ALBANY, N.Y. — Empire Specialty Cheese Co. will invest $6.37 million to expand its business in New York. The company will purchase and upgrade an idle manufacturing facility in Chautauqua County to accommodate new and existing cheese production processes, resulting in the creation of 204 new jobs.
“We are grateful for the Excelsior Jobs Program tax credits we will receive from New York State,” said Empire Specialty Cheese Co. Owner Antimo Caparco. “This support allows us to provide new jobs in a larger facility and expand our product line.”
Empire Specialty Cheese has purchased the former AFA meat processing plant at 277 Fairfield Road in Ashville, N.Y. in order to expand its cheese production.
The company had been searching for an adequate location to expand operations in southwestern New York as its current location was no longer viable for the growing business.
Retaining employees. An announcement was held at the new plant, which will make productive use of the formerly vacant building. The project, which involves building renovation and the purchase of new machinery and equipment, retains 46 full-time, permanent employees and will add 204 new jobs over five years after the facility is completed next year.
The project will also create new demand for local milk production and potentially re-employ workers at the facility that were terminated less than 24 months ago.
Empire State Development, the state’s economic development agency, assisted Empire Specialty Cheese Co. with its expansion project by providing $650,000 in Excelsior Job Program tax credits.
History
The Empire Specialty Cheese Co. began in 2000. It presently makes fresh ricotta and mozzarella cheese. The new plant will allow the business to process and package cheese for private labeling and expand the product lines to include a wide variety of cubed and shredded cheeses.
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