Cheese and dairy foods supplier Saputo Dairy USA is launching a $30 million project to expand its manufacturing plant at the Las Cruces Innovation and Industrial Park in Las Cruces, NM, the state’s Economic Development Cabinet Secretary Alicia J. Keyes announced in a recent release.

The State of New Mexico is supporting the project with $2.5 million in finding from the LEDA job-creators fund, including a $1 million bonus for expanding in an Opportunity Zone. An additional $300,000 in funding is being provided by the City of Las Cruces.

“The expansion of Saputo Dairy USA in Las Cruces with 150 new jobs demonstrates again that Southern New Mexico has a skilled workforce and is a great place, not only to live but for businesses to grow and expand,” New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said in a statement.

The Las Cruces City Council is also considering an Industrial Revenue Bond for the expansion. Over the next decade, the project is expected to have an economic impact of $1.6 billion, according to the New Mexico Economic Development Department.

“Southern New Mexico is expanding its manufacturing footprint quickly. The expansion of Saputo Dairy USA’s facility will create jobs we need to diversify our economy and get people back to work as we recover from this pandemic,” said Secretary Keyes.

Saputo Dairy USA manufactures a range of cheese products like mozzarella and American-style, as well as blue, ricotta, goat cheese, Romano and other specialty cheeses, according to its website. The company also produces dairy ingredients, including whey protein concentrates, whey powder, lactose, and dairy ingredient blends.