CAMPBELL — A Green Bay, Wisconsin–based cheesemaker plans to spend more than $23 million at its facilities in Campbell in Steuben County and in Glenville in Schenectady County. BelGioioso Cheese, Inc. will upgrade and expand operations, committing to creating at least 30 new jobs between the two sites, the office of Gov. Kathy Hochul announced […]
CAMPBELL — A Green Bay, Wisconsin–based cheesemaker plans to spend more than $23 million at its facilities in Campbell in Steuben County and in Glenville in Schenectady County.
BelGioioso Cheese, Inc. will upgrade and expand operations, committing to creating at least 30 new jobs between the two sites, the office of Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Nov. 20.
In addition to the direct job-creation goals, the expansion will use an additional 100 million pounds of milk from New York State’s dairy farmers. Empire State Development has agreed to support the project with up to $1.5 million in performance-based Excelsior Jobs program tax credits, Hochul’s office said.
In 2021, BelGioioso Cheese purchased the Polly-O brand and its plant in Campbell, northwest of Elmira. The Campbell facility was constructed in 1938 and as part of this project is undergoing upgrades to its existing infrastructure, including the addition of product lines to allow continued growth.
The Steuben County Industrial Development Agency is also providing assistance for the project. Now underway, the upgrades at both facilities are expected to be completed by late 2027.
“The Polly-O brand has a long and meaningful history in New York, and the Auricchio family has been dedicated to traditional cheesemaking for generations. The quality of milk produced in New York and the strong support from State and local partners make it possible for us to continue growing our operations here,” Timothy Cronin, general manager of Polly-O, said in the state’s announcement. “We look forward to expanding our facilities, adding jobs, and strengthening our long-standing relationships with New York dairy farmers so we can honor both the BelGioioso and Polly-O cheesemaking traditions for generations to come.”
Founded in 1979, BelGioioso Cheese operates 11 plants that make more than 30 varieties of Italian cheeses.
BelGioioso brands took home seven medals at the dairy competition held at the 2025 State Fair, Hochul’s office noted. They included three first place gold medals for Polly-O low moisture whole milk string cheese; Polly-O New York style impastata; and Cappiello natural hickory smoked fresh mozzarella.
