News
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Local High School Students Complete Career Awareness Program
January 25, 2020Thirteen Columbia County high school juniors successfully completed the 2019 Junior Career Institute on January 25.
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C-GCC, Delhi Roll Out New Degree Program
February 10, 2020Local college students will now have a more streamlined process of earning their bachelor’s degrees, thanks to a new partnership between Columbia-Greene Community College and SUNY Delhi.
Public Meeting Schedule
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CEDC Loan Committee
February 25, 2020 - 8:00AM -
CEDC Board of Directors
February 25, 2020 - 8:30AM -
CEDC Workforce & Education Committee
March 5, 2020 - 4:00PM -
CEDC Executive Committee
March 10, 2020 - 8:30AM -
IDA CRC PARIS Meeting
March 16, 2020 - 8:30AM -
CEDC Audit & Finance Committee
March 24, 2020 - 8:30AM -
CEDC Loan Committee
March 25, 2020 - 8:30AM -
CEDC Board of Directors
March 31, 2020 - 8:30AM
CEDC 2020 Annual Meeting
April 28, 2020 | 7:30AM – 9:30AM
Kozel’s Restaurant, Ghent, NY 12075
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Germantown Laundromat & Shop
3 Church Avenue, Germantown, NY 12526
Dana and Tracy Martin are the proud owners of Germantown Laundromat & Shop, a staple in the hamlet of Germantown since 1965. The couple purchased the business in 2018, and since then they have been busy expanding their offerings and upgrading the property.
Today, the familiar little building on Chuch Avenue houses a sustainable shop, a weekly on-site seamstress, as well as a traditional laundromat. And it’s now painted a bright, cheery yellow and features a bocce court and seating in the backyard.
“Germantown Laundromat has been here over half a century,” says Tracy. “We wanted to keep the business going while adding products and services that support environmentally friendly behaviors, like a weekly seamstress for alterations and repairs. It’s a laundromat that aims to teach the community the impact our daily choices have on our bodies and the earth.”
Once Dana and Tracy purchased the property, they turned to Columbia Economic Development Corporation (CEDC) to help finance the cost of inventory and new equipment. The couple were approved for an SBA 
Microloan, which qualified them to receive free technical assistance from one of CEDC’s business consultants.
“The consultant who assisted with setting up our books was terrific,” according to Tracy. “Having one-on-one training to set up QuickBooks and payroll was extremely helpful.”
Germantown Laundromat is no ordinary laundromat. It has free Wi-Fi, indoor + outdoor seating, a water refill station and restroom. The laudromat is open 24/7. A seamstress is onsite on Fridays. The sustainable shop is open Thursday-Sunday, 11-5pm. The business can be reached by calling 518.537.7133 or emailing hello@germantownlaundromat.com. Follow along on instagram @germantown_laundromat.
Saisonnier
11 Chatham Street, Kinderhook, NY 12106
Saisonnier is a family-owned beer, cheese and sundries bar and shop located in the heart of Kinderhook. Founded in 2018 by Kasey and Patrick Kenny, the business offers 150 craft beers, local artisanal cheese, select wines, choice charcuterie, and provisions for dine in or takeaway.
The majority of their products and ingredients are produced by local farmers, artisans and brewers.
Kasey and Patrick moved from Brooklyn to the Hudson Valley to start a family as well as a small business. They found an ideal live/work situation in a historic building on Chatham Street in the Village of Kinderhook.
“The entire community has been supportive of our plan from the beginning,” according to Patrick. The couple and their two-year-old son live upstairs while the tavern occupies the ground floor.
Shortly after arriving, Patrick enrolled in the 8-Week MicroBusiness Seminar Series offered by Columbia Economic Development Corporation. He took advantage of the free Technical Assistance to finish his business plan and learn QuickBooks. A small business loan from CEDC helped finance the start-up costs.
“CEDC provided the gap financing that made the project come together,” said Patrick.
Saisonnier provides a comfortable space for the community while also supporting local agriculture. It is open Mondays & Thursdays 11:30am-9:00pm, Fridays & Saturdays 11:30am-10:30pm and Sundays 11:30am-7:00pm. Events and parties can be scheduled using the space by calling 518.610.8100. Follow along on instagram @ok_saisonnier.
