Empire State Development (ESD) announced that Amy’s Kitchen, a world leader in the production of natural and organic convenience foods and frozen specialty foods, will invest nearly $100 million and establish new manufacturing operations in the Town of Goshen, Orange County. The construction of the 500,000-square-foot organic food-manufacturing plant and the nearly 700 new jobs that will be created in the Hudson Valley by Amy’s Kitchen represents one of the largest greenfield manufacturing plants to select New York State over the last three decades. The company is expected to break ground on the project in early 2015 and anticipates that the new plant will be operational by the end of 2016.
“This historic commitment from Amy's Kitchen proves that companies across the country are recognizing that New York State is the place to be if you're looking to invest and grow your business,” said Empire State Development President, CEO & Commissioner Kenneth Adams.
“With its strong workforce and proximity to major metro areas, this Hudson Valley location will open up the northeast markets for this large-scale manufacturer while helping them create nearly 700 new jobs here at home. The State is proud to support this project, and I would like to thank our local partners in Orange County for their hard work in bringing Amy's Kitchen to the Empire State."
Amy’s Kitchen, a privately held, family-run company that employs 1,900 workers, makes more than 250 organic products ranging from an international array of frozen entrees, pizza, burritos, wraps and bowls, to soups, beans, salsa and pasta sauce, as well as sweets, including cakes, cookies and candy bars. The company, which is currently celebrating its twenty-fifth year in business, was founded by Andy and Rachel Berliner and named after their daughter, Amy. The business has experienced double-digit growth every year since its inception.
“We are so excited about the opportunity to build a plant in Goshen. Geographically it’s in the perfect spot to supply our largest customers. The potential to source so many of our agricultural ingredients close to the plant was another important factor in our decision. We also believe it’s a great area to attract excellent employees. The site we’ve chosen is beautiful and situated on the Walkill River. The help and support we’ve received from the State, County and city has been outstanding, not to mention the warm response and interest we’ve received from the local community,” said Andy Berliner, owner of Amy’s Kitchen.
Empire State Development, working with Orange County, the Orange County Partnership, Orange County Industrial Development Agency, and other local agencies, developed an attractive incentive package, which helped facilitate the company’s selection of New York State and their commitment to invest approximately $95 million in developing a 500,000 square-foot and create at least 681 jobs in Goshen.
“Today’s announcement represents the culmination of hard work and steady collaboration between the State, my staff, our friends at the Partnership and IDA, Goshen officials, and, of course, the Amy’s Kitchen team,” said Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus. “Amy’s Kitchen will bring jobs and new economic opportunities to Orange County, and the fact that this world-class natural foods company chose Goshen for its new manufacturing site is a testament to our county’s economic competitiveness, skilled workforce, and top-notch quality of life.”
“Amy’s Kitchen’s significant investment in Orange County would not be possible without the hard work, dedication and team effort by the Orange County Industrial Development Agency, New York State, and Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus and his staff that helped make our bid to bring Amy’s Kitchen to the county so attractive,” said Orange County Partnership President Maureen Halahan. “To bring one of the world’s most recognized natural and organic food producers to the Town of Goshen is a major coup for Orange County.”
“The Orange County Industrial Development Agency is proud to have played a part in bringing Amy's Kitchen to Goshen,” said Robert Armistead, Chairman, Orange County IDA. “We're excited for the opportunities Amy's will offer Orange County, and worked closely with our partners in the County Executive's office, the Orange County Partnership and the State to ensure Amy's found a home here. But mostly, we're excited for what this means to the local work force and community: With this project comes hundreds of jobs with a company that promises stability and growth. We couldn't be happier that the IDA was able to help make this happen.”
Empire State Development has agreed to provide Amy’s Kitchen with up to $6.8 million performance-based incentives, which are tied directly to investment and job creation commitments, in the form of a capital grant and Excelsior Jobs Program tax credits.
Additionally, the company has received a 15-year PILOT agreement from the Orange County Industrial Development Agency, which includes a $4.5 million property tax abatement, $420,000 in mortgage tax exemptions and $6.5 million in sales and use tax exemptions. The IDA also awarded $500,000 for required infrastructure enhancements, which ESD assistance will also help to support, including costs involved in constructing a $1.7 million access road. Amy’s Kitchen will fund the remaining cost of the infrastructure improvements necessary at the site.
Senator John Bonacic said, “Amy’s Kitchen’s $95 million dollar project in the Town of Goshen is a most welcome addition to the area. I could not be more pleased by all the hard work from County Executive Steve Neuhaus, the Orange County Industrial Development Agency and the Orange County Partnership to get this done.
With all of the Hudson Valley farms in the area, Amy’s Kitchen could not have found a better home, and good and willing partners in creating excellent food products.”
Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther said, “Amy’s Kitchen will be a welcome addition to the Hudson Valley. Rachel and Andy Berliner have built a company with heart – a company that treats their employees like family, promotes sustainability, and gives back to the community.
I look forward to working with them and thank the Governor, Empire State Development and the dedicated economic development team in Orange County for all their hard work.”
Assemblyman James Skoufis said, “My constituents and I are ecstatic in welcoming Amy's Kitchen to Goshen. Amy's Kitchen's people-first approach to doing business is a breath of freshair that will inject jobs, economic activity, and community partnerships into our entire region.”
Empire State Development (ESD) is New York’s chief economic development agency (www.esd.ny.gov). The mission of ESD is to promote a vigorous and growing economy, encourage the creation of new job and economic opportunities, increase revenues to the State and its municipalities, and achieve stable and diversified local economies. Through the use of loans, grants, tax credits and other forms of financial assistance, ESD strives to enhance private business investment and growth to spur job creation and support prosperous communities across New York State. ESD is also the primary administrative agency overseeing Governor Cuomo’s Regional Economic Development Councils and the marketing of “I Love NY,” the State’s iconic tourism brand. For more information on Regional Councils and Empire State Development, visit www.regionalcouncils.ny.gov and www.esd.ny.gov.
There are no comments
Please login to post comments