Empire State Development Announces HP Hood to Expand in Steuben County

Dairy Product Manufacturer to Install State-of-the-Art Equipment at Arkport Plant

June 12, 2019

Investment Complements “Southern Tier Soaring” - The Region’s Comprehensive Strategy to Revitalize Communities and Grow the Economy

Empire State Development (ESD) today announced it will assist storied dairy manufacturer HP Hood with its plans to expand operations in the Village of Arkport, Steuben County. The company will install a new high-pressure homogenization system and other equipment at the Arkport facility, which is primarily responsible for the production of the company’s highly successful cottage cheese products and Heluva Good! Dips. A total of 110 employees are currently working at the plant. The total project cost of the facility upgrade is a little more than $2 million. ESD is providing a $150,000 Capital Grant to support the expansion.

Empire State Development President, CEO & Commissioner Howard Zemsky said, “The agriculture and food processing industries are key to the Upstate Revitalization Initiative’s strategic plan for growth in the Southern Tier and HP Hood’s expansion shows that the strategy is working."

Founded in 1846, HP Hood LLC is a national food and beverage processor with a portfolio of branded products including Hood, Crowley Foods, Heluva Good!, Planet Oat Oatmilk, LACTAID®, HERSHEY’S Milk and Milkshakes and Blue Diamond Almond Breeze®. Headquartered in Lynnfield, Mass., the 173-year-old company does more than $2 billion in business annually. It has five New York State production facilities, located in in Vernon, Oneida, Arkport, Lafargeville and Batavia.

“We are pleased to be upgrading our plant in Arkport to ensure Hood remains an employer of choice in the region for years to come, and we are thankful to the Southern Tier Regional Economic Development Council for their support,” Lynne Bohan, Vice President of Communications, HP Hood LLC.

The largest sector of the agricultural industry, New York's dairy industry accounts for approximately one-half of on-farm production, support services and value-added products. New York State is home to approximately 4,500 dairy farms with 620,000 cows, producing 14.9 billion pounds of milk. The majority of farms are family-run operations, supporting the framework of the State’s agricultural economy. Overall, New York State ranks third in the production of milk and is first in the nation in the production of other dairy products such as yogurt and cottage cheese.

Southern Tier Regional Economic Development Council Co-Chairs Harvey Stenger, President of Binghamton University, and Judy McKinney Cherry, Executive Director, Schuyler County Partnership for Economic Development (SCOPED) said, “New York continues to experience unprecedented growth in the agriculture and dairy processing industries thanks to the continued leadership and commitment of Governor Cuomo. HP Hood’s plan to invest in their Arkport facility will further bolster our regional agricultural base and foster job growth.”

State Senator Thomas O’Mara said, “The expansion of the HP Hood plant in Arkport is great news for local workers and their families, as well as for the short- and long-term strength of the agricultural and food manufacturing industries in Steuben County and the Southern Tier. State investments like this one continue to help strengthen local ag-based economies and encourage badly needed job growth."

State Assemblywoman Marjorie Byrnes said, “The state’s partnership with HP Hood to expand operations in the Village of Arkport is a major victory for the Steuben County community. Their expansion will spark further job creation and growth for one of the largest industries in New York— the dairy industry. I congratulate HP Hood on their new plans to expand, and I thank them for their continued investment in our region and their commitment to keeping jobs in Steuben County.”

Steuben County Board of Supervisors Chairman Joseph J. Hauryski said, “The Steuben County Legislature is very pleased to see the investment being made in the Arkport plant. This will position them for further growth in the future. We are excited to see this happening in Steuben county.”

For more about HP Hood, click here.

Accelerating Southern Tier Soaring

Today's announcement complements “Southern Tier Soaring the region’s comprehensive blueprint to generate robust economic growth and community development. The State has already invested more than $6.2 billion in the region since 2012 to lay for groundwork for the plan – attracting a talented workforce, growing business and driving innovation. Today, unemployment is down to the lowest levels since before the Great Recession; personal and corporate income taxes are down; and businesses are choosing places like Binghamton, Johnson City and Corning as a destination in which to grow and invest. Now, the region is accelerating Southern Tier Soaring with a $500 million State investment through the Upstate Revitalization Initiative, announced by Governor Cuomo in December 2015. The State’s $500 million investment will incentivize private business to invest well over $2.5 billion – and the region’s plan, as submitted, projects up to 10,200 new jobs. More information is available here.

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