ASHVILLE, N.Y. -- Executives with Italian cheese producer Castelli Group, alongside state and local leaders, showed off Tuesday its manufacturing plant in Ashville -- its first plant in the United States.
Castelli, Italy's second largest cheese manufacturer, acquired the building from Empire Specialty Cheese.
"Basically the parmigiano reggiano, the grana padano, all of these cheeses that require a lot of care, attention and very specific rules to be able to produce it," said Paul Bensabat, Castelli American Group executive chairman and president.
Founded in 1892, the company looks to retain close to a hundred jobs and expand its workforce in the near future.
"We are entering through a door, which is not yet a big door, but it's a great first door. And we're hoping that all of you guys will accompany us all along to make this door a huge door over the next several years," said Bensabat.
State leaders say the move also plays an important economic role to the region's dairy and agricultural industry.
"Ninety-two Amish families sell their milk to this plant. Ninety-two families would have lost that ability to sell their milk if this plant had closed," said state Sen. Catharine Young, R-Olean.
Castelli received a $500,000 grant and a $5.5 million loan from Empire State Development in exchange for the company's investment in the community.
"We have our challenges, yes, but in a county like Chautauqua to be able to call home to this international specialty cheese manufacturer here in Ashville is one that I'm going to savor for a while," said Chautauqua County Executive Vince Horrigan.