By Paul Post

Dave Byrne’s deployment to Iraq and Kuwait gave him a first-hand appreciation for the need to promote energy independence and bolster national security through solar as a renewable resource.

“Without any formal business training or experience, I started working for a Hudson Valley-based solar company as a residential installer and worked my way up from there,” said Byrne, a West Point graduate. “Many years later, I decided to start Renua Energy, as I saw a need for certain customer-centric solutions and I enjoy building from the ground up.”

In 2018, he left his day job and threw himself full time into the fledging venture with just a handful of employees. Today, the South Glens Falls-based business has 14 workers and has successfully designed and permitted 31 community solar projects across upstate New York that offset the production of nearly 6.2 million tons of harmful carbon emissions.

In short, community solar is a large array of solar panels at an offsite location that allows customers to access such power without installing panels on their homes. Developers build and operate the projects, and energy delivery companies like National Grid purchase and distribute credits generated by the projects to participating customers.

By Christine Graf

A local business has plans in the works to further strengthen Glens Falls as vital part of the North Country economic engine.

Business owner and preservationist Elizabeth Miller recently purchased 126 Glen St. for $845,000. A former Saratoga Springs teacher, she is the owner of Doty Machine Works in Fort Edward and Miller Mechanical in Glens Falls. She has already invested millions of dollars to renovate several historic properties in the city including Park Theater and 15 Park St.

Her newest property at 126 Glen St. was built in 1890 and was the former home of Look TV. The 11,500-square-foot building will require a significant investment, and her property development company is working with city officials to apply for funding through Restore New York. The Restore New York Communities Initiative provides municipalities with financial assistance for the revitalization of commercial and residential properties. 

According to Miller’s son and business partner, Ben Miller, operations manager for Park Street Hospitality, “The building needs a lot of work. It needs a similar amount of work to what the building at 15 Park St. has needed. We don’t have firm plans for a full gut and renovation right now. We have a tenant who is interested in renting the ground floor in as-is condition and putting a business in there. 

The Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce (ARCC) will hold its B2B Expo on Wednesday, Oct. 19, from 4-7 p.m. at The Queensbury Hotel, 88 Ridge Street in Glens Falls. 

The showcase event encourages networking within the business community. It features exhibit booths from regional businesses, as well as food samples, drink specials and door prizes.

“The ARCC Business Expo is a favorite event of our members and business community. We are really looking forward to this event, as it’s a great opportunity to showcase our businesses. I would encourage everyone to stop by and discover new businesses and reconnect with old friends,” said Tricia Rogers, ARCC president and CEO.

The business showcase features 80-plus regional businesses on display, with plenty of opportunities for networking. It is free to attend, with fees to exhibit. 

ARCC Members can register to exhibit on the ARCC website at www.adirondackchamber.org/events. 

Visitors are encouraged to bring plenty of business cards, Rogers said.

With a goal of expanding and enhancing services to existing and prospective new businesses and fully capitalizing on opportunities at its Canalside Energy Park in Fort Edward, the board of directors of the Warren & Washington Industrial Development Agency appointed Charles R. “Chuck” Barton as its first chief executive officer. 

The IDA began considering such an appointment earlier this year as interest in its services and the park have been steadily growing and requiring greater levels of staff attention, officials said.  IDA Chairman David O’Brien, town of Hampton supervisor in Washington County, has been serving as de facto CEO for several years in a volunteer capacity. But he and his fellow board members felt that a full-time chief executive could take the organization to new levels of success. 

“The opportunities for the IDA to help retain and expand existing local businesses and help new businesses start or relocate here have never been greater than in today’s economic climate, and we are thrilled that Chuck will lead us into this new era of service to our region,” O’Brien said.

“Chuck’s vast experience in business management, finance, and manufacturing gives him a deep understanding of the challenges faced by companies today and how the IDA can best serve them. Chuck also brings to his new role a strong commitment to community service in general and economic development in particular, as evidenced by his service as a volunteer board member with our IDA and before that with EDC Warren County.”

“Regional cooperation and coordination on economic development are essential to our counties’ long-term success, and I can say from personal experience that Chuck epitomizes that collaborative spirit,” said Jim Siplon, president of EDC Warren County. “It was my pleasure to work with Chuck when he was a board member at EDC, and I look forward to collaborating with him in this exciting new role.”

After a two-year hiatus due to COVID, the 2022 Adirondack Wine & Food Festival returned in June. Organizers said more than 6,800 people attended.

Officials estimated the event had a $4.1 million economic impact on the Greater Lake George Region.

The festival was held Saturday, June 25, and Sunday, June 26, at Charles R. Wood Festival Commons in the Village of Lake George. 

The sixth-annual event sold out with over 4,000 attendees on Saturday, despite a weekend of unusually high temperatures. 

“After two years off due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we weren’t sure what to expect; so we were thrilled when we sold out Saturday before the weekend hit, especially considering the 90 plus degree temps we had,” said Sasha Pardy, festival owner and co-owner of the Adirondack Winery in Lake George. 

“I am so proud of the impact this event has on the economy of the Lake George region and our small family-owned producer vendors. I am looking forward to doing it bigger and better yet again next year,” she said.

Spirit Halloween has opened in the former TJ Maxx space at Aviation Mall in Queensbury.

Spirit Halloween specializes in costumes, décor and accessories for children, teens, and adults, as well as providing the greatest selection of exclusive animatronics. Guests are encouraged to shop early and celebrate all season long, the company said.

According to the company, Spirit Halloween is the largest Halloween retailer in the country with over 1,400 locations across the U.S. and Canada. Celebrating more than 38 years of business, Spirit is a destination for all things Halloween, offering one-stop shopping for costumes, accessories, home and outdoor décor, party goods and exclusive animatronics.

At the heart of Spirit Halloween is the organization Spirit of Children, which brings fun and funding to local hospitals at Halloween and all year round. Since 2006, Spirit of Children has raised over $77 million to support the Child Life departments at hospitals across the United States and Canada to make hospitals less scary for kids and their families, the company said.