SCHUMER ANNOUNCES GENESEE DEVELOPMENT CORP. SET TO RECEIVE $58,000 IN USDA RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM; FUNDING FOR INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES WILL HELP MAKE NEW ALPINA FOODS YOGURT PLANT A REALITY, CREATE 50 JOBS
Schumer Announces $58,000 in USDAs Rural Development Funding Coming to Genesee Gateway Local Development Corp; Investment Will Provide Infrastructure Upgrades Needed to Bring New Alpina Foods Yogurt Plant to Business Park, Create Jobs
Funding Will Help Create 50 Jobs At New Yogurt Plant, Promote Further Business Development
Schumer: This Investment Will Pave The Way Good-Paying Jobs, Provide Shot-In-The-Arm For WNY Economy
Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that the Genesee Gateway Local Development Corporation is set to receive $58,000 in US Department of Agriculture's Rural Development Program, for infrastructure upgrades in Genesee Valley AgriBusiness Park at the site for Alpina Foods. Alpina Foods is a dairy products company, and recently began work to construct its first U.S. yogurt plant in Batavia. Specifically, this investment will fund site preparation for the new yogurt plant by extending sewer, and water utilities to the new building. Once the expansion of sewer and water utility service to the facility is completed, this funding then paves the way for approximately 50 new jobs. Schumer applauds the USDA in their allocation of this grant to Genesee County as it will be a major asset to the economy of Batavia and Western New York as a whole, creating jobs and driving business development in the region.
"Our rural communities are the heart and soul of New York," said Schumer. "Making sure that infrastructure is in place for local business development in these regions is critical and will continue to be one of my top priorities. With this investment, the Genesee Gateway Local Development Corporation will be able to upgrade infrastructure and pave the way for Alpina Foods to construct a new yogurt plant, and create 50 goodpaying jobs in the process. This will provide a shotinthearm for the Batavia economy and in Western New York as a whole."
Schumer stated that this USDA Rural Development infrastructure funding contributes to Alpina Foods' larger plan to construct their first U. S. yogurt plant in Batavia. Alpina Foods plans to build a 28,000 squarefoot factory in the Genesee Valley AgriBusiness Park, a project expected to cost $15 million project and create 50 jobs. Work began on the site last week with a ceremonial groundbreaking planned in October. The facility is expected to be constructed and operational by May 2012.
The USDA, through its Rural Development mission area, administers and manages housing, business and community infrastructure and facility programs through a national network of state and local offices. These programs are designed to improve the economic stability of rural communities, businesses, residents, farmers and ranchers and improve the quality of life in rural America.
