New York state, along with 14 states and the District of Columbia, plans to develop an action plan to ramp up electrification of buses and trucks.
In a joint memorandum of understanding issued in July, the state committed to work collaboratively to accelerate the market for electric medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, including large pickup trucks and vans, delivery trucks, box trucks, school and transit buses and long-haul delivery trucks.
The goal of the MOU is to ensure that 100 percent of all new medium- and heavy-duty vehicle sales be zero emission vehicles by 2050 with an interim target of 30 percent zero-emission vehicle sales in these categories of vehicles by 2030. The announcement supports the state’s nation-leading targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions under the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.
Rasp Inc. In Moreau Eyes Expansion Of Its Warehouse Space At Plant On Route 9
By Jennifer Farnsworth
RASP Inc. is expanding their manufacturing space at the company’s 27,000-square-foot plant off Route 9 in Moreau.
The company has selected the JAG Group to design and construct the project. According to Ronald Richards, CEO of Rasp, the expansion comes in response to high demand from manufacturers.
Richards said the company is hoping to break ground at the end of August. The expansion has been scaled back. The company is now looking at a budget of between $150,000 and $200,000 for the project.
He said there are three reasons for the expansion; employee safety, the immediate need for more manufacturing space and a strong year in sales.
SUNY Adirondack To Offer Google IT Support Professional Certificate This Fall
Courtesy SUNY Adirondack
People interested in a career in IT can register for the Google IT support professional certificate program available for the first time at SUNY Adirondack this fall.
The five-course certificate program developed by Google includes an innovative curriculum designed to prepare attendees for an entry-level role in IT support and for additional industry certifications, college officials said. A job in IT can mean in-person or remote help desk work in a small business or at a global company like Google.
No lT experience is needed. Participants should have an interest in the IT field and a willingness to do the work necessary to succeed.
Italian Restaurant, ‘Saluti,’ Opens On Canada Street In Lake George After COVID Delay
Courtesy Saluti
By Jill Nagy
Saluti, a new Italian restaurant at 25 Canada St. in Lake George, got off to a rocky start. They opened in February but had to close down in March because of the COVID pandemic. Then they re-opened after Memorial Day.
According to co-owner Jimmy Hartwyk, the biggest problem now is staffing because of the federal government cut-off of the usual stream of temporary workers from overseas.
But, “Things are going really well for us,” Hartwyk said, “I am pleasantly surprised.”
“It is not the year we thought we would have,” he added.
Requirements for social distancing limit capacity and, in general, “throws a wrench into our business plan.” For example, they are not yet serving lunch. On the plus side, “Our landlord has been very gracious” and, so far, “we are very lucky,” he said.
Business Briefs: August Brief
GlensFalls.com is celebrating celebrates 10 years in business this summer. The website is an online destination guide to the Glens Falls region.
Mannix Marketing, a digital agency headquartered in Glens Falls, purchased it in 2010 to fulfil its mission of creating success for local businesses and the community.
Mannix said in the past quarter, the site saw an increase year-over-year of 46 percent more views of advertiser listings and 43 percent more clicks to learn about those advertisers.
Sara Mannix, the CEO of Mannix Marketing, said although 50 percent of site visitors are from the Glens Falls region (Glens Falls, South Glens Falls, Queensbury, Lake George, Greenwich and Bolton Landing), the other half comes from places like Saratoga, Albany, Schenectady, Troy, Colonie, Granville, East Glenville, the northern Adirondacks and as far as New York City, Massachusetts, Vermont and New Jersey.
Exhibit Of Famous Pinball Machines Is Ongoing At Universal Preservation Hall
Jim Gilbert
Universal Preservation Hall opened the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame exhibit Part of the Machine: Rock & Pinball on July 26 for a two-month run.
The interactive exhibit showcases rock-themed, playable pinball machines and combines them with merchandise and artifacts to explore the artistic portrayal of artists and bands.
Part of the Machine: Rock & Pinball is presented at UPH by Adirondack Trust Co. UPH, a partner in the Proctors Collaborative, is selling tickets for 90-minute blocks throughout the run.
Tickets will be available for admittance at 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. each day and hours are extended to include 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. admittance on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
The event concludes on Saturday, Sept. 26. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for students and are available at universalpreservationhall.org.
SUNY ADK Degree Technical Trades Management Help People Open Businesses
Courtesy SUNY Adirondack
SUNY Adirondack announced a new degree program, Journeyworker: Technical Trades Management, for its Fall 2020 semester.
The associate of occupational studies (AOS) degree is geared toward journeyworkers interested in taking on a management role or opening their own businesses.
“We’re excited to offer this opportunity to trained, skilled workers throughout the nation,” said Kristine D. Duffy, president of SUNY Adirondack. “This degree provides a strong foundation in the best business and management practices to round out their invaluable hands-on expertise.”
Common Roots Brewing Co., At The End Of A Challenging Road, Is Ready For The Future
Courtesy V&H Construction
By Andrea Harwood Palmer
Common Roots Brewing Co. is open at its new, expanded facility at 58 Saratoga Ave. in South Glens Falls.
The 15,000-square-foot facility is on the site of the company’s original brew house that was gutted by fire in March 2019. It is open seven days a week from noon to 8 p.m. for to-go sales only from the new taproom.
It will open with beer-to-go service and outdoor on-premise seating, as allowed by guidelines imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
A gastro pub-style menu will be rolled out with food to go.
Phinney Design Group in Saratoga Springs designed the structure. V&H Construction of Fort Edward built it.
Christian Weber founded the company with his father, Burt Weber, in 2014.
“We understand it’s a destination spot for a lot of people,” said Weber. “The experience of coming to Common Roots has always been really important to us. Right now, the only thing more important than the experienced and the culture, is safety. Safety is our number-one priority so our staff and customers have a safe and comfortable experience.”
The facility has a restaurant with a state-of-the-art kitchen and wood-fired pizza oven, in addition to an expanded tap-room, conference room for events, four Tesla charging stations outside, an expanded biergarten with two fire pits.
With the re-opening, Common Roots has brought on new professional positions to the team. Dan Biddiscombe, former general manager of Downtown Social, joins the management team. Also added were Chris Grasso and Rich Wilson, both formerly of City Beer Hall, and Greg Hutchinson, formerly of Three Penny Taproom.
Aviation Mall Reopens After Green Light From State; Many Safety Guidelines Are In Place
Courtesy Aviation Mall
In accordance with the announcement made last week by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Aviation Mall will opened July 10 for on-property retail, dining and eligible entertainment following the official New York Phase Four guidance.
As part of its re-opening, Aviation Mall introduced significant changes to its safety and sanitizing policies and procedures, along with Healthy Shopper Guidelines with Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommendations everyone must follow prior to entering the property, mall officials said.
Aviation Mall will operate under modified hours of operation, Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Texas Company’s Plan To Buy Former GE Property In Fort Edward Falls To COVID-19
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.