Business View Civil & Municipal | Volume 2, Issue 8

57 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 2, ISSUE 8 TOWN OF BALLSTON, NEW YORK and the Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Business Professional Association (BH-BL BPA). Both organizations work alongside the school districts to ensure students are prepared to enter the workforce. Reynolds clarifies, “We regard ourselves as the area of Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake and that includes the surrounding towns. We’ve got that to draw on with our workforce; it’s been an effective tool for us.” In the last five years, several medium-sized businesses moved into the heart of Burnt Hills along Route 50. The town would like to further develop this area, but without any sewer utilities along the highway, it’s challenging. We want to improve this, along with walkability,” says Connolly. “It doesn’t have sidewalks along Route 50 going to all the businesses. We have an idea on how to make it happen, but the town doesn’t own that land. We’d have to get cooperation from the businesses.” In contrast, the other side of town in the that provide most of the services for residents. Reynolds, notes, “It was a big deal when CVS moved into Burnt Hills a decade ago. Now there’s also a McDonald’s and Dunkin’ Donuts. We revel in that we don’t have a lot of chains.” The biggest employers are the school districts and Curtis Lumber Co. Inc. There are three industrial parks – one on McCrea Hill Road off Route 50, the town’s main roadway that is home to productive businesses with only one available lot left. But that park will be expanding. “The second park, off Route 67 is the Curtis Industrial Park, separate from Curtis Lumber but next to it,” explains Connolly. “They have a couple lots, but are looking to expand. There’s a good number of businesses in there. The last industrial park is on Commerce Drive with a handful of commercial businesses. It would be great if we had more industrial areas.” The area has two professional workforce development associations, the Ballston Spa Business and Professional Association (BSBPA)