The Cayuga County Industrial Development Agency was awarded a $1.1 million grant through the federal government to help construct a new wastewater pumping station and make improvements to its existing sewer infrastructure.
The money is provided through the Economic Development Administration’s (EDA) American Rescue Plan (ARP) Economic Adjustment Assistance program, announced U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on Thursday.
Schumer: EDA investment in infrastructure will keep Cayuga dairy jobs flowing
The Cayuga County Industrial Park’s current wastewater system serves two dairy processing plants: Cayuga Milk Ingredients and Denkavit-Grober Nutrition.
The park’s existing water infrastructure, Schumer explained, is insufficient for the current needs of the dairy plants. Both require higher capacity wastewater conveyance systems than a typical manufacturing facility.
Through the $1.1 million EDA investment, Cayuga County will construct a new pump station and upgrade already in place sewer infrastructure so the dairy companies can continue to grow.
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“I am proud to have secured this $1.1 million to construct and upgrade essential wastewater infrastructure in Cayuga County to support the ongoing expansion of the Cayuga Milk and Denkavit dairy processing plants,” said Schumer in a release.
“When I crafted the American Rescue Plan and included an infusion of funds for the Economic Development Administration, it is long-overdue investments like this project in Cayuga County that I had in mind. This project will boost the economy and accelerate our economic recovery. With a new sewer line and wastewater pumping station on the way, these Cayuga County jobs can keep flowing and our local dairy industry can keep moo-ving on up!”
According to Schumer, the investment will directly support a 50,000-square-foot expansion of the Cayuga Milk facility. Construction is expected to start in 2023.
The grant will also fund an expansion by Denkavit. The combined expansions are anticipated to have an over $100 million economic impact on the county and support dozens of new jobs, said the release.
“These funds will be used to expand the capacity of the sewer line in the CCIDA Industrial Park, which will better support the existing tenants’ needs, as well as their anticipated needs for future expansions. CCIDA is thankful for the support of Senator Schumer and the Central New York Regional Planning and Development Board, which helped make this grant application successful,” said Cayuga County IDA Chairman Ray Lockwood.
The project is funded through $500 million set aside by the EDA as part of the American Rescue Plan Act.
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