Schuyler County is getting a rare national spotlight this year, with local economic development officials selected to pitch the region to international companies at one of the country’s largest investment events.
The designation positions the county as one of a limited number of rural communities nationwide being marketed as ready for business expansion and relocation.
FLX Gateway, the county’s lead economic development organization, will represent Schuyler County at the 2026 SelectUSA Investment Summit, a federal-level event that connects global companies with U.S. investment opportunities.
At the same time, the organization has been chosen as one of just two groups in New York to participate in the “Invest in Rural America” initiative, a national program focused on highlighting rural regions prepared for growth.
Local officials say the effort is about putting Schuyler County on the radar for companies looking beyond traditional urban markets.
“Our presence at the SelectUSA Summit is about showing the world that Schuyler County offers a competitive advantage,” said Jon Beckman, chair of the FLX Gateway Board of Directors. He pointed to the area’s agricultural base and a shovel-ready, gold-certified development site geared toward light industry and food manufacturing.
The summit brings together thousands of participants, including site selectors, investors, and economic development organizations from across the globe. Officials say it offers a direct line to companies considering expansion or relocation.
Judy McKinney Cherry, executive director of FLX Gateway, said the rural initiative designation reinforces the county’s readiness to compete.
“Being included in Invest in Rural America reinforces that rural communities like ours can offer the infrastructure, workforce, and partnerships that companies need to succeed,” she said.
At the summit, FLX Gateway plans to promote key development sites, including the Schuyler County Business Park and its REDI Site, which already has infrastructure in place for manufacturing and processing operations. Officials will also highlight Camp Monterey as a potential large-scale redevelopment opportunity.
Local leaders are betting that a mix of available land, proximity to established manufacturers, and access to research institutions like Cornell University will help draw interest.
Participation in the summit is part of a broader strategy to connect Schuyler County’s assets to national and international investment pipelines, with the goal of driving long-term job growth and economic development.
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