LEADERSHIP IN TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE
Steuben County is home to the corporate headquarters and global R&D facility for Corning Incorporated, one of the world’s foremost leaders in technology and science.
Since the mid-1800s, Corning Incorporated has applied unparalleled expertise in specialty glass, ceramics, and optical physics to develop products that have created new industries and transformed lives.
MANUFACTURING
Manufacturing is a major employer in Steuben County, providing nearly 11% of the jobs base, which is above the national figure of 8%. Manufacturing specialties include ceramics and specialty materials, power management, dairy and cheese foods, and fabricated metal products.
Transit manufacturing remains an integral part of the manufacturing landscape in Steuben County with advanced technologies and innovation driving the next generation of railcar development. Alstom’s latest investment in Hornell has made the company one of a few nationwide to build railcar shells in the United States, which will lead to new manufacturing opportunities. Supply chain companies such as TTA, Strobels Supply, ATM, and Gray Manufacturing support Alstom and others in the transportation industry, making Hornell a nationwide leader in passenger rail manufacturing.
RENEWABLE ENERGY
Steuben County has been a leader in renewable energy development in New York State from the time its first wind farm came online in 2009. Since then, over 500 MW of power through wind and solar development have been added to the state’s power grid. Biodigesters and renewable natural gas projects have also been built to clean methane for reuse as natural gas. Future projects in the pipeline will add another 800 MW of power to the grid.
AGRICULTURE
Steuben County is home to over 1,300 farms with total sales of $251 million, ranking 12th in New York State. Half of those sales are attributed to milk production, which supports several cheese and food production businesses such as BelGioioso Cheese, Golden Age Cheese, and HP Hood.
The cool climate surrounding Keuka Lake is fantastic for grape growing, which has spurred the development and expansion of new wineries along the lake, including Weis Vineyards and Living Roots Winery, and has allowed award-winning wineries such as Bully Hill and Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery to expand their wine menus.
CLEANTECH STRATEGY
Building on the renewable energy assets of Steuben County and the manufacturing prowess of the Southern Tier, the IDA partnered with its seven economic development peers to identify and position the region for significant private investment in next generation technologies. This strategy, completed by Newmark, focused on cleantech manufacturing, clean energy production, and supply chain opportunities that would benefit from the area’s nationally recognized academic and research universities focused on advancing innovation in this space and the region’s position in renewable energy generation. The information generated will be used to identify and develop sites for new or expanding companies and to attract new investment in cleantech industries that pair well with the Southern Tier economy.