Great Lakes Cheese Plans New $500M Production Facility

Dairy products maker Great Lakes Cheese is preparing to construct a new, $500 million production facility in Franklinville, NY that will increase its capacity and double its current workforce, local news organizations reported this week. A 130-acre parcel in the community was selected for the 480,000-sq-ft plant.

The company’s decision on the location comes after the Cattaraugus County Industrial Development Agency approved tax breaks totaling as much as $166 million to support the project, coverage by The Buffalo Newssaid.

“The Epprecht family and Board of Directors are thrilled to have found the location and community needed to support such a major investment in nearby Franklinville,” the firm’s owner, Kurt Epprecht, said in a statement quoted by The Bradford Era. “We look forward to building one of the country’s premier cheese manufacturing and packaging facilities for our current employee-owners and the hundreds who will join the Great Lakes Cheese family.”

Great Lakes Cheese is slated to begin work on the site next spring. The company expects the facility to become operational in early 2025, creating about 225 jobs.