Year-end review with Capital Region Chamber
CLIFTON PARK, N.Y. » As 2021 winds to a close, many administrative organizations are looking back on what the year has brought, and what the year ahead will bring. Pete Bardunias, senior vice president of community advancement with the Capital Region Chamber, took a moment to share his thoughts.
Q
: Looking back on 2021, what is the Chamber’s biggest accomplishment this year?
A : Our biggest accomplishment was distributing $1.6 million from the Capital Region Advancement Fund, and working with a consortium of other organizations through Empire
State Development to secure an additional $1.2 million in grants from the New York State Covid-19 Pandemic Small Business Recovery Grant Program. That money went to Saratoga County small businesses. There are businesses that are still alive because we helped them, and it was very gratifying to me to be able to do that. The ability to get those grants really impressed me personally. It meant a lot.
Q
: What would you say was the biggest challenge the Chamber faced in 2021?
A
: It was definitely understanding and adapting to the impacts that the issues of the day are having on our business community. For example, at a recent meeting of the
Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Business Professionals Association, it really struck home how much the national supply chain crisis has really hit the small local businesses. I thought for sure only the big chains would be affected, and the smaller businesses would do fine, but they were struggling with it just as much as everyone else. It was a real eye-opener for me.
Q
: What are your thoughts looking ahead to 2022?
A
: The ongoing pandemic sure has made it hard to predict when we’re going to return to what we remember as normal, but at the same time a lot of businesses have learned to adapt. We hope they’ll continue to thrive and change, getting the supplies and the resources they need to do what they do best.
Q
: Does the Chamber have any goals for 2022?
A
: We’re aiming to make sure every possible resource is given to Saratoga County businesses to help them emerge from this crisis stronger than ever and move towards a more robust future. We have tools available to aid small businesses in compliance issues, and our Education and Talent Diversity and Inclusion experts are seeking ways to get more workers into the pipeline for area businesses. We want to help people stay “plugged in” and help them determine the best course of action for their businesses.