Matt Jones named as Saratoga County Chamber’s 2026 Joseph Dalton Community Service Award recipient
Matt Jones named as Saratoga County Chamber’s 2026 Joseph Dalton Community Service Award recipient
Local attorney to be honored at Annual Chamber Celebration Night
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — The Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce announces that Matt Jones is the 2026 Joseph Dalton Community Service Award recipient.
Jones will be presented with this award at the Annual Chamber Celebration Night on Thursday, May 7 at The 1863 Club at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs.
This recognition, created by unanimous vote of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors in 2017, is a community service-focused award to honor an individual who has been faithful and loyal to the Saratoga County community for more than 25 years.
Jones is the Senior Partner at Jones Steves Grassi LLP, concentrating his practice in land use and development matters in Saratoga County representing clients with major development projects. He has represented GlobalFoundries, Saratoga Hospital, Skidmore College, Regeneron and many more throughout his nearly five decades of practice.
During his career, Jones has played a significant role in the Saratoga Springs community. He has served as a Vice President of the New York State Bar Association and member of its Executive Committee as well as a former President of the Saratoga County Bar Association. In addition, he has served as: President of the Saratoga Springs Board of Education; Chairman of the Board of Directors of Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce; President of the Saratoga County YMCA Board of Directors; President of the Saratoga Springs Lions Club Foundation Board of Trustees; Vice Chairman and founding Director of the Saratoga Springs City Center Authority; Chairman of the West Avenue Redevelopment Advisory Committee; Chairman of the Saratoga Springs Committee on Recreation; Member of the Saratoga Springs Charter Review Commission; Member of the Board of Directors of the Leadership Saratoga Advisory Board; Member of the Board of Directors of the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation; Chairman of the Blue Streaks Hall of Fame Committee; Co-Founder of the Saratoga County Bar Association Mock Trial Program; and Board Member of the Saratoga Springs Smart City Commission.
In addition to his upcoming receipt of the Chamber’s 2026 Joseph Dalton Community Service Award, Jones has been the recipient of the Leadership Saratoga Distinguished Alumnus Award for Outstanding Service and Achievement to the Community by a Graduate of the Leadership Saratoga program, the YMCA Outstanding Volunteer Service Award for Untiring Devotion to the YMCA, the Community Leadership Association – Distinguished Leadership Award for Exemplary Service, Commitment to the Community, and the 2024 Liberty Bell Award. He was inducted into the Saratoga Springs High School Hall of Distinction in 2022.
“Based upon the activities, involvement, and leadership in the community over the past 47 years,” said past Joseph Dalton Community Service Award recipient L. Clifford Van Wagner in his nomination of Jones, “I can say without reservation that he has proven through his actions to be honorable, ready, relevant, innovative, and versatile while always doing what is right for the community.”
“I worked very closely with Matt the year he chaired the Chamber’s Board of Directors and his advice, and counsel was always based on what was best for the community,” said Todd Shimkus, President of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce. “He’s given his time, talent, and treasure to so many vital parts of our community for decades, and he is one of those leaders everyone respects for the positive difference he makes. The City Center, Saratoga Hospital, the Saratoga Springs School District, and the Saratoga Regional YMCA just to name a few are all better because of Matt’s leadership.”
In addition to its annual recipient, the award recognizes Joseph Dalton, who served as the President of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce from 1970 to 2010. During his tenure, the Chamber’s membership, influence, and impact grew significantly as a direct result of Dalton’s leadership, passion, and commitment to establishing Saratoga County as a great place to live, work and play.
Past recipients of the Joseph Dalton Community Service Award include: Steve Sullivan (2018); Tom Roohan (2019); John Munter, Sr. (2020); and Julie Stokes (2021), L. Clifford Van Wagner (2022), Dr. William Long (2023), Cindy Hollowood (2024) and Colleen Carlson (2025).
For serving as 2025 Chair of the Board for the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce, Tom Bellhouse of West Point Thoroughbreds will be honored at the Annual Chamber Celebration as well as the current Chair of the Board Nil Ghoshal of Polyset.
Registration for the Annual Chamber Celebration Night is now available here.
Sponsorship opportunities are still available. Companies or organizations interested in sponsoring the event are encouraged to contact Andrea Mulholland at amulholland@saratoga.org.
More information about the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce and its events is available online at saratoga.org.
