$1.2 Billion Facility Will Bring More Than 1,000 Good Paying Jobs to Rome’s Griffiss Business and Technology Park; Shovel-Ready Site Supported by FAST NY
Chobani Will Work With State To Create Workforce Development Plan Aimed at Providing Job Opportunities to Underserved Populations
Cements New York State as the No. 1 Yogurt Producer in the Nation
Video of Governor Hochul Highlighting the Investment Can Be Found in TV Quality (h.264, MP4) Format Here
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that Chobani — a next generation food and beverage company originally known for its high-quality Greek yogurt — has chosen New York State's Mohawk Valley as the location for the nation’s largest investment in natural food manufacturing after a competitive nationwide search. Chobani, which opened its first U.S. plant in 2005 in New York, will build a 1.4 million square foot, $1.2 billion facility in Rome, Oneida County, capable of producing over one-billion pounds of high-quality dairy products per year. The expansion will add more than 1,000 jobs to the region and nearly double Chobani's total New York State workforce.
“Through this partnership with Chobani, we're revitalizing Upstate New York's manufacturing sector one spoonful at a time,” Governor Hochul said. “Chobani has been a major employer in the Mohawk Valley for decades, and this massive new $1.2 billion investment will bring more than 1,000 good-paying jobs to Oneida County — the largest natural food manufacturing investment in American history. When I took office I pledged to make New York the most worker-friendly and business-friendly state in the nation, and projects like this one show our strategy is working.”
Chobani Founder and CEO Hamdi Ulukaya said, "New York is where Chobani’s journey began. It was the perfect spot to start Chobani 20 years ago, and it’s the perfect place to continue our story. Working with dedicated dairy farmers and the resilient community, we built something truly special — something bigger than the food we make. We ignited a movement toward better food made with heart, passion, and only the highest-quality ingredients. With our new plant in Rome and our original home in South Edmeston, we’re entering a new dimension, partnering with hard working people across the heartland of New York to build an ecosystem of natural food production and nourish families throughout the country. When you invest in people, in local communities, you’re not just building a business — you’re building a future."
Chobani’s latest facility will be built at the Triangle parcel located at Griffiss Business and Technology Park, which was awarded more than $23 million from FAST NY last year to complete infrastructure and transportation improvements. When at full capacity, Chobani will process over 12 million pounds of milk per day, representing a large economic opportunity for the state’s dairy farms.
Chobani has selected Rome, New York for this project based on:
- A skilled local workforce, including a high concentration of military veterans living in the area, as well as graduates from nearby colleges
- Easy access to the major population of the East Coast
- Availability of affordable housing in the area as well as Governor Hochul’s ongoing commitment to building affordable homes in New York State
- Additional resources coming from the state to support the creation of new jobs
Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, “Today's announcement represents how New York is building a stronger, more sustainable economy that creates jobs, promotes tradable industries and supports additional economic sectors in the state. This public-private partnership with Chobani will grow the market for New York's dairy farmers, create jobs that provide a path to the middle class, and develop even more world-class food products that are widely recognized across North America. Under Governor Hochul's leadership, the State continues to invest in the companies and jobs that bolster New York's economic vitality of today and tomorrow.”
Read the full press release here.