Clifton Park -- The Chamber of Southern Saratoga County has been named the winner of The

Business Council of New York State’s Chamber of the Year award for 2014. This award,

presented at The Business Council’s 2014 Annual Meeting on Thursday, September 18, honors

an outstanding Chamber of Commerce and its leadership team.

"We are really proud to be longtime supporters of the Business Council of New York and

very humbled by this prestigious award,” says President / CEO Pete Bardunias, "We worked

very hard to become leaders in marine, agriculture, manufacturing, retail, hospitality

and community/microeconomic development and are thrilled that these efforts are being

recognized. None of this would have been possible without our dedicated staff, a strong and

supportive board, and every single one of our members, partners and sponsors. Thank you to

Heather Briccetti and the Business Council of New York State for bestowing this great honor

upon us."


The Business Council Chamber of the Year Award is given each year to a Chamber of

Commerce that displays a positive commitment to pro-business activities within their community

and the state. Nominated Chambers are judged on factors including: the quality programs and

services provided, fiscal responsibility demonstrated, and commitment to membership and the

community.

In the past year, the Chamber of Southern Saratoga County has grown its membership by 2.4

percent, adding 25 net new members, and in the past three years the membership growth has

been 14.3 percent, from 927 to 1060. The Saratoga County Community Development Program,

conceived in 2012 and funded in part by the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors, has resulted

in several initiatives including the Historic Lock 19 preservation (2012) and bridge construction

(2013), the Brookside Museum Oral History Project (2013) and Long Room restoration work

(2014), initial recovery work at the Historic Mechanicville Train Station (2013), the Waterford

Community Business Alliance (2013-’14), Charlton Community Business Alliance (2014) and

the partnership with the VT Sail Freight Project to deliver Saratoga County Farm products to

downstate consumers. The Chamber is also a leading advocate for the Capital Region Maritime

Center and efforts to assist the US Navy in better utilizing the facilities at their Alplaus, NY

location, and is pursuing alternative-energy fueled marine delivery vessel startups with several

local consortiums.