Business

Retired nurse Valerie Hill says she hasn't had a place to live for seven-and-half years, and she blames a local contractor for leaving her with a new house that can't pass final inspection.

The contractor, Bryan Wormley, said Hill would have gotten a certificate of occupancy in 2005 if she had let him complete the work.

The home, at 5520 Horseshoe Lake Road, Stafford, was supposed to cost $200,000. What is has wound up costing both sides is a lot of grief, heartache, worry and attorneys' fees.

Neither Wormley nor Hill ever signed a contract, a mistake they say they both now regret.

"That part is definitely my fault," Wormley said. "I was trying to help her out."

Wormley and Hill had known each other for some time before an afternoon in 2005 when they crossed paths shortly after Hill returned from Punta Gorda, Fla., where Hill has a winter residence. Hurricane Charlie had just devastated her community there and two of her friends died in the natural disaster.

Hill was relaxing beside a pond on her daughter's property in Stafford that day. She said Wormley drove up in a golf cart.

“He came over to me and put his arm around me and said, ‘Oh Valarie, I hear you’ve been through a terrible time, and that you’re going to build a house,' " Hill said. "He told me he had been building houses for 18 years. He made these wonderful promises to me. At that point of my life I had been through a lot down in Florida. He promised me it would be wonderful."

Hill already had blueprints and another contractor had said he could build the home for $239,000.

According to court documents, Wormley promised Hill he could build the home for $200,000.

At trial, Wormley reportedly admitted that while he reviewed the blueprints, he never prepared a formal cost estimate.

There is also disagreement over whether the agreed upon price of $200,000 was supposed to cover any changes or modifications to the plan.

There were apparently numerous changes -- and some dispute over whether these were actual variances to the the verbal agreement between the two parties -- and none of the changes were documented with signed work orders.

Following the bench trial, which ended in February, Judge Robert C. Noonan awarded Hill $45,000, plus interest, resulting in a money judgment against Wormley for $71,967.

Noonan's ruling found in Hill's favor on one cause of action -- breach of contract by Wormley.

Hill said she's spent $130,000 on attorney fees, Wormley puts his legal bill at about $80,000.

Citing case law, Noonan arrived at the $45,000 figure based on the estimates received by the court. The low estimate is $17,680 submitted by Ed Leising. The $45,000 estimate was submitted by Ronald Cudney.

Hill submitted an estimate "to bring the property up to Hill's expectations" of $54,090.

Wormley said he doesn't have much respect for Cudney, considers the estimate way out of line and said the house could be completed for $15,000.

According to Noonan's written decision, Hill paid $182,000 during construction of the house. Wormley claimed a total of $244,130 should be paid. Based on evidence, Noonan reduced that price to $231,850.

Hill also paid $36,500 directly to various vendors.

That meant Hill was entitled to total credits of $218,500.

"However, other than sporadic invoices, there is no document, job cost report, or other accounting document which sets forth the amounts Wormley expended," Noonan wrote. "Wormley acknowledges that there is nothing in writing which memorializes Hill's agreement to pay any of the alleged extra or additional charges."

The court found in favor of Wormley on $16,950 in charges. Given the finding in favor of Hill for $218,500 in credits, Wormley was due only $216,950, so Hill owed him nothing further, Noonan ruled.

Hill said she's heard through friends that Wormley has said he won't pay the judgment against him. Wormley flatly denies it.

He said he may be able to only pay $500 a month, but he intends to pay the judgment.

First however, Wormley said, he plans to appeal the judgment.

He thinks Hill lied on the witness stand on several points and that if he can prove it, he will win on appeal.

He also believes he has a case against Hill for defamation. He said anything she has told the news media about the case is a lie, that he believes she's under a gag order from the court, and he takes particular issue with a sign she's put on the front porch of the Horse Shoe Lake Road house that accuses Wormley of leaving the house behind with 109 code violations.

Wormley said the sign simply isn't accurate. He said there may be four or five items that need to be fixed to bring the structure up to code, but everything else on the list of trouble areas completed by Leising is either fixed or finished. They are nothing, he said, that would prevent Stafford's building inspectors from issuing a certificate of occupancy.

On the morning a pair of reporters showed up at Hill's place, Wormley (who has a temporary business location on Horseshoe Lake Road) drove by, stopped, took a cell phone picture and yelled, "I'm going to sue you for slander, Valarie."

When the reporters looked down, Hill asked if they had seen Wormley flip her off.

She claims Wormley has given her the finger before, and to her grandchildren.

Wormley characterized Hill as a habitual liar who has been going around town bad-mouthing him.

"This has gone on for several years," Wormley said. "Before this, I've never been to court once. I've never had a customer I couldn't satisfy. Valarie is a bold-faced liar."

Hill said she started feeling like a dissatisfied customer as soon as the basement was dug. She said Wormley's crews dug it too deep. That forced unwanted modifications to the house plans and caused flooding problems in the basement, she said.

"If I knew then what I know now, there should have been a stop work order right then," Hill said.

Then there were the changes in the plans, from the type of roof vents, the width of the stairwell going downstairs, the size of the Florida room and sliding glass doors to a dispute over whether the agreement even included a finished basement.

Hill also complained about crossed wiring, a garage door that doesn't open and numerous unfinished tasks around the house.

One of the things HIll said she insisted on -- and it's part of the blueprints -- is a roof vent along the length of the roof line. Instead, Wormely installed pocket vents.

"One of the things my husband told me before he died (that was 17 years ago) is that if he ever build another house, he would get a ridge vent," Hill said.

If there is one thing he knows well, Wormley said, it is roofing and he said in WNY conditions, a ridge vent is a bad idea. It doesn't circulate air well enough and is more prone to getting clogged with dust.

It would also be an easy fix, Wormley said, only a few hundred dollars to convert the roof to ridge venting now. He said he would have done it if Hill had allowed him to complete the project.

As for the width of the stairs, he said he was trying to compensate for a poorly drawn plan. The stairs are right at the front door and there wasn't enough space in the original plans for a person to walk into the living room. He said he considered it a safety issue.

As for the other items, he said they would have been finished if Hill hadn't locked him out of the house in October 2005, but he also said he had stopped sending work crews over out of concern that Hill had said she was running out of money.

This was right after Hill contracted with a local business to install a $35,000 kitchen.

Wormley was going to install a $15,000 kitchen using a local contractor who doesn't have a showroom.

Hill said she didn't want to buy a kitchen out of a barn.

Wormley said before Hill filed suit, he offered her $245,000 for the house and the property, and she turned him down. He said his attorney in Denver has documentation of the offer, and The Batavian requested the documentation. Wormley said his attorney can be slow to return calls now that the case is over. The Batavian has yet to receive the documentation.

Noonan found that Hill started denying Wormley and his crew access to the house because of her concerns over substandard work and unauthorized changes to the plans.

The too-deep basement meant, according to Hill, that she doesn't have as high of a stone face around the base of the house, that her basement windows that are supposed to be above grade, are below grade (and the back windows are too big), and that instead of having five stairs at the front of the house, she has only three.

Each summer, Hill said she's been trying to finish the house herself, dealing with the alleged code violations one at a time so she might be able to live in the house.

The house was supposed to make it easy for her to see her daughter and spend time with her grandchildren -- both teenagers now -- and those years have all been taken from her, she said.

After years of trying to get help, a local contractor finally did come to her place to help repair something and when he stepped on a back stairwell, she said, the stairwell collapsed and he was injured.

"The only person who has come to help me got hurt," Hill said tearfully. "That man fell through the steps and got hurt. I’m tired and I’m angry. I’m doing all of this work myself. I’m trying to get it pass code. I’ve lost 63 pounds since May trying to do this myself. I can’t do it all by myself."

That incident is why she put the sign in front of the house, she said, naming Wormley and accusing him of leaving the house with 109 code violations.

Both Wormley and Hill claim to be in financial straits. 

For Wormley, his big setback came when the owners of the former Victorian Manor, Sunwest, went bankrupt. Contractors, including Wormley, lost $1.5 million on the remodeling project there.

Since then, Wormley has had at least one of his own properties go into foreclosure, piled up a couple of money judgments from vendors and is being forced to sell his office property on Clinton Street Road.

Hill said she's now out of money. She sold her 3,000-square-foot home in Stafford in 2005, anticipating moving into the new house just yards from her daughter's home (her daughter actually owns the lot Hill's house is on). Every dime she got from that sale, she said, has gone into construction of the new home or fighting Wormley in court.

All of Hill's belongings were moved into the house on Horseshoe Lake Road in November 2005 after her previous residence sold, but Hill said she hasn't been able to live there since there is no certificate of occupancy.

"I've been living with my daughter, her friends, other relatives, back and forth to Florida," Hill said. Breaking down, she added, "I've slept in a barn. When I wake up in the morning, I have to look around to see where I am. For seven and half years. Friends and family. I get tired. I feel like I’m in everybody’s way now. I have no home of my own."

Wormley said this is just another of Hill's lies. He said when Hill sought reimbursement for her expenses, she provided his attorney with water and cable TV bills. The bills showed a spike in water use in the summer, and the cable was only turned on in the summer.

Hill has been living at the house, Wormley said, every summer since 2005.

"If you talk to any of the neighbors," he said, "they'll tell you they see her car in and out of the garage a thousand times a day."

Press release:

United Memorial’s Education Department will host an Open House on Wednesday, Oct. 24, from 2 – 5:30 p.m. in room 202 at the hospital in order to demonstrate the new patient simulator. The simulator, a $60,000 piece of equipment was provided to United Memorial at no cost from CHART, the organization’s insurance carrier. It will be used to educate clinical staff.

The simulator is wireless, lifelike and can be used to assist with training for multiple airway skills, catheter placement, airway complications and breathing complications. It has cardiac and circulation features, vascular access, blinking eyes, secretions, urine output, bowel sounds and the instructor can make it speak. The simulator can function as a male or female patient.

Pam Lynch, director of education; Kevin Aldrich, 2nd Floor nurse manager; Mary Lama, 3rd Floor clinical care coordinator and Judy Clark, ICU nurse manager were educated as trainers for the new equipment. The simulator assists in improving patient care and safety. It allows new students to practice basic nursing skills and veteran nurses to learn the latest technologies and use of new practices and equipment.

The public is welcome to attend this open house.

For Holly Nelson, the proposed 1,200-acre technology business park in the Town of Alabama is both something to dread and something that seems like a good opportunity.

She's not alone in her conflicted feelings. Nearly a dozen people spoke at a public hearing Thursday night in the town's fire hall and expressed both a wish that Alabama remain a small, rural community, and that it embrace jobs and growth.

"I moved back here so I could be in the country," Nelson said during a short statement where she fought back tears. "If we had known what would happen, that this would be proposed, when we started building our home, we never would have built it. My whole family is here and loves Alabama. I don't want to lose that, but I do want my kids to be able to stay here and have a place to work. I'm so torn."

After speaking another minute or so, she said, "I'm scared," and seemingly unable to hold back the tears any longer, she walked away from the mic.

The purpose of Thursday's meeting was to give interested members of the public -- especially Alabama residents -- a chance to raise any issues with a proposed compensation package from the Genesee County Economic Development Center and the necessary changes in zoning for the site.

In all, the total estimated benefit to the town is $8.5 million, including $5.2 million for a new public water system. The town will also receive a commission on the sale of the land in park -- to be known as the Science, Technology, Advanced Manufacturing Park (STAMP) -- as manufacturers are signed to build facilities on the property.

The first speaker was an organized labor representative who encouraged Alabama residents to support STAMP because both in the construction and in the new factories, it could bring good-paying jobs to the region.

He was followed by Alabama resident Doug Crosen who encouraged the town board to not be swayed by outside voices.

"There's going to be huge pressure from the outside both for and against it, but the decision better be about our town," Crosen said.

Among Crosen's concerns is whether the money for public water will cover hook-ups for residents, and whether residents will have the option to say on well water.

Anita Goras said she had split feelings about the project.

"This is going to be in my back yard and that's where my cows are right now," Goras said. "I am open. I know I'm not going to live forever and I would like to see my grandchildren be able to come back here and work."

Kevin Sheehan, deputy mayor for Albion, told the board that if Alabama didn't want STAMP, Orleans County will take it. He encouraged the board to approve the project for the sake of all of Western New York.

Bruce Pritchett -- who grew up in Alabama, still lives on Maple Road, and teaches in Albion -- said he understands the desire to keep Alabama a small farming community, but young people, he said, need jobs, they need a reason to say in Genesee County.

"There are not a lot of jobs available," Pritchett said. "We send our jobs overseas. There's nothing here for people. This is a great opportunity. As a community, I hope we take advantage of this opportunity we have and make the best of it."

Tom Walsh, a Corfu resident, said he understands the resistance from some, but encouraged Alabama to move forward with the project.

"I know it scares a lot of people," Walsh said. "If it came to Corfu, I'd probably be a little scared for me at first, but I would know at least there would be some work for people."

Vance Wyder Jr., said he's a 40-year-old disabled military veteran who really only knows farming. He isn't sure he and other farming community members can really be trained for the kind of jobs STAMP will bring. He's worried about losing farming jobs, which are harder and harder to come by in Alabama, and then the new jobs not being filled by local residents. He said nobody has really assured him that local residents can and will be trained for the jobs.

"My message to the board is be cautious, be wary, make sure you are doing the right thing for our town and not for the almighty dollar, because in the end, the almighty dollar might kick us in the ass," he said.

Another speaker, a gentleman who has worked in IT for 20 years and is a resident of Alabama, said the board should be mindful of the potential for spinoff businesses from high-tech manufacturers.

He encouraged the board to ensure any businesses coming in reinvest in the local business community, such as by creating an incubator for start-up tech firms.

"We don't need some monolithic company with 1,800 jobs that never talks to the town after it's in place," he said.

Max Merten seemed the most strongly opposed to STAMP. He said he moved to Alabama 20 years ago to live in a rural community and he doesn't want it to change. He said he raised his kids to work, not push paper.

He's worried, he said, that the project is being pushed through the process too quickly.

"We don't need more jobs in a cornfield," Merten said.

Angela Kost concluded the round of speakers with the same ambiguity that set the tone for the meeting.

"I don't want to see it in my back yard, obviously," Kost said. "I don't think anybody in Alabama wants that, but it is a good opportunity."

The town board will meet within two weeks to take formal action on the proposals.

Press release:

Genesee ARC saluted local business partners during a luncheon Thursday, celebrating National Disability Employment Awareness Month. The event is an opportunity to thank local businesses for believing in the abilities of the ARC workforce, both in the community and through Work Center subcontracts.

The theme of this year’s NDEAM awareness campaign is "Building an Inclusive Workforce" and focuses on recruiting, hiring and retaining employees with disabilities. Scott Jones, Genesee ARC director of Vocational Services, thanked business partners and asked them to share their ARC experience with colleagues in the business community.

“We can help place, train and work alongside an individual to help them succeed at a job placement,” Jones said. “Our success rate is phenomenal and we have a team of enthusiastic workers, with a variety of skills."

One individual on the ARC workforce was singled out for recognition at the luncheon. Roxy Kio of Batavia is one of 59 Joslin Outstanding Performers recognized through NYSID’s annual people-centered awards program.

NYSID (New York State Industries for the Disabled) is a not-for-profit business which administers Preferred Source contracts for goods and services in support of state and local government procurement budgets, to achieve its mission of “Turning business opportunities into JOBS for New Yorkers with disabilities.”

Roxy joined the Genesee ARC workforce in February 2011. She learned about different types of contract work jobs and was initially trained on piecework tasks. She quickly mastered her new work skills and was open-minded to learning more about training and new assignments.

In March of last year, she began working with the janitorial crew and due to her thoroughness and attention to detail, she worked at 100-percent productivity rate. Over the summer, Roxy joined the Culinary Arts team at the Genesee ARC Community Center and has been assisting daily with the Meals on Wheels contract.

As a ‘Joslin Outstanding Performer’ Roxy received a certificate of achievement and cash award in a presentation by Assemblyman Steve Hawley. She will also be featured in NYSID’s annual yearbook.

Genesee ARC works with about 60 local business partners through individual employee placements, the trash & recycling center, work center and community contracts.

Businesses who want to learn about the benefits of building an inclusive workforce may contact Scott Jones at 343-1123 or scjones@rochester.rr.com.

Submitted photo: Scott Jones, ARC, Roxy Kio, award recipient, Margie Werder, NYSID, Donna Saskowski, ARC executive director, and Assemblyman Steve Hawley.

Press release:

The Genesee County Chamber of Commerce Annual Awards Committee has announced the 2012 Annual Award Dinner will be held on Saturday, April 13 at the Clarion Hotel, Park Road, Batavia. This is the county’s premier event that honors businesses and individuals for their achievements in business, community service and volunteerism.

The chamber has streamlined its nomination forms to make submissions less cumbersome and time consuming. Please note that a brief write-up will qualify your nominee for consideration. Nominations are now being accepted for: Business of the Year; Entrepreneurial Business of the Year; Agricultural Business of the Year; Innovative Enterprise of the Year; Special Service Recognition; and Geneseean of the Year. Business nominees must be a chamber member (If unsure of your nominee, call the chamber to verify). 

Nomination forms are available at the chamber of commerce office, 210 E. Main St., Batavia. and can also be downloaded from the chamber Web site at www.geneseeny.com.

If you would like more information, feel free to call Kelly J. Bermingham, director of Membership & Special Events, at the chamber office, 343-7440, ext. 26.

The staff of Genesee Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine is recognizing Breast Cancer Awareness month by wearing City of Batavia Fire Department breast cancer awareness T-shirts.

Press release:

With October being National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and National Car Care Month, Grease Lightning auto repair shops are for the third year partnering with AutoTex to sell AutoTex PINK wiper blades in their stores.

With each sale of AutoTex PINK products, a donation will be made to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. The blades can be found locally at: Grease Lightning, 4003 West Main St., 2418 North Main St., Warsaw and at Castrol Premium Lube Express, 50 Liberty St. Batavia and 29 East South St., Geneseo.

AutoTex Pink wiper blades come in black with a pink ribbon insignia or an all pink style

Grease Lightning Founder Ben Thompson is thrilled to be partnering with AutoTex again.

“There is almost no one alive who isn't affected by breast cancer, either personally fighting the deadly disease, or watching a friend or loved one deal with the tragic consequences of breast cancer. Our team is happy to support the cause, and our customers seem happy when they make a purchase -- knowing that they are supporting the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

AutoTex PINK is a women-owned and created company based in Pine Brook, NJ that is among the nation's leading global suppliers of windshield wipers. Get more info at www.autotexpink.com

Grease Lightning is on the Web at mygreaselightning.com

My intention was to stop for sweet corn. What I found when I pulled into Pully's Farm Market on Route 19 in Le Roy was a fall festival.

Owner Dave Pullyblank opened the market in the spring of 2008 on the farm that has been in his family since 1804. His goal then as now is to turn the farm into a family-friendly, agri-tourism attraction.

For fall, Pully has transformed his farm into a wonderland of play areas colored by the vibrant oranges, yellows and greens of the harvest season.

There is a corn maze, pumpkin cannon, corn (instead of sand) box and duck race, but Pully said the number-one attraction is the pumpkins.

The variety, he believes is the largest available in any single location in New York State.

"What I say is all these weird colored pumpkins, that’s fall," Pullyblank said. "You won’t find more variety of a decorative product in any other place. Anybody can grow an orange pumpkin. You won’t find anybody else growing that product in there (the green house)."

Pully's goal is to be a year-round destination. In the spring he sells bedding flowers, hanging baskets and vegetable seedlings. During the summer, he sells produce, including sweet corn, which he believes is the sweetest you'll find, plus tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and squash.

"The biggest thing I tell the folks, at the end of the day, the stuff that hasn’t sold goes to my cows, so when you come the next day, the stuff was picked that morning," Pullyblank said.

He wants kids to learn where their food comes from, Pully said. Eventually, he plans to include farm animals as part of his attractions for families.

For winter, Pully would like to sell u-cut and pre-cut Christmas trees, but two dry summers have slowed the growth of the trees.

What Pully doesn't sell, he brings in from other area farms.

"I can’t do it all, but I want to get it from the other farmers as close as I can," Pullyblank said.

All of the attractions and products at Pully's now will be available through the end of October.

The property has been in Pully's family for at least six generations and Pully got his start driving a tractor for his grandfather when he was 7. Pully said his farm is the last of the original four Le Roy farms still being run as a family operation by the original family.

The spring of 2008 turned out not to be a great time to start a new business, Pully admitted. It hasn't always been easy to grow a business during down economic times, but each year he keeps adding new products and new attractions.

"You have to keep going forward," Pullyblank said. "No matter what, you’ve got to keep going forward. If you don’t, you’re going to go stagnate and then there’s no reason for people to come out and see what you’re doing."

Pully's Farm Market is located 8160 Lake Road, Le Roy.

Laura DiPasquala, center of the photo, got her wish today -- she visited an Alpaca farm.

The DiPasquala's said they've driven past the Northwoods Alpaca Farm in Bergen many times, but today was the perfect day to stop. Owners Belinda and Bob Grant were hosting an open house.

Northwoods is part of a tour of Alpaca farm tour in Western New York (the open house continues on Sunday) aimed at promoting alpaca fiber (it's not called fur) for clothing and promoting alpaca farming to increase the number of growers in the nation.

Alpaca fiber is known for its soft texture, moisture resistance, warmth and comfort.

The Grants have operated Northwoods for about eight years.

Laura and Rich DiPasquala are from Greece.

Press release:

The Genesee County Chamber of Commerce has just launched its newly redesigned Web site at www.GeneseeNY.com. Web site visitors will notice easier navigation in finding relevant community information, such as census data, major employers, employment information, as well as an easier to search chamber member database.  

Key upgrades were made to the Community Calendar section and adding interactive functionality. The new site also allows users to easily print the data they find on the site. 

The chamber is currently seeking updates to the popular Clubs & Organizations directory for Genesee County.  Please visit the Community section of the new site to see if your club or organization's data is listed. If it is not listed, we need your updated contact information.

Le Roy's Wiss Hotel, often referred to as a lost cause, may yet be saved.

A group of citizens pooled their resources and hired Perry-based revitalization expert Rick Hauser to conduct a feasibility study on whether the Wiss could once again be a viable business.

Hauser's short answer: Yes.

Though an expensive proposition, the old hotel building is structurally sound enough to be restored and the resulting mix of retail space and apartments would provide a return on investment.

Hauser's report suggests creating a limited liability corporation that would take the lead on the project.

Funds would come from investors -- both cash and in-kind (such as a plumber doing work in exchange for shares in the company -- tax abatement and a no-interest loan from the village.

Rather than spending upwards of $400,000 to destroy the Wiss and remediate any existing environmental problems, the money would help seed the restoration and rebirth of the building at the corner of Route 19 and Route 5, the west-end entry into the village.

The village would also need to apply for and receive National Register Historic District designation that includes the building.

The financial analysis also assumes a 10-year PILOT grant from the Genesee County Economic Development Center.

Hauser's feasibility study proposes four retail spaces on the first floor and five large, high-ceiling, light-filled, market-rate apartments -- ranging in size from 800 to nearly 1,400 square feet -- on the second and third floors.

Under such a plan, at 100-percent occupancy, the building would eventually turn over $34,000 in annual net profit.

There was little discussion of the report -- which wasn't an item on the agenda -- at the village board meeting Wednesday night.

Supporters of the project said they just wanted to get the report in the hands of trustees quickly, before the village committed to destruction of the building.

Alpina Foods officially opened its yogurt-making plant in Batavia's new ag-park with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and tour Monday afternoon, which was attended by local dignitaries and state lawmakers.

Truck unloading station

Alpina Foods office

Quality control lab

Batch blending room

Fermentation and culturing room

Cup-filling machine

Big event in Batavia today that I wish I could have attended and covered -- the grand opening of the Alpina yogurt plant. We did assign a photographer and should have more coverage later, but meanwhile, here's the official photo and press release from Alpina:

Alpina Foods today celebrated the official Grand Opening of its first North American manufacturing facility, the latest yogurt plant to open in Upstate New York. Though the 67-year-old company has sold its broad line of dairy products in American markets for several years, the Batavia, N.Y. facility is its first plant in the U.S.     

Joined by U.S. Congresswoman Kathleen Hochul, New York State Senator Michael Ranzenhofer, and Empire State Development President and CEO Kenneth Adams, top officials from Alpina Foods and its Colombian parent company, Alpina, marked the occasion with a ceremonial ribbon cutting.

“This is a momentous day for Alpina,” said Julian Jaramillo, Alpina’s CEO. “We would like to recognize the many people and organizations across the state that have helped make this moment a reality. We are excited to get started and continue to grow along with our employees, the region, and the yogurt industry in New York.”

The Alpina Foods plant already employs 30 new employees, and expects to hire at least 20 additional team members in the coming months. This is in addition to the 20 employees located in Alpina Foods’ Miami offices and in regional positions elsewhere in the U.S.

Over the past year, with the help of co-packing partners, the company has launched several new products for U.S. consumers: Alpina Revive Greek yogurt, Alpina Restart traditional yogurt, Alpina Renew oat smoothie, Bon Yurt by Alpina low-fat vanilla yogurts, and Juan Valdez Café Latte by Alpina.

“Today’s opening of Alpina Foods marks an exciting new phase of economic development in Genesee County and Western New York,” said Rep. Hochul. “With the initial creation of up to 50 jobs, Alpina will significantly contribute to the economic vitality of the region. I look forward to working with Alpina, the Genesee County Economic Development Center, and local farms as we work to strengthen Western New York’s economy.”

"The State Legislature, working with Governor Cuomo, has made tremendous strides in improving New York State's business climate,” said Senator Ranzenhofer. “Especially during the last two budget cycles, the decision to cut spending and lower taxes has signaled to many companies that New York is the right place to do business, and for many yogurt companies, such as Alpina, it has positioned Genesee County and Batavia as the 'Yogurt Capital' of the world. I applaud Alpina for opening its first U.S. facility in the Genesee Valley Agri-Business Park."

Drawn by access to the thriving agriculture and dairy industry of Upstate New York, along with a ready labor market, Alpina chose Batavia for its 10th global manufacturing facility, following locations in Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela. The company worked closely with the State’s Excelsior Jobs Program and numerous state and regional economic development organizations on the location of the 10-acre site, and was further attracted to the region after its work with nearby Cornell University and Rochester Institute of Technology.

“Under Governor Cuomo’s leadership, the production of Greek yogurt has become a critical job creator and driver of economic activity in New York State,” said Empire State Development President, CEO & Commissioner Kenneth Adams.  “A number of major yogurt manufacturers have taken advantage of this region’s existing infrastructure, including the Genesee Valley Agri-Business Park, which is available for dairy processing, as well as its skilled workforce, proximity to milk supply and ability to reach target markets. We welcome Alpina Foods to the U.S. and are so proud that they have chosen to locate its first specialty yogurt plant in the U.S. right here in Genesee County.”

All Upstate New York residents are likely to appreciate Alpina Foods’ new location. The company is well known for its commitment to the communities in which it operates. With a philosophy that leadership refers to as “collective prosperity,” Alpina Foods wants to transfer success beyond the company, and positively impact the surrounding community, including their employees, business partners, the environment, and others in the region.

“We are committed to our success in Batavia and the U.S.,” said Alpina CEO Julian Jaramillo. “It is our corporate practice to grow with our surroundings, hand-in-hand with our neighbors.”

Photo, from left: Juan Pablo Fernandez, GM, Alpina Foods; Julian Jaramillo, CEO, Alpina; Roger Parkhurst, Director of Operations, Alpina Foods; Congresswoman Kathy Hochul; state Senator Michael Ranzenhofer; Kenneth Adams, President & CEO, Empire State Development.

Rep. Kathy Hochul is boarding a plane in Washington, D.C., right now, heading back to her district for an election-period recess, but she would rather stay in the Capitol, she said, and give local farmers what they need to run their businesses -- the certainty of a farm bill.

"I'm ready to turn around right now and stay in Congress as long as it takes day and night and do what's right for our farmers," Hochul said.

"This is just another sign that Washington is broken and we've let our farmers down," Hochul said.

Every five years, Congress must pass a new farm bill. Last passed in 2008 as the Food, Conservation and Energy Act, the $288 billion appropriations bill not only provides crop insurance and price support for farmers, it also provides subsidies for private land conversion back to a natural state, biofuel subsidies and is the funding source for food stamps.

A version of the bill was passed with bipartisan support by the Senate, but even after winning Agriculture Committee support in the House, the bill hasn't come to a floor vote.

The 2008 act expires in a week.

Hochcul said it's baffling and unconscionable that the House leadership has blocked a floor vote.

Agriculture, Hochul said, is a $739 million a year industry in her district, and $4.7 billion statewide. 

Regardless of the legislation's provisions -- the Senate and House versions would need to be negotiated into a compromise bill in conference committee -- farmers need the certainty of a farm bill in order to operate their businesses on a daily basis.

According to an NPR article, the near-term fallout of the failure of the House to pass a farm bill is pretty minimal. The provisions of the current farm bill that most effect farmers remain in place through the end of the current growing season, which for something like winter wheat means until spring.

However, it is very uncertain what will come next, according to NPR, because some deficit hawks have their eyes set on greatly reducing expenditures in the farm bill, including for food stamps, and there may be a lot of political pressure in Washington next year to reduce spending.

"We need to keep spending under control, yes, and we need to find ways to do it," Hochul said, "but the farmers need the certainty that comes with passage of this bill."

There is bipartisan support for passage of a farm bill in the House, Hochul said, and she won't speculate on why its leadership is blocking a floor vote on such a critical piece of legislation.

"The fact they won't let us get to a compromise means that they refuse to govern and that's just inexcusable," Hochul said.