OVERVIEW OF STC’S REGION (CHEMUNG, SCHUYLER, AND STEUBEN)

This CEDS 2024 update will be the final annual update to STC’s 2020 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy; this will also be the final annual update produced by STC, as the Economic Development Administration (our funder) does not require an annual narrative from Economic Development Districts like STC.  STC is moving in a new direction with our EDA funding; STC will have increased resources for EDA project development, and regional economic studies at the direction of the EDPSC in the coming years.  Discussion with the Economic Development Policy and Strategy Committee in 2024 and 2025 will guide the development of a replacement reporting tool; the new reporting tool will be used from 2025-2029.

Norther Tier was awarded a $4.5 million ARISE grant for the Twin Tiers Arise Program (TTAP), to address ARC’s Goal 2 “Building Appalachia’s Workforce Ecosystem” by using existing organizations and workforce structures to optimize service delivery and outcomes for employers. As the leading partner for this implementation program, Northern Tier Regional Planning and Development Commission (NTRPDC) in PA and Southern Tier Central Regional Planning and Development Board (STC) in Corning, NY, will lead collaborative efforts between the region’s TTAP workforce partners:  the Business Education Partnership (BEP) program in PA, GST BOCES, Career Development Council, Corning Community College and CSS Workforce NY programs in NY. The ARISE grant will fund direct collaboration among partners to maximize the value of existing services and training provided by current partners. Local and regional workforce research in the past 5 years has shown there is a healthy ecosystem of training providers for both youth and adult learners; the success of these training providers has been limited by funding constraints and insufficient engagement with the target population.  STC’s 2021 Regional Workforce Survey gathered feedback from employers about the available workforce: employers expressed a strong need for entry level and early-career workers.

Lightcast’s most recent demographic report for the 8-County TTAP project area.