Most people would agree that if a stranger had walked up to them on one of our local sidewalks only ten years ago and told them that our area, specifically the downtown areas of Binghamton, Johnson City, and Endicott, would grow and be revitalized in amazing ways, they probably would have received a reply of laughter or maybe even an eye-roll.

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Nearly ten years ago, the Southern Tier was reeling from being hit by a second historic "500-year flood" which came less than 500 years from the last flood. Homes were destroyed, businesses were boarded up, people left in droves, and things seemed hopeless for our community. And yet, here we are almost ten years later and look how much the Southern Tier has changed.

Storefronts that were empty are being filled with new, local businesses. Buildings that stood vacant for decades are being renovated and repurposed. Sidewalks that people were once scared to walk on are now being traveled. The Binghamton area is quickly becoming a hub for education, science, and medicine and the growth shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon.

A lot can happen in ten years and with the attitude, determination, and dedication to bettering our community that so many have, I can't wait to see what happens in the next ten years. First+Main Films produced an incredible short film about the amazing transformations happening right this moment in our remarkable Square Deal Towns.

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