Malta Business Community Alliance launches website
MALTA, N.Y. » In a technologically-filled age like this one, turning to the computer for answers is part of everyday life. Add a worldwide pandemic to the mix and it becomes more so.
If one wants to order something these days they open a website. Want to see when a business is open or closed; go to their website. With that firmly in mind the Malta Business Community Alliance (MBCA) last week unveiled its own website, www.MaltaNYBusiness.com.
Its goal is to promote living and doing business in the community.
The MBCA is the new name for the former Malta Business and Professional Association. The latter was dissolved after affiliating with the Chamber of Southern Saratoga County which is an affiliated member of the Capital Region Chamber.
The MBCA is a volunteerled committee focusing exclusively on the Malta area. The new MBCA website is the culmination of an effort led by Malta businesses and residents who support those businesses.
The need for a Malta-centered website came out of a Feb. 27 meeting that took place just as the COVID-19 pandemic was picking up steam in New York. Development of a website was identified as a top priority by the businesses at that meeting.
Despite the ensuing COVID-19 crisis, the website team, assisted by the Capital Region Chamber, went to work developing the website.
Two town residents who helped with the website’s design were Kimberly Hickok of Marketing Kangaroo who assisted with web development and Pamela Grandin of Clipcorner Business Solutions.
Pete Bardunias, of the Southern Saratoga County Chamber, and Senior Vice President, Community Advancement for the Capital Region Chamber provided website content.
“The intent of the website is to showcase the variety of businesses operating in the Town of Malta,” Hickok said in statement. “We worked together as a team and have made a website that we hope will help people find needed products and services within our town and also gain a greater appreciation for this wonderful community.”
Grandin, a 27-year town resident, said she viewed a website dedicated to Malta’s business community and the community at large as something that was longneeded.
“It’s satisfying to see the vision and dedication of business owners and residents come together through the Malta Business Community Alliance to produce this website,” she said. “This is just the beginning of a larger movement to support and grow the Malta community – as a community.”
As released, the MBCA website is Version 1.0 and includes listings for all Malta businesses associated with the former MBPA
and the Chamber of Southern Saratoga County/Capital Region Chamber.
Every business located within the Town of Malta is welcome to have a complimentary listing on the site. The site includes a link to the Malta Town website for general, emergency services and parks and recreation; a link to the MBCA
Facebook page, as well as business and community information.
The MBCA website, MaltaNYBusiness.com, will evolve based on input to add more robust features to make this site an even more powerful tool. Though large group meetings remain prohibited due to the Coronavirus crisis, virtual meetings will be held to review ideas and determine next steps.
In explaining where MBCA fits on the Capital Region Chamber’s organizational tree Bardunias said it is a committee within the structure of the Chamber of Saratoga County.
“This is an example of what (our) affiliation was expected to do,” he said. “When the Malta Business and Professional Association terminated its organization and became the MBCA and a member of the Southern Saratoga County Chamber it resulted in less overhead and less bureaucracy and put its focus completely on Malta.
“It’s a prime example of what we can do throughout Saratoga County.”
Bardunias said every business enterprise in Malta can be listed on the website at no charge. If the business wants to support the MBCA but not become a full member of the Southern Saratoga County Chamber they can do so for $100 a year. All that money will remain in Malta.
If a business wants to join the Chamber they can do that too. With the membership they will become a full member of the MBCA, the Southern Saratoga County Chamber and the Capital Region Chamber. The Capital Region Chamber has offices in Albany, Clifton Park and Schenectady.
Bardunias gave one example of how a business can save money by joining as a full member. If a business is required to provide sexual harassment training to its employees they can have that training provided as a member of the Capital Region Chamber rather than bringing in a private contractor.
“This highlights more of what the MBCA affiliation was meant to do,” he said. “Everyone is going to get more with this Alliance than they got before.”
For more information on the MaltaNYBusiness.com website email pbardunias@ capitalregionchamber.com or call (518) 431-1408