Business & Industry

Join Us In the Southern Tier
The City of Elmira and Chemung County are committed to the process of development and growth while still working to maintain the friendly hometown atmosphere that so many citizens find appealing. Over the years, Chemung County and Elmira have seen great changes in the driving forces behind the local economy and once again are going through another period of change and growth. New businesses are attracted by the benefits of relatively low cost real estate, the friendly and hard working-people, and a community that makes you feel right at home. We welcome you to join us.

Manufacturing
Manufacturing is a core component of the Chemung County economy today. Access to highways, air and rail service, telecommunication networks, and a diverse work force allows local manufacturers to compete on a global scale. Elmira is strategically located within 200 miles of national and international shipping ports in New York City, Pittsburgh, and Toronto, reducing shipping costs for local manufacturers.

Local manufacturers produce a wide variety of raw goods and finished products that are shipped all over the world:

The Hilliard Corporation is an Elmira manufacturer that makes over 16,000 different specialized one-of-a-kind products for businesses all over the world. Kennedy Valve, a division of McWane Corporation, manufactures valves and fire hydrants at its plant on East Water Street in Elmira. Eastern Metal, USA Sign, and the Sign Man manufactures interior and exterior signs, including the City of Elmira historical entrance sign, erected on E. Church Street in 2004. Creative Orthotics and Prosthetics custom designs and manufactures orthotic and prosthetic devices for individuals. Spanish manufacturer, CAF, calls Elmira Heights its headquarters for operations in North America where it constructs rail cars for the transit systems of the cities of Pittsburgh and Sacramento.

Vulcraft, a division of NuCor, manufactures steel joists, joist girders, steel floors, and roof decks at the new plant in the Town of Chemung. Hardinge Incorporated is an international company with corporate headquarters located in Horseheads. Hardinge is a world-renowned and respected manufacturer of precision machine tools. Schweizer Aircraft in nearby Big Flats manufactures helicopters, surveillance aircraft, and aviation parts. Schweizer is a contractor for the federal government, constructing unmanned helicopters for the military. Also in Big Flats, Corning Life Sciences manufactures laboratory glassware, IST creates nuclear instrumentation and radiation tolerant cameras, and Orthstar is a software engineering company that creates software to automate and simulate systems.

Commercial Retail
Commercial retailers meet consumer needs and fill several shopping plazas and commercial districts throughout the county. Here you will find the perfect mix of city convenience and small-town living with an eclectic collection from hometown mom and pop shops to nationwide retail chain stores. Hot spots for shopping include Downtown Elmira, Tops Plaza in Southside Elmira, Wegmans Plaza in Northside Elmira, Grand Central Plaza in Horseheads, and the Arnot Mall and Consumer Square in Big Flats.

Downtown Elmira
Take a walk through Downtown Elmira and stop into the Community Bookstore to grab coffee and the morning Star-Gazette. Down the block, stop for lunch in Barb's Soups On Kitchen. Pick up a special gift and card inside Cappy's. Find the perfect pair of shoes in Panosian's Shoe Store in Langdon Plaza. Browse the shops along Victorian Row in the Historic Near Westside Neighborhood District. Downtown Elmira is filled with small shops and offices for lawyers, doctors, real estate agents, and financial consultants.
»Elmira Downtown Development Business Directory

Tops Plaza
Tops Plaza, located at the intersection of South Main Street and Hudson Street, includes Top Friendly Markets grocery store, Hollywood Video, and the Dollar Tree. Across the street is a strip of businesses on South Main Street that includes Geroulds Pharmacy, Kerbein Printing and Signs, Ginos Pizzeria, the China Café, and more.

Wegmans Plaza
Wegmans Plaza, located on Clemens Center Parkway North of Washington Avenue, includes Wegmans Food Markets, the UPS Store, Ray's Jewelers, H&R Block, First Heritage/Corning Credit Union, and more.

Grand Central Plaza
Grand Central Plaza, located at the intersection of Center Street and Route 17 in Horseheads includes K-Mart, Raymour and Flanigan Furniture, Save-A-Lot Grocery Store, Radio Shack, Champion Factory Outlet Store, Peter Harris Clothing, and many more.

Arnot Mall
The Arnot Mall, located in Big Flats off exits 51 and 51A of Interstate 86, includes several large anchor stores such as Sears, JC Penney, Kauffmanns, and Bon Ton, several smaller shops and retail chain stores, a 10 screen movie theater, and food court.
»Visit the Arnot Mall website

Consumer Square
Consumer Square, located off exit 51 of Interstate 86, is a retail center with several large anchor stores including Wal-Mart, Sam's Club, Tops, Dick's Sporting Goods, Staples, Barnes and Noble, and Lowes surrounded by smaller retail shops.

Business Directories
For more information on businesses and retailers in the Elmira area, use these resources:
»Elmira Downtown Development Downtown Directory
»Chamber of Commerce Directory
»Yahoo Business Directory

Economic Development
Development in the area is guided by City and County leaders working together with local economic development organizations such as Southern Tier Economic Growth, Elmira Downtown Development, and the CCC Small Business Development Center. We pride ourselves on operating the way businesses do - proactively anticipating opportunities and quickly responding to challenges in innovative ways.

Elmira Empire Zone Benefits
The Elmira Empire Zone provides incentives to manufacturers, and commercial retailers to locate a new business within the Empire Zone. Incentives include Tax Reduction Tax Credits, Real Property Tax Credits, Sales Tax Exemptions, Sales Tax Refunds, Wage Tax Credits, and discounts on utilities.
»more from Southern Tier Economic Growth
»more from New York Empire Development

The Elmira Empire Zone has a very successful record of drawing new businesses into Chemung County. The Empire Zone has been effectively used to fill Trinity Industrial Park, build a Vulcraft plant in the Town of Chemung, construct a 72,000 square foot manufacturing facility for SYNTHES USA, and open the First Arena hockey and entertainment arena in Downtown Elmira. The Elmira Empire Zone has resulted in the establishment of 59 new businesses, the retention of 23 existing businesses, and the creation or retention of 7,263 jobs in the City of Elmira.

Southern Tier Economic Growth
STEG plans, promotes, and implements economic development programs and services in Chemung County. STEG and the City of Elmira work together to administer the Elmira Empire Zone and provide financial assistance to new and existing businesses. The Commercial Loan Program provides low interest loans to businesses in the City of Elmira that create full-time jobs for low to moderate income individuals. STEG is also responsible for marketing the Elmira region to attract new businesses and developers to invest in our region.
»more from Southern Tier Economic Growth

Elmira Downtown Development
EDD provides technical and financial assistance to businesses located within the 52 block area known as the Elmira Downtown Development District. EDD supports downtown businesses through façade enhancement, sign design, filling vacant properties, and planning special events to attract shoppers into the Downtown District. Some of EDD's special events include Wisner Market, the Downtown Showcase, Music on the Riverfront, and Downtown CleanUp. The goal of EDD is to make Downtown Elmira more attractive and viable for business development.
»more from Elmira Downtown Development

Chemung County Chamber of Commerce
The Chamber of Commerce represents the business community in the promotion of the prosperity and the quality of life throughout Chemung County.  The Chamber sponsors events to attract tourists and consumers into Chemung County. The Chamber also sponsors events to allow business owners to network with other business owners to make connections and discover new opportunities.
»more from the Chemung County Chamber of Commerce

CCC Small Business Development Center
Corning Community College's Small Business Development Center specializes in providing direct one-to-one confidential management counseling to entrepreneurs and business owners. Technical, managerial, marketing, or financial advice is available without a charge to any new or existing business.
»more from CCC Small Business Development Center


Available Properties
There are several online resources available to find a property to rent or lease to start a small business, expand an existing business, establish a corporate headquarters, or build a new manufacturing facility. Elmira Downtown Development maintains a current listing of Available Properties in the downtown district on their website.  This listing can be searched and sorted to more easily find the property that suits your needs. Southern Tier Economic Growth maintains a listing of available sites in the Empire Zone on their website.
»Elmira Downtown Development Available Properties
»STEG Available Sites

Labor Force
The workforce is known for its outstanding work ethic, perseverance and pride. Several businesses which located here in the late 1970's have been stable employers into the 21st Century and are very pleased with their workforce.

Major Employers in the Elmira-Chemung County Region

Source: Chemung County

Employment by Industry


Source: NYS Department of Labor 2002

Annual Payroll by Sector


Source: NYS Department of Labor 2000

Labor Force and Employment (Average Annual)

Year	Civilian Labor Force	Employed	Unemployed	Unemployment Rate
1998	45,000	43,100	1,900	4.2
1999	44,300	42,200	2,200	4.9
2000	42,800	40,700	2,100	4.8
2001	42,000	39,800	2,200	5.3
2002	43,200	40,200	3,000	6.8

Source: NYS Department of Labor 2002

Field of Employment (Employed Persons 16 and Over - 2000)

Source: NYS Department of Labor 2000

Industry Profile

2001 Annual Average	Employees	Establishments	Payroll ($M)	Wages
Total	41,004	2,024	1,176	$28,668
Manufacturing	7,934	110	289	$36,384
Durables	6,873	85	257	$37,349
Nondurables	1,060	25	32	$30,147
Services	13,953	712	368	$26,353
Retail Trade	8,350	576	126	$15,128
Wholesale Trade	1,882	129	66	$34,867
FIRE	1,405	180	46	$32,810
Government	3,267	41	125	$38,169
Construction	2,018	153	78	$38,782
Trans/Public Utilities	1,937	81	73	$37,841

Source: NYS Department of Labor 2001

Educational Profile

Total HS Enrollment	13,472
Dropout Rate	6.5%
Graduates Post HS Plans
-4 Year School in NY	23.9%
-4 Year School outside NY	12.9%
-2 Year School in NY	37.7%
-2 Year School outside NY	1.5%
-Employment	14.8%
-Military Service	4.7%
-Other	2.4%

Source: NYS Department of Education 2000-2001