Considering 2012 marks my third year behind the cubicle, so to speak, for The Evening Sun’s annual publication of Progress Chenango, I must admit I’m not all that surprised by the success stories contained therein. Simply put, things seem to be turning around for many of our area businesses and the stories contained within the pages (all 72 of them) of Progress are proof of that.
NBT Bank President and CEO Martin Dietrich said it best, I think, in Section 3 of Progress, which hit the newsstands yesterday.
“Locally, I think there are a lot of reasons to feel optimistic and we have some strong businesses that are helping to drive our economy forward. Not all areas of the state are so fortunate ... we have a cadre of really solid businesses here.”
Exactly.
And while Progress truly is a monumental undertaking for all involved, it is – in the end – always a worthy one. For one thing, it’s nice to focus on the positive once in awhile. In my humble opinion, however, it’s more than that. For me, as a reporter, it’s getting to know these local businesses a little (actually a lot) better and meeting the people behind the scenes that keep them up and running.
That, my friends, is what Progress is all about.
And in covering Progress, I’ve had an opportunity to tour the facilities, warehouses and workspace of any number of area businesses included in its pages, from Golden Artists Colors to the aforementioned NBT Bank, the Mid York Press, CWS, The Raymond Corporation, Unison, the Norwich Family YMCA (to be known from this day forth – officially – as The Y) and Norwich Pharmaceuticals, among many others (I’ve never toured Agro Farma, much to my dismay). To put it mildly, it’s absolutely amazing what these local businesses contribute to our daily lives, whether it’s their charitable contributions of time, energy and money; the dollars they pay in to our local tax base or – most importantly – the fact that they employ thousands of Chenango County residents.
Even better? They really are making progress.
This year’s Progress also includes a quartet of features on Chenango County’s downtown landscapes: Sherburne in Monday’s Section 2; New Berlin in Tuesday’s Section 4; Greene in today’s Section 6 and Oxford in Thursday’s Section 8.
