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Byrne Dairy’s Ultra Dairy plant in DeWitt to expand

Byrne Dairy’s Ultra Dairy, LLC — seen here in a December 2018 photo — is planning a phase two expansion project that would add 22,000 square feet of aseptic processing area to the existing 138,000-square-foot facility, per a document on the website of the Onondaga County Industrial Development Agency. (ERIC REINHARDT / CNYBJ)

DeWITT — Byrne Dairy’s Ultra Dairy, LLC at 6750 W. Benedict Road in DeWitt is planning a $28.5 million phase two expansion as it works to complete an ongoing growth initiative. “Their phase two expansion will be related to aseptic processing, so they can package their product and send it out for extended periods of […]

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DeWITT — Byrne Dairy’s Ultra Dairy, LLC at 6750 W. Benedict Road in DeWitt is planning a $28.5 million phase two expansion as it works to complete an ongoing growth initiative.

“Their phase two expansion will be related to aseptic processing, so they can package their product and send it out for extended periods of time,” Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon said. “We know how important food security is.”

McMahon announced the project during his July 13 coronavirus briefing at the Oncenter in downtown Syracuse.

Ultra Dairy is proposing to construct 38,400 square feet of additional manufacturing, storage, and cooling space adjacent to the existing operation in the town of DeWitt, per a document posted July 14 on the website of the Onondaga County Industrial Development Agency (IDA).

The company plans to enlarge its existing 138,000-square-foot facility by adding about 22,000 square feet of aseptic processing area, per the IDA.

Ultra Dairy will retain 198 employees and create 64 new jobs as a result of the project.

“They have a phase one expansion that will be done in 30 days,” said McMahon. “They’re going to quickly turn around and start their phase two expansion.”

Ultra Dairy has applied for more than $224,000 in property tax exemptions, per the IDA. It also anticipates that the project will create about 150 construction jobs and construction and equipment installation will take about nine to 10 months.

The IDA document also indicates that the project is eligible for a $750,000 state grant along with $4.25 million in job tax credits.

Ultra Dairy, LLC was formed in 2003 as part of the Byrne Dairy family of companies. It produces dairy and non-dairy food products using ultra-high temperature (UHT) technology that results in extended shelf life (ESL) products. That includes a variety of milk, cream, and non-dairy products having shelf lives of between 70 and 180 days.

The company says it ships 92 percent of its finished products out of New York state for wholesale and retail sale.

Eric Reinhardt