Forging a Bright Future Through Growth and Innovation

With a history as rooted as the community spirit that is at its heart

First settled in 1790 and chartered as a city in 1888, Hornell, New York is known for its beautiful canopy of maple trees and rich railroad history. Despite its modest size, Hornell boasts all the essential services expected in a larger city. It has full-time police, fire, EMS, public works, and transit services through Hornell Area Transit, providing residents with a safe and accessible community.

“We have all the services that one would want in a large city,” boasts Mayor John Buckley. “A few years ago, we were named the most affordable community, and the second fastest growing city, in all of New York state. We have a lot of things going for us.”

Revival and Growth

Hornell has secured approximately $30 million in grant funding over the past seven years to support infrastructure projects, park investments, and neighborhood revitalization. A key component has been the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI), a $10 million grant awarded in 2019 that has encouraged ongoing investment in the city’s core. “Really, it’s more than the $10 million because it leverages private funds as well to infuse into our downtown,” acknowledges Buckley.

The city is also investing in its neighborhoods, seeking grant funding wherever possible to help rejuvenate the community. “Over the last seven years, we’ve been awarded roughly $1.5 million in neighborhood revitalization monies through CDBG (Community Development Block Grants), which helps qualified residents with heating, roofing, siding, windows, doors and those basic maintenance items. We’ve been very successful in that area as well.”

Downtown Reinvented

Heather Reynolds, Director of Planning, outlines plans to revive Hornell’s downtown district, with improvements focused on beautification, pedestrian-friendly infrastructure, and mixed-use development. “The DRI really helped us get the energy going with the building owners, and we just completed our public projects,” she describes.

“One of those projects was hiring a consulting firm to help us create design guidelines so that there’s some consistency in the signage and facade work. We want to really attract people in the drive by, passing through, the eye line of the downtown.” Other recently completed public projects include new street lighting, sidewalks, and public art installations, creating a welcoming environment for residents and visitors.

Mixed use development is also a priority, evidenced by the renovation of the historic Federation Building. Reynolds notes, “That building has retail and commercial space on the first floor, and 9 units above. That was a beautiful project. It used to be a school, they refurbished it so that it was available to the community with the old theater inside of it.”

Only a short walk from Downtown Hornell, the Silk Mill project is another success story, utilizing a Restore New York grant to transform an old mill into market-rate apartments. Additionally, the city is working to secure a Main Street grant to assist in creating residential units in the upper stories of downtown buildings.

As more options are introduced to the city core, creating a pedestrian friendly area is also on the agenda. Buckley recounts, “One of my goals is to make the downtown, and really the entire city, warm, welcoming and inviting. By having the new sidewalks and the decorative lighting, it really sets the table for that, and we’re trying to attract more entrepreneurs and more investment in our downtown.”

Economic Development & Industrial Growth

Hornell has a long and proud history as a transportation hub, and the city is home to Alstom Transportation, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of rail cars, including Amtrak’s high-speed Acela trains. The company has continued to expand, with support from the city, the IDA, and New York State, which has invested $30 million into its operations.

“Right here in Hornell, New York, is where those trainsets are being manufactured,” touts the mayor. “Alstom’s presence here is certainly felt by the city. Not only does it provide jobs, but because Alstom is an international company, we have around 30 different nationalities represented here, from all over the world. So that influx of cultural diversity really has an impact on the city as well.”

Hornell’s industrial base is thriving, and the community has attracted $100 million in investment from various companies in the past three years. “Our focus is always to attract new business to the area and to retain the businesses that we have. We have been very fortunate,” depicts Michael Nisbet, Executive Director of the Hornell Industrial Development Agency (IDA). While transportation and supportive industries make up the majority of Hornell’s business landscape, the city is diversifying its economy.

“We have other industries and more core businesses to our transportation base wishing to come here, and we’re looking for places to put them,” Nisbet conveys. “Our priority is to create good paying jobs, and service the companies that want to come here and the ones that are already here.”

The recent addition of a Hampton Inn business-class hotel reflects the growing demand for accommodations as Hornell’s economy expands. The city is also bringing in amenities to attract a skilled workforce to the community. “A lot of our projects are driven by making sure that our families are taken care of and that everybody is happy,” says Reynolds. “We’ve done housing projects. We’re in the middle of a large daycare expansion, diversification of restaurants, all kinds of things that keep a community thriving.”

Housing & Quality of Life Initiatives

As employment opportunities increase, so does the need for housing. “We feel like we’ve added enough living units through apartments, condos, townhouses and loft apartments, over the last seven to eight years,” suggests Buckley. “Now our focus is turning to single family homes and looking for opportunities to make that happen.” One initiative includes the acquisition of nine acres of land through the IDA, which will be developed into a single family home community.

A collaboration with the local Boards of Cooperative Education Services (BOCES) program not only provides hands-on learning opportunities for students but has increased the affordable housing options in the city. Reynolds elaborates, “The students in the Building Trades program get the opportunity to build a new home every year, and the city locates a lot, either through the tax auction or through the Stueben County Land Bank. Through that partnership, they create a brand new home, which is affordable for a new family. And we’ve done 13 of those.”

The city is also investing in recreational opportunities to enhance residents’ quality of life. Hornell has three parks, and plans are underway to extend biking and walking trails. “Through New York State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, we have had successful applications in three consecutive years, with the state awarding us money to invest in two parks and the creation of a third,” reports Buckley.

“All these things tie in and certainly add to the quality of life.” Hornell and the YMCA also work together on various projects, such as overseeing the municipal pool’s operations and developing a new daycare center to support the needs of its expanding population.

A Sustainable Future

Planning for the long term, Hornell has made major investments in its infrastructure. “We need to be ready for new growth so that we’re not lagging behind if someone comes in. We want to make sure that we’re shovel ready and able to meet their needs,” Reynolds asserts.

With this in mind, the city has invested in upgrades to its water filtration plant and ongoing multi-phase improvements to its sewer system, totalling approximately $20 million. “Water and sewer are two things residents don’t normally think too much about. We kind of take it for granted. But those two operations run 24/7, 365 days a year, so we certainly want to make sure that we invest, and we have cutting edge technology, and we’re doing all the things that we need to do,” remarks Buckley.

CBDG grants have allowed for the restoration of the city’s main trunk lines, using trenchless technology. “Basically, the company will come in, they’ll scope the trunk lines, and then instead of digging up the lines, they’ll infuse this substance that hardens and basically creates a pipe within a pipe,” Buckley explains. “We’ve relined approximately 90% of our main trunk lines through that program.”

A Collaborative Approach

In the coming years Hornell’s priorities will continue to center on enhancing quality of life, expanding recreational opportunities, and encouraging economic development. “We will be making sure that residents have the high level of services that they’re accustomed to, while also providing new opportunities,” Buckley stresses. He emphasizes that continued collaboration with the neighboring municipalities of North Hornell and Hornellsville are important to the growth of the city.

Nisbet underscores, “We communicate well here, and I think that’s very important. You’ve got to know what your business needs five years down the road are, you’ve got to know what the needs are for housing and what you can do to attract employees and make them want to stay here. Collaboration is the reason that Hornell has been successful and continues to be”

At a Glance

Who: Hornell, NY
What: One of New York’s fastest growing cities.
Where: Stueben County, New York
Website: www.cityofhornell.gov