‘Shaping a community’: How Erwin transformed in Rita McCarthy's 33 years as town manager

Under Rita McCarthy’s leadership, the Town of Erwin has enhanced its reputation and grown into a major employment center, residential base and transportation hub in Steuben County.

McCarthy, who has worked collaboratively for the past 33 years with community citizens, town staff and councilpersons to support growth and strengthen the community, will retire from her post as Erwin Town Manager at the end of July.

Erwin Town Supervisor Doug Cole said the town has seen significant growth and change during McCarthy’s time as town manager.

“The town has been able to prosper and serve the needs of our residents through Rita’s management,” said Cole, one of four Town Supervisors and numerous Town Board members McCarthy has served under.

McCarthy became Erwin's first town manager in 1991.

“One of the things that brought me to Erwin is it was such a well-balanced community,” McCarthy said. “It wasn’t a bedroom community, and it wasn't just like a tourist stop. The community was solid. It had a huge employment base, its own residential base, and a commercial base. I was excited by the health and balance of the community when I first came here.”

The Erwin landscape has undergone tremendous change in McCarthy's three-plus decades of service. Since 1991, the Town of Erwin has completed $55 million of infrastructure improvements with over $45 million of that coming from grants, partnerships and 0% interest loans.

McCarthy, originally from the Rochester area and a graduate of Northern Illinois University, said her career got started in the Oswego and North Syracuse areas, but she and her two children, Abby and Ian, came to eastern Steuben County in 1991.

“This community, it’s an amazing place, a great place both professionally and for my family,” McCarthy said. “That was why I made the move. There's always been planning and vision in the Town of Erwin, and then I came adding that level of professionalism and having that future focus.”

Infrastructure projects geared Erwin up for growth

McCarthy, who received her Master of Business Administration from Syracuse University, said projects under her watch include everything from new sidewalks and park facilities to wells and sewer upgrades.

The extension of Robert Dann Drive along with the roundabouts and the bridge over the Cohocton River to Route 415 were built during her tenure.

Town Center Road from South Hamilton Street to Chatfield Place was completed. The hamlets of Coopers Plains and Long Acres now have municipal water and sewer providing safe, reliable systems to homes and businesses.

“We appreciate the years of dedication and service Rita has devoted to the town,” Cole said. “We certainly have benefitted from her talents.”

Jamie Johnson, executive director of Steuben County IDA, agreed.

“The region benefited from our partnership with the Town of Erwin,” Johnson said. “We appreciate the collaboration and expertise Rita brought to the area.”

Town of Erwin underwent massive building boom during McCarthy's tenure

The infrastructure projects set the stage for new businesses that brought high-skilled jobs, housing, restaurant and retail options to the area during McCarthy’s tenure.

The Town of Erwin’s Industrial Development Agency (TEIDA) purchased Costa’s Airport and built $14 million worth of improvements, using over $12 million in grants. The airport now has a paved runway and taxiways, a new terminal/office building, airplane storage hangars and new fuel dispensers.

Corning Incorporated constructed the Diesel Plant Facility and added 1 million square feet to the Sullivan Park Complex, with growth at Automated Cells and Equipment, now Adaptec Solutions, and Southern Tier Logistics.

Several new bank offices were built in the Town of Erwin such as Serv-U Credit Union, Corning Credit Union and Five Star Bank.

Services for town residents improved with the construction of the new highway garage and the relocation of town hall offices and court into improved facilities.

Applebee’s, Taco Bell, Dunkin Donuts, Peaches N Cream, Baskin Robbins, Arby’s, the Last Stand, and Finger Lakes Chocolates have brought new eating options to the area.

Other medical services and businesses arrived in the area, such as Healthworks, Finger Lakes Dental, Superclean Carpet, Southern Tier Medical Care, Erwin Laser Wash, Speedway, Valvoline Oil Change, Davies Investment Group of Benjamin F. Edwards, and H & H Financial.

Retail growth included Walmart, Home Depot, ALDI, Tractor Supply, Chilson Wilcox Auto Sales, The Liquor Factory and I.D. Booth Inc.

The economic growth fueled new housing opportunities, including additional growth in Woodland Park, the new Aurene subdivision, Colonial Square Senior Village, Pinetree Village Apartments and in the tourism industry, the new Hampton Inn.

St. Mary’s Orthodox and Jehovah’s Witness both constructed new churches during the building boom, and the Wesleyan Church accomplished numerous expansions. Family Life Ministry Center's new design and location are approved and site work is currently underway.

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Who will replace McCarthy as Erwin Town Manager?

Cole said following a nationwide search, the town appointed Melissa Greenthal as deputy town manager.

She will become town manager when Rita McCarthy departs on July 31, 2024.

“We look forward to Melissa facilitating the successful completion of Family Life Ministries’ 2,000 seat dinner theater and headquarters and implementing the town’s vision of the Exit 43 Economic Development Action Plan,” Cole said. “We look forward to continuing this trajectory while bringing new opportunities and ideas as we move through this transition and forward with Melissa.”

This article originally appeared on The Leader: How Erwin transformed in Rita McCarthy's 33 years as town manager