We celebrated culmination of our ENGAGE 2026 fundraising campaign at Ill Legal Taphouse on April 21. Investors and supporters joined campaign co-chairs Anders Tomson (Chemung Canal Trust Company) and Dawn Burlew (Corning Incorporated) along with STEG Chairman Jan van den Blink (The Hilliard Corporation) in announcing that over $1.6 million has been raised to help implement STEG's plan.

Business leaders were concerned that the pandemic would pose a threat to their efforts to fund STEG’s ENGAGE 2026 plan. The plan focuses on helping existing businesses stay and grow in Chemung County, and on recruiting new companies and potential employees to locate in the community. These are critical activities given the unprecedented competition for business, jobs and workers across the nation.

STEG only engages in a fundraising campaign every five years. Area business leaders have made it clear that even during these challenging times, ensuring the continued growth and prosperity of Chemung County is of the highest priority.

While STEG has reached its campaign goal, it will not stop developing support for the plan. “We still have a lot to do, and a lot to deliver on” says STEG’s Board Chairman Arie ‘Jan’ van den Blink of The Hilliard Corporation. “The next 5 years are crucial. We will continue to reach out to business leaders to support and engage in the activities outlined in ENGAGE 2026.”