Allegany County Featured in ‘Building the Southern Tier 2026’

Allegany County is on the move, and the regional business community is taking notice.

In the latest 2026 edition of Building the Southern Tier—the annual publication by the Builders Exchange of the Southern Tier (STBEX)—the Allegany County Industrial Development Agency (ACIDA) is featured for its ongoing work converting underutilized assets into high-value hubs for manufacturing, renewable energy, and community development.

With over $475 million in total project investments closed in 2025 alone, the blueprint for long-term industrial and economic growth across the County is taking shape. Access the full article HERE. For the full publication click HERE.
​
Here is a closer look at the key initiatives highlighted in the feature:

1. Industrial Revitalization: Breathing New Life into Key Properties
Economic growth requires physical space for businesses to grow. Two major industrial sites are paving the way for regional jobs:

• Cuba Business Park: Following the donation of the 34-acre, 190,000+ sq. ft. former Great Lakes Cheese facility, new owners Cuba Business Park LLC made an initial investment of over $1 million to renovate the space for light manufacturing and commercial use.
• Wellsville Business Park: The same development team continues to build out high-bay warehouse, assembly, and commercial spaces serviced by reliable municipal power.

2. Clean Energy Expansion: Powering WNY & Creating Local JobsAllegany County continues to lead in renewable energy infrastructure, injecting over $180 million into the local economy through ground-mount solar projects generating over 85 MW of clean energy. Looking ahead, two massive utility-scale projects are ramping up:

• Moraine Solar (Town of Burns): A 94 MW project that transitioned to active construction in early 2026, with civil construction and racking installation kicking off mid-summer.
• Alle-Catt Wind (Rushford & Centerville): A $414 million investment bringing 28 turbines (126 MW capacity) to the county. Construction is expected to support around 400 workers, utilizing local labor at prevailing wages.

3. Strategic Community & Institutional DevelopmentEconomic development goes beyond industrial sites—it encompasses quality of life, tourism, and modern infrastructure:

• Alfred University’s Saxon Hill Sports Complex: Financed through a $20 million tax-exempt bond issued by the Allegany County Capital Resource Corp (ACCRC) alongside over $10 million in private philanthropy, this $30 million, 200-acre athletic complex is nearing full completion, with the baseball field already active.
• The Gateway Project (Belmont / Exit 30):  The ACIDA is advancing design plans for a site-ready development featuring new agency offices, a local art and agricultural marketplace, a hotel, and dining options.

4. Ground-Level Support for Small Businesses & InnovationSustaining local momentum means ensuring homegrown entrepreneurs have the capital they need:

• ​Micro-Enterprise Grants: Building on past CDBG rounds that backed local favorites like Belmont Wine & Spirits, Bill’s Cuts & Smokehouse, and Wellsville Wellness, ACIDA is actively pursuing additional funding rounds to keep small business assistance flowing.
• ACLDC Secondary Lending: Launched at the start of 2026, the Allegany County Local Development Corporation offers gap financing ($30,000–$100,000) to assist growing businesses in funding capital expansion alongside traditional banks.
• ​Positioning for Biomass & Brownfields: Through USDA funding, ACIDA is working to establish Allegany County as New York State’s first rated Bioeconomy Development Opportunity (BDO) Zone for woody biomass feedstock. Additionally, a $500,000 EPA Brownfields Assessment Grant is evaluating sites in Scio, Friendship, and Wellsville for clean redevelopment.

Looking AheadGuided by dedicated leadership, a newly expanded Board of Directors, and strong partnerships with local labor and municipalities, the ACIDA remains committed to managed growth that preserves our rural character while building a resilient tax base.
Stay tuned for more updates later this fall as we prepare for our second annual ACIDA Partner Event in October 2026!
Have questions about site availability or business development resources in Allegany County? Contact Executive Director Craig Clark, P.E., Ph.D. at 607-968-0214 or visit acida.org.

---