National Grid : Thursday, January 21, 2016 - National Grid Economic Development Program is Key Driver of Byrne Dairy Expansion Projects

News Releases

January 21, 2016

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - National Grid today announced a $500,000 Electric Capital Investment Incentive to Byrne Dairy, Inc. to help offset costs associated with expansion projects at two of the company's Central New York facilities.

In 2014, Byrne Dairy, Inc. completed construction of a new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility at the company's C'ville Yoghurt, Inc. - Byrne Hollow Farm location in Cortlandville. The construction and operation of the plant required C'ville to make significant electrical infrastructure upgrades including the installation of a new 34.5 kilovolt service. Today a wide variety of cultured dairy products are produced including Greek yogurt, cup-set yogurt, fruit-on-the-bottom yogurt, blended yogurt, sour cream, and buttermilk.

In 2013, the company completed an expansion project at its Ultra Dairy, LLC manufacturing facility in East Syracuse that included new equipment and significant electrical upgrades. The project involved the installation of a new 13.2 kilovolt service to the facility and infrastructure improvements along with additional conduit and wiring to connect the new service.

'We are thrilled to partner with Byrne Dairy on its continued expansion in Central New York,' said Melanie Littlejohn, National Grid Upstate New York regional executive director. 'National Grid is dedicated to growing the region's dairy industry and helping businesses to prosper. Through our Electric Capital Investment Incentive program, we are pleased to support locally-owned companies like Byrne Dairy that will contribute to the economic growth of the region.'

Byrne Dairy's $49 million investment in total construction costs is expected to create more than 65 jobs by 2018 and further contribute to economic development, job retention and growth in the area.

'As our facilities become more technologically advanced we need a sophisticated electrical infrastructure to support the complex elements of our core business,' said Nick Marsella, Byrne Dairy senior vice president and chief operating officer. 'National Grid's Electric Capital Investment Incentive program has helped us to upgrade production capabilities, improve reliability and increase product quality. Byrne Dairy appreciates National Grid as a long-time, valued partner.'

Future plans at the company's Cortlandville site include the addition of a 10,000-square-foot agri-tourism center, amphitheater and onsite production of artisanal cheeses. Byrne-branded products maintain a strong and loyal customer base including its new line of cultured dairy products. There is equal enthusiasm nationwide for its capabilities within the dairy industry as a highly-respected co-packer to help bring products from the concept stage into the hands of the customer. To date, the company manufactures and delivers products for brands that are associated with Whole Foods, BJs, Aldi, and Sommermaid, to name a few.

The National Grid Electric Capital Investment Incentive is part of the company's suite of Upstate New York Shovel Ready economic development programs. National Grid, since the inception of the program in 2003, has provided $5 million in Electric Capital Investment incentives to 32 businesses in the company's Central New York division.

The Capital Investment Incentive program provides funding to businesses to help offset costs associated with upgrading utility infrastructure to accommodate a business expansion or new construction project. Specifically, this program supports business attraction or expansion projects located in National Grid's upstate New York service territory.

For more information on the program and other eligibility requirements, please visit http://www.nationalgridus.com/http://www.shovelready.com. About'>www.shovelready.com.

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National Grid (LSE: NG; NYSE: NGG) is an electricity and natural gas delivery company that connects nearly 7 million customers to vital energy sources through its networks in New York, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. It is the largest distributor of natural gas in the Northeast. National Grid also operates the systems that deliver gas and electricity across Great Britain.

Through its U.S. Connect21 strategy, National Grid is transforming its electricity and natural gas networks to support the 21st century digital economy with smarter, cleaner, and more resilient energy solutions. Connect21 is vital to our communities' long-term economic and environmental health and aligns with regulatory initiatives in New York (REV: Reforming the Energy Vision) and Massachusetts (Grid Modernization).

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