Amy’s Kitchen, Petaluma, Calif., announced plans to invest nearly $100 million to establish new manufacturing operations in Orange County, N.Y. The construction of the 500,000-square-foot, organic food manufacturing plant represents one of the largest Greenfield manufacturing plants to select New York over the last three decades. The company is expected to break ground on the project in early 2015, and anticipates that the new plant will be operational by the end of 2016. It is also expected to create nearly 700 new jobs.

“We are so excited about the opportunity to build a plant in Goshen. Geographically, it’s in the perfect spot to supply our largest customers. The potential to source so many of our agricultural ingredients close to the plant was another important factor in our decision. We also believe it’s a great area to attract excellent employees. The site we’ve chosen is beautiful and situated on the Walkill River. The help and support we’ve received from the state, county and city has been outstanding, not to mention the warm response and interest we’ve received from the local community,” says Andy Berliner, owner.

Amy’s Kitchen, a privately-held, family-run company, makes more than 250 organic products, including frozen entrées, pizza, burritos, wraps and bowls, among other items. Amy’s Kitchen celebrates 25 years of business this year.

Empire State Development, New York’s chief economic development agency, agreed to provide Amy’s Kitchen with up to $6.8 million performance-based incentives, which are tied directly to investment and job creation commitments, in the form of a capital grant and Excelsior Jobs Program tax credits. Additionally, the company has received a 15-year PILOT agreement from the Orange County Industrial Development Agency, which includes a $4.5 million property tax abatement, $420,000 in mortgage tax exemptions and $6.5 million in sales and use tax exemptions. The IDA also awarded $500,000 for required infrastructure enhancements, which ESD assistance will help to support, including costs involved in constructing a $1.7 million access road. Amy’s Kitchen will fund the remaining cost of the infrastructure improvements necessary.