Month: September 2024

NBT Bancorp Inc. (“NBT”) (NASDAQ: NBTB) and Evans Bancorp, Inc. (“Evans”) (NYSE American: EVBN) has announced they have entered into a definitive agreement pursuant to which Evans will merge with and into NBT. This merger will bring together two highly respected banking companies and extend NBT’s growing footprint into Western New York.

“We are enthusiastic about this opportunity to partner with Evans and are confident it is a high quality and incredibly impactful way to expand NBT’s presence into Western New York,” said NBT President and Chief Executive Officer Scott A. Kingsley. “Adding the greater Buffalo and Rochester communities to the markets served by NBT is a natural geographic extension of our footprint in Upstate New York where we have been very active and successful for nearly 170 years.”

The combined organization will have the highest deposit market share in Upstate New York for any bank with assets under $100 billion and will result in a network of over 170 locations from Buffalo, NY to Portland, ME.

NBT’s primary subsidiary, NBT Bank, N.A., has 154 locations in seven northeastern states. With 107 of those locations in Upstate New York, NBT’s banking franchise currently stretches west to east from Syracuse to the Capital District and north to south from Plattsburgh to Binghamton and the Hudson Valley. Evans, headquartered in Williamsville, NY had assets of $2.26 billion as of June 30, 2024, and 18 locations in the Buffalo and Rochester markets.

Tri-County United Way has announced its partnership with Nemer Motor Group in leading the Kids With Packs program, which supports local schools. 

Joining forces this year are partners including the Lions Club of Glens Falls, the Charles R. Wood Foundation, Target and The Post-Star. 

This program ensures students across Warren, Washington, and Northern Saratoga counties have essential school supplies, setting up local schools for a successful start to the academic year.

The success of this year’s Kids With Packs program is further bolstered by the dedication of a record breaking number of volunteers who participated in the Kids with Packs Assembly Day held at Nemer Ford on August 23. 

Leading up to the assembly and distribution of supplies, Tri-County United Way works closely with local educators and community leaders throughout the academic year to identify areas of greatest need per school. This proactive approach ensures that resources and funds raised for this program are allocated where they will have the most significant impact, particularly in under served communities.

Adirondack Pub & Brewery celebrated completion of its expanded brewing operation with a ribbon-cutting ceremony recently. 

In its 25th year of business, Adirondack Pub & Brewery has expanded its footprint with a new 3,000-square-foot addition adjacent to the pub, bringing the total size to approximately 15,000 square feet. This expansion, which includes new equipment to increase brewing capacity and meet the rising demand for diverse craft beverages, was made possible by funding from the State Development Craft Beverage Micro Grant Program.

Among the new offerings introduced since the expansion is a canned hard strawberry lemonade called “Cliff Jumper.” Beyond its variety of beers, the brewery has also launched a selection of beverages that include canned hard lemonades and teas, hard ciders made from New York State apples, hard seltzer, and the popular Bear Wizz Root Beer.

John Carr, owner of Adirondack Pub & Brewery said, “We are incredibly grateful to the state of New York and Empire State Development for this generous grant, which helps support economic growth and jobs in the Lake George Area. This has been instrumental in helping us expand our operations and continue to craft high-quality beverages right here in Lake George. This grant not only allows us to meet the growing demand from our customers but also reinforces our commitment to contributing to the local economy and community.”

Adirondack Pub & Brewery, established in 1999, is open year-round and supports a variety of jobs in the Lake George Area. State and local officials joined at the ceremony to speak to the economic impact of this brewery expansion on the local economy. The brewery was also presented a joint citation by State Sen. Dan Stec and Assemblyman Matt Simpson’s offices.

The Tri-County United Way VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) program has been honored with the National IRS “Hall of Fame” Award, a testament to its exceptional contributions and unwavering support for individuals and families with low to moderate incomes. 

Chosen from 14 national nominees, Tri-County United Way’s VITA program distinguished itself through its remarkable service, community impact, and dedication to financial stability.

For over 20 years, the Tri-County United Way VITA program has operated 13 sites across Warren, Washington, and Northern Saratoga counties. During the 2024 tax season, 27 tax preparers and 15 appointment takers volunteered over 3,100 hours, preparing more than 2,000 tax returns. Their efforts generated $3.1 million in federal and state income tax refunds for the local economy and saved taxpayers over $700,000 in preparation fees.

The VITA program’s excellence was recognized by its in-house training, offering 24 hours of classroom or self-study instruction, available at flexible times. This year’s innovative outreach included local media interviews, print media outreach, and ads in several prestigious media outlets including the 50th Adirondack Balloon Festival program, which boosted volunteer recruitment and community engagement.