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Funding Awarded for Film Advancement from Glens Falls Downtown Revitalization Initiative
New York State Homes & Community Renewal and the City of Glens Falls announced Thursday evening funding awards to two not for profit organizations at the opening of the third annual Adirondack Film Festival at the Wood Theater in downtown Glens Falls.
- The Adirondack Film Commission received $39,158 with a 25% match. Funding will assist with website creation and social media, promotion, and familiarization tours through the City and Warren County. Accepting the check for the Film Commission was film commissioner Andrew Meader.
- The Adirondack Film Festival received $39,158 with 25% match. Funding will assist with marketing, promotion of the festival, licensing, and expanding venues within the downtown area. Accepting the check was Film Festival Director Chad Rabinowitz.
Mayor Daniel L. Hall, former Co-Chair of the Glens Falls DRI Committee, along with Co-Chair Omar Usmani thanked Governor Cuomo for developing urban policies that directly benefit cities like Glens Falls.
"This award is another in a series of Glens Falls DRI Downtown Revitalization awards that are forthcoming...just a little over three weeks ago, Glens Falls DRI funding was announced at the ribbon cutting ceremony for SUNY Adirondack Culinary School in downtown Glens Falls," said Mayor Dan Hall.
"We in Glens Falls gratefully acknowledge the continued advocacy by Governor Cuomo in supporting upstate New York communities like Glens Falls. Our appreciation also extends to NY Secretary of State Rossana Rosado, State Senator Betty Little and Assemblyman Dan Stec for their support," said Ed Bartholomew, President and CEO, EDC Warren County.
Mayor Hall indicated, "These two projects, the film commission and film festival, will bring economic benefits and opportunities not only for Glens Falls but throughout Warren County."
EDC Warren County is the administrator of the Glens Falls DRI Program.
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Glens Falls Hospital and Albany Med Announce Strategic Alliance and Affiliation
On behalf of Economic Development Corporation, Warren County (EDC), its board of directors, staff and membership, we congratulate Glens Falls Hospital and Albany Med on the announcement of a new strategic alliance and affiliation between the two entities. This affiliation solidifies a long-standing informal relationship by both organizations.
"This mutually beneficial affiliation will deliver operational, medical and technical efficiencies that will enable Glens Falls Hospital to preserve and protect existing healthcare services while integrating critically important advanced medicine options and other resources that are in high demand throughout our region," said Ed Bartholomew, President of EDC Warren County.
Bartholomew stated, "Glens Falls Hospital brings to this affiliation its vast array of skilled medical and technical professionals, staff, administration and existing network of facilities and practices. This new alliance will enhance Glens Falls Hospital's ability to deliver quality healthcare for a wide ranging multi-county service area in the Southern Adirondacks and beyond."
Glens Falls Hospital is the region's largest employer and is consistently ranked as one of the largest hospitals in the Capital Region. Glens Falls Hospital is an important component of the Glens Falls Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) and is a primary driver of the economy for the Glens Falls MSA and northern Capital Region. EDC welcomes the opportunity to continue working with Glens Falls Hospital in obtaining assistance for important projects and looks forward to working with our partners at Albany Med as the region moves forward.
Albany Med, as one of the nation's top health care networks, offers world class, state of the art health care innovations that will now be available for the population in our area. EDC President Bartholomew said that EDC stands ready to assist in any way possible to achieve positive results for the new alliance.
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Freedom Boat Club Coming to Lake George
A landmark marina on Lake George, Dunham's Bay Boat Company, was recently sold to Matt and Rebecca O'Hara who will own and operate a Freedom Boat Club franchise at the property. Marine trades are a major economic engine for the Lake and region.
Read More
in
The Chronicle
Read More in
The Albany Business Review
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Clean Energy Economy Conference in Glens Falls, October 24-25
The Adirondack North Country Association will present its Clean Energy Economy Conference at the Queensbury Hotel on October 24-25, drawing visitors from all over the state to Warren County.
In its seventh year, the CEEC facilitates peer-to-peer collaboration and the exchange of knowledge between clean energy marketplace participants and champions. This year highlights disruptive innovations that are contributing to the transformational changes in the clean energy sector.
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Lake George Park Commission Hoping for a Cold Winter to Kill off Invasive Asian Clams
Asian Clams are one of six aquatic invasive species in Lake George, now found in 23 different locations in the Lake, from Sandy Bay to as far north as Rogers Rock. Trying to completely eradicate the clams using benthic mats (heavy, dark-colored rubberized or plastic material that is held down using rebar or other heavy weights) has proven unsuccessful. Facing limited funding and without guarantees of complete success, the Lake George Park Commission and other groups are now hoping that a cold winter will kill the clams.
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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & REGIONAL NEWS
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Albany International Airport Upgrades "Take Flight"
This video produced by Albany International Airport details its upcoming $92 million makeover, including modernization of the airport terminal, parking upgrades, and new access from the Northway.
EDC Warren County is confident that these improvements will make the entire Capital Region more appealing to tourists, business travelers, and those seeking to locate their businesses in Warren County.
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$1.5 Million Grant for Broadband Improvements
UAlbany Researchers recently secured a $1.5 million grant from the National Science Foundation to improve broadband access in rural areas. Through a partnership with the town of Thurman and the Warren County Office of Emergency Services, the researchers are developing a platform for timely information collection, integration, exchange and dissemination to support emergency preparedness and response in rural areas.
Read More from the University at Albany
Read More from the National Science Foundation
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Logistics Worker Employment Growing
As reported by the Wall Street Journal, there's been a rush to hire logistics workers. Logistics hiring surged in September, as warehousing and transportation companies ramping up for peak season added 23,800 jobs. The warehouse and storage sector has added 52,400 jobs over the past 12 months.
Warehouse operators are raising wages, boosting bonuses and recruiting early in the tightest labor market in decades. Amazon is raising its minimum U.S. wage to $15 an hour next month, adding to pressure on a sector where payrolls have nearly doubled over the past five years.
Locally, the ACE Hardware and Target distribution centers are seeking new employees. Amazon announced plans for a new center in Schodack and there are plans for a distribution center at I-87 Exit 17 for a company still to be announced.
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Creative Thinking for Dairy Industry a Requirement
As the dairy industry experiences continued pressures,
Richard A. Ball, Commissioner of New York's Department of Agriculture and Markets,
said the state is trying to address the declining fortunes of New York dairy farmers with new ideas. This includes investing more than $250 million in expanded processing capacity, research at Cornell University on developing a milk-based recovery beverage for athletes, using milk to help feed the hungry and a marketing program to show consumers their milk is made locally.
The Glens Falls MSA (Metropolitan Statistical Area) has a relatively high number of dairy farms, the majority of which are in Washington County.
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Opportunity Zone Program Attracts Investors' Attention
Investment firms have begun to set up funds to deploy money into opportunity zones, a host of areas designated by local governments that offer tax breaks under a new federal program, but not all properties within a qualified zone will experience the same benefit.
The Opportunity Zone program, signed into law by President Donald Trump in December as part of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, allows investors to defer taxes on capital gains by putting them into funds that will invest into the areas designated by local governments. The industry is still awaiting specific regulations from the Treasury Department, but experts believe it will allow investors to see significant increases in returns while also benefiting communities that otherwise might not attract as much investment.
In Warren County, there are now two approved Federal Opportunity Zones, one in the City of Glens Falls and one in the Town of Johnsburg.
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State Agencies Announce $1 Million in Funding Available to Support New Farmers
Empire State Development (ESD) and the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets recently announced $1 million in funding is available to assist early-stage farmers through the New York State New Farmers Grant Fund. The program, now in its fifth year, promotes growth and development in the state's agriculture industry. To date, $3.27 million has been awarded to nearly 90 farms throughout New York State to expand their operations and improve their profitability.
Read More on the Empire State Development website
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Bill to Subsidize Rural Airports Passes U.S. House
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 this week, which would give another five years of subsidies to small airports including those in the Adirondacks. It has not yet received approval by the Senate or the president. Congresswoman Elise Stefanik shared her support for rural airports in NY's 21st District via Instagram, saying "Proud to deliver over $10m of federal funding for #NY21 rural airports which is critical to transportation, infrastructure, and our local economy."
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Branding is the New Economic Development
A recent article on Forbes CommunityVoice detailed the importance of branding in today's economic development environment.
"We're seeing a nationwide reprioritization in the role our communities play in our lives...People are looking for more out of the places they live and work. Cities and districts that understand and can tap into that can position themselves to attract amazing talent and businesses that incentives never could."
EDC Warren County continues its branding and marketing activities to convey the unique strengths of the Warren County region--as a place to live, work, and play--to site selectors as well as regional, national, and international businesses and organizations.
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Prepared by Warren County Tourism Department
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For member information on how to join EDC, contact:
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