By Jill NAgy
Curtis Lumber is building a new store in Schodack and recently purchased two stores formerly operated by Bellevue Builders Supply, one near Binghamton and the other in the Cobleskill area.
The new Schodack store will be close to an existing store, but nearer Columbia Turnpike and more visible from Route 20, according Rich Keating, vice president for sales and marketing.
The existing store was built in 1971. The new one will contain 25,550 square feet of sales space, some 7,500 square feet larger than the present outlet, said Keating. It will include more showroom space for kitchens, lighting equipment, and windows. The former store will be re-purposed for warehouse use.
Munter Enterprises in Middle Grove is the general contractor. Cotler Architects of Latham designed the new building. If all goes well, the new store will be open for business in early 2021.
Designers Of Office Space Help Safely Get Employees Back Into Their Work Spaces
©2020 Saratoga Photographer.com
By Jill Nagy
As business owners prepare to re-open in a changed world, many are turning to office designers for guidance in meeting new requirements for minimizing the spread of COVID-19.
Dorothy Rogers-Bullis and her business drb Business Interiors in Saratoga Springs offers her own office as an example. Several employees are still working remotely. She encourages others to work in the office at alternate times. When clients arrive, they are asked to sign in and out, wear face masks and have their temperatures taken.
“People want to get back to work,” she said. “Some people work really well at home” but, in general, “not a lot of good work gets done at home.”
There are too many distractions. In addition, people working at home miss the connections, collaboration and creativity of a shared workplace.
Lisa Boyle of the Boyle Group in Ballston Spa advises clients on how to reorganize their work space.
For example, in an open office plan with everybody at eye level, desk and tables have to be moved apart, she said. Often, barriers are needed. The result is a reduced capacity.
NBT Bank Re-Opens Branch Office Lobbies With Health, Safety Protocols Now In Place
Courtesy NBT
NBT Bank has expanded its services to include full branch lobby access with the implementation of protocols to protect the safety of its employees and customers.
The bank had its lobbies closed for business due to the COVID-19 pandemic, utilizing ATMs, the internet and drive-through windows for services.
Appointments are no longer required for customers to visit a branch lobby.
“NBT has spent weeks developing a careful approach that both expands branch access and ensures that our employees, customers and communities remain safe,” said NBT Bank President of Retail Community Banking Joseph R. Stagliano. “Thoughtful consideration has included a market-by-market analysis of conditions, close coordination with local government and health officials and strict adherence to state and federal guidelines.”
Customers visiting NBT lobbies are asked to follow new protocols to ensure customer and employee safety. Face coverings are required to be worn inside and all customers must bring valid photo identification.
Business Report: Be Prepared To Meet State Guidelines
By April P. Weygand
Are you welcoming people into your business for the first time in a while and need some help navigating New York state rules on how to do that?
New York state is tough, and they want us to be prepared. There are some common-sense rules: wash hands, use hand sanitizer, wear masks, use tissues, and clean and disinfect surfaces.
The words cleaning, sanitizing, disinfecting, electrostatic spraying, and fogging are being thrown around a lot lately. However, they are not the same and should not be used interchangeably. “Cleaning” is the act of removing soils and germs from a surface. It doesn’t usually kill anything, but it does remove them by washing them away.
“Sanitizing” means reducing the number of bacteria by 99.9 percent to a level considered safe by public health organizations. Many over-the counter products sanitize in less than 30 seconds. It’s important to note here that Sanitizing kills bacteria, but it does not kill viruses. That’s where Disinfection is necessary.
SUNY Empire State Has Its First Fully Online Degree Program In Security Studies
SUNY Empire State College is implementing its first fully online, accredited bachelor of science degree program in security studies to help meet the growing need for modern security experts in high-demand positions in homeland security, emergency management, disaster relief, and law enforcement in the U.S. and around the world.
Officials said the program can be completed entirely online, providing students with flexibility and convenience to earn their degree around the demands of their busy lives, as well as face to face at SUNY Empire campuses and learning hubs across the state.
The program was approved by the state Education Department earlier this month.
SUNY Empire’s program will prepare students for careers in security policy, emergency management, and criminal justice in the private and public sectors, examining complex global security issues through the perspectives of the social sciences, legal studies, and international relations. It will examine issues of homeland security, terrorism, privacy, and law enforcement policy and practice to prepare well-rounded leaders in these fields.
Jefferson Project Makes Lake George Science Data Available Through Digital Dashboard
The Jefferson Project at Lake George is making real-time water quality and weather data from its unprecedented scientific monitoring and research program available directly to the public through a new digital Data Dashboard at jeffersonproject.live.
Founded in 2013, the Jefferson Project is the environmental research collaboration between IBM Research, RPI and the FUND for Lake George that is committed to preserving and protecting the lake’s legendary water quality through cutting-edge science and highly advanced technologies.
The new dashboard, the only publicly available display of IBM’s targeted weather forecasting technology, Deep Thunder, allows people to view hour-by-hour, highly localized forecasts for their current location on Lake George, or by searching for a specific address or clicking a point on the dashboard’s map, officials said.
Lake George Website Is Focused On Hiring
Lake George attracts thousands of visitors to its lakeside villages and towns each year and is currently the backdrop of a summertime Food Network reality series.
Combine that with the region’s commitment to providing a safe, clean and healthy environment, local officials are saying that the summer season in Lake George is booming and businesses are hiring.
Even during the virus pandemic.
A collaboration of local businesses, community and government leaders has launched LakeGeorgeIsHiring.com to present the many attractive job opportunities. The site features open positions for all levels of experience, including cooks, housekeepers, front desk staff, bussers, food runners, waitstaff, bartenders, maintenance, security, marketing, delivery drivers and more.
“Word is spreading quickly, said Gina Mintzer, executive director of the Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce. “Lake George is a fun, safe and healthy place to work and vacation, and we take protecting the health of our employees, visitors, and community seriously. This is a great time to come to Lake George, earn some money and enjoy every minute of the experience.’’
Leadership Adirondack Awards 3 Scholarships
The Leadership Adirondack (LADK) class of the Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce (ARCC) has awarded scholarships to three students.
Each year, the class chooses a community project, which in past years consisted of raising money for a local nonprofit organization. This year the class of 2019-20 chose to partner with WSWHE BOCES and the Employment Training for Adults Program (ETA) to provide a scholarship to help increase the number of skilled trade workers needed in the region.
The scholarship is intended to help individuals 18 years or older to start or extend their careers within the BOCES Skilled Trades curriculum and will provide financial assistance to eligible students in the ARCC’s service area who wish to enroll in one of the skilled trades programs.
“These scholarships were 100 percent funded by our local business community. Many thanks to all those who donated to support individuals who want to live, learn and work in our region, said Michael Bittel, ARCC president and CEO.
Before completing the Leadership Adirondack program in February, the class designated a scholarship committee to review applications and determine recipients. Scholarships are awarded quarterly. The scholarship committee determines whether to award the whole amount to one recipient, or to split it among a few.
Business Report: COVID-19 Changes
By Michael Cruz
Your employees are working under new circumstances and new expectations. In fact, we all are, you included.
After years of working to ensure good culture, we now see each other less often. How are you ensuring that remote working and less meetings do not negatively affect your company culture? Locally, we have been able to pass through the crisis mode.
Yet, every time we watch the news, we are treated to doom scenarios. And as employees and coworkers hear those stories, it creates anxiety. We’re bombarded with messages like “new normal,” “social distancing” and, of course, “lockdown.”
In the face of that, it is hard to do back to (old?) normal.
Therefore, some of the changes are for a while. You can focus on that in your business. What makes sense for one business will not make sense for another. You will find ways to make your teams physically safe. Yet, what all businesses face is the need to keep everyone engaged. As leaders, we need to focus on keeping our people psychologically safe. There is a lot to react to right now.
Business Briefs: July 2020
After being closed for several months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, The Hyde Collection in Glens Falls will be open to visitors with appointments beginning on Aug. 1.
Hour-long appointments can be made on hydecollection.org, with 26 time slots available per day, Thursday-Sunday, museum officials said.
The Hyde will be reserved for seniors and high-risk individuals from 10 a.m. to noon, then will close for an hour for cleaning, and open back up from 1-5 p.m. for the general public.
Guests will be asked to arrive at The Hyde five minutes before their scheduled time, and will wait outside the museum until the lobby is clear of visitors.
Before arrival, visitors will be asked to access The Hyde’s “Guide By Cell” self tour. (text the word “Hyde” to 565-12 and follow the prompt. Message and data rates may apply per your provider).