Cheese Maker Could be Moving in to Former Fairbank Farms Facility in Ashville

ASHVILLE – A major cheese manufacturing operation could soon be coming to Ashville.

The Chautauqua County Legislature learned on Wednesday that the Empire Specialty Cheese Co. wants to open a production operation in the town of Harmony at the former AFA Foods facility.

According to an article from the Jamestown Post-Journal, Lawmakers heard from the owner of the company, Tony Carparco, who said the business would like the county to help it move into the vacant facility.

Following the presentation by Carparco, lawmakers voted unanimously to approve a resolution, allowing the county apply for a $616,000 grant on Empire Specialty Cheese’s behalf from the New York State Office of Community Renewal. The money would go toward financing a portion of the cost of equipment and working capital required to establish operations.

Empire Specialty Cheese currently operates in Conewango Valley, where it has been in operation since 2000.  The company currently employs 45 people, but according to the Post-Journal article, plans to grow to more than 200 employees within five years at the new facility.