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Author: Veronica Zabala

Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce Hosts Annual Dinner

Written by Veronica Zabala on . Posted in Business.

SARATOGA SPRINGS —The Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce will celebrate its 102nd year of being a Visible and Vocal advocate and promoter of its members and Saratoga County, at our 2020 Annual Dinner on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020, from 6 -9:30 p.m. at the Saratoga Springs City Center. 

You’re invited to join the nearly 1000 business professionals for an evening of networking, celebration, and dinner provided by Mazzone Hospitality. The evening will start with a cocktail reception, from 6-6:45 p.m., followed by the program running from 7-7:30 p.m. Dinner will immediately follow along with networking with local business leaders.

During the program, we will honor Theresa Agresta, Owner of Allegory Studios and Culture Talk and our 2020 Chair of the Chamber Board of Directors, for her leadership and service to the Chamber and the Saratoga County community. In addition to celebrating Theresa’s leadership, the Saratoga County Chamber will again present the Joseph Dalton Community Service Award to an individual who has an extraordinary record of volunteer leadership and action for the betterment of Saratoga County. Past recipients of this award are Steve “Sully” Sullivan and Tom Roohan. We will also celebrate the Chamber’s leading role in building a new 7,700 square foot field house to provide a safe and secure place for local Navy personnel and their families to learn, recreate, drill and graduate as well as kick-off our Leap of Kindness Day 2020. 

Cost is $125 and sponsorship starts at just $750. For a complete list of sponsorship benefits, please click here. If you have any questions, or have issues registering, please contact Keith VanVeghten. Registration deadline is Friday, Jan. 17 by 4 p.m.

Senator Daphne Jordan Introduces Legislation for Driver’s Licenses Process

Written by Veronica Zabala on . Posted in News.

NEW YORK ­— Senator Daphne Jordan (R,C,I,Ref-Halfmoon) introduced two pieces of legislation to protect the individuals working at State and County DMV offices and duly elected County Clerks who serve taxpayers. Senate bill S.6907 would indemnify DMV employees and County Clerks from lawsuits arising from criminal acts related to the use of non-federally compliant driver’s licenses expected under NY’s new Green Light Law.

Senator Jordan’s second piece of legislation would amend the Green Light Law, creating a “Driver Privilege License” for those who cannot prove their lawful status in the United States. This legislation addresses concerns by law enforcement and County Clerks regarding identity fraud stemming from the lax regulations and qualifications for a NYS Standard Driver License, allowing for holders to earn the privilege to drive while restoring security standards in the issuance of Standard Driver Licenses, which are also used as identification by 70-percent of New York drivers.

 Section 1 of Senator Jordan’s new bill amends Section 502 of the State’s Vehicle and Traffic Law and provides that the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, County Clerks, and their employees shall be held harmless for any claims, liabilities, damages, or fines arising from any criminal act involving non-federal standard drivers licenses created by New York’s Green Light Law. This includes, but is not limited to ID theft, forgery, money laundering, and terrorism. Chapter 37 of the Laws of 2019 (aka the Green Light Law) that provided for the creation of a system of driver’s licenses for illegal immigrants, has created unprecedented challenges for DMV employees and County Clerks. Central among these issues is the fundamental undermining of the reliability of the identification, as the State can no longer guarantee an individual is who their identification says they are. The Green Light Law allows for foreign forms of identification to be used as proof of identity, and foreign forms of identification can be easily forged. The United States, as of 2017, recognizes 193 foreign countries, and, to date, the State has provided inadequate resources for DMV staff to determine the authenticity of foreign documents.

Senator Jordan’s new bill ensures that DMV employees, the DMV Commissioner, and County Clerks acting in good faith are indemnified and held harmless in lawsuits arising from criminal acts relating to the use of non-federally compliant drivers’ licenses provided for under New York’s Green Light Law. Senator Jordan’s new legislation does not carry any fiscal implications to the state.

 “I have introduced legislation aimed at protecting DMV employees from the lawsuits expected to be filed in response to the drivers’ licenses being used in the commission of criminal acts because the men and women working at DMV’s should be held harmless from Albany’s lack of regard for public safety,” stated the senator. “I also introduced a bill to mitigate the expected explosion of ID fraud by establishing a new ‘Driving Privilege License’ and stipulating that individuals must provide their Social Security Number when registering to vote to establish their identity as American citizens. My bills are common-sense steps to try and address the many shortfalls of the Green Light Law that will make our state and our streets less safe and throw open the doors to identity fraud and voter fraud.”

Saratoga County Clerk Craig Hayner said, “A New York State driver license is not just a license to drive; it is the primary identification document used by most New Yorkers.

The identification standards have been so widely loosened that it makes the Standard Driver License unreliable as an ID for the millions of New Yorkers who hold one and the thousands of businesses that rely on it as a source of identification in their daily business transactions. I am thankful to Senator Jordan for her understanding of the dangerous implications that could come from nefarious individuals taking advantage of our honest DMV employees and the inadequate regulations and for this much-needed legislation.”

Saratoga County Sherriff Michael Zurlo said, “With nearly 90-percent of the driving public using their driver license as their primary identification, New York’s watered-down qualifications for the Standard license invites the criminal element to exploit the system. Further, with no means to track the source documents used to get a Standard license, our deputies’ hands are tied when it comes to ensuring people are who they say they are and investigating related crimes. I commend Senator Jordan for keeping this important issue in the public eye.”

Styrofoam Free Trend in Saratoga Restaurants

Written by Veronica Zabala on . Posted in News.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — A recent study by Saratoga Unites and Saratoga Sustainable highlighted the use of Styrofoam containers at local restaurants.

Polystyrene foam, commonly known by the brand name Styrofoam, is not biodegradable, cannot be recycled, is a major source of pollution and fills landfills causing direct expense to tax payers. Polystyrene has no place in food service ware in the City of Saratoga Springs — a belief shared by a significant majority of eateries surveyed by Saratoga Unites in cooperation with Sustainable Saratoga.

In this study of 77 restaurants in Saratoga Springs, 16 still use Styrofoam containers for carryout food. However, five of these establishments are planning to switch to plastic or more environmentally friendly materials including cardboard, paper or compostable products. The survey covered both high end and fast service restaurants. 

Given the negatives, the modest cost advantage that may result from the use of polystyrene in food containers is greatly outweighed by the environmental and health costs. This realization lies behind the decision of a majority of restaurants in Saratoga Springs to not use polystyrene. Many of those who have switched from polystyrene cited customer and owner environmental concerns as their reason for switching.

In light of these findings, Saratoga Unites and Sustainable Saratoga are planning a program of incentives to encourage voluntary elimination of polystyrene from Saratoga eateries. 

The Next Generation Needs You: Be a Mentor

Written by Veronica Zabala on . Posted in News.

SARATOGA COUNTY —January is National Mentoring Month. The Saratoga Mentoring Program would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the current mentors who generously give of their time, friendship and wisdom.

The Saratoga Mentoring Program has been matching caring adults with children in Saratoga County for 27 years. Mentors can make a profound difference in the life of a child. Studies show that young people with mentors have more positive outcomes in school and in the workplace. This in turn strengthens our community, our economy and our country. 

Mentors are screened and trained before working with a child. Mentors meet with their mentees once a week for about two hours.  In order to develop trust and consistency, a one-year commitment is required. 

For more information visit www.saratogamentoring.org or call 518-581-1487. Saratoga Mentoring is a program of Catholic Charities.

Adirondack Health Insurance Open Enrollment

Written by Veronica Zabala on . Posted in News.

NEW YORK — The deadline to enroll in affordable health insurance coverage through the NY State of Health Marketplace is fast approaching as open enrollment ends on January 31. For individuals who would like their coverage to begin on February 1, the deadline to enroll is January 15.

Adirondack Health Institute is offering free enrollment assistance services to individuals, families and small business owners in Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Hamilton, Saratoga, Warren, and Washington counties to meet the deadline and strongly encourages the public to make a free appointment today, rather than waiting until the last moment.

“Our Enrollment Specialists provide no-cost, unbiased assistance to help clients determine their best health insurance coverage options,” explained Joyce Porter, AHI’s Enrollment Assistance Services and Education (EASE) Program Manager. “Our team makes the process extremely easy, guiding clients and answering all questions along the way. Those who have never had coverage are especially grateful for our assistance as we make things less confusing and intimidating.”

Individuals may call AHI’s toll-free number, 1-866-872-3740, or visit www.ahihealth.org/ease/appointment-request to schedule a no-cost appointment with an Enrollment Specialist.

Saratoga County Office for the Aging Celebrates Selection as a Hannaford Helps Reusable Bag Program Beneficiary

Written by Veronica Zabala on . Posted in News.

SARATOGA COUNTY — The Saratoga County Office for the Aging has been selected as a beneficiary of the Hannaford Helps Reusable Bag Program for the month of January. The Hannaford Helps Reusable Bag Program, which launched in April 2014, is a reusable bag program that facilitates community support with the goal to make a difference in the communities where shoppers live and work. Saratoga County Office for the Aging was selected as the January beneficiary of the program by store leadership at the Hannaford located at 3 Via Rossi Way, Ballston Spa NY. Saratoga County Office for the Aging will receive a $1 donation every time the $2.50 reusable Fight Hunger Bag is purchased at this location during January. For more information on the Hannaford Helps Reusable Bag Program, visit hannaford.bags4mycause.com

For additional information, please call The Office for the Aging, 518-884-4996.

SCPP Funds $60 million Transformation in Victory Mills

Written by Veronica Zabala on . Posted in Business.

Victory, NY – The Saratoga County Prosperity Partnership, a Saratoga County-based economic development organization, today announced one of the largest economic development initiatives in the past decade in Saratoga County: a transformational $60 million project that will breathe new life into a historic but long-vacant industrial building in the Town of Saratoga.

Regan Development will transform the former Victory Mills in the Village of Victory – a five-story, 220,000-square-foot manufacturing facility that closed nearly two decades ago – into 186 residential apartment units and a commercial microbrewery. A Westchester County-based entity that specializes in redevelopment projects of this type, Regan Development has a proven record of success across the Northeast, with a portfolio that includes more than $384 million in new construction and adaptive reuse projects.

The hulking concrete and wood structure on Gates Avenue in Victory, built in 1918 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, has fallen into serious disrepair since it closed as a packaging manufacturer in 2000. The development will create 186 apartment units – 142 one-bedroom and 43 two-bedroom units – and help to fill a demonstrated need for workforce housing in Saratoga County. Apartments will be priced to appeal to a wide range of people working in local schools, businesses and service organizations.

The project will support more than 100 construction jobs during a two-year period, with an estimated annual payroll exceeding $5 million. Additionally, the apartment complex and brewery are expected to initially create 8 full-time jobs. Through an agreement approved unanimously by the Saratoga County Industrial Development Agency, the property will generate $7.5 million in PILOT (payment-in-lieu-of-taxes) payments over the next 30 years – 23 times more than if the property remained vacant.

“In transforming an iconic but unused building into a modern residential and commercial complex, this project epitomizes the best of economic development,” said Marty Vanags, President of the Saratoga County Prosperity Partnership. “We are thrilled to have played a critical role in advancing a project that will revitalize a historic structure, create jobs, generate financial support for local schools and governments, address a critical need for workforce housing, and help to reinvigorate a community.”

“We always welcome the opportunity to bring new life to a property that was once a cornerstone of the community,” said Larry Regan, President of Regan Development. “We appreciate the support of leaders in village, town and state government, as well as the Saratoga County Prosperity Partnership and Saratoga County IDA, and look forward to what will be an exciting project.”

“This project is a true win-win for Saratoga County,” said New York State Senator Daphne Jordan. “It continues the legacy of Victory Mills by providing workforce housing that will support our strong commercial expansion and diverse economy. This type of thoughtful economic development contributes to the continued economic growth and success of our region.”

“The ability to take a long-past prime, behemoth property that is not serving the present community and breathe new life into it with a mixed-use commercial space is exactly what the Village of Victory needs,” said New York State Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner. “This project aligns perfectly with Saratoga County’s vision for a brighter, more robust economic and cultural future.”

“This project is a game-changer for the Town of Saratoga, one that will pay dividends for generations to come,” said Town of Saratoga Supervisor Tom Wood. “The renewal and repurposing of Victory Mills as an apartment complex and brewery will address an important community need, provide a tremendous financial impact to the town, and ensure we can continue to provide the essential services our residents need.”

“This is a transformational moment for the Village of Victory, one that respects our past and offers a vision for the future,” said Village of Victory Mayor Pat Dewey. “In a sense, Victory Mills will be returned to its former glory, providing a home for hard-working individuals. We are thrilled to know that this historic building will once again be a jewel in our community.”

“The Saratoga County IDA is pleased to unanimously support this visionary mixed-use project in the Town of Saratoga,” said Rod Sutton, Chairman of the Saratoga County Industrial Development Agency. “The incentives not only play a critical role in making this effort possible, but just as importantly, they will be returned many times over in terms of PILOT payments, increased economic activity, and the benefits that come with revitalization in the Victory community.”

The financing structure for the project includes owner equity, federal and state housing tax credits, federal and state historic tax credits, and the PILOT agreement with the Saratoga County IDA. Regan Development will make $158,000 in PILOT payments in the first year, with annual increases of 3 percent over the 30-year term. As a result, the property will generate $7.5 million in PILOT payments – including $6.3 million to the Schuylerville Central School District – far exceeding the $324,000 that would have been paid based on current annual taxes of $10,800.

Construction is expected to begin in 2020, and will take approximately two years to complete.

$60 Million Transformation: SCPP Funds Project for Former Victory Mills Building

Written by Veronica Zabala on . Posted in Business.

VICTORY — The Saratoga County Prosperity Partnership, a Saratoga County-based economic development organization, today announced one of the largest economic development initiatives in the past decade in Saratoga County: a transformational $60 million project that will breathe new life into a historic but long-vacant industrial building in the Town of Saratoga.

Regan Development will transform the former Victory Mills in the Village of Victory – a five-story, 220,000-square-foot manufacturing facility that closed nearly two decades ago – into 186 residential apartment units and a commercial microbrewery. A Westchester County-based entity that specializes in redevelopment projects of this type, Regan Development has a proven record of success across the Northeast, with a portfolio that includes more than $384 million in new construction and adaptive reuse projects.

The hulking concrete and wood structure on Gates Avenue in Victory, built in 1918 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, has fallen into serious disrepair since it closed as a packaging manufacturer in 2000. The development will create 186 apartment units – 142 one-bedroom and 43 two-bedroom units – and help to fill a demonstrated need for workforce housing in Saratoga County. Apartments will be priced to appeal to a wide range of people working in local schools, businesses and service organizations.

The project will support more than 100 construction jobs during a two-year period, with an estimated annual payroll exceeding $5 million. Additionally, the apartment complex and brewery are expected to initially create 8 full-time jobs. Through an agreement approved unanimously by the Saratoga County Industrial Development Agency, the property will generate $7.5 million in PILOT (payment-in-lieu-of-taxes) payments over the next 30 years – 23 times more than if the property remained vacant.

“In transforming an iconic but unused building into a modern residential and commercial complex, this project epitomizes the best of economic development,” said Marty Vanags, President of the Saratoga County Prosperity Partnership. “We are thrilled to have played a critical role in advancing a project that will revitalize a historic structure, create jobs, generate financial support for local schools and governments, address a critical need for workforce housing, and help to reinvigorate a community.”

“We always welcome the opportunity to bring new life to a property that was once a cornerstone of the community,” said Larry Regan, President of Regan Development. “We appreciate the support of leaders in village, town and state government, as well as the Saratoga County Prosperity Partnership and Saratoga County IDA, and look forward to what will be an exciting project.”

“This project is a true win-win for Saratoga County,” said New York State Senator Daphne Jordan. “It continues the legacy of Victory Mills by providing workforce housing that will support our strong commercial expansion and diverse economy. This type of thoughtful economic development contributes to the continued economic growth and success of our region.”

“The ability to take a long-past prime, behemoth property that is not serving the present community and breathe new life into it with a mixed-use commercial space is exactly what the Village of Victory needs,” said New York State Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner. “This project aligns perfectly with Saratoga County’s vision for a brighter, more robust economic and cultural future.”

“This project is a game-changer for the Town of Saratoga, one that will pay dividends for generations to come,” said Town of Saratoga Supervisor Tom Wood. “The renewal and repurposing of Victory Mills as an apartment complex and brewery will address an important community need, provide a tremendous financial impact to the town, and ensure we can continue to provide the essential services our residents need.”

“This is a transformational moment for the Village of Victory, one that respects our past and offers a vision for the future,” said Village of Victory Mayor Pat Dewey. “In a sense, Victory Mills will be returned to its former glory, providing a home for hard-working individuals. We are thrilled to know that this historic building will once again be a jewel in our community.”

“The Saratoga County IDA is pleased to unanimously support this visionary mixed-use project in the Town of Saratoga,” said Rod Sutton, Chairman of the Saratoga County Industrial Development Agency. “The incentives not only play a critical role in making this effort possible, but just as importantly, they will be returned many times over in terms of PILOT payments, increased economic activity, and the benefits that come with revitalization in the Victory community.”

The financing structure for the project includes owner equity, federal and state housing tax credits, federal and state historic tax credits, and the PILOT agreement with the Saratoga County IDA. Regan Development will make $158,000 in PILOT payments in the first year, with annual increases of 3 percent over the 30-year term. As a result, the property will generate $7.5 million in PILOT payments – including $6.3 million to the Schuylerville Central School District – far exceeding the $324,000 that would have been paid based on current annual taxes of $10,800.

Construction is expected to begin in 2020, and will take approximately two years to complete.