Facility Will Provide Support to Local Dairy Farmers, Has Created Approximately 380 New Full-Time Jobs
Governor Hochul Made Personal Pitch for the Company To Choose New York which is the 5th largest Dairy Producing State and a Leader in the Dairy Industry
Complements the Governor’s Continued Commitment to Agribusiness — A Central Part of The Region’s Comprehensive Strategy To Revitalize Communities and Grow the Economy
Governor Kathy Hochul, The Coca-Cola Company and fairlife today celebrated the initial ramp up of production at the new, $650 million, state of the art, fairlife facility in the Town of Webster, Monroe County. The 745,000 square-foot facility, one of the largest dairy processing plants in the Northeast, will serve as fairlife’s flagship regional facility. The company selected New York following a personal pitch from Governor Hochul and the state’s world-renowned reputation as a global leader in the dairy industry. The facility will take in five to six million pounds of milk per day from New York dairy farmers and has already created approximately 380 new full-time jobs in the Town of Webster.
“We're proud to be partnering with The Coca-Cola Company and fairlife to make this game-changing production facility a reality,” Governor Hochul said. “This $650 million investment in Monroe County will strengthen New York’s dairy industry by creating good-paying jobs, expanding opportunity for local families and providing a dependable market for the hardworking dairy farmers who help power our state’s economy. By supporting the producers, workers, and communities behind this facility, we are building a stronger, more resilient agricultural economy and ensuring New York remains a national leader in dairy production.”
Empire State Development is providing up to $21 million in assistance for the fairlife project through the performance-based Excelsior Jobs Tax Credit Program. Additionally, the New York Power Authority (NYPA) awarded the firm an 8,470-kW low-cost ReCharge NY power allocation at its March 2024 meeting in support of the project. The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, Monroe County Industrial Development Agency, the Town of Webster, Rochester Gas and Electric, and Greater Rochester Enterprise were also instrumental in bringing the company to New York State.
New York State also provided $20 million through the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation to help the Town of Webster upgrade its wastewater treatment plant. This financial assistance was crucial to helping the Town meet its critical wastewater infrastructure needs and support this transformative economic development project. Upgrades at the plant will help increase capacity for growing residential and industrial bases and make operations at the treatment plant more environmentally sustainable. The new investment builds on a $20 million FAST NY grant for Monroe County, announced in 2023 by Governor Hochul, for use at the site in Webster, allowing the county to upgrade the existing electrical infrastructure and enhance the region's appeal to agribusiness and industrial machinery manufacturing.
New York State has 2,700 dairy farms that produce over 16.6 billion pounds of milk annually, making New York the nation’s fifth-largest dairy state. The dairy industry is the state’s largest agricultural sector, contributing significantly to the state’s economy by generating nearly half of the state’s total agricultural receipts and providing some of the highest economic multipliers. New York's unique and talented dairy producers and processors contribute significantly to the state’s agriculture industry, economy and the health of our communities.
Governor Hochul remains committed to addressing the need for additional agricultural capacity and supporting New York’s dairy farms. New York State has celebrated a number of recent major investments in the dairy manufacturing sector across the state, including this investment in fairlife, helping New York to continue to be the leading producer of milk in the Northeast. There are currently nearly 300 world-recognized dairy manufacturing plants across New York.
In addition, the New York dairy industry has received a significant boost over the last several years through the Governor’s Dairy Modernization Grant Program. Round 1 of the program included $21.6 million to the dairy industry in New York, helping New York’s dairy farmers and dairy cooperatives invest in new equipment, expand storage capacity and strengthen their operations. Another $8.5 million is now available through Round 2 of the program and Round 3, which was approved in the final 2026-27 Enacted Budget, will provide nearly $13 million to dairy farmers. Full details regarding project eligibility and directions to submit applications can be found at ffgrowthfund.org/dairymodernization.
Under the Governor’s leadership, New York State has dedicated record funding to programs such as the Climate Resilient Farming grant program and the Agricultural Non-Point Source Abatement and Control program that are helping New York farms to implement environmentally sustainable practices and combat climate change. The Governor has also secured an increase in the Investment Tax Credit and the Farm Workforce Retention Tax Credit and launched the new $30 million Agricultural Resiliency Against Tariffs Program for New York farmers.
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