Business briefs: Jan. 17, 2010

Green initiative
PLATTSBURGH — In conjunction with the recent climate conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, green leaders from across the region gathered at The Clean Tech Center in Upstate New York to plant a new crop of clean-tech companies that will help grow the state's clean-energy economy.

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) made a multi-year award to The Tech Garden to establish The Clean Tech Center. The program formally launched in July 2009. It is designed to incubate early stage companies and accelerate the growth of high-value renewable and clean-energy companies in New York State.

The Clean Tech Center's NYSERDA-supported program focuses on grid-related technologies that harness renewable sources, reduce the carbon footprint and conserve energy. The Clean Tech Center will be working with companies in these sectors to refine their business and market-development plans and assist with their commercialization and funding strategy.

Partners include a consortium of academic institutions, support organizations and investor groups. The goal is to create investment-ready companies.

First-round companies admitted to the program included SolarNovar in Plattsburgh, which makes electro-mechanical tracking systems for high-performance solar panels.

"New York's economic future will depend on entrepreneurs like those joining The Clean Tech Center whose clean-energy businesses will strengthen our economy while improving our environment," said Francis J. Murray Jr., president and CEO of NYSERDA.

The second round of applications to The Clean Tech Center-NYSERDA program has opened, with the next crop of companies to be announced March 1. Applications can be made to The Clean Tech Center.

Bowling night
PLATTSBURGH — The Adirondack Young Professionals (ADK YP) would like to invite all members and the public to a night out of bowling at the North bowl Lanes located at 24 North Bowl Lane, Plattsburgh, next to the Cumberland 12 Cinema on Route 9.

The event will provide an excellent opportunity to network and meet members of the organization and public. The cost is $3.50 per game ($9.25 a person for two games and shoes). The event will be held on Friday and will begin at 9 p.m.

The Adirondack Young Professionals is an organization whose mission is to create opportunities for young professionals to network, socialize and serve the Greater Adirondack Community. For more information on this event or the Adirondack Young Professionals, contact Ty Spencer at 324-5333.

Support for farms
PLATTSBURGH — Hannaford Supermarkets has joined forces with Northeast dairy farmers to launch the Keep Local Farms initiative in its 171 New England and New York grocery stores. Hannaford is the first retailer in the country to implement the program, which will raise funds for local dairy farmers, ensure a local, fresh supply of milk, and provide customers a way to support the farmers and the food network they help to sustain.

"Hannaford enjoys strong relationships with local farms and local food producers through our Close to Home initiative. Consistent with this commitment, Hannaford is pleased to support Keep Local Farms," said Wendy Ward, local sourcing specialist for Hannaford. "This program will help sustain local farmers, support the local economy and reduce our carbon footprint."

Hannaford, which announced the partnership Jan. 12 during a news conference at its Dorset Street store in South Burlington, Vt., will raise awareness of Keep Local Farms with promotional materials in its stores in Vermont, New York, Maine, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Hannaford will also allow customers to contribute to Keep Local Farms throughout February by providing the option to donate $2 or $5 at the checkout register.

Launched in September 2009, Keep Local Farms is a part of a broad effort to connect consumers with dairy farmers through education and direct support.

The goals of the program are to promote the benefits dairy farms bring the local community and economy, generate a stable income to dairy farmers and secure the farmlands of today for future generations. Keep Local Farms is partnering with retailers, universities and health-care providers to support local dairy farmers and the products they produce while increasing the demand for local milk.

The program is operated by three partners that are governed by dairy farmers throughout New England: the Vermont Dairy Promotion Council, the New England Dairy Promotion Board and the New England Family Dairy Farms Cooperative. The program was started to stop the loss of local dairy farms throughout the Northeast. Since 1990, two-thirds of New England dairy farms have closed, leaving fewer than 2,000 local farms in the region.

For more information, visit www.keeplocalfarms.org.

Bank ranking
PLATTSBURGH — Community Bank System Inc., a registered bank holding company with more than 160 customer facilities throughout Upstate New York and Pennsylvania, was ranked as the seventh-best bank in Forbes magazine's listing of the Best and Worst Banks in America.

"This recognition is a reflection of our disciplined operating model and the hard work and dedication of our employees in serving the needs of all our customers," said Mark E. Tryniski, president and chief executive officer.

According to the article, Forbes turned to researchers at SNL Financial. The Charlottesville, Va.-based firm looked at eight financial measures including return on average equity, net interest margin, non-performing loans as a percentage of loans, non-performing assets as a percentage of assets, reserves as a percentage of non-performing loans, two capital ratios (Tier 1 and risk-based) and leverage ratio.

The Forbes ranking is the second such distinction that Community Bank System Inc. has recently received. The J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Retail Banking Satisfaction Study ranked Community Bank N.A. second among all larger banks in the mid-Atlantic region and seventh in the nation for customer satisfaction.

J.D. Power and Associates annually analyzes customer satisfaction in retail banking by examining six factors: transactions, account initiation/product offerings, account statements, convenience, fees and problem resolution.

Community Bank System Inc. is a registered bank holding company based in Dewitt, N.Y., (near Syracuse), with $5.3 billion in assets and approximately 160 customer facilities. For further information, visit www.communitybankna.com.

Hospital fundraiser
ELIZABETHTOWN — The Elizabethtown Community Hospital Auxiliary is selling tickets for its Valentine's Day raffle.

This year's prize is an overnight stay at the Mirror Lake Inn in Lake Placid along with breakfast and Swedish massages for two. Tickets are $3 each or $5 for two and are available from any auxiliary member, the hospital's Community Relations Office or Champlain National Bank.

The drawing will be held on Feb. 12. Auxiliary President Laura Sells-Doyle said she is pleased to be able to offer such a significant prize. "The Mirror Lake Inn is one of the area's most beautiful properties," she said, also thanking Ed and Lisa Weibrecht (the owners) for being part of the event.

Throughout the year, the auxiliary holds various fund-raisers. Donations to the auxiliary help the group purchase items that hospital managers aren't able to include in departmental budgets. In 2009, the group raised more than $12,000, which purchased medical-record carts, waiting-room furniture, a patio awning and chair-side televisions for patients.

In addition to equipment, the group awards an annual $500 scholarship, purchases holiday gifts for patients and stocks the ER with necessities for those who find themselves at the hospital unexpectedly and empty-handed.

Contact the hospital's community relations office at 873-3003 for additional information or to purchase tickets.

Cell phone collection
TICONDEROGA — The Ticonderoga Federal Credit Union (TFCU) is collecting used cell phones throughout January and February to benefit the STOP Domestic Violence Center of Essex County.

All donated cell phones will be turned into emergency 911 phones and distributed to victims of domestic violence free of charge.

"We are very excited about this new fundraising opportunity," said Kate Thompson, marketing coordinator at the TFCU. "By donating a used cell phone, anyone in our community, not just TFCU members, can assist local victims of domestic violence and help the environment at the same time without having to reach into their wallets."

Anyone can participate in the cell-phone drive by bringing cell phones, chargers and accessories in any condition from any provider to TFCU branch locations and dropping them in the collection boxes during regular business hours. TFCU operates three branches located at Route 9N in Ticonderoga, Meacham Street in Port Henry and Court Street in Elizabethtown.

Anyone can donate their phone and help victims of domestic violence without driving to a TFCU branch by mailing the cell phone with a pre-paid shipping label available at the following Web site, courtesy of Verizon Wireless: www.verizonwireless.com/hopelinemailinglabel/

Before donating, confirm that the phone's service contract has been terminated and ensure all personal data has been cleared. Instructions on how to do so are available on the TFCU Web site, www.tfcunow.com.

The STOP Domestic Violence Center will remove all data from the phones prior to redistribution. Any phones that they cannot use will be recycled.

TFCU is a not-for-profit, cooperative financial institution offering membership to businesses or legal entities and people who live, work, worship or attend school in Essex County, Washington County or the Towns of Hague, Horicon and Chester. For information, visit their Web site or call Thompson at 585-6725, Ext. 2303, or e-mail kthompson@ticonderogafederal.com.

Haiti contribution
WALTHAM, Mass. — National Grid is taking action to support the global effort to help the victims of the devastating earthquake that hit Haiti by contributing $100,000 to The American Red Cross to support relief efforts. The company also will match all employee donations to the American Red Cross for Haiti through the end of February.

"The shock and devastation of the earthquake is being felt around the world, including many of the communities we serve," said National Grid U.S. President Tom King. "I am so proud of our employees, many of whom already have sprung into action by starting grass-roots collection efforts and organizing fundraising and volunteer activities.

Whether it's a tsunami, an earthquake or our annual United Way campaign, our people know that their collective power of action can make a big difference to others in need and they always come through."

As a company international in scope, but local in focus and impact, National Grid has a long history of supporting the communities and regions it serves. In addition to its extensive corporate giving program, the company makes every effort to support its employees' personal giving, volunteer time or trading of skills to help others.

Similar relief efforts are also underway at National Grid in the U.K.

National Grid is an international energy-delivery company. In the U.S., National Grid delivers electricity to approximately 3.3 million customers in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Rhode Island, and manages the electricity network on Long Island under an agreement with the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA). It is the largest distributor of natural gas in the northeastern U.S., serving approximately 3.4 million customers in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Rhode Island.

Local News

Search Results

Discussion

Site Map

Contact Us