This post is part of our Big Company, Small Town series, featuring large companies and the small towns in which they are headquartered.

Rest assured, the first decade of the 21st century is not likely to be remembered as a renaissance period in U.S. history. No one will confuse this decade with the Roaring '20s or even the Wonderful '90s.

Further, if the nation needs an example of rebirth and renewal -- it would be hard to find a better one than the story of multinational corporation Corning (NYSE: GLW), nestled in the small town of Corning, New York.

Corning is your classic, feel-good American success story. And doesn't the United States need a few of those today?

Moreover, Corning, arguably, represents one of the signature corporate transformation stories of the digital age.

From cookware to fiber optics to LCDs

Formerly a primarily glass and cookware company, (who doesn't remember that ubiquitous Corning cookware that was safe for microwave ovens?), Corning successfully transformed itself first into a fiber optic company in the 1990s.

Readers of this space know that my investment bias is toward large-cap companies with demonstrated business models and which have a competitive advantage in established markets, preferably with a favorable global trend as a support. In general, turnaround and business model change plays are avoided, but there are exceptions to the rule, and one is Corning.

Corning Inc. (NYSE: GLW), once a reliable but slow-growth kitchenware and cookware company, today represents one of the signature corporate transformation stories of the digital age.

Corning is one of the leading providers of fiber-optic cable, which the company invented more than 30 years ago. Further, its substrates business did not draw Wall Street's attention until technological advances enabled the price-competitive production of flat panel displays in flat panel televisions, desktop monitors and notebook computers.

Corning Inc. (NYSE: GLW), once a reliable but slow-growth kitchenware company, today represents one of the signature corporate transformation stories of the digital age.

Corning is one of the leading providers of fiber-optic cable, which, by the way, the company invented more than 30 years ago. Further, its substrates business did not draw Wall Street's attention until technological advances enabled the price-competitive production of flat panel displays in flat panel televisions, desktop monitors and notebook computers.

Display technology currently accounts for about 43% of revenue, with analysts projecting solid revenue increases in the immediate years ahead. Or, in other words, as Samsung, Sharp and Sony (NYSE: SNE) go, so goes Corning, for the most part. Analysts also see impressive revenue gains for the company's fiber-optic businesses, and its solid balance sheet and good cash flow add to GLW's strong operational characteristics.

This is not your typical, former AT&T (NYSE: T) unit. Verizon (NYSE: VZ) is a modern, diverse telecom provider for the early digital age.

Verizon has three impressive divisions: landline, wireless, and business services. And the numbers speak for themselves: landline has an astounding 42.3 million subscribers in 28 states, Verizon Wireless is the second largest wireless provider, and business services is making inroads on medium/large enterprise customers and government agencies.

Further, in 2006 the company's fiber optic broadband/video service, FiOS, emerged as a major competitor to comparable cable broadband/video services: look for VZ to continue to grab market share in key markets, as the service is rolled-out in the years ahead. The Reuters F2007/F2008 EPS consensus estimates for VZ are $2.37/$2.71.

"Corning Inc. (NYSE: GLW) still offer great value," says Nathan Slaughter. In his Half-Priced Stocks newsletter, the advisor explains, "Corning is a 150-year-old company that is involved in some of today's most exciting cutting-edge technologies."

The advisor notes that in the 1870s, the company developed the glass used in Thomas Edison's first light bulb. In later years, it was instrumental in advancements like the television cathode ray tube and even designed the surface of the Hubbell telescope.

Today, he points out, Corning is best known for the glass substrates used to make liquid crystal displays (LCD). In fact, the company dominates 50% of the global market for the thin glass panels used in computer monitors and televisions.

In addition, Corning does have a stake in a number of other fast-growing fields such as fiber optics, diesel engine pollution control, and scientific laboratory instruments. And, he adds, through its 50% ownership stake in Dow Corning, the firm boasts more than 7,000 silicone-based products that run the gamut from fuel additives to solar power cells.