PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE
GBJ 9 Broad Street, #7 Glens Falls, NY 12801
VOL. 35 NO. 10
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GLENS FALLS, NY 12801 PERMIT #600
HH The Business Newspaper of Warren and Washington Counties HH
www.glensfallsbusinessjournal.com
DECEMBER 2023
Comprehensive Strategic Promotional Planning Area Ski Resorts Tout Significant Improvements Could Boost the Economy of Washington Co. To Attract Slope-Bound Vacationers To Region
Budget Officer, Brian Campbell and County Administrator, Melissa Fitch addressed local business and civic leaders during a presentation hosted by the ARCC at Sandy Hill Arts Center. BY PAUL POST Washington County has a great deal of untapped tourism potential that could boost the local economy with more comprehensive, strategic promotional planning. That’s what officials told local business and civic leaders during a presentation hosted by the Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce at Sandy Hill Arts Center’s fifth-floor event space in Hudson Falls. “Tourism may look a little different for us, but it exists and it’s definitely impacting the county,” said Laura Oswald, county director of economic development, planning and tourism. But a recently-obtained grant will fund a separate, new full-time tourism director’s position that’s expected to be filled in the coming weeks. Washington County doesn’t have a worldclass race track, performing arts center, theme park or popular summer resort town like Saratoga and Warren counties. There isn’t a single hotel and there are less than 100 motel units. But Washington County Fair, which attracts more than 100,000 people annually, is the state’s third largest, and Hick’s Orchard in Granville draws thousands of patrons from throughout the region each weekend in autumn. Likewise, countless people pass through towns such as Fort Ann, Whitehall, Greenwich, Cambridge and Salem en route to Vermont ski resorts in winter, and communities throughout the county host a variety of special events and festivals each summer. With better promotion, travelers would be encouraged to stop, see what’s available and spend more time and money at local shops, restaurants
and businesses. “Tourism metrics are typically measured by heads in beds, how many people check into hotels,” Oswald said. “Then you can create metrics that tell you, for every one person they probably stop at a gas station or go to a restaurant so you can estimate your economy.” Because it has so little lodging, such information is hard to come by in Washington County. “What we do have is a significantly growing presence of short-term rentals,” she said. County Administrator Melissa Fitch said Airbnb rentals generate considerable revenue for the county. County Budget Officer and Hebron Supervisor Brian Campbell said roughly 20 percent of the county’s 29,000 housing units are shortterm rentals now. “Some of these places would never have been saved, fixed up or rejuvenated,” he said. “They’re buildings that would have just disappeared. Now they’re back to where they’re livable for people who want to rent them for a weekend. Eventually, they may go back on the market if their owners can make more money flipping than renting.” Similar to tourism, Board of Supervisors Chairman Robert Henke, of Argyle, said a great deal of unnoticed home-based business has popped up in recent years, generating selfemployment and tax revenue for the county. “We did a survey recently and I don’t think there’s a single street in Argyle that doesn’t have at least two home-based businesses,” he said. Mostly rural, small-town Washington County doesn’t project the same image of Continued On Page 15
Warren and Washington Counties Have Plans to Develop Industrial Park Near Canal Lock 8 BY PAUL POST Armed with nearly $5.7 million in state and federal funds, Warren and Washington counties plan to develop an industrial park near Champlain Canal Lock 8 in Fort Edward. General Electric Company used the 82-acre site as a dewatering facility for its massive Hudson River PCB dredging project. When work was done, the property now called Canalside Energy Park was taken over by the Counties of Warren and Washington Industrial Development Agency. In November, the IDA was awarded $4,739,000 from the Fast NY Program that will be used to install sewer and upgrade water service in an
effort to attract new industry. Another $950,000 in congressional member funding has been obtained from U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer and U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik. IDA Chairman and Hampton Supervisor David O’Brien said the property would be wellsuited for some type of agricultural processing facility, or a green energy company involved with solar, battery or wind turbine manufacturing. It’s hoped that construction on new water and sewer infrastructure can be begin next spring or summer. Such work would likely take about a year to complete, he said. The site has tri-modal access via rail, roadway and the Champlain Canal.
State-of-the-art snowmaking equipment is an integral part of West Mountain’s upgrades designed to attract winter vacationers to the slopes. BY PAUL POST Co-owners Spencer and Sara Montgomery, and financial backers, have spent nearly $20 million on capital upgrades since purchasing West Mountain 10 years ago. In preparation for this winter they’ve added a $500,000 Winch Cat to the large fleet of grooming machines and covered base lodge floors with safe, clean carpeting. But the biggest investment is in personnel with a new food and beverage director, rental shop manager, snow sports person, full-time ski tuner and a larger, more skilled snowmaking crew. “It feels like we’re getting some really good professional people in here,” Spencer Montgomery said. “Hiring has been really tough the past three years. Now we’ve got a good overnight snowmaking crew. Really robust, hardworking guys. That makes all the difference because nights are when you get all your production. Someone always has to be watching the pumps, pressure and guns.” “Hiring and mild weather were very challenging last year,” he said. “We got through it and this year feels good.
We’re looking forward to an awesome season.” The Queensbury resort plans a Dec. 16 opening to get all the kinks out and be ready for Christmas week. One of West Mountain’s biggest economic impacts is a $2 million annual payroll. It employs 350 people at peak times and has a full-time, year-round staff of 30. “We try to provide hourly and salaried full-time positions now so we don’t lose people in the off-season and then have to try to find good people again,” Montgomery said. The center sells about 100,000 lift tickets, but a recent study estimates that another 150,000 people such as parents watching ski races, and guests at West Mountain’s summer attractions (ropes course, children’s camp), come on the property each year. The racing program is led by Thomas Vonn, who coached his wife Lindsey to an Olympic gold medal, and former World Cup racer Steve Lathrop. While anticipating a strong winter season, the MontContinued On Page 13
The Stewart’s Holiday Match Program Runs Through Christmas Day at All Area Locations The 37th annual Stewart’s Holiday Match Campaign kicked off on Thanksgiving Day and runs through Christmas Day at all shop locations. The program supports nonprofit organizations benefiting children. To date, the program has raised over $36 million for children’s charities. Last year, customers donated over $1 million to the program, doubling to more than $2 million with the Stewart’s match. The funds were able to support 1,939 local children’s organizations across the 32 counties where Stewart’s Shops are located. “Sharing is a central focus of everything we do at Stewart’s. Holiday Match takes those efforts to another level by supporting children in the communities that we serve,” said Stewart’s Shops Director of Corporate Philanthropy Jennifer Frame. Local organizations benefiting children are encouraged to apply for funding online beginning Thanksgiving Day. The deadline for submission is January 31, 2024. All groups applying must be locally based, benefit children, and be a qualified charitable 501c3 organization. Stewart’s Shops thanks its customers, shop partners and media partners for their support each year. Stewart’s Holiday Match is a 501c3 foundation; all donations are tax deductible. Stewart’s gladly
Stewart’s Holiday Match program is currently underway to benefit nonprofit organizations. accepts funds from groups or businesses, but only matches individual donations. For information go to https://www.stewartsshops.com