Chobani chooses Rome for second New York plant

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ROME, N.Y. — Chobani’s announcement that it will build a $1.2 billion manufacturing plant in Rome was a full-circle moment for the Greek yogurt maker, which got its start 20 years ago in an old Kraft manufacturing plant in South Edmeston (town of Edmeston). During an April 22 groundbreaking event, Chobani Founder and CEO Hamdi […]

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During an April 22 groundbreaking event, Chobani Founder and CEO Hamdi Ulukaya recalled finding that first facility all those years ago and meeting with the 55 Kraft employees that would soon be out of a job when the plant closed.

He bought the Edmeston plant for $700,000 with just a vision that it could become something great, but work started small that summer when he and a few others painted the outside walls.

“Two years later after we painted those walls, we launched Chobani,” he recalled. Five years later, Chobani reached $1 billion in sales. “Where everybody saw broken walls, old equipment, smells that were unpleasant, I saw people.”

From its start at that factory in Edmeston, Chobani has grown into one of the top food producers and the nation’s largest yogurt brand. Chobani opened a factory in Idaho in 2012 and just expanded that facility earlier this year.

The new facility in Rome, at 1.4 million square feet, will house 28 production lines and will be the most advanced facility the company has ever built, Chobani COO Kevin Burns said. The project is spurred by a need for capacity, the need to be able to produce products also made in Idaho, and the need for new innovation.

Chobani planned to deliver the design package to Rome city planners following the groundbreaking event, Burns said. The project, which will create about 1,500 construction jobs, will reflect a true partnership between the company, Rome, Oneida County, the state, dairy farmers, and the area workforce, he added.

“We’re going to need everybody’s help to make this successful,” Burns said.

The new facility will be capable of producing more than 1 billion pounds of dairy products annually and create more than 1,000 jobs. When at full capacity, the plant will process more than 12 million pounds of milk per day. Chobani, which opened its first plant in New York in 2005, selected the Rome site after a nationwide search.

Rome Mayor Jeffery Lanigan noted that Chobani’s selection of the Triangle site in Griffiss Business and Technology Park was a direct result of the work done by former Mohawk Valley EDGE President Steven DiMeo, who passed away last year.

“We honor his legacy today and every day,” Lanigan said.

Oneida County invested more than $6 million and the state invested over $23 million through its FAST NY program to complete infrastructure and transportation improvements and other work to make the site shovel ready.

Empire State Development will provide Chobani with up to $73 million in performance-based Excelsior Jobs Program tax credits to support the creation of more than 1,000 jobs at the new plant. Additionally, the company has pledged to collaborate with ESD to develop workforce training that aims to train and provide job opportunities at Chobani to underserved populations.

Chobani manufactures yogurt, oat milk, and creamers. Following the 2023 acquisition of coffee roaster La Colombe, the company began selling cold-pressed espresso and lattes on tap at cafes and retail ready-to-drink coffee beverages. Chobani manufactures its products in New York, Idaho, Michigan, and Australia, and its products are available throughout North American and distributed in Australia and other select markets.

Pulaski, other villages to start DRI, NY Forward project plans

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SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The Village of Pulaski, along with the Villages of Chittenango and Marathon, are working to figure out how to spend state funding to improve their communities. New York State has awarded the Village of Pulaski $10 million as the Central New York winner of the eighth round of the state’s Downtown Revitalization

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SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The Village of Pulaski, along with the Villages of Chittenango and Marathon, are working to figure out how to spend state funding to improve their communities.

New York State has awarded the Village of Pulaski $10 million as the Central New York winner of the eighth round of the state’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI).

At the same time, the Villages of Chittenango and Marathon will each receive $4.5 million as the Central New York winners of the third round of NY Forward, the office of Gov. Kathy Hochul announced.

New York Secretary of State Walter T. Mosley spotlighted the grant recipients during a March 13 visit to the Syracuse campus of SUNY Oswego.

“New York State is committed to the revitalization of communities through continued investments in the Downtown Revitalization Initiative and NY Forward Program,” Mosley said in the state’s announcement. “Together, these programs are transforming downtowns all across the State into hubs of activity that benefit both residents and visitors. I am excited for the Villages of Pulaski, Chittenango and Marathon to begin this process as the latest Central New York Region recipients and to see how their communities change and grow in the coming years.”

To receive funding from either the DRI or NY Forward program, localities must be certified under Hochul’s Pro-Housing Communities Program, her office noted in the announcement.

Pulaski plans to use its DRI funding to further enhance its economic potential, create new job opportunities and improve the quality of life for its residents, and future generations. The $10 million award will encourage further progress, the state said.

With its NY Forward award, the Village of Chittenango envisions a vibrant and welcoming community that celebrates its unique heritage, embraces sustainability and fosters innovation.

With its funding, the Village of Marathon in southern Cortland County seeks to “create a vibrant, welcoming downtown that supports the needs of its citizens, residents of neighboring rural towns and visitors to the area,” per the state’s announcement. Village leaders also plan to continue efforts to connect the riverfront to its Main Street, restore historic properties, grow the retail sector and leverage its cultural assets.

Pulaski, Chittenango, and Marathon will now begin the process of developing a strategic-investment plan to revitalize their downtowns. A local-planning committee made up of municipal representatives, community leaders, and other stakeholders will lead the effort, supported by a team of private-sector experts and state planners. The strategic-investment plan will guide the investment of DRI and NY Forward grant funds in revitalization projects that are poised for implementation, will advance the community’s vision for their downtown and that can leverage and expand upon the state’s investment.

N.K. Bhandari plans for leadership change

Construction, Design & Real Estate, Employee Benefits & Human Resources, Manufacturing & Engineering, Small Business, Subscriber Only

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — N.K. Bhandari, Architects & Engineering, P.C. (NKB) is shaking things up a little bit in its 45th year but isn’t straying from the mission that has kept the business going strong for more than four decades. Christopher Resig, who has served as NKB owner and president since 2015, announced he will be

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Christopher Resig, who has served as NKB owner and president since 2015, announced he will be retiring later this year, and Glenn R. Woodbury, current VP and co-owner, will take the helm.

Resig’s tenure at the firm spans more than 28 years. He initially worked at NKB from 1983-1995, later rejoining the firm in 2010.

“It’s just time for me to transition,” and start the next chapter, Resig says, adding that Woodbury is exceedingly qualified and capable of filling his shoes.

Woodbury has been with NKB since 2017 and served as architectural practice leader before being promoted to VP.

Looking back, Resig is proud of the growth the firm achieved during his tenure. “As an organization, we have expanded our market reach,” he says. “We have quadrupled our size in terms of revenue.”

NKB also grew from two disciplines — architecture and structural engineering — with the addition of interior design, providing the firm more opportunities to collaborate with clients through an entire project.

Through the adoption of a remote-work model, the firm has also expanded geographically with offices in Syracuse and Bethesda, Maryland and additional employees in New York City and Michigan, Resig notes.

Even with this growth, NKB still considers itself a small business and plans to remain at a size that allows it to provide the highest level of service to clients and be responsive to both customers and the industry, he adds.

“For the clients, they know they are working a lot of the time with a principal of the firm as their direct contact,” Woodbury says.

Additionally, there are numerous government set-asides for small businesses, and that’s important for NKB whose single largest client is the federal government. NKB also does a lot of work in the education sector at both the K-12 and higher education levels as well as laboratory subject-matter expert work. That means NKB serves as the “expert” to help various agencies design their labs to meet National Institutes of Health standards.

When he takes the helm later this year, Woodbury hopes to continue to expand NKB’s reach starting in the areas it is already in growing both the number of people and projects in those markets.

“We want to continue to be innovative in our work,” he adds. For him that means both design innovations as well as technological innovations that can change how they work.

NKB will continue to be fully remote, Woodbury notes. “We are leaning into the remote work thing because it allows us to draw talent from anywhere.”

Narindar K. Bhandari founded the company in 1980 as N.K. Bhandari, Consulting Engineers, P.C. When he retired in 2008, and James P. Resig assumed the role of president, the firm’s name changed to N.K. Bhandari, Architecture & Engineering, P.C. to better reflect the full scope of services provided.

Centro expands its bus service to Cortland County

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CORTLAND, N.Y. — When Centro started offering bus service in Cortland County on March 31, it represented the first time that it had expanded its bus-service network in 20 years. Cortland County planners met with Centro about a year ago to discuss ways that Centro could connect its services between Onondaga and Cortland counties, Steve

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CORTLAND, N.Y. — When Centro started offering bus service in Cortland County on March 31, it represented the first time that it had expanded its bus-service network in 20 years.

Cortland County planners met with Centro about a year ago to discuss ways that Centro could connect its services between Onondaga and Cortland counties, Steve Koegel, VP of communications & business planning, tells CNYBJ in an email. Centro told Cortland County that it could join the Central New York Regional Transportation Authority, and the discussions progressed from there, he adds.

“We are thrilled to begin bus services in Cortland County,” Christopher Tuff, deputy CEO of Centro, said in an announcement about the new bus service. “Residents can look forward to safe, reliable, and equitable transportation that will use the latest technologies to make using the bus an easy, convenient, and desirable option. Our mission is to be a driving force moving communities forward, and that’s what we intend to do in Cortland.”

Bus fares for the Cortland County riders will also be less expensive. Centro has reduced the bus fares to a standard $1 per ride for all city bus lines and $3 per ride on its commuter service to Cornell University.

“Efficient and affordable public transportation supports equity and economic access in the community and is instrumental in creating and stabilizing a strong middle class,” New York Assemblymember Anna Kelles (D–Ithaca) contended in the Centro announcement. “I’m honored to be championing a proposal in the state budget negotiations that adds Cortland to the Central New York Regional Transportation Authority and channels Standard Transit Operating Aid to Cortland, bringing lower bus fares and a wider service area, and will continue working to get these proposals over the finish line.”

Centro will also introduce Call-A-Bus, a service for qualifying individuals with a disability that provides service to the same areas as its bus lines. Centro’s current Call-A-Bus network provides more than 200,000 rides per year in its other four-county service areas.

Centro says it will operate seven fixed routes along with its Call-A-Bus paratransit service. Buses will operate Monday through Friday from 6 a.m.-6 p.m.

“Cortland County, for years, has been looking for ways to enhance our public transportation system and promote public transit throughout the County,” Kevin Fitch, chair of the Cortland County Legislature, said. “The transition to CENTRO is a pivotal step in reshaping the transportation in our county. By joining the Regional Authority, CENTRO, now operating in five counties, has the expertise needed to take Cortland County’s public transportation system to new heights.”

Centro has provided public transportation in Central New York for more than 50 years, beginning service in Syracuse in 1972 before expanding to both Cayuga and Oswego counties. Centro also added service in Oneida County serving Utica and Rome in 2005, almost 20 years to the day before beginning service in Cortland. Centro currently employs about 600 people and provides more than 7 million bus rides each year to hundreds of thousands of Central New York residents.

Crews to remodel Regal movie theaters at Destiny USA

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SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Destiny USA says its Regal movie theaters will undergo an “extensive” remodel beginning this spring. Throughout the renovation process, Regal will remain open, ensuring that moviegoers can continue to enjoy their favorite films, Destiny USA said in its March 25 announcement. Regal is a motion-picture exhibitor operating one of the largest theatre

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N.Y. manufacturers expect conditions to worsen in the months ahead

Manufacturing & Engineering, Subscriber Only

Manufacturers in New York state expect conditions in the sector to worsen in the months ahead. It’s a level of pessimism that has “only occurred a handful of times in the history of the survey,” the Federal Reserve Bank of New York said in its April 15 report on the monthly Empire State Manufacturing Survey.

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Manufacturers in New York state expect conditions in the sector to worsen in the months ahead.

It’s a level of pessimism that has “only occurred a handful of times in the history of the survey,” the Federal Reserve Bank of New York said in its April 15 report on the monthly Empire State Manufacturing Survey.

The April survey’s general business conditions index, a benchmark for current industry conditions, improved 12 points but remained below zero at -8.1, which indicates continued contraction in the sector.

In the past few months, the general business conditions index deteriorated 26 points to -20 in March after gaining 18 points to 5.7 in February. The index is the monthly gauge of New York’s manufacturing sector.

Based on firms responding to the survey, the April reading indicates manufacturing business activity “declined modestly” in New York state, the New York Fed said in its report.

A negative index number shows a decline in the manufacturing sector, while a positive index reading indicates expansion or growth in manufacturing activity.

The survey found the indexes for new orders and shipments persisted below zero as new orders fell modestly and shipments edged lower.

At the same time, manufacturing firms turned pessimistic about the outlook, with the future general business conditions index falling to its second lowest reading in the more than 20-year history of the survey, the New York Fed said.

Survey details

The new orders and shipments indexes also held below zero at -8.8 and -2.9, respectively, pointing to “ongoing declines” in both orders and shipments, the New York Fed said.

Unfilled orders edged up slightly. The inventories index came in at 7.4, signaling that business inventories continued to expand. Delivery times were unchanged, while the supply-availability index fell to -5.7, suggesting supply availability was somewhat lower.

The index for number of employees came in at -2.6, while the average workweek index fell to -9.1, pointing to little change in employment levels but a decline in hours worked. Both price indexes climbed for a fourth straight month to their highest levels in more than two years — the prices-paid index rose 6 points to 50.8, and the prices-received index gained 6 points to 28.7.

The index for future general business conditions fell 20 points to -7.4; the index has declined a cumulative 44 points over the past three months. New orders and shipments are expected to fall slightly in the months ahead.

Capital spending plans were flat. Input and selling price increases are expected to pick up, and supply availability is expected to worsen over the next six months, the New York Fed said.

The Federal Reserve Bank of New York distributes the Empire State Manufacturing Survey on the first day of each month to the same pool of about 200 manufacturing executives in New York state. On average, about 100 executives return responses.

Work begins on Oneonta intersection improvements

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ONEONTA. N.Y. — Construction work has started on a $4 million project to enhance safety and improve traffic flow at the intersection of James F. Lettis Highway (State Route 23) and Main Street (State Route 7) in Oneonta, Gov. Kathy Hochul recently announced. Work will include constructing a modern roundabout to reduce vehicle congestion and

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Work will include constructing a modern roundabout to reduce vehicle congestion and make it easier for pedestrians and motorists to get around downtown Oneonta, according to the governor’s office.

The project will convert the current, signalized intersection of Lettis Highway and Main Street into a single-lane roundabout that will improve vehicle mobility and reduce idling. New sidewalks, lighting and signage — including flashing beacons — will also be installed to enhance safety for pedestrians. New drainage systems and landscaping will be added to improve resiliency and sustainability.

Work began in April with tree removal and other site preparations. Major construction will start in early to mid-July and focus initially on the northern end of the intersection and interior of the roundabout. During this phase, only the ramps to and from the Lettis Highway will be open to traffic traveling east on Main Street. All other vehicular and pedestrian access will be closed and detours posted, per the announcement.

In September, construction work will shift to the southern end of the intersection and the southbound ramps onto Lettis Highway will close. Eastbound traffic will be detoured.

During the project, a free, 24-hour shuttle will be provided to aid pedestrians during times when access to the work zone is restricted. There will be two pickup and drop-off locations on Main Street and two more on Lettis Highway.

Construction is tentatively scheduled to wrap up at the end of the year. The project is funded with a mix of state and federal funds, with the bulk of it coming from the federal Highway Safety Improvement Program, the governor’s office stated.

A second project — dubbed the Southside Oneonta Safety and Mobility Improvements Project — is scheduled to begin in 2026 and focus on improving the sidewalks and traffic flow along State Routes 23 and 28.

Lockheed Martin’s Salina plant wins $213 million contract modification

Manufacturing & Engineering, Subscriber Only, Technology

SALINA, N.Y. — Lockheed Martin Corp.’s (NYSE: LMT) facility in suburban Syracuse was recently awarded a $213 million modification to a U.S. Army contract for Sentinel radar systems and spares growth kits. Work will be performed in Lockheed’s plant in the town of Salina, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 13, 2027, according to

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New York state honey production jumped nearly 16 percent in 2024

Energy, Environment & Sustainability, Manufacturing & Engineering, Subscriber Only

New York state honey production increased 15.9 percent to almost 2.76 million pounds last year from nearly 2.38 million pounds in 2023, according to a recent report from the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). New York beekeepers earned nearly $16.21 million from their honey in 2024, up 47 percent from $11.01 million the prior

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Visions starts 5th year as naming sponsor for Binghamton arena

Banks & Credit Unions, Construction, Design & Real Estate, Insurance & Financial Services, Nonprofits, Southern Tier, Sports, Entertainment & Tourism, Subscriber Only

BINGHAMTON, N.Y. — Visions Federal Credit Union (Visions FCU) has begun its fifth year as naming sponsor of the Visions Veterans Memorial Arena in Binghamton. With support from Visions during the past four years, the credit union says the local venue has “overcome challenges brought by the pandemic and is now bustling with increased attendance

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BINGHAMTON, N.Y. — Visions Federal Credit Union (Visions FCU) has begun its fifth year as naming sponsor of the Visions Veterans Memorial Arena in Binghamton.

With support from Visions during the past four years, the credit union says the local venue has “overcome challenges brought by the pandemic and is now bustling with increased attendance and community engagement,” per a recent announcement.

“Over the past four years, our partnership with Visions has brought much-needed new events and opportunities to our community following the challenges of the pandemic that halted live entertainment,” Broome County Executive Jason Garnar said. “Their support has given people more ways to come together and enjoy these experiences, and we are grateful for their continued commitment to Broome County.”

Visions FCU’s sponsorship in January 2021 started during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which forced the arena to shut its doors for an extended period. Between March 9, 2020, and March 11, 2021, the arena hosted only a handful of events for a total attendance of fewer than 300 patrons.

In 2021, crews performed major renovations to the arena’s aging infrastructure and HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) systems as the brand of Visions Federal Credit Union was installed outside and painted throughout the building to replace the prior sponsor.

By that summer, Visions had become a principal sponsor of the Binghamton Black Bears to help keep professional hockey in the local community after the previous hockey team relocated to Utica. Within the team’s first two seasons, attendance at hockey games would reach an average of nearly 3,000 per night. The average-attendance figure rose to about 4,100 per home game this past season.

Partnering with Mirabito

When the credit union pursued the sponsorship, Visions FCU had developed a strategic partnership with Mirabito Energy Products to expand the impact. Mirabito became naming sponsor of the box offices for both the Visions Veterans Memorial Arena and Broome County Forum Theatre.

“I’m a firm believer that, in most cases, a setback is only the setup for a comeback,” Timothy Strong, Visions FCU’s director of branding and public relations, said. “We expected that our partnerships with Broome County and Mirabito would help this area recover from the pandemic, and we’re proud to have seen that come true.”

The two sponsors, Visions FCU and Mirabito, have supported initiatives to bring new events, local artists, and major performing acts into the community. They also provide exclusive access to discounted tickets, pre-sale offers, and special promotions that have encouraged attendance at the venue’s events.

Part of Visions FCU’s sponsorship included the creation of a Naming Rights Fund to help cover the cost of programming at the Arena and Forum. In the past few years, the fund helped acts that included Jeff Dunham, Jerry Seinfeld, Walker Hayes, and WWE, Visions said.

“From state championship athletics events to the Binghamton Black Bears to several concerts and family shows, we’ve been able to attract shows of all types that would not have otherwise come to Binghamton but for the partnership with Visions,” Christopher Marion, general manager of Visions Veterans Memorial Arena and Forum Theatre, said in the announcement. “We have also been able to access the Naming Rights Fund to help all of our stakeholders and tenants either maintain or enhance their level of activity or service in both venues.”

Community events

In addition to supporting ticketed events at Visions Veterans Memorial Arena, the credit union says it has hosted events with free attendance for the community.

The Visions Summer Concert Series evolved over three years into the Bands & Brews Block Party, bringing thousands of attendees to the space for free outdoor concerts that have included local vendors, meet-and-greets with professional athletes, and more than a dozen bands from around New York State.

Introduced by the Visions Veterans Program in 2022, Visions FCU has also hosted an annual Veterans Expo, allowing veterans and military-connected community members to network with veteran-service providers from throughout the Southern Tier and Central New York.

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