BATH –A united, inter-agency effort to combat the mounting local opioid epidemic and efforts to maintain a manufacturing presence with strong ties to the county’s leading agri-industry top the list of Steuben County’s noteworthy achievements in 2017.
Substance abuse
With emergency responses and deaths due to opioid overdoses reaching epidemic proportions, Steuben County officials mounted an all-out effort early in 2017 to unite local agencies, law enforcement and schools to provide sources and information on substance abuse in the county.The county hosted three forums throughout 2017 in Bath, Hornell and Corning school auditoriums with active participation from representatives of county departments and related agencies.The county’s solid history in combatting substance abuse includes an active Sheriff’s Drug Tip line, the District Attorney’s Task Force and aggressive prosecution now including potential criminal charges against dealers in the event of drug-overdose related deaths.In addition, the county recently joined a lawsuit filed by counties and the state Attorney General against any and all persons or entities responsible for creating the opioid addiction epidemic.
Kraft Heinz Plant, Campbell
United efforts by the county, the Steuben County Industrial Development Agency, and federal and state leaders resulted in theJune 4sale of the Kraft Heinz cheese factory in Campbell to the dairy farmer cooperative, Niagara Upstate.The sale of the former Polly-O factory included a combined $10 million from the state, Heinz-Kraft and Upstate Niagara for upgrades to the facility, a key employer in the area. The effort is expected to return employment to near-former levels in the future and ensures an important local market for dairy farmers throughout Steuben County.The sale, due to vigorous marketing during a two-year period, markedan important step in maintaining and developing a sturdy and enduring local economy.
Workforce development
Steuben also took an important step in developing a well-trained, stable workforce, joining Schuyler and Chemung counties in developing a central focus using current employment data to form a cohesive strategy.plan seeks to unify efforts by schools, BOCES, community colleges, business and government to fill gaps in the information now available to the different organizations. The information will be refreshed annually through CSS Workforce NY and its non-profit CSS Workforce Solutions.
County Office Building (COB) annex and storage building
Steuben County launched two construction projects pegged at $8.7 million and expected to solve, for decades, the chronic problems atthe COB with efficient space and the inconvenience for residents looking for services.The county’s first capital construction campaign in nearly 10 years calls for a three-story officecomplex on East Morris Street, and a storage/records building on Mount Washington.The annex, willhelpaccommodateanticipated changes to court facilities at the county office building complex, as directed by the state.Anticipated completion is set for the end of 2018.
Hornell DMV changes location
TheDepartment of Motor Vehicles (DMV) branch, located in the old courthouse on Allen Street in Hornell closed in September, moving to it new location, 7604 Seneca St. North, in Hornellsville, behind Maple City Bowl.The move into the county-owned location provided more accessibility and parking, and relieved the county of the cost of maintaining the nearly vacant courthouse.Ownership of the courthouse has been turned over to the City of Hornell, which may use it in its future economic developmentplans.