By Matt Youngfrau
MONTICELLO — April 1, 2003 – After several years and several different potential locations, it looks like the Yukiguni Maitake Mushroom Factory will become a reality in Wurtsboro.
The 923,000-square-foot facility is set to begin construction soon. But before that begins, the company must go through several steps to get all the necessary approvals.
The project was discussed at a special meeting of the Sullivan County Industrial Development Agency (IDA) on Tuesday, March 25. There to talk about the facility were Sullivan County Partnership for Economic Development President Michael Sullivan and Yukiguni Maitake Manufacturing Corporation of America (YMMCA) President Kazunori Kameyama. The two appeared before the IDA looking to receive benefits.
The factory will be on MacDonald Road, near the Kohl’s Distribution Center. The mushroom facility was originally set to be 226,000 square feet. Now, through several construction phases, the facility has grown to be 923,000 square feet – double the size of Kohl’s.
The business plans will be presented to the Mamakating Town Board for their review on Tuesday, April 22. Sullivan stated that the approval process should take about six months, but they expect to break ground this year.
“They will produce 33 tons of mushrooms a day,” Sullivan stated. “Eighty-five percent of their sales will be through supermarkets. Also, Sloan-Kettering is looking at the mushroom’s medicinal value.”
After a three-phase construction, they will employ 210 people, and the building itself will be worth $35 million.
Sullivan also pointed out that raising mushrooms is a very clean process, using sawdust instead of manure to help the mushrooms grow.
The IDA passed the resolution granting the project conditional benefits. It all depends on getting approvals from the town.
The project is already in the Empire Zone.
After approval, a cost/benefit analysis will be done, and a public hearing will be scheduled.