NY State of Health, the state’s official health plan Marketplace has a variety of health insurance options available to New Yorkers in 2020.
Open Enrollment for coverage in a 2020 Qualified Health Plan started Nov. 1 and will continue through Jan. 31. New York’s enrollment window is twice as long as the federal marketplace, giving consumers more time to shop for the best coverage for themselves and their families.
“Marketplace enrollment is at its highest point ever with more than 4.8 million New Yorkers enrolled in comprehensive health insurance coverage, but there’s still more work to be done,” said NY State of Health Executive Director Donna Frescatore. “As we enter our seventh year, New Yorkers will once again have a broad choice of affordable and quality health plan options in every corner of the state, and our free in-person assistors are ready to help consumers shop for the most affordable plan option.”
Business Report: Now Hear This!
By michael cruz
Sam Walton (Walmart founder) famously said “If you don’t listen to your customers, someone else will.” Too often we speak with customers without the intent to hear. We want to ‘tell’. The best sales people ask questions and then shut up. It is not by accident that listen and silent have the same letters.
Often business owners ask me what I think of an idea for a new product. My advice is always the same. ASK your customers. They can validate your idea. Or not. We don’t often ask questions that we do not want to hear the answer to. Or more accurately, hear what we consider to be the wrong answer. Listening is the core or learning. We never learn when we are talking.
Empire State College Raising Funds To Assist Students In The Armed Forces
SUNY Empire State College has launched a $1 million fundraising campaign to enhance financial aid and degree completion support for the college’s students serving on active duty with the U.S. Armed Forces, veterans, and their families. This is the largest campaign to support military-aligned students in the college’s history, officials said.
SUNY Empire serves the largest population of veterans in the SUNY system, with more than 1,300 military-aligned and veteran students and their family members currently enrolled.
“I want to personally thank the members of our college community for spearheading this important effort,” said SUNY Empire State College President Jim Malatras. “I am proud that we are launching this campaign to break down any and all barriers our military community faces toward degree completion.”
Berkshire Bank, Adirondack Trust, Saratoga National Earn SBA Awards For Lending
Small Business Association Syracuse District Director Bernard J. Paprocki released in October the fiscal year 2019 lending report, with 501 7(a) and 504 loan approvals valued at $172.9 million across the 34-county Syracuse district.
Paprocki said Berkshire Bank, The Adirondack Trust Co. and Saratoga National Bank & Trust Co. had the highest number of 7(a) approvals in their respective categories based on asset size.
“Small businesses in Upstate New York are accessing the affordable capital they need to start and expand with SBA-backed loans,” said Paprocki.
According to the SBA, Berkshire Bank was the top Capital Region large commercial lender, with 24 loans at a value of $11.1 million.
Leadership ADK Launches Scholarship Plan To Increase Skilled Trade Workers
The ARCC Leadership Adirondack Class of 2019-20 has partnered with WSWHE BOCES and the Employment Training for Adults (ETA) program to provide a scholarship program to help increase the number of skilled trade workers in the region.
Officials said approximately 90 percent of those interested in learning a skilled trade through the BOCES ETA program need financial assistance and many do not qualify for state or federal aid.
The ARCC Leadership Adirondack Scholarship is intended to help people 18 years or older to start or extend their careers within the BOCES Skilled Trades curriculum. The scholarship will provide financial assistance to eligible students in the ARCC’s service area who wish to enroll in the manufacturing, construction or CDL programs.
Business Briefs: November 2019
The Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce and Premier Plus Travel are coordinating a special trip to Greece in 2020.
The public is invited to an informational event during which they can learn about the trip.
The trip is open to anybody and is not limited to Chamber members.
The open house will take place on Thursday, Nov. 14, at the Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce office, 2176 Route 9 in Lake George. Doors open at 5 p.m. The presentation will take place at 5:30 p.m.
SPAC Will Have New Two-Tier Concession Building In 2020 As Part Of Renovations
Courtesy NYS Office of Parks and Recreation
Construction is underway on a $9.5 million renovation project at Saratoga Performing Arts Center in Saratoga Spa State Park.
Officials said the work will improve visitor services and add a four-season event space.
The project is supported by $8 million in private funding from Live Nation and Saratoga Performing Arts Center. New York state is providing up to $1.5 million in grants from Empire State Development and State Parks, awarded through the governor’s Regional Economic Development Council initiative.
As part of this project, SPAC will undergo a complete replacement and upgrade of the existing concessions and restroom facilities. Two new concessions buildings will replace the existing tent structures, which have lacked proper security, infrastructure and storage space, officials said.
Popular Promos Return, New Ones Added For The Upcoming Adirondack Thunder Season
Courtesy Adirondack Thunder
The Adirondack Thunder, ECHL affiliate of the New Jersey Devils, has many promotional events scheduled for the 2019-20 season in progress, with homes games at Cool Insuring Arena in Glens Falls..
The Thunder has fan-favorite theme nights and will host many other new theme nights. Fans will see popular themes return such as Military Appreciation Night, Marvel Comics Day, Nickelodeon Night, Stick it to Cancer Weekend, Law Enforcement Night, Fan Appreciation Night and more.
‘North Country’ Businesses Are Set To Move Headquarters To Queensbury
By Christine Graf
North Country Facilities Management and North Country Snow and Ice Management will be relocating their headquarters from 207 Maple Street in Glens Falls to 415 Big Bay Road in Queensbury.
The company hopes to receive its certificate of occupancy by mid-September.
According to chief executive officer Michael Merrill, North Country has outgrown its Glens Falls location and store equipment at seven different locations throughout the area. The company is also in need of a location that provides easier access to the Northway.
“We need more day-to-day operation space and a better location. That’s what’s bringing us to Big Bay Road,” he said. “We will be right near an exit (Northway Exit 18). Right now, our days start with 10 to 20 crews fighting for 20 to 30 minutes to get to an exit.”
North Country will be leasing the 1.72-acre property with the option to buy. It includes a vacant, 5,500-square-foot warehouse that will be used for offices, a repair shop and equipment storage.
According to Merrill, the company plans to renovate and expand the existing warehouse. The current building is not large enough to meet current or future needs.
Lake George Has Strong Summer Season, Eyes Getting More Year-Round Business
Courtesy Lake George Chamber of Commerce
By Rachel Phillips
For the businesses in Warren County, the end of summer sometimes means business slowing, or even coming to a full stop as they close up shop until next year.
Tourism in the Adirondacks is a $1.5 billion industry, which supports over 21,000 jobs, officials say. Of that sum, Warren County takes in 42 percent of the region’s tourism sales.
Officials report the 2019 summer tourist season was strong for local businesses.
Data collected from Smith Travel Research reports that Warren County’s occupancy was up to 78.63 percent in July, and 81.6 percent in August, an increase of 4.6 percent and 1.6 percent, respectively.
The report is compiled from the data offered by participating hotels in the area. In addition to the percentage of available rooms booked during each month, it also follows the prices of rooms throughout the seasons. For example, the average rate of a hotel room in August was around $203, and in February it was only $128. While only one source of data, the report can help locals and business owners to understand the area’s economic patterns.
According to Gina Mintzer, executive director of the Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce, there were a number of factors that played into the area’s successful summer season. In addition to new large-brand hotels in the area, Mintzer said the new Adirondacks welcome center, located between Northway exits 17 and 18, helped increase business.