Steuben Glass, based in Corning, NY, & part of Schottenstein Stores Corp. of Columbus, Ohio, will have a good chance of securing the contract for formal stemware that went to a Swedish company a year ago, according to Sens.Charles Schumer & Kirsten Gillibrand, of New York, and Sen. Sherrod Brown, of Ohio. "We were just appalled that the contract was issued to a company that makes the glass overseas when Steuben Glass makes a better product right here in America," Schumer said. "We told the State Department how absurd it was." The senators said the State Department were not aware that American companies made the lead-free crystal called for in the contract for US embassies worldwide. Steuben & other companies will now be able to bid on the remaining 4y of the 5y contract, with most of the US$ 5.4M total yet to be paid.
