Glens Falls Business Journal

CEG: Warren And Washington Counties Gained Population During The Pandemic

April 18, 2022

The Capital Region continued to grow through the pandemic, making it one of only two economic development regions in the state to see total population gains between July 1, 2020, and July 1, 2021.

Even more, the eight-county region had New York’s greatest number of annual net domestic movers during that period, according to a Center for Economic Growth analysis of new U.S. Census Bureau estimates.

CEG said Warren County ranked 12th for annual net domestic movers, the agency said.

“We are a million-strong region and getting bigger. The Center for Economic Growth launched our CapNY talent attraction campaign in April 2021,” said CEG President and CEO Mark Eagan. “We sensed that if we could raise awareness about all the opportunities and lifestyle in the Capital Region, then more people would want to come here to work and live. We were onto something, and these Census Bureau population estimates show that.

“The GoCapNY.com website is attracting much traffic, especially from the New York City and Boston areas, and we will be launching new initiatives to engage and connect with interns this summer.”

CEG said that between July 1, 2020, and July 1, 2021, the eight-county region’s population grew by 1,212, or 0.1 percent, to 1,106,274. The only other Regional Economic Development Council region to see population growth was the Hudson Valley, which picked up 3,032 people, or .01 percent. The statewide population declined by -1.6 percent. The five-county Albany-Schenectady-Troy metropolitan statistical area (MSA) also saw a 0.1 percent population gain to 918,259.

Baker Presented With Annual Juckett Award At Adirondack Regional Chamber Dinner

April 18, 2022

Thomas Murphy, left, presents the annual Juckett Award to Carl T. Baker.
Andy Camp

The Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce (ARCC) celebrated the community contributions of attorney Carl T. Baker, of FitzGerald Morris Baker Firth P.C., who received the 33rd Annual J. Walter Juckett Community Service Award on April 1.

Baker was presented the award at the ARCC Annual Dinner at The Sagamore Resort in Bolton Landing.

“I am truly honored to receive this award,” said Baker. “Since Sandy and I moved here to live, work and raise our family, we have never thought of being anywhere else. The people, the community, the area have always made our lives richer. We are forever grateful to the good fortune that brought us here.”

Thomas Murphy, president of Glens Falls National Bank/Arrow Financial Corp. presented the award.

“I was very proud to nominate Carl Baker for the 33rd Annual J. Walter Juckett Community Service Award, and to be able to present it to him at the ARCC award dinner. Carl makes our community a better place to live and work and he is most deserving of this recognition for his lifetime of community service,” said Murphy.

The ARCC was joined by almost 300 business and community members in celebrating Baker’s accomplishments, as well as reflecting on how far the community has come over the last year.

“Carl Baker exudes all that the J. Walter Juckett award stands for. Carl’s passion, commitment, and leadership in our region is second to none. The ARCC is blessed to bestow this lifetime achievement award to Carl,” said ARCC President Michael Bittel.

Personnel Briefs: April 2022

April 18, 2022

Michael Spaulding of Queensbury has joined the NBT Insurance Agency as vice president of retail-personal insurance.

Spaulding is a member of the NBT Insurance leadership team and will lead the expansion of the Agency’s Retail-Personal Insurance Division. He brings more than 25 years of experience to his new position, including leadership positions in sales, underwriting and operations.

He comes to NBT Insurance from Travelers Insurance Companies where he most recently served as Eastern New York state regional sales director.

The vice president of retail-personal insurance is a new position at the agency, intended to drive growth in our current and expanding footprint, the company said.

Spaulding is part of the expanding team of insurance professionals based at NBT Bank’s Saratoga Springs location.

Currently a board member of Big Brother Big Sisters of the Southern Adirondacks, Spaulding previously volunteered as a youth sports coach in the Queensbury area.

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Morgan Stanley Wealth Management announced that Kathleen Grasmeder, a Managing director, portfolio management director, financial advisor in the firm’s Glens Falls Wealth Management office, has been named to Forbes Magazine’s list of Top Women Wealth Advisors and Top Women Wealth Advisors Best-In-State for 2022, listed on forbes.com.

Forbes’ “Top Women Wealth Advisors” and “Top Women Wealth Advisors Best-In-State” is a select group of individuals who have a minimum of seven years of industry experience. The ranking, developed by Forbes’ partner SHOOK Research, is based on an algorithm of qualitative and quantitative data, rating thousands of wealth advisors and weighing factors like revenue trends, AUM, compliance records, industry experience and best practices learned through telephone and in-person interviews.

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Mint, A New Restaurant in Glens Falls, Specializes In Fresh Farm-To Table Dishes

April 18, 2022

Mint co-owners Katriel Houlihan, left, and her mother, Johanna von Geldern, right, are joined inside the restaurant by general manager Brandi Michal.
Paul Post

By Paul Post

A new Glens Falls restaurant is specializing in farm-to-table dishes featuring fresh food sourced from throughout the region.

Johanna von Geldern and her daughters, Katriel and Cagney Houlihan, welcomed their first patrons to Mint, at 80 Warren St., on April 8. She previously owned Sweet Beet Bistro in Greenwich, which closed in March 2020 when COVID-19 hit.

Her focus on serving the highest quality, fresh food remains unchanged.

“With COVID, it just kind of re-emphasized the importance of healthy eating and knowing where food comes from,” von Geldern said. “We became part of the food revolution, reducing carbon footprint, and teaching people about ingredients we were learning about, too.”

“It kind of evolved organically because we’re surrounded by so many farms and artisans,” she said. “We saw this abundance of beautiful food around us.”

The eatery is housed in the former Mailings Made Easy building, owned by Glens Falls developer Peter Hoffman. Its elegant atmosphere reflects the owners’ commitment to providing a rewarding experience for each guest.

Vested Veteran Grill In Corinth Gives Some Of Its Proceeds To Help Veterans With PTSD

April 18, 2022April 19, 2022

Ellie Stultz is the front end manager at Vested Veteran Grill in Corinth. One-tenth of the profits from the catering business are donated to an organization that assists veterans with PTSD.

Updated business name correction – 4/19/22

by jill nagy

The Vested Veteran Grill at 126 Maple St. in Corinth honors the owners’ military service and helps other veterans and active duty service members.

The grill has been open since last June and was preceded by a catering operation, still active, that started in April 2018.

Allen Lapelle and his wife, Kendie, and a staff of 10 operate the grill and catering service. Other partners are Jennelle Hoffman, Tyler Kirchoff—who is also the building landlord—and Jason Shippe.

One-tenth of the profits from the catering business are donated to an organization that assists veterans with PTSD.

Lapelle said he is “big on community.” He was especially pleased to host the Corinth High School girls’ basketball team when they celebrated winning the Adirondack League championship. In another bow to the community, the Grill serves locally roasted Engine 3 Coffee.

Lapelle was born and raised in the area. He spent five years in the U.S. Air Force, until 2014. Straight out of the military he took a job cooking. Then, he decided to learn more and signed on for programs at BOCES and the Culinary Institute. He served internships at Yaddo, in Saratoga Springs, and at a restaurant in New Orleans.

Bureau Of Labor Statistics: Hiring Was Up In March; Hospitality Sector, Others Saw Gains

April 18, 2022

Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 431,000 in March, and the unemployment rate declined to 3.6 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on April 1.

According to the report, notable job gains continued in leisure and hospitality, professional and business services, retail trade, and manufacturing.

The Bureau said the unemployment rate declined by 0.2 percentage point to 3.6 percent in March, and the number of unemployed persons decreased by 318,000 to 6.0 million.

Among the major worker groups, the unemployment rate for adult women (3.3 percent) declined in March.

Among the unemployed, the number of permanent job losers decreased by 191,000 to 1.4 million in March and is little different from its February 2020 level of 1.3 million, the report said.

The number of persons on temporary layoff was little changed over the month at 787,000 and has essentially returned to its February 2020 level. The number of job leavers—unemployed persons who quit or voluntarily left their previous job and began looking for new employment—fell by 176,000 to 787,000 in March.

In March, the number of long-term unemployed (those jobless for 27 weeks or more) decreased by 274,000 to 1.4 million. This measure is 307,000 higher than in February 2020. The long-term unemployed accounted for 23.9 percent of all unemployed persons in March, the Bureau said.

As Business Grows, ‘Chimney Heroes’ Owner Builds His Own Training Facility

April 18, 2022April 18, 2022

Jamie Wallace, right, owner of Chimney Heroes, is inside his new training facility for employees in Ballston Spa with installers Michael Wager, on the ladder, and Tyler Delsignore.

Chimney Heroes, a chimney services company based in Ballston Spa, has been experiencing a series of growth spurts over the past several years, according to president Jamie Wallace.

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed how people live in their homes. In turn, the home services industry has experienced a lot of record-breaking growth, he said. The latest iteration of Chimney Heroes’ growth trajectory is the completion of a 3,000-square-foot training facility and a new, larger warehouse.

Chimney Heroes provides chimney inspections, sweeping, repair, masonry work and installation of gas and wood fireplaces. Wallace said the secret to the company’s growth and strength is his commitment to education.

All company technicians experience continuing education for excellence training, both internally and externally in an ongoing fashion. The construction of a dedicated training facility is the physical manifestation of years of investment in staff education and training.

“We have a manager on staff whose sole responsibility is training technicians in the field,” said Wallace. “Our company’s core values include professionalism and leadership development and my promise to my team is that I will provide everything they need to succeed and thrive in the chimney care business.

“We have a modern-day apprenticeship to tradesperson program, and we’re always looking to meet new serious candidates who’d like to study and work with us.”

Restaurateurs Can Meet With Local Food Producers At ‘Taste NY’ Event On April 28

April 18, 2022

The Taste NY business-to-business expo event is intended to help farmers and agricultural producers in the Adirondack region and New York state.
Courtesy Taste NY

Local restaurants, wholesalers, and other businesses looking to connect with local food and beverage producers will have a chance to meet face-to-face at the Taste NY Producer Showcase this month.

The Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce and Taste NY will present the showcase on Thursday, April 28, at SUNY Adirondack. It will take place in the Northwest Bay Conference Center at Adirondack Hall, 640 Bay Road in Queensbury.

This business-to-business expo event is intended to help farmers and agricultural producers in the Adirondack region and New York State grow their businesses and encourage hotels, restaurants, bars, retail locations, and institutions to purchase local products. In addition to the expo, businesses can also take part in educational workshops and a networking breakfast.

This showcase will be the third business-to-business food show organized by the Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce. The Adirondack Region Food and Farms Business Expo was held at SUNY Adirondack in December 2019 followed by a first-of-its- kind Virtual Taste NY Producer Showcase in October 2020 which featured 60 producers in a fast-pitch virtual environment.

The virtual format was a modification made to the event in response to the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are pleased to return to the in-person format this spring with a showcase that offers 50 New York State producers an opportunity to connect with potential wholesale buyers and attendees from the Adirondack region,” said Gina Mintzer, Chamber executive director.

SBA Will Provide More Deferment Time For COVID Disaster Relief Loans Repayment

April 18, 2022

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has been directed to provide additional deferment of principal and interest payments for existing COVID Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program borrowers.

The extended deferment period—30 months deferment from inception on all approved COVID EIDL loans—will provide additional flexibility to small business owners impacted by the pandemic, especially those in hard-hit sectors managing disruption with recent variants, as well as recent supply chain and inflation challenges amid a growing economic recovery.

Since its inception, the COVID EIDL program, a federal disaster relief loan, has allocated more than $351 billion in relief aid to 3.9 million borrowers, including to the smallest of small businesses from historically underserved, disadvantaged communities, according to the SBA.

“Though our small business owners continue to power a historic economic recovery under the Biden-Harris Administration, we must continue to do everything in our power to meet our small businesses where they are with resources to ensure they can recover and thrive,” said SBA Administrator Isabel Guzman. “This extended principal and interest deferment will provide financial relief to millions of small business owners—particularly those hardest-hit by the pandemic and related marketplace challenges – so they can continue to pivot, adapt, and grow.”

The deferment extension is effective for all COVID-EIDL Loans approved in calendar years 2020, 2021, and 2022. Loans now have a total deferment of 30 months from the date of the Note. Interest will continue to accrue on the loans during the deferment.

‘Finders Keepers’ Consignment Shop Owner Opens A Second Store In Queensbury Plaza

April 18, 2022

Kyleen Wade is the owner of Finders Keepers consignment shop. After 19 years in Glens Falls, she opened a second store in mid-March in the Queensbury Plaza on Upper Glen Street.

By Jill Nagy

Finders Keepers, Kyleen Wade’s second hand shop, sells clothing and “anything that a woman surrounds herself with to look beautiful,” she says.

After 19 years in Glens Falls, she opened a second store in mid-March in the Queensbury Plaza on Upper Glen Street.

Wade sells clothing, jewelry, mirrors, purses, shoes, and other objects, most of it on consignment. She also offers “a little bit of furniture, but it’s hard to keep in the store.”

Recently, she added men’s clothing to her stock. From time to time, she gets antiques to sell.

She said “people are finding me and re-finding me,” as old customers return and new ones arrive. Business “is great. It’s wonderful. It’s everything I could have dreamed of.”

The new store is about 4,500 square feet, considerably bigger than the tiny shop she began with in Glens Falls. At the time, she was living in Vermont and she learned of the availability of a turnkey business on Glen Street in Glens Falls selling “used stuff.” She bought the business, added a lot of product and “it was all gone in a week.”

Later, she moved to the former Shirt Factory on Broad Street and began advertising for merchandise to sell on consignment. She advertised it as an opportunity to recycle and “find homes for the wayward.”