Saratoga Business Journal

Skidmore College Creates Fund To Support Creativity, Entrepreneurship, Innovation

May 8, 2022

Rob Sands, a Skidmore graduate, is chairman of the board of directors of Constellation Brands.
Courtesy Skidmore College

Skidmore College has created a $10 million initiative in support of its longstanding commitment to a liberal arts experience rooted in creativity that prepares students for thriving professional and personal success.

Officials said a $5 million one-to-one matching pledge along with additional matching gifts created the Sands Family Foundation Initiative for Creativity, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship at Skidmore College.

A century ago, Lucy Skidmore Scribner founded Skidmore College with the vision that it would help students connect the power of their minds and their hands in a new model of liberal education, college officials said. That ambition takes a dramatic step forward with the new initiative, said college President Marc C. Conner.

“This extraordinary gift celebrates what Skidmore has always done—nurture creativity and prepare students for life after graduation—and moves us forward in our ability to offer the very model for a 21st liberal arts education,” Conner said.

“The essence of innovation and entrepreneurship is an eagerness to be bold, take risks, look at tough problems with fresh eyes, and be unafraid to fail—the hallmarks of a great liberal arts education. This gift from the Sands Family Foundation emphasizes the incredible impact that our commitment to developing exceptional creative and critical skills can have on students,” said Conner.

Office Of Strategic Workforce Development Created To Help Meet Needs Of Employers

May 8, 2022

A state Office of Strategic Workforce Development has been created that is charged with improving the programs and practices to better align with the needs and priorities of today’s employers.

Gov. Kathy Hochul proposed the new office in her State of the State address earlier this year and committed funding that was approved in the state budget.

The $350 million investment in state funding will support wide-reaching, historic and coordinated investment in workforce development across state agencies and authorities and includes $150 million in multi-year funding for new grant programs that will primarily support employer-driven, high skilled workforce training programs.

“New Yorkers are still struggling to find work and opportunity due to the economic disruption of the pandemic,” Hochul said. “This issue is personal to me. I’ve seen steel plants close leaving workers with nowhere to go. With our brand new Office of Strategic Workforce Development, we are doubling down on our commitment to help train and connect New Yorkers with the good-paying jobs of the future.”

Empire State Development Acting Commissioner and President and CEO-designate Hope Knight said the new office will optimize ESD’s relationships with the state’s industries and employers “to generate new opportunities for New Yorkers and encourage regional economic growth. Together with our State University system and our agency partners, we can provide businesses with a talent pipeline to catalyze new investments throughout the state.”

Business Report: Reinveting Oneself

May 8, 2022

Rose Miller, SPHR, area HR thought leader, speaker, writer.

by Rose Miller

In my roles as an HR professional, a critical requirement is to keep up with the ever-changing landscape of employment laws, HR best practices and workforce stressors.

It’s a lot. But us HR folks are a resilient bunch. The successful ones are always ready for change. Reinvention should be embraced to prepare for change.

I was speaking with a peer group of women leaders the other day. I love this group of “power-women”, who come from all walks of life and various careers. They are smart, fun, and empowered. We support each other in many ways, both personally and professionally. We understand how these things are deeply tied together.

The group’s facilitator often presents topics that are thought provoking and it challenges us learn about ourselves so we can lead with more self-awareness. If you have ever worked with someone who was not at all self-aware, you would fully understand the importance of this exercise.

This month, we were asked the question, “if you could reinvent yourself or change something at this point, how or what would it be?”

Small Business Association Creates Training Program For Use By Small Business Leaders

May 8, 2022

The U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Upstate New York District Office announced the start of local recruitment for T.H.R.I.V.E. (Train, Hope, Rise, Innovate, Venture, Elevate), a free national training program for small business leaders.

The SBA is currently recruiting small business applicants who have been in business for at least three years; who have annual revenues of at least $250,000; who have at least one employee other than the owner; and who can commit to participating in the six-month program from July 5 to Dec. 16.

“T.H.R.I.V.E. is a unique SBA program that can be instrumental for entrepreneurs aiming to grow or expand their small businesses. Throughout the course, participants will receive core business knowledge, work directly with a business coach, meet with peers and develop a three-year Strategic Growth Plan,” said SBA Upstate New York District Director Bernard J. Paprocki. “We will select 20 participants for the Upstate New York cohort, and I strongly encourage small business owners who are ready for growth to consider applying for this opportunity by the May 31 deadline.”

T.H.R.I.V.E. provides complimentary entrepreneurship education and training for executives of high-performing small businesses. Over six months, the executive entrepreneurship training series includes in-person coaching and virtual, self-paced instruction. Paprocki said the hybrid program allows participants to work with a network of experienced subject matter experts in core business topics like accounting, business strategy, marketing, and human resources customized for the unique needs of small business owners.

Organizers Of Chowder Fest Report That Attendance At Annual Event Topped 30,000

April 11, 2022April 11, 2022

People crowd Broadway in Saratoga Springs during the Saratoga Chowder Fest ’N Tour on March 26. Discover Saratoga organized the event.

The Saratoga Chowder Fest ‘N Tour in March involved 74 vendors, including 12 first-time participants, who sold 83,931 bowls of chowder, according to Discover Saratoga which organized the event.

Over 30,000 people attended the event, officials said.

It was held Saturday, March 19, through Saturday, March 26. Chowder lovers had the opportunity to dine-in or purchase pints and quarts of chowder to-go at participating locations throughout the week.

The 24th annual Chowderfest celebration took place on Saturday, March 26, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Event-goers sampled a variety of chowder from participating vendors for $2 each and voted for their favorite.

Winners were chosen in eight different categories. The Chowder Fest ‘N Tour winners are:

• People’s Choice 500 bowls or less: The Mill on Round Lake, Bubba Gump Chowder.

• People’s Choice 501-750 bowls: Dizzy Chicken Wood Fired Rotisserie, Brazilian Smoked Seafood Chowder.

• People’s Choice 751-1,000 bowls: Ribbon Cafe, Southwest Shrimp Corn Chowder Topped Tequila Lime Bacon and a Wonton Popper.

• People’s Choice 1,001-1,500 bowls: Wheatfields Restaurant & Bar, Crawfish Cajun Corn Chowder.

CEG Analysis Says Saratoga County Saw Population Gain During The Pandemic

April 11, 2022

The Capital Region continued to grow through the pandemic, making it one of only two economic development regions in the state to see total population gains between July 1, 2020, and July 1, 2021.

Even more, the eight-county region had New York’s greatest number of annual net domestic movers during that period, according to a Center for Economic Growth analysis of new U.S. Census Bureau estimates.

CEG said Saratoga County saw the state’s second biggest gain in annual net domestic movers and also had third largest total population annual gain in state.

Warren County ranked 12th for annual net domestic movers, the agency said.

“We are a million-strong region and getting bigger. The Center for Economic Growth launched our CapNY talent attraction campaign in April 2021,” said CEG President and CEO Mark Eagan. “We sensed that if we could raise awareness about all the opportunities and lifestyle in the Capital Region, then more people would want to come here to work and live. We were onto something, and these Census Bureau population estimates show that.

“The GoCapNY.com website is attracting much traffic, especially from the New York City and Boston areas, and we will be launching new initiatives to engage and connect with interns this summer.”

Former Owners Of Carney’s Tavern Open ‘Finnigan’s On The Lake’ On Ballston Lake

April 11, 2022

By Christine Graf

Finnigan’s on the Lake is a new tavern and grill located on Ballston Lake.

The space at 175 Lake Road was previously occupied by Villago Pizzeria, which operated there for seven years before closing in July of last year.

Before opening Finnigan’s on the Lake, owners Matt and Stephanie Finnigan operated Ballston Lake’s Carney’s Tavern from 2013 until 2021.

The couple made the decision to close Carney’s after an inspection of the building revealed structural problems that would be too costly to repair. They began looking for a location to establish a new eatery in either Clifton Park or Latham.

“We had looked at this location (175 Lake Road) a year prior. It had been for sale for a while, but it just wasn’t turnkey enough for the price they were asking at the time,” said Matt Finnigan. “As luck would have it, the stars just kind of aligned and somebody else bought the property and we ended up coming up with the lease option on the building where we have first option to buy. We had just begun looking at spaces, and it was inside of three weeks that this just kind of landed in our laps.”

The Finnigan’s do not own or operate the boat launch that is across the street from the eatery. In prior years, boaters were able to pay at the restaurant to use the launch, but that is no longer the case.

Return-To-Work Grant Program To Help Tourism Businesses Rebound From COVID

April 11, 2022

The New York State Tourism Return-to-Work Grant Program, created to incentivize employment growth by providing financial assistance to businesses in the tourism industry that suffered economic hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic, has grants of $5,000 up to $200,000 to incentivize employment growth for businesses in the tourism industry.

Qualifying tourism businesses will be eligible for grants of up to $5,000 per net new full-time employee, and $2,500 per net new part-time employee hired.

To receive a full benefit, employers will have to maintain employment increases over six months.

Grants will be limited to for-profit or nonprofit businesses servicing the public and engaged in a tourism-related fields including accommodations, arts, entertainment, sightseeing, transportation, tour operators, convention and visitor groups, or other businesses that, in ESD’s sole discretion, qualify as businesses in the tourism industry.

Further, to qualify for grant assistance, all eligible applicants must:

• Increase their average employment between Jan. 1, 2022 and June 30, 2022 by at least 2 net new full-time equivalent jobs;

• Continue to be in operation as of the date of application.

Personnel Briefs: April 2022

April 11, 2022April 11, 2022

Michael Spaulding has joined the NBT Insurance Agency as vice president of retail-personal insurance.

Spaulding is a member of the NBT Insurance leadership team and will lead the expansion of the Agency’s Retail-Personal Insurance Division. He brings more than 25 years of experience to his new position, including leadership positions in sales, underwriting and operations.

He comes to NBT Insurance from Travelers Insurance Companies where he most recently served as Eastern New York state regional sales director.

The vice president of retail-personal insurance is a new position at the agency, intended to drive growth in our current and expanding footprint, the company said.

Spaulding is part of the expanding team of insurance professionals based at NBT Bank’s Saratoga Springs location.

Currently a board member of Big Brother Big Sisters of the Southern Adirondacks, Spaulding previously volunteered as a youth sports coach in the Queensbury area where he resides with his family.

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Saratoga Hospital has named Kristin Mosher director of marketing and communications, responsible for internal and external communications at all hospital locations.

She also will play a key communications role for the Albany Med Health System. In addition to Saratoga Hospital, the system includes Albany Medical Center Hospital, Albany Medical College, Columbia Memorial Health, Glens Falls Hospital and the Visiting Nurses Association of Albany.

Mosher, of Ballston Spa, joined Saratoga Hospital in 2016 to head its digital marketing efforts. She dramatically increased the hospital’s social media presence, oversaw the redevelopment of 10 websites under the Saratoga Hospital umbrella, and took on the day-to-day management of the marketing and communications department.

Mosher came to Saratoga Hospital from WEGO Health, now part of the social health company Health Union. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Bryant University in Rhode Island and certifications in digital, mobile, online, content and inbound marketing.

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‘Cooley Kill Restaurant & Bar’ Opens At Van Patten Golf Course; Operates 4 Days A Week

April 11, 2022

Van Patten Golf Club in Clifton Park, known for its quality golf course and scenic views, will officially open its Cooley Kill Restaurant & Bar on April 14.
Courtesy Van Patten Golf Course

Van Patten Golf Club in Clifton Park will open its Cooley Kill Restaurant & Bar on Thursday, April 14.

A grand opening is planned for 2 p.m. that day.

The opening celebrations will continue Friday, April 15, with the golf course opening for play at 8 a.m. for the first time of the season. Later that evening will feature live music from Skippy and The Pistons from 7-10 p.m., and a firework display starting around 8:30 p.m.

The Cooley Kill Restaurant & Bar opened for guests on Wednesday, April 6. Passholders and the general public are invited to visit Wednesday through Saturday, with hours of operation from 4-9 p.m.

Reservations are requested at www.CooleyKillRestaurant.com.

The restaurant’s name and re-designed logo pay homage to the Cooley Kill, a once vital water supply resource to the early settlers of what is now Clifton Park, according to the owners.

Today, Cooley Kill remains an important asset to Van Patten Golf Club as it functions as the club’s main drainage line, pulling water from the course and depositing it into the property’s ponds. Once there, the water is then used to irrigate the course.

Cooley Kill will offer both a bar and dining menu that will feature several fresh seafood offerings including fish and chips, jumbo shrimp, calamari, scallops, lobster tail, and honey chili salmon. The menus will also feature favorites and staples such as the Smokehouse Burger, filet mignon, prime New York strip, braised short ribs, pasta plates, salads, and desserts such as carrot cake, bread pudding and flourless chocolate cake.