Saratoga County received some $4.3 million  in economic and community development funding through Round VIII of the Regional Economic Development Council initiative. The funding covers 10 projects.

The money is part of $67 million awarded to 95 projects in the Capital Region. The state awarded a total of $763 million statewide.

Key among the local funding was $1,695,000 awarded to Saratoga Performing Arts Center for two different projects.

Some $195,000 is for a multi-media marketing campaign designed to increase cultural tourism.  SPAC will increase cultural tourism to Saratoga Springs and the Capital District overall, by creating and executing an integrated marketing campaign (Television, Digital/Social media and print) to promote it as a world class arts and culture destination to travel decision makers in suburban communities.

Some $1 million is to replace aging infrastructure and provide new facilities. These facilities will include classroom and gathering spaces that will be utilized in expanding educational programs, audience development and community engagement activities benefiting the diverse and underserved populations.

The state Department Motor Vehicle office at Clifton Park Center is scheduled for  renovation and expansion  in 2019.

The County Board of Supervisors, at their October meeting, approved the extension of the lease of the Clifton Park Center DMV Office and funding for renovation of the space to better serve customers in Saratoga and the surrounding counties.

The expansion and renovation project will grow the space by more than 1,300 square feet, making the total space after expansion 4,868 square fee, according to Saratoga County Clerk Craig A. Hayner.

“This expansion of our busiest motor vehicle office has become necessary to maintain the high-quality service for which the Saratoga DMV office has become known,” said Hayner. “Once completed, this will make our Clifton Park DMV one of the most efficient and innovative Department of Motor Vehicle offices in the Capital Region.”

Theresa Agresta, owner of Allegory Studios and CultureTalk in Saratoga Springs, will be the chair of the board of directors of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce in 2019.

She will be recognized at the Chamber’s 101st annual dinner 6-9:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 24, at the Saratoga Springs City Center.

The night will start off with registration and a cocktail hour from 6-6:45 p.m., and will be followed by the program from 7-7:30. Dinner, catered by Mazzone Hospitality will follow.

Nearly 1,000 people are expected to attend the event, Chamber officials said.

“I believe this Chamber changes things especially for small businesses like mine who benefit from the many programs and initiatives this Chamber leads,” said Agresta. “It is an honor to have this opportunity to work with so many people I admire who volunteer their time serving on our board of directors. This is an exciting time to be a part of our Chamber as we launch the Saratoga County Institute for Management and other new initiatives that make membership even more valuable. Plans underway for 2019 will also result in better promotion of county events in collaboration with a range of partners.”

The Chamber will also honor Brian Straughter, president of Turf Hotels and a co-founder of Jakes Help from Heaven, who served as board chairman in 2018 He will continue to serve on the executive board as the immediate past chair.

The board of directors will also present the Joseph Dalton Community Service Award to Tom Roohan of Roohan Realty, recognizing his more than four decades of volunteer service to the local community.

The Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce will present Tom Roohan, principal broker and president of Roohan Realty in Saratoga Springs with the 2019 Joseph Dalton Community Service Award.

The award will be presented at the Chamber’s 101st annual dinner on Thursday, Jan. 24 at the Saratoga Springs City Center,

Roohan is just the second person to be presented the award. The first was presented at the Chamber’s 100th annual dinner last year to Steve “Sully” Sullivan, owner of the Olde Bryan Inn and Longfellows Inn & Conference Center.

“We were looking to honor and recognize people who, for more than 25 years, have been forward deployed, meaning they’ve contributed to the community by volunteering their time, energy, and expertise not just their money,” said Brian Straughter, 2018 chairman of the board of directors.

Roohan has volunteered for dozens of organizations over the past 40 years with his first volunteer experience coming as a life guard for the Saratoga YMCA, in 1971. His first leadership role as a volunteer was as a bingo captain for Saratoga Central High School, coordinating monthly tournaments to raise money for the school. Recently, he was honored by the American Red Cross as a Real Hero for donating 94 pints of blood and encouraging other family, friends, and coworkers to join him at local blood donation events.

Roohan currently volunteers on the Saratoga Hospital board of directors, the NYRA Local Advisory Board and the Saratoga Springs Special Assessment District. He is the volunteer chair of both the Luther Forest Technology Campus and the Saratoga Springs City Center Authority. He is a past president of the Saratoga Central High School board of directors; a past president of the Saratoga Hospital Foundation; past president of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick; a member of the Saratoga County Planning Board; a YMCA Trustee; and was named the 1998 Leadership Saratoga Distinguished Alumni award winner.

By Jennifer Farnsworth

The owner of Clark’ Steakhouse and the Schuyler Yacht Basin has teamed up with a friend as the new owners of  Olde Saratoga Wine and Spirits in Schuylerville.

Jason Young said when the opportunity came to him to operate a third business, he knew it was something he wanted to be a part of.

Young and his friend, Chip Lawrence, met four years ago and found success flipping houses together. He said the owner of Olde Saratoga Wine and Spirits was looking to sell the business at the same time that a Stewart’s was up for sale, so he and Lawrence decided to purchase and relocate Olde Saratoga. The store moved from Ferry Street to 158 Broad St. in the fall, just in time for the holidays, a move Young said was lucrative for the business.