AURELIUS — Cayuga Milk Ingredients (CMI) is now operating in a $270 million expanded plant in the Cayuga County town of Aurelius, near Auburn.

The new facility will allow the company to more than double its workforce, adding up to 150 new jobs to the existing workforce of 100 employees, the office of Gov. Kathy Hochul announced June 18.

The addition will also allow the company to better serve its clients and “create opportunities” for New York dairy farmers as well.

The company formally opened the expansion in a ceremony held June 18.

CMI announced the grand opening in collaboration with Tetra Pak, a food-processing and packaging-solutions company, per a separate company statement. The U.S. and Canadian operations of Tetra Pak are headquartered in Denton, Texas, a company spokesperson tells CNYBJ in an email.

“Tetra Pak started working with Cayuga in early 2023 on the processing scope for their new aseptic plant,” the spokesperson says. “Cayuga wanted to have a partner that not only supplies equipment but also supports the technological and product development aspects of the project on this new journey for them. They soon realized that it’s not just about the UHT [ultra-high temperature] process, but all of the processes around it which create a superior product, and which we are able to provide.”

New York State is supporting the project through a $4 million capital grant and up to $4 million made available through the performance-based, Excelsior Jobs tax-credit program in exchange for job-creation commitments.

Cayuga Milk Ingredients says it is a farmer-owned dairy processor, producing premium milk and dairy ingredients for customers across the globe. The announcement comes as the state acknowledges Dairy Month this June, Hochul’s office noted.

“Cayuga Milk Ingredients is proud to be a key player in New York’s dairy industry, with the investment in our new aseptic and extended shelf-life fluid dairy production facility driving long term growth in our community with more than 150 new permanent jobs, as well as another [350-plus] jobs during facility construction,” Brian Linney, Cayuga Milk Ingredients and Cayuga Marketing CEO, said in the state’s announcement. “We are grateful for the support of Governor Hochul in this project expansion as we work to ensure the continued success and longevity of the agricultural industry in New York State.”

The first phase of the expansion at the Eagle Drive facility included the purchase and installation of a UHT/aseptic low acid packaging system and a new reverse osmosis filtration system. The second phase included the addition of machinery and equipment, and the expansion of the facility’s wastewater-treatment plant.

In its facility, CMI monitors all aspects of product integrity, offering a “high level” of traceability and sustainability, combining innovative manufacturing technology with a focus on reducing their environmental impact, Hochul’s office said.

CMI processes more than 1.5 billion pounds of milk from 22 family-owned dairy farms within the region. The farmer-owners are “recognized globally for their higher level of commitment” in animal welfare, environmental sustainability, and worker wellness “all based around a culture of continuous improvement,” the governor’s office noted.