The collaboration by Lehigh Valley and state leaders to win Chobani’s $1.2 billion dairy product manufacturing operation was highlighted as a case study for how coordinated efforts can turn projects that might not seem possible into success stories. 
The Chobani story was told during a panel discussion at the Pennsylvania Economic Development Association conference in Gettysburg on Oct. 27.
Chobani plans to purchase the Keurig Dr Pepper factory in Upper Macungie Township and convert it to dairy production, retaining the 300 workers there and hiring up to another 600 over five years.
It will be the largest agricultural investment in state history. Landing it involved addressing several challenges, including how to ensure Chobani would have sufficient wastewater capacity.
The solutions were shared during the panel discussion, “How Teamwork Delivers Economic Development Wins in Pennsylvania,” moderated by Rick Siger, Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.
Panelists were Kristin Cahayla-Hoffman, Vice President of Business Development & Attraction at Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation (LVEDC); Ben Kirshner, Pennsylvania’s Chief Transformation and Opportunity Officer; Jared Grissinger, Managing Director, Project & Account Management for BusinessPA at the Department of Community and Economic Development; and Bob Ibach, Manager of Upper Macungie Township.
During the September announcement of his company’s investment, Chobani CEO and Founder Hamdi Ulukaya noted that the wastewater challenge had seemed insurmountable.
State officials, LVEDC, and the Lehigh County Authority, which provides water and wastewater service, pulled key players together to produce the solution.
Three neighboring municipalities – Allentown, Lower Macungie Township, and South Whitehall Township – agreed to temporarily loan Upper Macungie up to a total of 1 million gallons per day of future wastewater capacity if it would be needed to support Chobani’s operations.
At the Chobani announcement, Siger described the work to land Chobani as “the best example I've seen of economic development as a team sport.”
During the panel discussion, Cahayla-Hoffman shared how making efforts to develop long-term relationships can deliver results.
She explained how LVEDC routinely engages with municipal leaders, utility providers, and brokers and developers in the Lehigh Valley to share information and listen about priorities and challenges related to economic development.
That builds trust, along with a connection point and knowledge base so that when a project arises, there is no need for introductions. Discussions can proceed immediately to the issues and opportunities.
The state officials on the panel shared how they addressed Chobani’s speed-to-market needs by entering the project in the PA Permit Fast Track Program, which accelerates timelines by streamlining regulatory reviews for complex and impactful economic development and infrastructure projects.
The state also provided Chobani with $50 million in loans and grants from the Pennsylvania Strategic Investments to Enhance Sites (PA SITES) program, which funds improvements to properties to get them shovel-ready for speedy development.
The Pennsylvania Economic Development Association is comprised of local, county, regional, and state economic development professionals along with representatives of utility, construction, engineering, finance, and transportation industries.
The association hosts conferences, seminars, workshops, and other educational opportunities for economic development professionals and their partners to enhance their professional knowledge and expertise, and to network and share best practices.
Jaime Whalen, LVEDC’s Executive Vice President & Chief of Staff, is a member of the association’s Board of Directors.
(Photo courtesy of Pennsylvania Economic Development Association)