New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Chobani CEO Hamdi Ulukaya discuss his company’s $1.2 billion plant investment in Oneida County. (GovKathyHochul via Flickr)
Greek yogurt giant Chobani will build a 1.4 million-square-foot facility in Oneida County to make 1 billion pounds of dairy products annually, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced.
The $1.2 billion venture is expected to create 1,000 jobs in Rome, some 40 miles east of Syracuse. The facility is expected to process more than 12 million pounds of milk daily, “representing a large economic opportunity for the state’s dairy farms,” the governor’s office stated.
New York’s economic development arm, the Empire State Development office, agreed to provide Chobani up to $73 million in performance-based Excelsior Jobs Program tax credits to cement the deal. Chobani, in return, committed to work with ESD to develop workforce training for underserved populations.
“Chobani has been a major employer in the Mohawk Valley for decades, and this massive new $1.2 billion investment will bring more than 1,000 good-paying jobs to Oneida County — the largest natural-food manufacturing investment in American history,” Hochul stated recently.
A key to the city is nice, but how about a spoon to the state?
Proud to be in Rome today to celebrate New York farmers, New York workers, and @Chobani’s $1-billion investment in New York State! pic.twitter.com/Y6vK9AxyXQ
— Governor Kathy Hochul (@GovKathyHochul) April 22, 2025
The nation’s fifth-largest milk producer, New York has 3,000 large and small family-run dairy farms producing 15 billion pounds of milk annually. It also has 200 dairy processing facilities and is the top U.S. producer of yogurt, sour cream, cream cheese and cottage cheese.
Dairy stakeholders are enthusiastic about this boom to farmers, processors and milk haulers in the Mohawk Valley region.
“We’re excited about the continued investment in New York’s dairy processing capacity and what it means for the long-term strength of the state’s dairy industry. Any investment that supports local dairy and helps keep milk markets strong is a positive step for the industry,” Barney McConnell Sr., director of transportation and distribution for the Dairy Farmers of America-Northeast, told Transport Topics.
The Chobani facility will be built at the Triangle site in the Griffiss Business and Technology Park near Interstate 90 to enable access to multiple East Coast markets.
“Chobani’s decision to invest and grow in New York is a testament to the quality of our family dairy farms and their dedication to our animals, our people and our environment. We’re fortunate to work with some of the best haulers, feed suppliers, veterinarians, crop advisers, nutritionists, researchers and other industry partners, who will all play a critical role in producing nutritious milk and getting it from our farms to this new natural-food processing facility,” according to a statement issued by the Northeast Dairy Producers Association.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is joined by business and civic officials in the groundbreaking for Chobani’s plant in Oneida County. (GovKathyHochul via Flickr)
The organization represents the owners of 265,000 cows living on farms ranging in size from 200 to 8,000 cows.
“This expansion will not only support the regional workforce and dairy farms across the state, but it will also excite the next generation of farmers preparing to enter the industry or continue their family’s multigenerational legacy,” NEDPA noted.
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State Agriculture Commissioner Richard Ball said Chobani is celebrating its 20th year in New York.
“Chobani has long been a part of New York’s world-class dairy industry, and this feels like a real full-circle moment to welcome them to another region in our state,” he said.
Chobani makes yogurt, oat milk and creamers from natural ingredients without artificial preservatives.
“New York is where Chobani’s journey began,” CEO Hamdi Ulukaya recalled. “Working with dedicated dairy farmers and the resilient community, we built something truly special — something bigger than the food we make.
“We ignited a movement toward better food made with heart, passion, and only the highest-quality ingredients. With our new plant in Rome and our original home in South Edmeston, we’re entering a new dimension.”
