Schenectady, N.Y., October 22, 2025 – The Board of Directors of the Schenectady County Metroplex Development Authority met this evening and approved eight projects.

Starting downtown, the Board approved a $350,000 grant that will help Proctors upgrade its stage lighting needed to host major Broadway shows and concerts.  The new LED lights will be more energy efficient and will help keep Proctors at the leading edge of theaters nationwide.  The theater attracts 750,000 visitors to downtown Schenectady each year.  Metroplex funding will also help Proctors design space for new educational programs that will bring more visitors downtown.

Philip Morris, Proctors CEO said, “This lighting upgrade is something that is essential to securing the best programming possible for the main stage and will position us for continued growth.  We thank Metroplex for their ongoing partnership and support as we continue to work together to bring exciting shows and concerts to downtown Schenectady.”

Staying downtown, the Board approved a sales tax exemption for Solaris Hospitality Group, new owners of the Hampton Inn located at 450 State Street.  The Iowa- based company operates eight hotels in the Midwest and plans to invest $2.6 million to upgrade the Hampton Inn downtown.

Todd Garofano, Executive Director of Discover Schenectady said, “We’re thrilled to welcome Solaris Hospitality Group to Schenectady and to the Hampton Inn Downtown. The new owners are excited to move into this market and specifically targeted Schenectady because of the growth and momentum in the tourism sector.”

A $75,000 grant was approved to improve 416-426 State Street, a group of four buildings located between Proctors and Movieland. The grant will be used to fund façade improvements and HVAC work needed to convert space on the upper floors of the buildings for apartments, meeting the growing demand for housing downtown.

On Van Vranken Avenue in Schenectady’s Northside neighborhood, ten new townhomes are planned with a total investment of $3.3 million at a site that the Capital Region Land Bank cleared for new development.  Metroplex administers the Land Bank as part of Schenectady County’s unified economic development team. Metroplex will provide a $130,000 loan toward site infrastructure costs.  Metroplex has helped to support the development of more than 3,000 housing units in recent years to meet demand for new housing as Schenectady County continues to grow.

In Duanesburg, the Board approved a $40,000 grant to help the Back Barn Brewery expand.  Located on Route 20, Back Barn has become a popular destination in the Western part of Schenectady County including visitors travelling to and from Cooperstown and other destinations.  The expansion will help the brewery offer more food options to accompany its successful operations.

Last month the Board approved a grant of $37,350 for infrastructure work at Adirondack Beverages in Glenville.  A small increase in the grant amount of $4,200 was approved by the Board this evening as the total project cost increased.  Adirondack Beverages occupies almost one million square feet of space at the Glenville Business and Technology Park with more than 400 employees.

A contract award of $442,890 was approved for improvements to the Broadway Garage which is owned by Metroplex.  The garage can handle 1,200 cars.  The lowest of three bids was submitted by PCC Contracting, Inc., based in Schenectady.

The last item approved by the Board was a resolution starting the condemnation project at 37 Mohawk Avenue in Scotia.  The building is vacant and blighted and both the Village of Scotia and Metroplex have attempted to work cooperatively with the owners who are located out of state to repair major building defects to no avail.  As a result, Metroplex will seek to acquire the building through the condemnation process so that progress can be made to bring the building up to commercial standards.

Metroplex is the lead economic development agency in Schenectady County set up to invest a small share of County sales tax revenue in projects that create jobs and new tax base.

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