Columbia County Chamber of Commerce Announces

Recipient of the 18 th Annual Crystal Apple Award

Hudson, NY, February 16, 2007 – The Columbia County Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce Columbia Memorial Hospital as the recipient of the 18th Annual Crystal Apple Award. The Gala was held on Friday, February 16, 2007 at Lippera's at the Chatham House, an award-winning Restaurant-Tavern-Lounge with live music and catering halls in Chatham. Over 115 attendees enjoyed a fabulous dinner crafted by the staff at Lippera's. A video created by Midhudsonmedia highlighted the 2006 accomplishments of the five finalists and a Steuben Glass crystal apple was presented to Columbia Memorial Hospital by the event emcees Tony Jones and Vicki Simons and Chamber Chairman John Maiuri.  Please click here to view the photo gallery.

Columbia Memorial Hospital is the largest non-governmental employer in Columbia County with a $94 million operating budget and approximately 1,200 employees paying $54 million per year in wages and benefits. Columbia Memorial, in conjunction with Landmark Healthcare Facilities, completed a 70,000 square foot Medical Office Building and 394 space Parking Garage adjoined to the hospital in 2006. In addition to the jobs created during construction, it also created 50 additional jobs. The Medical Office Building encompasses an investment of $4,788,000 in medical imaging equipment including digital mammography and a 64 Channel CT with cardiac angiography capabilities and the implementation of new Magnetic Resonance Imaging Unit. This project, along with the completion of a new handicapped accessible lobby with on-grade parking greatly enhances access to state-of-the-art medical services and technology which were located throughout the community into one building.

As part of the project, a $750,000 renovation of Central Sterile Supply located beneath the hospital lobby was also completed. Utilizing $200,000 in funding from a variety of grants and donations, the hospital renovated space on the first floor to accommodate a Child Advocacy Center. In 2006, Columbia Memorial Hospital treated over 6,000 inpatients; over 4,000 surgical procedures; 32,000 emergency department visits; over 223,000 outpatient visits, including physician offices and has provided $6 million dollars in free care.

The other finalists included: Columbia Hudson Partnership; Local 111, LLC; PS/21 Performing Spaces for the 21 st Century and Tierra Farm, Inc. The annual award is presented to a Chamber member business to recognize an extraordinary contribution to economic progress, community improvement, and the quality of life in Columbia County during 2006.

The event was sponsored by First Niagara Bank, National Union Bank of Kinderhook, Midhudsonmedia, The Register-Star/Chatham Courier, Columbia Hudson Partnership, Fingar Insurance, Taconic Farms, Inc., Chatham Properties, Connor, Curran & Schram, PC, Dunn Builders Supply, Germantown Telephone Company/Valstar, Inc., The Independent Newspaper and Shallo Galluscio, Bianchi & Fucito, CPAs, PC.

The Columbia County Chamber of Commerce, with its 850 members, is the leading voice of business in Columbia County, providing advocacy, promotional and benefit solutions for its members. Those seeking more information concerning the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce and membership can contact the Chamber at (518) 828-4417 or visit the website at www.columbiachamber-ny.com.