Business Testimonial
Teaoga Development
My Valley, My Bank
“I grew up here in the Valley… so for me, the community matters.”
Deb Twigg started a museum in Waverly in 2007. She then started a movement aimed at revitalizing the entire downtown. Along with her wife Susan, Deb bought the old village hall in 2011 and proceeded to apply for NYS grants to restore the building, bring in new shoppers and support economic development in the small towns of Sayre/Athens/Waverly collectively known as The Valley. Teaoga Development, named after the Native American term meaning meeting of the rivers, became a Tioga State Bank customer when other “local” banks looked the other way. Together, Deb and Tioga State Bank VP, Commercial Services Officer Jon Ward, have worked with state, county and local officials to advance this exciting story of one small town’s rebirth.
“The old village hall building is a place where I can do good public works… and help develop this small town.”
The shared vision to revitalize downtown is still unfolding. But you can see the picture emerging. An antique store and restaurant anchoring the first floor, gorgeous apartments above, and a fully restored bell tower set the scene for raising up this town. Deb and the bank share the same mentality: it takes an investment in a small town like Waverly to make it viable and to make it a place where the quality of life is lifted.
“The old village hall building is a place where I can do good public works… and help develop this small town.”
The shared vision to revitalize downtown is still unfolding. But you can see the picture emerging. An antique store and restaurant anchoring the first floor, gorgeous apartments above, and a fully restored bell tower set the scene for raising up this town. Deb and the bank share the same mentality: it takes an investment in a small town like Waverly to make it viable and to make it a place where the quality of life is lifted.
“Tioga State Bank’s Jon Ward helped me through all the steps… and kept me going.”
Needing a bank partner to help her implement the 2016 Restore NY grant she received for $1 million, Deb reached out to Jon Ward, having known him through their time on the Tioga County Tourism board together. Projects like this are measured in years, not weeks. Things change. What starts as one plan and one budget morphs into different plans and altered line items. Through COVID, funding and construction stops and starts, her wife’s terminal illness, and other obstacles, Deb credits Jon with keeping everything in order and keeping her going.
“You need to team up with a bank that sees the community…Tioga State is that bank.”
With Tioga State and Jon, Deb found a good fit and a supportive friend. She felt Jon “got it,” heard what she had to say, and had the experience to help her through all the steps. Going above and beyond the dollars and cents, Jon saw the project through the eyes of an independent community banker who lives in the local community where he works. Deb appreciates beyond words his ability to talk to her as a friend and have the tough, heart-to-heart conversations. At the end of the day, Deb, the bank, the construction company-—they are all still friends—good people who knew what the goal was, stayed on track, and saw it through. While a lot of banks claim to be community banks, Deb says she only knows of one in the area. Tioga State is that bank.
“You need to team up with a bank that sees the community…Tioga State is that bank.”
With Tioga State and Jon, Deb found a good fit and a supportive friend. She felt Jon “got it,” heard what she had to say, and had the experience to help her through all the steps. Going above and beyond the dollars and cents, Jon saw the project through the eyes of an independent community banker who lives in the local community where he works. Deb appreciates beyond words his ability to talk to her as a friend and have the tough, heart-to-heart conversations. At the end of the day, Deb, the bank, the construction company-—they are all still friends—good people who knew what the goal was, stayed on track, and saw it through. While a lot of banks claim to be community banks, Deb says she only knows of one in the area. Tioga State is that bank.
If you would like to open an account, have any questions, or want to learn more…
Tioga State Bank’s Commercial Account Specialists are here to help. Contact us online, by phone at 888-303-4TSB or visiting us at a TSB office location.