NORWICH – U.S. Senator Charles Schumer was in town for a roundtable discussion with Chenango County business leaders on Wednesday, giving them a chance to voice concerns over what they believe are some of the major stumbling blocks affecting local commerce.

More than a dozen representatives from area businesses and nonprofits, including major employers like NBT, Chobani and the Raymond Corporation, convened at the meeting held at Commerce Chenango headquarters in Norwich. Schumer discussed ways to grow the economy, add and retain jobs, and come up with economic development strategies for Chenango County and the entire Southern Tier.

Issues ranged from the need for child care, to the gap in the skilled local labor workforce, to the skyrocketing cost of health care (which some businesses argue is becoming unmanageable for small employers).

Other topics covered include infrastructure development, education, federal funding of community development programs, and things that the Senator can do to nudge along local large-scale projects such as the railroad restoration project; and marketing of the imminently vacant Norwich Aero facility and workforce to new manufacturers.