{"id":34483,"date":"2020-02-10T12:40:02","date_gmt":"2020-02-10T17:40:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.saratoga.com\/saratogabusinessjournal\/?p=34483"},"modified":"2020-02-10T12:49:19","modified_gmt":"2020-02-10T17:49:19","slug":"business-briefs-february-2020","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saratoga.com\/saratogabusinessjournal\/2020\/02\/business-briefs-february-2020\/","title":{"rendered":"Business Briefs: February 2020"},"content":{"rendered":"
The Saratoga County Foundation\u2019s Veterans Business Council recently elected a new slate of officers for 2020.
\nElected to two-year terms were Jason Collins, SUNY Empire State College, chairman; Erica Choi, Bank of America, as vice-chair; Robert Scheurer, Adirondack Trust Co., secretary; and Tom Dingley, Mosaic Wealth Advisory, treasurer.
\nOutgoing Chair Karen Charbonneau of Saratoga Home Team was recognized for her outstanding leadership the past two years. During her time as chair, the council helped to coordinate funding and construction of a 7,700-square-foot fieldhouse at the Naval Support Activity Base in Saratoga Springs, implemented a new scholarship program to aid Veterans pursuing higher education, and established a new fundraiser to help raise money for veterans initiatives in Saratoga County.
\nMore information on the Veterans Business Council is available online at www.saratogaveterans.org.<\/p>\n
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First New York Federal Credit Union will issue four $1,000 scholarships this spring.
\nApplications for the scholarship must be submitted by March 6. Applicants must be a member in good standing with First New York Federal Credit Union, be a graduating high school senior, plan to attend an accredited two- or four-year college and be active or volunteer within their community.
\nInterested students can complete the application at www.firstnewyork.org\/home\/accounts\/youth\/scholarships.
\nTo accompany the application, students will need to submit a 250-word essay describing what motivates them and why, along with a letter of reference commenting on their character and abilities. A copy of the student\u2019s high school transcript and a resume detailing honors, awards received, leadership roles and extracurricular activities will also need to be included with the application.
\nSelected finalists will be interviewed by the Scholarship Committee to determine the four winners. Winners will be notified by April 14 and will be invited to an awards ceremony on April 28, when they will be presented with the scholarships.<\/p>\n
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Saratoga County announced that Moody\u2019s Investors Service has upgraded the county\u2019s issuer and general obligation limited tax (GOLT) rating from Aa2 to Aa1.
\nMoody\u2019s says that the coveted rating upgrade \u201creflects Saratoga County\u2019s continued financial strength and steadily growing tax base.\u201d
\n\u201cThis rating increase is great news for the taxpayers of Saratoga County,\u201d said Saratoga County Treasurer Drew Jarosh. \u201cAs stewards of every taxpayer dollar we take seriously our responsibility to make smart investments and manage our continued growth.\u201d
\nCounty Administrator Spencer Hellwig said because of the leadership of the Board of Supervisors, we\u2019re able to leverage every tax dollar and receive the second highest rating issued by Moody\u2019s.
\nMoody\u2019s credit rating is based on the growing population that brings with it an increase in the collection of property and sales taxes that strengthen the county\u2019s reserve budget.<\/p>\n
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CDPHP has once again been named one of the Best Companies to Work for in New York, making this the 12th consecutive year the Capital Region\u2019s number 1 health plan has received the award from the New York State Society for Human Resource Management.
\nThe award, presented by the Best Companies Group, in conjunction with the New York State Society for Human Resource Management, is based on the company\u2019s workplace policies, systems, and practices, as well as a survey, which is open to all employees, that measures employee engagement.
\nCDPHP employees enjoy a competitive compensation and benefits package, including a 401(k) program, tuition reimbursement, leadership development program, on-site fitness center with a full-time fitness specialist, on-site cafeteria, on-site farmers\u2019 market, on-site dry cleaning, work site wellness programs and health screenings.
\nCDPHP employees also have the opportunity to participate in annual fundraising campaigns to support organizations committed to improving the health and wellbeing of our community.
\nCDPHP will be honored at an awards dinner in Albany in May, where final rankings will be announced.<\/p>\n
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The Skidmore College culinary team earned its seventh consecutive gold medal for culinary excellence at an American Culinary Federation competition at the College on Friday, Jan. 10.
\nSkidmore\u2019s Dining Services organizes the annual competition to provide staff development, raise the standards of culinary excellence on campus and highlight Skidmore\u2019s noted dining program.
\nEach of the nine teams\u2014 representing institutions from across New York and Massachusetts\u2014was tasked with preparing a four-course menu based on the same ingredients.
\nEach team was allotted 15 minutes to plan and then just two hours and 15 minutes to prepare and plate creative, delicious and visually appealing dishes.<\/p>\n
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BlueShield of Northeastern New York has again named Saratoga Hospital a Blue Distinction Center for three surgical specialties\u2014spine surgery and knee and hip replacement\u2014as part of the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program.
\nSaratoga Hospital is the only Capital Region facility to be recognized as a Blue Distinction Center for Spine Surgery for meeting both quality and cost-effectiveness measures.
\nBlue Distinction Centers earn the designation, in part, by providing care that results in fewer complications and readmissions.
\nBlue Distinction Centers are nationally designated healthcare facilities that show a commitment to patient safety and better health outcomes, based on objective measures that were developed with input from the medical community and leading accreditation and quality organizations.
\nFor more information about the program and a complete listing of the designated facilities, visit www.bcbs.com\/bluedistinction.<\/p>\n
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First New York Federal Credit Union, which has offices in Saratoga County, has opened a new full-service branch at 31 Jordan Road, North Greenbush.
\nOfficials said the new location is designed to better accommodate First New York\u2019s growing membership in Rensselaer County and it will feature a full-service branch with two First New York Express Interactive Teller Machines and a knowledgeable branch staff to assist with accounts, loans and financial health and well-being of each First New York member.
\nThe North Greenbush branch will offer ample parking and two drive-up, 24-hour teller machines.<\/p>\n
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The Charles R. Wood Foundation is accepting grant applications from IRS-approved 501(c)3 organizations whose projects or programs assist children, healthcare or the arts in the Lake George Region and surrounding areas.
\nEligible applicants can visit www.charlesrwoodfoundation.com to submit an online application by April 1 for consideration at the spring meeting of Trustees. The next subsequent deadline will be Sept. 1 for consideration at the fall meeting.
\nOver the past five years the foundation has awarded over $8 million dollars. Charles R. Wood established the Foundation that bears his name in 1978 to provide assistance in areas of special need in the Lake George and Saratoga regions
\nIn 2019, the foundation gave grants to area nonprofit organizations totaling over $1.8 million.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Saratoga County Foundation\u2019s Veterans Business Council recently elected a new slate of officers for 2020. Elected to two-year terms were Jason Collins, SUNY Empire State College, chairman; Erica Choi, Bank of America, as vice-chair; Robert Scheurer, Adirondack Trust Co., secretary; and Tom Dingley, Mosaic Wealth Advisory, treasurer. Outgoing Chair Karen Charbonneau of Saratoga Home […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":196,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-34483","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-business-briefs"],"yoast_head":"\r\n