In 1983, Corning CEO Amory Houghton Jr. recognized being a global leader in glass manufacturing was directly tied to developing and sustaining the local communities in which the company operated.

Thus, the birth of Corning Enterprises, a subsidiary formed to collaborate with local private and public-sector leaders to drive economic development, strengthen human services, and improve the quality of life in the greater Corning area.

“A vibrant community with a strong economic base, robust infrastructure, access to high-quality education, and support services is quite simply good for business and the community for which we are a part of,” said G. Thomas Tranter Jr., president, Corning Enterprises.

Some 35 years later, the results of Corning Enterprises’ involvement and leadership can been seen throughout the Greater Corning area.

Early on, Corning Enterprises recognized that improving the infrastructure was key to commerce and business development opportunities across the region. Working collaboratively with numerous stakeholders, Enterprises worked to secure funds for the New York Route 17 bypass, and the designation of Interstate 86 and Future Interstate 99.

Additionally, Corning Enterprises provided the project development expertise and grant-writing resources that perpetuated the revitalization of the City of Corning devastated by Hurricane Agnes a decade earlier. Corning Enterprises was instrumental in recruiting cornerstone businesses for the downtown area including Wegmans, the Radisson Hotel, Staybridge Suites and Guthrie Centerway.

For years now, storefronts in Corning’s business district – called the Gaffer District – have been at or near capacity in large part due to the support Corning Enterprises has provided to encourage entrepreneurs to invest in new business.  Redevelopment of upper- floor areas into premium apartments on Market Street has created a desirable urban vibe in the downtown area, which has been a valuable tool in recruiting young, innovative minds to Corning.

Also, Corning Enterprises has led initiatives designed to provide quality childcare and K-12 education.  Corning Enterprises currently manages three childcare centers in the Corning area which offer services to all community residents, not just Corning employees. Corning Enterprises was also a catalyst for the renovation and building of new school facilities and offering a dynamic curriculum –including the Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH) –  that help prepare students for the future.

“Beyond the area’s economic development needs, we knew that access to safe, high-quality childcare was important to our people,” Tranter said. “Creating a work-life balance continues to improve our corporate culture and enhance productivity, so we built and continue to oversee the management of three local childcare centers, which serve more than 600 children in full-day, before- and after-school programs.”

One of the more recent successes has been Corning Enterprises and its partners crafting the funding and development package for the former Corning Hospital – an 8-acre brownfield site in the center of the city. The plan began with Corning Community College’s Health Education Center, a 21,000-square-foot, state of the art nursing school.  Later this year, the second phase of the project will begin with the construction of a $20 million, 120-unit apartment and retail complex.

“We have always said Corning Incorporated is not just the area’s largest employer, we are members of the community,” said Corning Chief Administrative Officer Lisa Ferrero. “And for the last four decades Corning Enterprises has developed relationships and provided leadership that has truly resulted in improving the quality of life in the area.”