which assists communities within Saratoga County in developing economic development plans tailored to their particular strengths, needs, and aspirations.

Stewart’s Shops Buys Gasoline Distribution Business, Eyes More Future Diversification

February 10, 2020February 10, 2020

Stewart’s Shops acquired a fuel distribution business that it may expand in the future.
©2020 Saratoga Photographer.com

Stewart’s Shops has acquired an area gasoline and diesel distribution business that will allow it to distribute gasoline from Sunoco, Citgo and Mobil to dealers located in some of its coverage area in upstate New York.
The local company acquired the distributorship from Polsniello Fuels, a 68-year-old third-generation company in Rensselaer.
Stewart’s said it plans to continue working with dealers who previously did business with Polsinello, and is considering a remodel for some of the acquired gas stations.
“As we continue to grow our business, this acquisition gives us the opportunity to diversify by expanding deeper into the fuel wholesale business,” said Stewart’s Shops President Gary Dake in a news release.
Polsinello now will focus on its lubricant and motor oil supply business. Lou Polsinello, company vice president, said in a release that the business will continue to deal in lubricants and motor oil distribution, and that dropping out of the gasoline retail business will help them to grow in those other areas.

Officials Say 140,704 Chowder Samples Sold At 22nd Annual Saratoga Chowderfest

February 10, 2020February 10, 2020

Huge crowds turned out in downtown Saratoga Springs for the 22nd annual Saratoga Chowderfest. According to Discover Saratoga, more than 30,000 people attended.

Organizers of the 22nd annual Saratoga Chowderfest held om Feb. 1 said 93 vendors participated, including 11 first-time contestants.
According to Discover Saratoga officials, some 140,704 bowls of chowder were served and over 30,000 people attended the event in downtown Saratoga Springs and at various outlying venues.
Event-goers sampled a variety of chowder from participating vendors for $1 and voted for their favorite.
Winners were chosen in 10 different categories, which was announced at the Saratoga Springs Heritage Area Visitor Center during the annual award ceremony.