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Upstate Niagara wants to buy former Alpina Foods plant in Batavia

Upstate Niagara
/
WBFO

There could be new life for the former Alpina Foods plant in Batavia.

Upstate Niagara Cooperative CEO Larry Webster confirms that the organization has signed a purchase agreement to buy the plant which closed in January due to the loss of a co-packaging contract.

According to The Batavian newspaper, Webster broke the news over the weekend at a Genesee County Chamber of Commerce awards ceremony in Batavia.

Webster is quoted as saying that he expects the plant is ready to employ 40 to 60 people, and more if the plant expands.

The plant is located at the Genesee Valley Agri-Business Park.

Steve Hyde, president and CEO of the Genesee County Economic Development Center, tells WXXI News that Upstate Niagara has anticipated looking for financing assistance from that agency. He says they are in “early stage discussions” right now.

Hyde says the focus will be how the county’s participation will help re-staff that plant along with future growth plans to help maximize the potential of long term employment at that site.

Randy Gorbman is WXXI's director of news and public affairs. Randy manages the day-to-day operations of WXXI News on radio, television, and online.