ROME, N.Y. (NCC News) — One of America’s best‑known yogurt brands is doubling down on the state where it first took off. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Chobani will invest $1 billion to build a 1 million‑square‑foot dairy and natural‑foods complex in Rome.
The megaproject, secured after a nationwide site search, is expected to add 1,000 permanent jobs and roughly 1,500 union construction jobs.
Hochul described the project as “the number‑one natural‑food processing facility in America, right here in Upstate New York,” adding that “anyone who bets against New York will lose.”
Chobani founder and CEO Hamdi Ulukaya, an immigrant from Turkey who launched the company’s first U.S. plant in New Berlin in 2005, is keeping the company’s growth rooted in Central New York. Hochul said that early decision to settle in New York is meaningful to community members.
“What (Hamdi) built there is an enormous source of pride for all of us,” the governor said.
The state is contributing $75 million in support through performance-based incentives, along with $23 million to prepare the site for development. Chobani’s new facility will be capable of producing over 1 billion pounds of high-quality dairy products per year, nearly doubling the company’s New York state workforce.
Hochul said the project is a part of a broader economic revival.
“This is part of the rebirth of our state, a rebirth of Upstate New York, a rebirth of business and a rebirth of the belief in greater days that lie ahead,” Hochul said.
Construction is scheduled to begin in late 2025, with phased production launching in 2027 and the plant reaching full capacity by 2029. Looking ahead, Hochul said there is room for future growth.
“I’ve got plenty of space for more expansions after this one,” the governor said.