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VOL. 35 NO. 11
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JANUARY 2024
AngioDynamics Closing Its Glens Falls Plant; Significant Improvements To Lake George Phasing Out Operations Over Next Two Years Are Proposed Due To $10 Million Grant BY PAUL POST The Glens Falls area’s third large manufacturing employer in less than a year has announced plans to cease operations, impacting 350 workers in Glens Falls and Queensbury. AngioDynamics, a global medical device maker, says rising inflation, supply chain constraints and workforce shortages are responsible for the move, saving the company an estimated $15 million. Early last year, Lehigh Cement Company in Glens Falls shuttered its 130-year-old plant, idling 85 workers, followed several months later by the closure of Essity’s South Glens Falls paper mill and facilities in Greenwich and Saratoga Springs, which cost another 350 jobs. “It’s never good when one of these operations closes,” said Jim Siplon, Warren County Economic Development president. “But I’m confident this isn’t all bad news. We still have thousands of open positions in the area, not only in manufacturing, but in tourism and health care. We have to figure out how to fill those.” “What we’re seeing is less and less big employers that are going to be the underpinning of our economy and more and more medium and smaller ones that we need to serve as well,” he said. “No factory and no product line lasts forever. Business cycles are shortening. Our job is to support Angio in whatever transition they’re in the midst of and to make sure our workforce continues to be gainfully employed. We still have a lot of opportunity to do that.” Founded in 1988, Latham-based Angio plans to phase out local manufacturing within two years. It had already begun outsourcing most operations, taken over locally by Illinois-based Medline Industries, a global medical supplies manufacturer and distributor. Those jobs were preserved during the transition and Siplon said he’s hopeful that Angio’s components will continue to be made locally and that workers will keep jobs “under a different banner” with Medline or some other firm. “If not, I’ll do everything to help the people that are affected,” he said. “Our role is to help people where they are, not to wish something was different.” About 2,800 people, or roughly 8.6 percent of
AngioDynamics, in Glens Falls, announces closure, impacting 350 workers. Warren County’s workforce, was in some type of manufacturing in 2021. Most of the Lehigh Cement Company and Essity paper mill workers who wanted to stay employed found jobs elsewhere, Siplon said. All three closures highlight the importance of having a diversified economy, he said. “It’s hard to make any kind of manufactured good in the United States, let alone New York state, in these times,” he said. “We’re under a lot of cost pressures, the workforce is aging and shrinking. There’s a lot of elements that make it difficult.” Angio employs 1,000 people worldwide with facilities in places such as The Netherlands, Hong Kong, Israel and Ontario, Canada. Local manufacturing operations are at 603 Queensbury Avenue near Warren County Airport and Glens Falls Tech Park off Dix Avenue. Siplon said Angio has had a “wonderful run.” Resources such as SUNY Adirondack, strong local school systems and the area’s high quality of life are important to attracting good workers, he said.
Individuals hold a $10 million state grant check, for projects in Lake George, including seasonal workforce housing, a Farmer’s Market pavilion, Shepard Park fishing pier, and South Canada Street improvements. BY PAUL POST Seasonal workforce housing, a Farmer’s Market pavilion, Shepard Park fishing pier and south Canada Street improvements highlight the projects proposed for Lake George with a new $10 million state grant. A committee of public and private officials including four professional planners spent 16 months preparing an application for the state’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative program. “The $10 million will help leverage another $20 million to $30 million in public and private investment,” said Committee Chair Dan Barusch, town of Lake George director of planning and zoning. “The town and village are going to be chipping in dollars and business owners will match any money they
get for various projects.” “The indirect economic impact is things like job creation, construction and increased sales tax revenue,” he said. Most of 2024 will be spent fine tuning priority projects and considering additional ideas that others may have. An open call for proposals will be issued soon. A separate planning committee, comprised of local and state officials from various state agencies, will decide the merits of each project before money is forthcoming, with work expected to begin in 2025. “They try to pick the best projects in terms of bang for the buck, how real are they and how close are they to being shovel-ready,” Barusch said. “They’ll pick something with Continued On Page 13
Forward-Looking Planning Has Positioned Warrensburg Supervisor Kevin Geraghty To Lake George Region To Thrive In The Future Chair Warren County Board Of Supervisors BY GINA MINTZER, CMP, MHA Living, working, and playing in the Lake George region in 2023 proved to be a remarkable experience. As the world made strides toward returning to pre-pandemic norms, stability saw a resurgence throughout the year. Looking forward to 2024, it’s essential to acknowledge the significant preparations and developments that have transformed Lake George into a winter destination. Lake George introduced two major winter attractions. The creators of Ice Castles adapted their spectacle to withstand winter conditions, resulting in Winter Realms. Opening at the Festival Commons in Wood Park in November, Winter Realms will enchant visitors until the end of February. Another captivating addition is Winter’s Dream, presented by Moment Factory at Fort William Henry. Launched in December, Winter’s Dream will operate until the end of March. Preliminary results indicate a promising start, attracting over 500 additional visitors daily and providing a welcome boost to local businesses operating during the winter season. February marks the continuation of the 61st annual Lake George Winter Carnival, a cherished event for both locals and tourists. West and Gore Mountains are geared up for a robust
Gina Mintzer, executive director, Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce. winter season, featuring new equipment and programs to enhance the area’s appeal. With an abundance of winter activities in the region, a strong first quarter is anticipated. Continued On Page 4
Warrensburg Town Supervisor Kevin Geraghty has been selected to chair the Warren County Board of Supervisors in 2024, the third consecutive year he has been chosen to sit as chair of the board. Geraghty received an overwhelming majority of votes from his colleagues on the 20-member Board of Supervisors at the board’s annual organization meeting. “I am honored that my colleagues have selected me to chair our Board of Supervisors and I would like to thank everyone who supported me,” Geraghty said. “We accomplished many good things in 2023, a balanced budget with a reduced tax rate chief among them, and Warren County is in good shape as we head into 2024. I look forward to working with each of my colleagues on the board, and all of our great Warren County employees, to continue to make Warren County an outstanding place to live, work and vacation.” Supervisor Geraghty was nominated to return as chair of the board by Lake Luzerne Town Supervisor Gene Merlino. 2024 will be Supervisor Geraghty’s seventh year as chair of the board, as he also spent four years as chair between 2013 and 2016.
Kevin Geraghty will chair the Warren County Board of Supervisors for third consecutive year. Supervisor Geraghty has been Warrensburg Town Supervisor since 2007. He was elected town supervisor after a career working in management at the former International Continued On Page 10