SBJ P.O. Box 766 Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL
VOL. 25 NO. 11
HH The Business Newspaper of Saratoga County HH
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JANUARY 2021
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Franklin Community Center Buys MASIE Sen. Tedisco Concerned About Exodus Of Center Building To Meet Expansion Needs Population From NYS, Especially Upstate
Franklin Community Center has purchased the former MASIE Center property at 95 Washington St. in Saratoga Springs. The building is needed by the organization as its programs expand. BY SUSAN ELISE CAMPBELL Franklin Community Center has purchased the former MASIE Center property at 95 Washington St. in Saratoga Springs. The building will soon be known as The Michael & Stacie Arpey Family Community Center in tribute to the Saratoga Springs philanthropists who donated $1 million to help make the purchase a reality in 2020. “We had raised the first million dollars when COVID struck,” said center Executive Director Kari Cushing.
Over the past five years the growth in demand for the types of services and outreach Franklin Community Center provides made it clear that more square footage was needed, she said. “This reality led the board of directors to commit to more space.” The building will be the fourth facility Franklin Community Center manages in order to bring basic necessities and services to the public. Administrative offices, a community room and a food pantry are housed at 10 Franklin Continued On Page 19
BY SEN. JIM TEDISCO Do you have a loved one or know someone who has moved out of New York state? Many people do and the numbers show this is happening all too frequently as children graduate from school and then move elsewhere, or as long-time residents retire and pull up stakes from their communities for another state. The high cost of living, taxes, and public safety concerns are just some of the reasons people cite for leaving New York state, particularly Upstate. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the exodus from our state. However, there has not been any real coordinated effort by state government to closely look at why so many people are leaving New York, and to adjust its agenda, as it is hitting Upstate communities especially hard. As we begin a new year and new legislative session, our top priority should be addressing the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic so we can stop the spread of the virus, save lives and safely improve and reopen our economy. In order to reset New York state by safely restarting our economy, we need to address the elephant in the room that the leaders in our state government have not been talking about: the fact that for the third year in a row, New York leads the nation in out-migration of residents with 126,000 people leaving last year and over one million in the past decade. New York state followed up its net loss of 1.7 million residents from 2000 to 2009 with a loss of 1.4 million residents this past decade. This loss leads the nation in largest
State Sen. Jim Tedisco represents the 49th District, including part of Saratoga County. Courtesy Sen. Jim Tedisco
overall population decline, according to Census data. New York is also facing a skills gap where 42 percent (5.65 million) of New Yorkers have a high school diploma or less and are being left out of the technology and clean energy jobs that the state suggests it has made a push to attract. Despite what some have said, it’s not just “the weather” why people are leaving New York as 16 percent of those who left the Empire State went to “sunny and balmy” New Jersey, according to the Empire Center. It’s expected this population loss will result in New York losing possibly two Outlook 2021 Continued On Page 10
Despite COVID-19, SPAC Finished 2020 Skip Carlson Of Saratoga Casino Hotel Is Without Shortfall; Set To Face New Challenges Chairman Of Chamber Of Commerce Board Despite severe challenges caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic, Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) closed the year without a budget shortfall, officials said at the organization’s board of directors meeting in December. Also, given the uncertainties of what 2021 may bring with regard to the pandemic, SPAC is planning for a number of potential scenarios to present a season that will be ready to meet whatever the prevailing conditions are this spring and summer. “What we know is this,” said Sobol. “One way or another, there will be a SPAC season. And one way or the other, we are committed to ensuring a Saratoga presence by our beloved resident companies.” Like so many cultural institutions, SPAC’s 2020 was markedly different than what President and CEO Elizabeth Sobol imagined when programming for season was first announced in January of 2020, before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. “Just over seven months ago, SPAC took the unprecedented measure of cancelling its whole summer season in the face of the worsening coronavirus pandemic,” said Sobol. “Taking that step felt literally like walking off a cliff.” As a result of the cancellation of SPAC’s classical season, which was to include performances by resident companies New York City Ballet, Philadelphia Orchestra and Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, SPAC’s earned income dropped by $6 million, or 60 percent of its budget. SPAC had projected a potential shortfall of over $1 million, “a breathtaking gap that brought our
SPAC avoided a budget shortfall at the end of 2020 despite cancelation of its concerts. Courtesy SPAC
very survival into question,” said Sobol. But at the close of 2020, Sobol said that, thanks to the extraordinary generosity from the community, the potential deficit was eliminated and SPAC will end the year in the black. “Thanks to our incredible community, we were able to do what SPAC does best,” said Sobol. “Provide, even in the midst of a global pandemic, communal gathering around art, artists and community.” Following the shutdown, SPAC began work Continued On Page 16
Skip Carlson, Vice President Of External Affairs of the Saratoga Casino Hotel, is the 2021 chair of the board of directors of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce. He assumed this volunteer leadership role, on Jan. 1, as Kevin Hedley of Hedley & Co. PLLC completed his one-year term as board chair. Hedley now becomes the immediate past chair. “In what was truly an unprecedented time in our Chamber’s history, Kevin Hedley as chair of the chamber’s board did an amazing job leading our organization,” said Carlson. “He worked closely with the Chamber’s professional staff to ensure that we did everything we could to collaborate with our community partners in the private, public and nonprofit sectors to reopen our economy and to save our local businesses. “As we enter 2021, the Chamber continues to lead the way as a visible and vocal advocate for local vaccination sites and support for local small businesses. Kevin’s leadership put us in a position to take on these important challenges. We cannot thank him enough for this commitment to our Chamber and our local community.” Other board officers for the year include Tara Anne Pleat of Wilcenski & Pleat PLLC, chair elect; Amy Smith of Saratoga Arms Hotel, vice chair; and Chad Kiesow of Stewart’s Shops, treasurer and secretary. New members elected by the membership to three-year terms on the board include Vincent Laurenzo of Quick Response
Skip Carlson is vice president of external affairs of the Saratoga Casino Hotel. Courtesy Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce
Restoration, Dennis Kiingati of Hamlet & Ghost, David Rosenberg of Brix Wine & Liquor, and Andrew Wise of Saratoga National Bank & Trust Co. Three members appointed to serve oneyear terms were Heath Ames of Cantina, Susan Commanda of Hudson River Community Credit Union, and Rod Sutton of Amsure. Members who will continue to serve on the board include Shelly Amato of The Continued On Page 17