Glens Falls Business Journal

Texas Company’s Plan To Buy Former GE Property In Fort Edward Falls To COVID-19

July 16, 2020July 16, 2020

WL Plastics in Fort Worth was closing in on the purchase of this former GE property.

By Christine Graf
Fort Worth-based WL Plastics, a subsidiary of Carson, Calif.-based Ineos Olefins & Polymers USA, has abandoned plans to acquire more than 25-acres of property at the former General Electric dewatering site in Fort Edward.
GE ceased operations there in 2015 after spending 8 years and approximately $1.7 billion to dredge PCB-tainted sediment from the Hudson River.
WL Plastics, one of North America’s largest manufacturers of high density polyethylene pipe, first expressed interest in the property two years ago. It would have been their ninth location.
In December 2019, the Warren-Washington County Industrial Development Agency (IDA) voted unanimously to offer the company approximately $2 million in incentives. The package included up to $871,500 in sales tax incentives and $1.19 million in property tax breaks. WL Plastics planned to invest $17 million in the property and create 50 well-paying jobs.
According to a written statement released by the company, their plans to build a new plant in Fort Edward were no longer “economically viable” a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The company relies heavily on the oil and gas industries which have slowed considerably in recent months due to COVID-related industrial declines and travel restrictions.
Dave O’Brien, chairman of the IDA, said he was expecting WL Plastics to close on the property in the coming weeks. No one at the IDA was aware the deal was in jeopardy.

Report: Warren County’s Concentration Of Medical Supply Jobs Is Highest In The Nation

July 16, 2020July 16, 2020

As the coronavirus pandemic underscores the importance of the domestic manufacturing of medical equipment and supplies, according to Ed Bartholomew, president and CEO of EDC Warren County.
Bartholomew said that U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data is revealing for the first time that Warren County has the nation’s highest concentration of jobs in that industry. According to a Center for Economic Growth (CEG) data analysis, over 1,509 jobs with total annual wages of nearly $93 million.
For over 50 years, Warren County’s medical equipment and supplies manufacturing industry has been making high quality products, earning the area the name Catheter Valley.
Today’s companies in Warren County, such as AngioDynamics, Becton Dickinson (BD) Bard, Delcath Systems and Medline Industries, have kept that tradition alive, Bartholomew said.
BLS recently started disclosing the number of jobs in Warren County’s medical equipment and supplies manufacturing industry. The data shows that in 2019 the county had 1,509 jobs in the industry, resulting in an 18.2 location quotient (LQ). That LQ represented the nation’s highest concentration of jobs in this industry among more than 500 U.S. counties for which full employment data is disclosed, according to CEG.

OxiFresh Carpet Cleaning, Serving Customers Throughout Region, Has A New Owner

July 16, 2020July 16, 2020

Andrew Allen, new owner of OxiFresh Carpet Cleaning, does work from Queensbury to Albany. He is looking for space to house his business in the Saratoga area.
©2020 Saratoga Photographer.com

By Jill Nagy
OxiFresh Carpet Cleaning has a new owner, but he promises customers, “there will be no changes in your relationship with OxiFresh.”
The only difference people will notice, said new owner Andrew Allen, is “when speaking to management you will now be working with me.”
Allen was a technician and then manager with the company for three years. He began in 2017 as a technician. A year later, he was manager of operations.
While he worked his way up, Allen was also a student at SUNY Adirondack where he earned a business degree. He was simultaneously a full-time student and a full-time employee at OxiFresh.
This year, the employer offered to sell the franchise to him and he purchased it.

Bolton Landing Gift Shop, Local, Opens A Second Store On Canada St. In Lake George

July 16, 2020July 16, 2020

People gather at the ribbon cutting ceremony marking the opening of Local on Canada Street in Lake George, which sells a variety of gifts with their logo, a drawing of the lake.
Courtesy Local

By Jennifer Farnsworth
Local, a gift shop in Bolton Landing, has just opened a second gift shop in downtown Lake George.
The Canada Street shop offers all of the sought-after goods they’ve been selling in their Bolton Landing store since 2014.
Co-owners Matt Peterson and Domenick Pfau took part in a ribbon cutting ceremony last month to celebrate the opening.
“For us, we wanted to be more accessible to our customers that live more near the southern end of Lake George. We know as well as anyone that the drive up (state Route) 9N in either summer or winter can be harrowing so we wanted to make it just a little bit easier for those locals,” said Pfau.
He said they felt the time was right to make their mark in Lake George, where they expect to see a lot of foot traffic from both local residents and visitors.
“Lake George Village is a much larger market than Bolton Landing, based on sheer population, and we thought it was time to become an addition to their boardwalk. We’re excited to not be another T-shirt shop in a tourist town, but a lifestyle brand that adds value to the shopping experience and community,” said Pfau.

Despite Pandemic, Lake George Officials Say Early Summer Business Was Strong

July 16, 2020July 16, 2020

Lake George region hospitality businesses reported a banner weekend for bookings and sales for the first official weekend of summer. Many say reservations for the important July 4th holiday weekend are strong as well.
Canada Street in the village of Lake George and Main Street in Bolton Landing were bustling as visitors flocked to the Southern Adirondack region’s lakes and re-awakening tourist attractions for a warm, sunny respite.
“People need a break. They’re eager to get out and enjoy the fantastic weather. They’re coming to Lake George to hike, bike and paddle, to go out in boat, and some people just enjoy sitting on the beach reading under a brilliant blue sky,” said Gina Mintzer, executive director of the Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce.
The Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce reopened the Lake George Village Visitor Center at 1 Beach Road on June 20 for the season with precautions and protocols in place. The center will now be open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
As the Warren County Tourism Department kicked off a new advertising campaign and temperatures soared to 90 degrees, Capital Region day-trippers and overnight guests made their way to America’s first summer playland to have some fun safely.

‘Better Than New Painting’ Business Growth Leads To Plans For A Building In Kingsbury

July 16, 2020July 16, 2020

Better Than New Painting will be moving into a new building in Kingsbury.
Courtesy Better Than New Painting

By Andrea Harwood Palmer
Better Than New Painting is expanding and relocating to Kingsbury.
The painting company is currently located at 15 Boulevard in Queensbury.
Anthony Muscatello has owned the business since 2006.
Hilltop Construction will be building the 4,750-square-foot, metal facility. The building will include two offices, a conference room, restrooms and a large shop. Better Than New does furniture grade finishes and Muscatello plans to add a robotic trim machine to increase productivity and efficiency.
He said the expansion increases revenue generating opportunities. “If you’re not able to do work indoors, it’s a long winter up here.”
“We wanted something new, tailor built for us, without having to retrofit something after it was purchased. Starting from scratch is the best way to get the facility I want. I wanted a state-of-the-art facility that can help increase our efficiency and allow us to grow our labor force,” he said.
Muscatello currently leases the facility in Queensbury, and began looking for a permanent location several years ago when his client load began to outgrow his space.

Business Report: Lake George Is Fun, Safe To Visit

July 16, 2020July 16, 2020

Gina Mintzer, executive director, Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce.

By Gina Mintzer
The Lake George area’s tourism industry is responsible for an estimated 9,100 jobs and an annual economic impact of $629 million. Visitor spending in the region produces millions of dollars in sales tax revenue that offsets local property taxes and supports essential public services.
When the COVID-19 lockdown began, the Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce continued to operate remotely, recognizing the need for strong communication between staff, board of directors, members, partners, and clients.
We quickly reacted, doing our best to monitor rapidly changing information and share that with our community to help them navigate this unprecedented time. During the lockdown we surveyed the business community in an effort to get information on their needs and then advocate on their behalf.
Realizing the potentially devastating effect of COVID-19 to our tourism economy, businesses and government embraced a collaborative spirit.

Grey Ghost Bicycles Inundated With Work As People Take To Cycling During Pandemic

July 16, 2020July 16, 2020

Niles Gagnon, Grey Ghost Bicycles sales manager, is masked for virus safety.
©2020 Saratoga Photographer.com

By Jennifer Farnsworth
Interest in bicycling has grown as a safe alternative for transportation, combating boredom and staying in shape during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Local bike shops, like Grey Ghost Bicycles in Glens Falls and Saratoga Springs, didn’t anticipate what that would mean for them. They have worked tirelessly to keep us with customer demand.
“I never in my wildest dreams could have imagined the spring we had,” said Grey Ghost manager Steve Fairchild.
With an established business in Glens Falls, Grey Ghost opened its second location in the plaza at 60 West Ave. in Saratoga Springs just before the pandemic hit. They were deemed by the state as an essential business, a determination that Fairchild said he thought may bring some challenges.
But he never expected to experience the demand that he saw almost immediately.
“As soon as the weather started to warm up in late March, early April, the demand just skyrocketed. Our inventory was almost immediately cleared out. Many of the bikes we sell are made in China and since most of the manufacturers closed, we couldn’t even order bikes. They just were not being made,” said Fairchild.

GlobalFoundries Buys Land; Eyes Expansion

July 16, 2020July 16, 2020

GlobalFoundries announced it has secured a purchase option agreement for approximately 66 acres of undeveloped land adjacent to what it calls its most advanced manufacturing facility, Fab 8 in Malta near the Luther Forest Technology Campus (LFTC).
The land parcel is located at the southeast end of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) Saratoga Technology + Energy Park (STEP) campus, adjacent to Stonebreak Road Extension, between the Fab 8 facility and Hermes Road.
Exercising the option to purchase the land and commencement of development to expand the company’s Fab 8 facility will be subject to zoning regulations and client demand.

Hospital & Tourism Association Helps Educate Travelers On State Safety Standards

July 16, 2020July 16, 2020

The New York State Hospitality & Tourism Association is trying to use its platform to educate travelers on the new standards set in place by the New York State hospitality industry to make a guests’ stay as safe and comfortable as possible.
Lodging properties in the state are implementing operating guidelines that include enhanced cleaning protocols to protect the wellbeing of guests and employees in response to the pandemic, officials said.
Examples of operating guidelines and best practices set forth by hotels include:
• Increased cleaning and disinfecting of public spaces and communal areas.