By Susan E. Campbell
The Washington County Local Development Corp. (WCLDC) closed the year more quietly than in the recent past. But already in 2020, there are 10 new applications for loans in contrast to the five new loans that ultimately closed in 2019, according to Deanna Derway, president and executive director.
“Loans were made to a variety of different and unique companies, officially crossing the $18 million mark for total funding lent since the Corporation began in 1985,” said Derway, who has been with the WCLDC since mid-2008 and has headed it up since 2013. “That is a significant amount of funding across businesses in Washington County.”
January through March is the state reporting season for WCLDC, along with any other entity with public funding, and Derway has been busy with spreadsheets.
“Compared to the past four years, activity in 2019 was a little quieter,” she said. “We have nearly $700,000 to loan right now.”
Small Businesses And Entrepreneurs Can Win Grants From Glens Falls Development Corp.
By Rachel Phillips
Small business owners and hopeful entrepreneurs located in Glens Falls have the opportunity to win up to $40,000 to help fund their businesses.
The Retail and Small Business Development Competition will award a total of $280,000 in funding to the winners.
Current or aspiring business owners located within the Glens Falls Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) area have a chance to build or expand their businesses as part of the effort to encourage economic growth in the city.
The Greater Glens Falls Local Development Corporation (LDC) is heading the competition, and will be responsible for picking the winners out of the pool of applicants. The competition, based on other similar types of competitions that have seen success around the country, was the idea of city officials, including Mayor Daniel Hall.
CEG President: Quality Of Life In Warren, Washington Counties Is A Selling Point
By Christine Graf
For more than 30 years, Albany’s Center for Economic Growth(CEG) has been marketing the eight-county Capital Region as a great place for companies to do business.
CEG, a non-profit regional economic and business development organization, is the primary point of contact for businesses looking to expand or establish operations in Albany, Columbia, Greene, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Warren, or Washington counties. They receive funding from local businesses, government grants, and fee for service.
“The Capital Region has a population of over one million people, and that puts us in competitive league with other major cities throughout the country,” said President and CEO Andrew Kennedy. “That’s something that is important for businesses when they are considering their relocation efforts. We work to raise visibility of the general population, the strength of our economy, the health of our economy, and the opportunities we see with development sites.
Groups Collaborate To Help Expand The Focus On Tourism In Washington County
By Andrea Harwood Palmer
Washington County is the focus of a new collaborative tourism initiative in the region.
Jesse Tyree from black dog Designs in Glens Falls, Andrew Meader from 8 of Eight Strategies in Glens Falls and Jessica Ziehm from Cornell Cooperative Extension gathered at RS Taylor & Sons Brewery in Salem recently to announce a long-term strategic initiative.
Mannix Marketing in Glens Falls and Lakes to Locks in Crown Point are also a part of the effort.
A key part of the effort is the website www.washingtoncounty.fun. A calendar of events allows Washington County businesses to promote themselves and draw visitors to their location. An editorial calendar goes in-depth regarding things happening in the area.
Washington County LDC Has Surpassed $18 Million In Loans To Development Projects
By Susan E. Campbell
Washington County is on a trajectory for continued low unemployment and healthy economic growth in 2019. The Washington County Local Development Corp. will cross the $18 million mark in loans since the public entity began in 1985, officials said.
“Things are going well for us,” said Deanna Derway, WCLDC president and executive director. Since 2015, we’ve approved over $750,000 in loan funding each year and we continue to see an increase in loan applications presented to us annually.”
EDC Warren County Busy Helping Groups Get Ready For State Development Grant Program
By R.J. DeLuke
EDC Warren County is the key driver of economic development efforts in the Glens Falls area and as such, its staff is always busy.
Toward the top of the tasks this time of year is giving businesses and municipalities in the county assistance with application process for the annual Capital Region Economic Development Council grant awards. The state doles out millions statewide through its Consolidated Funding by New York State program. The funding helps many economic development projects in the area—for businesses and municipalities. The applications are competitive, so interested parties must submit compelling information. In the first eight rounds of the state money competition, New York has given out $6.1 billion to 10 regions. The Capital Region, that includes Warren and Washington counties, has received $588.9 million for 813 projects over the past eight years. Last year, the counties raked in about $9.8 million.
CEG Official: Area Counties Seeing Good Economic Growth Compared To Other Areas
By Greg Hitchcock
Warren and Washington counties are benefiting from the economic growth in the region spearheaded by Saratoga County. The growth is continuing in 2019, according to the Center for Economic Growth.
According to data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Department of Commerce, 17 counties in New York state had employment gains from June 2017 to June 2018 with Saratoga County having the largest gain up 2.7 percent.
“All three counties have grown their private sector over the last five years with GlobalFoundries kicking off this growth,” said Andrew Kennedy, president and chief executive officer of the Center for Economic Growth, an economic and business development agency serving as a primary point of contact for businesses interested in growing in or moving to the Capital Region.
CEG Engages Itself With Local Agencies To Promote North Country Economic Growth
By Maureen Werther
As the economic climate in Warren and Washington counties continues to heat up, more businesses are being attracted to the area’s diverse commercial sector. The Center for Economic Growth (CEG) is one of several entities working hard to make things happen.
CEG is one of several organizations working with already established businesses to support them as they grow. They market the area to potential new companies whose technologies, services and manufacturing will be a good fit with the existing businesses.
The $10 million revitalization initiative awarded to the city of Glens Falls last year has helped to spur continued growth in the region. More people are moving to the two counties seeking an enhanced quality of life, sustainable employment and access to good education and health care.
Washington County Local Development Corp. Loan Program Helps Businesses Start, Expand
By Jennifer Farnsworth
Washington County Local Development Corp. (WCLDC) has been hard at work, providing support and resources for those looking to do business in the North Country.
Deanna Derway, president and executive director of WCLDC, said their programs provide a path to success, creating an environment for an economic outlook that will continue to thrive.
“We have a very successful and diverse loan portfolio that we are continually expanding,” said Derway.
For over 30 years WCLDC, a nonprofit corporation, has administered the county’s economic development programs. The goal of the organization is to create and retain employment, strengthen the economy, and increase the value of real property.
EDC Lauds Broadband Expansion Grants As ‘Key Economic Development Initiative’
New York state has awarded $43.6 million in New NY Broadband Program Round III grants in the region, including numerous awards in Warren and Washington counties.
The awards will drive more than $71 million of public-private broadband investment and provide 19,774 homes and other locations in the region with access to high-speed internet, state officials said.
EDC Warren County President Ed Bartholomew—who considers broadband a key economic development initiative—lauded the efforts of Gov. Andrew Cuomo and other representatives in promoting and supporting the region’s goal in achieving access to internet download speeds of at least 100 megabits per second and 25 megabits per second in the most rural and remote areas.
“This award will significantly improve the internet speed and accessibility for businesses, residents, children’s school homework and tourism who desire to extend their vacation time and presently are unable to do so as a result of lack of connectivity,” Bartholomew said.