LIBERTY, NY — Local officials started talking about it seven years ago: a red meat facility to be located in Liberty. Such a facility would allow farmers to have their livestock processed locally rather than shipped sometimes hundreds of miles away.
The county’s Industrial Development Agency (IDA), working with the county Department of Planning and Environmental Management, had lined up funding from various sources for about $1 million, which includes $150,000 from Sullivan County and $150,000 from the IDA. On September 21, Congressman Maurice Hinchey announced that the Economic Development Agency will provide the final piece of funding, an $800,000 grant for what will formally be called the Southern Catskills Red Meat Processing Facility.
At a news conference filled with county lawmakers and officials from various agencies, Hinchey said the project would be a boon to Sullivan County, where agriculture is the largest industry.
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