A lakeside nonprofit with more than a century of history opened its doors to local business leaders this month, offering a closer look at its work serving adults with developmental disabilities.
The Finger Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce hosted its April Business After Hours networking event at Lochland, Inc., drawing members to the Geneva campus for tours and conversation.
Held April 8, the event gave attendees access to Lochland’s grounds along Seneca Lake, where the organization provides residential and day habilitation services for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Participants toured the campus and met with staff and residents, learning about the nonprofit’s focus on life skills development and building community connections.
The site itself carries deep local significance. Established in 1903, the campus evolved from a school for girls into a specialized center for children with special needs by 1933. Its centerpiece, Stewart House, dates to 1896 and is listed on the New York State Register of Historic Places, with ties to the women’s suffrage movement and the Underground Railroad.
During the event, Lochland Director Anne Bateman outlined ongoing efforts to improve the buildings and grounds, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a supportive, dignified environment for residents.
Chamber officials said the event is part of the organization’s broader Business After Hours series, which provides networking opportunities while spotlighting regional employers and nonprofits.
The next Business After Hours event is scheduled for June 10 in Phelps. The chamber’s May calendar will instead focus on its annual Chamber Cup Golf Tournament.
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