SUNY Empire State College’s location at 113 West Ave., Saratoga Springs, has been designated as an official national testing center for The Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES) and DSST Standardized Exams.

U.S. Navy Commander Judd Krier, commanding officer of the Naval Nuclear Power Training Unit (NPTU) in Ballston Spa, and Merodie A. Hancock, president of SUNY Empire, cut a ceremonial ribbon to mark the occasion.

Krier said that staff at NTPU researched how to provide better opportunities for the sailors to take DANTES and DSST exams and contacted SUNY Empire State College’s Office of Veteran and Military Education, which led to the college’s designation as a national testing center.

SUNY Empire State College already accepts college credit for successful completion of DANTES and DSST Standardized Exams.

Over $40,000 was raised for the Veterans & Community Housing Coalition at its second annual Veterans Ball at the Hall of Springs in November.

Some 400 people attended to support of the mission of helping  local veterans and their families with affordable housing and services while they transition to independent living.

A highlight of the evening was a special tribute to area WWII veterans who were honored and presented with quilts made by Loving Hands in All Seasons.

The list of honored WWII veterans included Walter Blair, U.S. Army 1943-1945; Marion Buchanan, Women’s Army Air Corps, 1943-1948; Stephen Dennis, U.S. Navy 1942-1945; David Forbert, U.S. Navy, 1943-1946; John Harrigan, U.S.  Army, 1942 -1945; Ralph Nicolson, U.S.  Army, 1943-1945; Corodon Norton II, Army Air Corps, 1942-1945; Dan Riley, U.S. Navy, 1943-1946; Mario Trieste, U.S.  Navy, WWII; Thomas Woods, U.S.  Army, 1943-1945.

By Liz Witbeck

Doray Motel at 4 Fort George Road in Lake George has plans to expand and anticipates breaking ground on the project in the spring.

Mohammad and Mussarat Tariq purchased the property in 2011. The husband and wife team have experienced success through the years.

“I felt that after running this motel that there is a huge need to expand. Each year is getting better and better with sales,” he said.

Currently, Doray Motel has 15 rooms on the premises. The expansion would be comprised of a separate two-story building situated behind the motel that would provide 32 additional rooms.

The project also includes an outdoor swimming pool.

By Maureen Werther

Soon after Glens Falls was awarded $10 million as part of the state’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI), city officials, business owners and members of the community went to work identifying and compiling its DRI plan, which included a priority listing of downtown projects.

The final plan, approved in February, is about to get underway.

According to Ed Bartholomew, president of EDC Warren County, his organization and the city have been working closely with Empire State Development, the Department of State, and the state Division of Housing and Community Renewal to prepare key components of the various approved projects.

Bartholomew, Initiative co-chairmen Omar Usmani, Dan Hall and others have met with state officials to review protocols and the procurement process for implementing the projects that have been identified.

EDC and city representatives also met with the organizations involved in the DRI projects to develop procedures and plans for moving forward, Bartholomew said. There is a lot of paperwork to manage and officials are being diligent to closely follow proper procedures.

The initial phase of the DRI will include $600,000 going toward façade improvements, developing a program to assist with local retailers, nonprofits, the Adirondack Film Festival,  the Adirondack Film Commission, and capital project improvements for the Charles R. Wood Theater.

The funding is structured as a loan to businesses, who—if they meet certain criteria, such as creating jobs—would not have to repay the loan.

By Maureen Werther

Warren County is “successfully growing its tourism economy,” according to Joanne Conley, director of the county’s Tourism Department.

In the last two years, the department completed what she called a “much-needed overhaul,” including increased social media engagement and digital campaigns directed toward a diverse audience.

Conley said that her department has transformed at least six niche-focused print publications into one consolidated and content-rich, year-round travel guide.

She said that her first order of business when she took over the department two years ago was to “find our famous.” She said every vacation destination has something that sets it apart from other locations. She and her staff brainstormed to find a marketing message that would be a cornerstone for years to come.

“The end result was the revelation that the Lake George area is ‘the original vacation,’” said Conley.

“This is the destination that inspired mid-1800s city dwellers to travel by train to the lakes and mountains. This is a branding gold mine that eluded the department for more than 80 years and is the perfect platform for year-round promotion,” said Conley.

This year, Conley’s department launched a responsive, mobile-first website with search engine optimization. The site offers more than just listings. It is based on content people are actively searching for. As a result, Conley said that user sessions in the first five months totaled more than all of 2016. She added that outbound clicks to business partners totaled 205,000. A “book now” button facilitates direct booking with properties that have online booking capabilities.

Warren and Washington counties will get a total of about $9.1 million in grants from New York state to support four essential drinking water and wastewater infrastructure projects.

The funding is part of nearly $44 million allocated by the state in grants to support 24 different projects in the Capital Region. These grants are part of a $255 million statewide investment, funded through New York’s Water Infrastructure Improvement Act, as well as the new Intermunicipal Water Infrastructure Grants Program.

In Warren County, the town of Hague will get a $99,000 grant for its water infrastructure project. The cost estimate is $394,000. The village of Lake George will receive a $4.3 million grant that will support a project estimated at $17.1 million.

In Washington County, the county’s Sewer District 2 will get grants for two projects. One grant is $3.7 million toward the project cost of $14.8 million. The district will get another $976,000 grant toward a cost of $3.9 million.

“This unprecedented investment continues New York’s commitment to helping municipalities develop necessary infrastructure to protect our water resources,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo said. “These investments are crucial to supporting the health and safety of our communities, and help lay the foundation for future growth and prosperity in every corner of this great state.”