Experienced Economic Developer and Leader Takes the Reins

at Fund Providing Critical Financial Services for Small Businesses

ALBANY>>  Steve Cohen has been named president of the Excelsior Growth Fund, a not-for-profit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) formed by the New York Business Development Corporation (NYBDC) for the purpose of executing creative and flexible lending strategies to support small businesses in New York State.

                Cohen is currently the executive vice president and deputy commissioner at Empire State Development, where he heads the Department of Small Business Services and Community Economic Development. The department includes the Division for Small Business, the Division for Minority and Women Business Development (DMWBD), the Empowerment Zones Corporation, the Office of Contractor and Supplier Diversity, and the Economic Revitalization Unit.

                At Excelsior Growth Fund, Cohen will lead the organization in several new directions, including expanding activities to business advisory services and developing an online platform that will provide small businesses with fast and, most importantly, responsible lending products.  Excelsior will initially look to work with New York businesses with emphasis on small businesses in Western New York, Long Island and New York City.  A special focus of Excelsior will be on underserved communities and businesses having difficulty securing loans from banks or other traditional sources.

                “Steve brings to our organization vast experience with capital lending and management.  His expertise in economic and community development, public policy and small business operations brings us the kind of experience we need to really expand the Excelsior Growth Fund,” said Patrick MacKrell, CEO of New York Business Development Corporation, Empire State CDC and Excelsior Growth Fund.  “We’re very excited to have someone with his credentials on board as we work to fulfill our mission of helping small businesses grow, hire more people and play an integral role in the expansion of our economy.”

                One element that will make the Excelsior Growth Fund both unique and critical to small businesses will be an emphasis on providing ongoing business consulting services to the borrower.  Excelsior will focus on providing business assistance to small businesses seeking advice and guidance regarding the collection, presentation and analysis of financial information for their business and to provide links to specialized industry assistance.

                “With years of experience, our team, now led by Steve, will help our borrowers on an ongoing basis.  Our goal will be to be engaged in the success of our borrowers so that we can all be successful,” said MacKrell. “Excelsior's goal is to assist the small business access affordable capital and other necessary resources to start, grow or sustain operations.   In addition to business assistance, Excelsior will provide loan capital and referrals to other lenders that are able to serve the needs of the small businesses.”

                While at Empire State Development, Cohen led efforts to create, implement and refine important programs and initiatives to support small business development, increase access to capital and improve the economic climate in communities throughout New York State.  New programs and resources he helped develop and oversee included: the Innovation Venture Capital Fund, the Innovate NY seed stage equity fund,  the Small Business Revolving Loan Fund;; the revamped Capital Access Program, the Surety Bond Assistance Program; and Business Mentor NY, the first statewide business mentorship program in the U.S.

Over the last four years, these programs provided over $425 million in facilitated lending and more than $150 million in facilitated venture capital investments.  More than 20,000 jobs were created or retained and more than 2,000 new businesses were launched.  State contracts to certified minority and women-owned businesses rose to $1.9 billion from $900 million in just four years and utilization grew from 10 percent to more than 25 percent during the same period.

“Under Steve’s leadership, Empire State Development facilitated hundreds of millions of dollars in new capital for small businesses, created or retained tens of thousands of small business jobs and launched major new community economic development programs that leverage close to a billion dollars of private investment in New York small businesses and underserved communities.  We wish him well as he brings his considerable talents to the Excelsior Growth Fund for the benefit of New York’s small business community,” said Howard Zemsky, commissioner, president and CEO of Empire State Development.

Prior to joining Empire State Development in 2009, Cohen served as senior vice president for Seedco Financial Services where he worked in executive management and economic development, as well as loan portfolio management.  He also founded and ran a music production company in San Francisco.  Steve has a bachelor’s degree from UC Berkeley and a master’s in public administration from Harvard’s Kennedy School.

Thumbtack.com and Bloomberg Release Survey of More Than 10,000 Nationwide Respondents;

Broad Improvement Seen Over 2+ Years of Data Collected So Far

Shows a Slow and Steady Recovery

SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- May 28, 2015 -- Thumbtack.com today released the Thumbtack Small Business Sentiment Survey, a first-of-its-kind survey that captures the economic sentiment of more than 10,000 small businesses nationwide on a monthly basis, including 768 responses over two years in New York. Starting today, and released on a monthly basis going forward, the survey and accompanying visualization allow anyone to explore American small business economic sentiment at the national and local level. Designed with Bloomberg, all data will be housed and integrated seamlessly into the economic functions of the Bloomberg Professional service.

The U.S. Economic Census shows that over 90% of small businesses in the United States have five employees or fewer. Thumbtack’s survey is the first small business survey whose respondents reflect this specific demographic. While there are various indexes and surveys that seek to measure small business sentiment, there are no other surveys that have enough responses from businesses of this size to examine results at a state or city level.

Via its network of more than 150,000 active service professionals, Thumbtack has the unique capability to regularly survey this otherwise difficult-to-reach population.

“We are excited to be able to share this new survey, which will capture the sentiment of thousands of small businesses nationwide on a monthly basis,” said Jon Lieber, Chief Economist of Thumbtack. “Many of these business owners have few or no employees, and are often overlooked in other widely-tracked business surveys. We hope to offer new insights and a better understanding into what’s happening in this critical segment of the nation’s workforce and the American economy.”

The inaugural version of the survey shows a slow and steady recovery among New York’s smallest businesses:

• New York's small businesses report being in the middle of the pack for their overall sentiment, lagging just behind the sentiment of other businesses in the Northeast
• New York businesses reported one of the largest gains in the country in their assessment of their Current Financial situation, with a 9 point improvement over the last year
• Inflation expectations for New York businesses have risen slightly over the past year, with business owners reporting the strongest gains in their plans to increase their employees wages
• Reflecting a trend shown nationally, New York small businesses are consistently more optimistic about the future than they are about current financial conditions, reporting a 20-30 point spread in how they respond to these two questions in the survey
• Nationwide the strongest growth in overall sentiment has been seen amongst the construction and transportation industries

The full results for New York can be seen here and include how businesses in each area responded to survey questions, and hundreds of quotes from small businesses nationwide. Each state and city also has its own dedicated webpage showing detailed survey results for that area.

Bloomberg Professional service customers can access this data and additional industry level analysis at {ECST T TACKUSBS <GO>}.

Survey methodology

Thumbtack.com has surveyed tens of thousands of small businesses quarterly since December 2012. The survey asked questions about how small businesses are feeling about the general economic environment and health of their business, such as:

• How would you rate your company’s financial situation today?
• Have you attempted to fill any part-time or full-time positions over the past three months?
• How do you expect the prices you charge to your clients or customers to change over the next three months?

Thumbtack.com and Bloomberg then used the survey responses to create a weighted index that demonstrates Small Business Economic Sentiment in one easy-to-understand number between 0 and 100 - an index score above 50 means sentiment is positive; an index score below 46 means sentiment is negative.  The full methodology paper can be found here. Beginning in March, 2015, Thumbtack began collecting results monthly for this new survey. Survey results will be released the last week of the month going forward.

For more information about the survey or the methodology, please email Thumbtack’s Chief Economist Jon Lieber at jon.lieber@thumbtack.com.

About Thumbtack

Thumbtack is a consumer service that helps millions of people accomplish the personal projects that are central to their lives. Launched in December 2009 and headquartered in San Francisco, Thumbtack introduces customers to experienced professionals who are available, interested and qualified to meet their specific needs. Whether looking for a painter for their home, a math tutor for their child, or a DJ for their wedding, Thumbtack provides anyone in the U.S. with an easy and dependable way to get started, compare options, and hire with confidence. Thumbtack helps customers with 5+ million projects per year by introducing them to available and qualified professionals within hours. With service professionals representing more than 950 categories and operating in all 50 U.S. states, the company currently has more than 150,000 paying professionals available for customers. Thumbtack has raised a total of $150 million from Sequoia Capital, Tiger Global Management, Javelin Venture Partners, and Google Capital.

The warm weather means exciting events at Nine Pin, including these special announcements. Check them out!   June 13 -- Can Release and Pig Roast -- 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Come on down to our production facility (929 Broadway) and enjoy delicious local pork with sides as we celebrate the release Nine Pin cans! We will begin serving food around 4 p.m. and there will be a canning demonstration from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Yanni's Too Restaurant will be serving food as well. Meal and cider to be purchased at Nine Pin the day of the event. There is no cover charge. Dine'n at Nine Pin. Building off of last summer's hit Cider and Sliders, a different food truck will be stationed every night outside of Nine Pin until 9 p.m., with happy hour draft specials on weekdays from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Here is the schedule for food trucks: Wednesday - Slidin' Dirty Restaurant and Food Truck Thursday - The Chuck Wagon Friday - Grillin' & Chillin' Food Truck or Yanni's Too Restaurant Saturday - Yanni's Too Restaurant Can't make it down to Albany? See where you can pick up Nine Pin bottles here.   Tasting Room Hours at 929 Broadway Wednesday – 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday – 4.p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday – 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday – 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. And by appointment. Tours by appointment only.

Innovative Batteries, Fuel Cell Technologies and Related Products to Help Provide
Resilient and Efficient Solutions for Vehicles, Buildings or Electric Grid Use

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) has announced awards to seven New York-based companies to scale-up or demonstrate innovative new approaches to energy storage, an essential component of Governor Cuomo’s Reforming the Energy Vision (REV) comprehensive energy strategy.

The companies – members of the New York Battery and Energy Storage Technology (NY-BEST) Consortium – will work on "bench-to-prototype" technologies to move clean-technology energy storage devices from the lab to the marketplace. REV is Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s comprehensive energy strategy to build a next-generation energy system that is clean, resilient and affordable for all New Yorkers.

Technologies include advanced batteries; ultracapacitors, which store and discharge energy quickly; fuel cells; and control modules, which help reduce energy consumption. These technologies can reduce the need for fossil fuels in transportation, create a more efficient energy grid and make greater use of renewable energy sources.  

"The companies receiving these awards will help create innovative energy storage technology to serve vehicle, building and grid power needs," said John B. Rhodes, President and CEO, NYSERDA. "Under Governor Cuomo's REV strategy, New York State is transforming the way electricity is distributed and used by consumers, and energy storage will factor significantly into development of a resilient, affordable, clean energy system."

Energy storage serves a vital role in a variety of power applications. It improves grid performance by enabling utilities to smooth out routine energy fluctuations, improving energy efficiency at power plants and reducing the risk of grid outages at times of high demand. Storage also provides opportunities to take greater advantage of renewable energy resources, such as solar or wind, at customer sites, storing clean energy when it is not needed for future use when demand is higher. In transportation, it serves an important role in providing instant energy for hybrid and electric vehicles, as well as electronic devices.

"NY-BEST is grateful for the strong support that New York State continues to demonstrate toward the energy storage industry," said William Acker, Executive Director of NY-BEST. "From the state’s support of energy storage R&D and prototyping and commercialization resources, to its recognition of storage’s role in transforming the electric grid, it’s clear that New York State is a great place for the energy storage industry. We congratulate these innovative companies on their successful awards from NYSERDA and look forward to supporting their continued success.”

Support is being provided for the following projects:

New York City

Chemistry to increase battery life and decrease costs – Urban Electric Power (New York City) has developed a zinc-manganese-dioxide battery chemistry to reduce the total cost of electrical energy storage in grid-based applications.

Long Island

Anti-idling battery to reduce the need for ambulances to run engines continuously – Bren-Tronics (Commack) is a prime supplier of rechargeable and high energy lithium batteries to the U.S. military. It is developing an anti-idling battery that reduces fuel costs, noise and emissions.

Multi-chemistry battery-charger and low-voltage power supply used in transportation applications – Applied Power Systems (Hicksville) seeks to improve the functionality and efficiency of its technology for transportation applications, including commuter rail lines. The company is expanding its product capabilities to include new battery technologies.

Hudson Valley

Storage for solar energy – Varta Microbattery (Rye) is developing an energy storage solution for solar installations that will provide backup power while minimizing the need for additional components. The project includes development of an "island interconnection device" that allows a microgrid at a customer site or in a community to easily connect or disconnect from the main electric grid.

Capital Region

Nanomaterial battery component manufacturing – Enermat Technologies (Clifton Park) founded by graduates of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, seeks to commercialize graphene-based electrodes for advanced lithium-ion batteries by developing a scalable manufacturing strategy to produce this nanomaterial, which can store more energy than existing materials.

Finger Lakes

Fuel cell assembly technology – American Fuel Cell (Rochester) is demonstrating the scale-up of its new fuel cell technology for multiple stationary and mobility applications, offering reduced manufacturing costs from existing technology. The company participated in NYSERDA's Rochester-based proof-of-concept center, NEXUS-NY, which helps early-stage researchers turn lab successes into commercial products.

Statewide

Power converter to store more energy in a smaller space -- Working with Applied Power Systems, PowerHub Systems is developing a silicone-carbide-based power converter for energy storage systems that are expected to take up less space and store more power than comparable technologies.

Under Governor Cuomo’s initiative for Reforming the Energy Vision, New York State will spur clean energy innovation, bring in new investments, improve consumer choice while protecting the environment and energizing New York’s economy. This pioneering approach provides New Yorkers new opportunities for energy savings, local power generation, and enhanced reliability. To achieve the State’s economic development and environmental objectives, Reforming the Energy Vision encompasses statewide initiatives such as the Clean Energy Fund and $1 billion NY Green Bank to overcome market barriers and attract private capital. By empowering communities and creating jobs through programs like Community Solar NY and K-Solar for schools, the $40 million NY-Prize competition for community microgrids and the $1 billion NY-Sun Initiative, New York is leveraging statewide resources to integrate local energy resources and meet the needs of New York communities. 

About NYSERDA

NYSERDA, a public benefit corporation, offers objective information and analysis, innovative programs, technical expertise, and support to help New Yorkers increase energy efficiency, save money, use renewable energy, and reduce their reliance on fossil fuels. NYSERDA professionals work to protect our environment and create clean-energy jobs. NYSERDA has been developing partnerships to advance innovative energy solutions in New York since 1975. To learn more about NYSERDA’s programs and funding opportunities, visit http://nyserda.ny.gov or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram.

Help us to make Saratoga County 

one of the healthiest places to live and work!

Chamber declares June 2015 as Employee Wellness Month We believe it takes a practical approach to implement inspiration. Our goal is to inspire everyone who lives and works in Saratoga County to help us ensure that Saratoga County is one of the healthiest places to live.  To do this, we're encouraging all of our members to become part of our #healthysaratoga movement during the month of June as we celebrate National Employee Wellness Month. Our partner is BlueShield of Northeastern New York and we thank them for their generous sponsorship of our #healthysaratoga movement! Celebrate Employee Wellness Month this June 2015 with the #healthysaratoga movement! With the support of Blue Shield of Northeastern New York, our Health & Wellness Council has planned a series of events to make it easy for local employers and employees to take part in this wellness celebration and to become a part of the #healthysaratoga movement. Wednesday, June 3rd - Join us (and bring your family, coworkers and friends) and the Saratoga Stryders for a special walk or run at your own pace in the Saratoga Spa State Park. A special ribbon cutting to kick-off Employee Wellness Month will take place at 5:30 p.m. with the walk and run starting at 6:00 p.m. near the Spa Little Theater. The Stryders will have several people who will lead walkers or casual joggers/runners over a section of the Cross Country Course. People can choose to do as much or as little of that as they want. Friday, June 5th - Clifton Park - Halfmoon Employee Wellness Walk at 11:30 a.m. at the Clifton Park - Halfmoon EMS. Registration starts at 11:30 a.m. and the walk will start at 12:00 noon. This is a one-mile walk on a sidewalk with an escort by the Saratoga County Sheriff's Department. Door prizes and goodie bags for all attendees. Please click here for details and to register! Thursday, June 18th - The Second Annual Chamber Networking Mixer and #healthysaratoga expo at the Roosevelt Baths, in the Saratoga Spa State Park, 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Healthy hors d'oeuvres, a cash bar, great networking, and the chance to connect with up to 50 local health and wellness organizations. For details or to register, please click here. Thursday, June 25th - The Chamber #healthysaratoga networking breakfast will be held at Healthy Living, in Wilton, from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. A healthy breakfast buffet, the chance to networking with members, and to get some expert advice on how you and your employees can achieve your health and wellness goals. Click here for more details. Share your stories and help us to inspire others! If you and your employees take action to participate in our #healthysaratoga movement and employee wellness month, please send us an email and a photo so that we can share your story and inspire others to follow your lead. You can also post your own photos on Facebook or Twitter or Instagram using the #healthysaratoga hashtag. We will then be happy to share your posts as well with our tens of thousands of fans, friends, and followers across Saratoga County. Last year, our members helped us to generate over 1,200 #healthysaratoga posts on the web. We know that a number of chamber members saw these posts and we're inspired to take action to improve their personal health and the focus on wellness in the workplace. Special thanks again to BlueShield of Northeastern New York! To learn more about the Chamber's Health and Wellness Council, please click here!
	We believe it takes a practical approach to implement inspiration.

WHAT:                 Ribbon Cutting and Grand Opening Celebration at their new Defreestville location

WHEN:                 Thursday, May 28, 2015

                                Ribbon cutting at 4 p.m., Open house to follow

                                            

           WHERE:               446 North Greenbush Road, Defreestville, NY, 12144

 WHO:                   Jay Christiana, President/CEO Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices  Blake, REALTORS®

Rensselaer County Executive Kathleen Jimino

WHY:  To celebrate the grand opening and new location of the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Blake, REALTORS®. Attendees are welcome to enjoy light refreshments and tour the new space.

                               

Blake Realty was founded in 1922 by Samuel E. Blake and in 1954 was incorporated as Blake Realty, Inc. In 1968 the first branch was opened in Amsterdam, NY and expanded in 1970 to serve various segments of business including residential, commercial, relocation, investment and development. Since the 1970's Blake Realty has actively engaged in an extensive merger and acquisition campaign, creating affiliations with more than 20 leading real estate companies serving various areas of Northeastern New York. In February of 2015, Blake Realty, Inc. became part of the fastest growing real estate company in the world, Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices. For more than 93 years and four generations of local family direction, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Blake, REALTORS® are dedicated to continued growth, leadership and service throughout upstate New York.

The company has been recognized by the Albany Business Review as a "Best Place to Work" award for 2011, 2012 and 2014 and a "Top 3 Workplace" by The Times Union for 2013 and 2015.

Northshire Bookstore, Saratoga Springs, NY: Throughout the month of June, Northshire Bookstore will host readings and signings in Saratoga Springs. Except where otherwise noted, events are free and open to the public, and will take place at Northshire Bookstore Saratoga, 424 Broadway.

Story Time! Every Friday at 10:30 am

Sold Out! Tuesday, June 2, 7 pm at the Saratoga City Center: David McCullough “The Wright Brothers”

Presented in partnership with WAMC, Northeast Public Radio, Off the Shelf with David McCullough. This ticketed event is sold out. Pulitzer Prize winning author David McCullough discusses his newest book, “The Wright Brothers,” with Off the Shelf host Joe Donahue.

Friday, June 5, 7 pm: Jane Smiley “Early Warning”

Tickets are required for this event - $5 ticket can be redeemed for $5 off a copy of “Early Warning”

Pulitzer Prize winning author Jane Smiley discusses “Early Warning,” the newest installment of her best-selling American trilogy, with Issac Pulver, director of the Saratoga Springs Public Library. Tickets can be purchased at Northshire Bookstore.

Saturday, June 6, 7 pm: Sharon Lee and Steve Miller “Dragon in Exile”

Join us for a reading, discussion and signing with authors Sharon Lee and Steve Miller, who are presenting #18 in the popular and exciting science fiction Liaden Universe®. Clan Korval rebuilds its fortunes on the gritty, semi-anarchic planet of Surebleak.

Monday, June 8, 5:30 pm: “Science Bob” Pflugfelder “Nick and Tesla’s Special Effects Spectacular” Join "Science Bob" Pflugfelder for a fun conversation about his Nick and Tesla series of science-based mysteries. This cinematic saga features instructions for all-new movie magic projects that kids can build themselves, such as camera gear, stunt dummies, make-up magic, and more. Suitable for children in 3^rd Grade & up.

Saturday, June 13, 11 am: Violet LeMay “100 Pablo Picassos”

Join author/illustrator Violet LeMay for a storytime, drawing demonstration and art activity celebrating her new book "100 Pablo Picassos." Young readers will explore the artist life from his childhood, to his major contributions to modern art, and from his love for pets to his endless curiosity about life. Suitable for ages 3 to 7.

Wednesday, June 17, 6 pm: Readings from “The Apple Tree”

Readings from The Apple Tree featuring local poets and writers from The Academy of Lifelong Learning, sponsored by Empire State College in Saratoga Springs. The Apple Tree is a journal of selected prose, poetry, art and photography submitted by members of The Academy.

Friday, June 19, 6 pm: Nancy Reisman “Trompe L’Oeil”

A reading, discussion and signing with Reisman, a Yaddo alumna and recipient of awards including the O. Henry Award. In Trompe L’Oeil, the Murphy family experiences a life-altering tragedy during a vacation in Rome. Seamlessly alternating among several characters’ points of view, Reisman captures the details of their daily lives as well as their longing for connection and fear of abandonment.

Saturday, June 20, 7 pm: Joan Murray and Suzanne Parker, Poetry Reading

Joan Murray shares poems from Swimming for the Ark: New and Selected Poems 1990-2015. This career-defining book offers twenty-two new poems along with generous selections from her earlier books. Suzanne Parker reads from Viral, written in response to the tragic suicide of Tyler Clementi. Viral explores the complex issues of sexuality, shame, and masculinity.

Monday, June 22, 7 pm: Book Launch Celebration for Saratoga Springs: A Centennial History at the Saratoga Springs History Museum / Canfield Casino, 1 East Congress Street

For nearly 250 years, Saratoga Springs has been one of North America’s most fabled resort towns. Until now, its story has never been told in a single volume. As part of the celebration of the centennial of the city’s incorporation, join us in welcoming this new definitive history.

Thursday, June 25, 6 pm: Paul Doiron “The Precipice”

Join us for an evening with Edgar Award finalist Paul Doiron. In this riveting new novel, Maine game warden Mike Bowditch joins a desperate search for two missing hikers as Maine wildlife officials deal with a frightening rash of coyote attacks. Hope turns to despair after two unidentified corpses are discovered-their bones picked clean by coyotes. Do the bodies belong to the missing hikers? And were they killed by the increasingly aggressive wild dogs?

Friday, June 26, 7 pm: Shires Press Spotlight: Deborah Dittner, Donna Miller, Bob Stannard and Gary Stine

Join us for presentation and signing with four authors published by our own Shires press.

• Deborah Dittner Body Balance: Empowering PerformanceLearn how to reconnect with the natural world and the powerful whole foods it offers to fuel up and achieve the sustainable energy we all want.
• Donna Miller Mad Random: Claiming Life out of ChaosMiller's book chronicles one family’s struggle to find normalcy while raising a son with severe emotional disabilities. Brutally honest, yet laugh out loud funny, this book shines a light on the anxiety, heartbreak and rage experienced by thousands of families seeking acceptance for their difficult, quirky children.  
• Bob Stannard How to Survive the Recession and How to Survive the RecoveryThrough a variety of tales, columns and adventures these books are an autobiographical glimpse of a Vermont life.
• Gary Stine Claim Your ConnectionClaim the connection that already exists between you and your audience. Public speaking is a chance to share who you really are with the world. This book is designed to help you hone your skills.

Sunday, June 28, 2 pm: Artsy Afternoon – A House for Hermit Crab by Eric Carle

Come enjoy this classic by beloved picture book author Eric Carle.  Learn about ocean creatures and make some undersea artwork! Suitable for ages 3-12, adult helper needed.

All events listed above will take place at Northshire Bookstore, 424 Broadway in Saratoga Springs, NY, and are free and open to the public, except where otherwise noted.

For more information on these or other events, call 518-682-4200 or 1-855-339-5990, or visit the Northshire Bookstore website at www.northshire.com.

 

Premier Online Pet Reservation Company Signs Eight-Year Lease in Downtown Schenectady

Schenectady – Furlocity, Inc., the premier pet reservation company, announced today that it has signed an eight-year office lease in Schenectady, New York. Furlocity provides a technology platform and website to enable pet owners to search, identify and book trusted pet boarding stays, veterinary services and pet-friendly hotels online -- simplifying the booking process.

On or about September 1, Furlocity will relocate its headquarters from San Diego, CA into a 3,000 square foot space on the first floor of the New York BizLab at 251 State Street in downtown Schenectady. 

“We are pleased that Furlocity has selected downtown Schenectady for its new home. This firm could have located anywhere and we are pleased that they selected the Capital Region and downtown Schenectady for their new headquarters’ location,” said Ray Gillen, Chair of the Schenectady County Metroplex Development Authority. Metroplex will provide a grant to cover the cost of rent and utilities for the first year of the lease.

“With the support of the Schenectady County Metroplex Development Authority and Antonio Civitella, CEO of Transfinder and the founder and president of the New York BizLab business accelerator, Furlocity is positioned to become an official resident of the Capital Region,” said Denise Fernandez Pallozzi, Chief Executive Officer of Furlocity. “We have made a long-term commitment to Schenectady County, which will include the hiring of local talent that will become integral members of the Furlocity family. Furlocity is in strong growth mode and will be expanding our team to create approximately 12 new jobs within the first two years, and 20 jobs by the end of 2017.”

“We are excited to welcome Furlocity to the New York BizLab. Furlocity is a fast-growing company that will contribute greatly to the BizLab's ecosystem as well as the Capital Region's tech community,” said Civitella.

According to the American Pet Products Association’s annual report on the pet industry, Americans spent an all-time high of $58 billion on their pets in 2014. Of that amount, approximately $20 billion was spent on veterinary care and ‘other’ pet services (grooming and boarding). The ‘other services’ category grew the fastest in 2014, and includes costs on grooming, boarding, walking, training, day care and spa treatments.

     

About Furlocity

Furlocity was founded on the vision of making pet parents’ lives easier by utilizing 21st century technology to access the services they need for their dog and cat ‘family members’. Furlocity.com is the result of that vision. Furlocity.com is the premier pet accommodations website, providing an online technology platform that enables pet owners to search, identify and book trusted pet boarding stays, veterinary services and pet-friendly hotels; simplifying the booking process. Furlocity’s online marketplace currently includes top-rated pet boarding facilities and veterinarians in more than 105 cities and 30 states, and more than 100,000 pet-friendly hotels across the United States.

Furlocity was founded in 2012 by busy ‘pet parents’ who understood the need to establish a more intuitive process for finding safe pet accommodations options. Furlocity.com and its proprietary online booking tool help foster mutually beneficial relationships between pet owners and trusted pet care services providers. Its technology platform helps pet boarding establishments increase occupancy and grow customer connections.

To learn more, please visit http://Furlocity.com, and follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+ and Twitter.