Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) today commented on the apparent closing of the Mueller Quaker Dairy Plant in Batavia as well as economic development opportunities ahead as a result of the Finger Lakes Region winning the Upstate Revitalization Initiative.

“I am disheartened to learn of the closing of the Mueller Quaker Dairy Plant as a result of the company’s sale to Dairy Farmers of America (DFOA). The news comes as a shock, but my hope is that DFOA will open a new facility in Western New York very soon and re-hire many of the same employees that will be laid-off due to Mueller Quaker’s closing. I look forward to working with DFOA in the future and wish the company the best of luck.”

In the Finger Lakes Region, $120.1 million was awarded for 134 projects. They include $750,000 was awarded to Genesee Biogas to purchase new equipment in the Genesee Industrial Agricultural Park, LLC, $420,000 to the Genesee County Economic Development Center, $500,000 to the Genesee Gateway Local Development Corporation to expand infrastructure, $1.5 million to install new water lines at the STAMP Park in Alabama, $600,000 for the Orleans County Economic Development Center, and $70,000 to fund the Orleans Renaissance Group.

“Although I am discouraged by the closing of the Mueller Quaker plant in Batavia, I am inspired by the opportunities that await us in execution of the dozens of projects in my district funded through the Regional Economic Development Councils (REDC) and Upstate Revitalization Initiative. These six projects only scratch the surface of what we have in store for Western New York, and I look forward to assisting with the dozens of projects throughout my district in any way possible.”