JAMESTOWN, NY – A longtime food distribution company in Chautauqua County is making plans to relocate its operations.
At its June 24, 2025 meeting, the County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA) Board of Directors approved a due diligence resolution for proposed incentives to Maplevale Farms, Inc., which will be used (if/when officially approved by the Board) to assist the company with relocating from its current site in Falconer (2063 Allen St. Ext.) to a new facility in Findley Lake/Town of Mina. The total cost of the project is estimated at $41.4 million. Once completed, the project will result in the retention of 213 jobs and the creation of 23 new positions. An additional 300 - 400 temporary jobs would also be provided during construction of the new facility.
Maplevale Farms has been in business since 1951, as a family-owned, independent food distribution company. In 2010, the business relocated from its long-time location in Clymer to the current facility in Falconer, due to a partial roof collapse caused by a significant winter snow storm. It has operated at the Falconer location for the past 15 years. The company has now outgrown the Falconer facility and is seeking to relocate back to the western side of Chautauqua County to be more centrally located within its service area and to have the needed space for future expansion.
The relocation involves the construction of a brand new, approximately 150,000-square-foot refrigerated food warehousing and distribution facility at 3196 Route 426, Findley Lake. With the new location adjacent to Interstate 86 and just eight miles from Interstate 90, Maplevale Farms will be able to upgrade and expand its food distribution operations and provide critical access to its customer base, which extends east towards Rochester, west towards Erie and Cleveland, and south towards Pittsburgh.
To help ensure the project can move forward, the CCIDA is proposing sales tax and mortgage tax incentives, along with a Payment in Lieu of Tax (PILOT) agreement. The proposed assistance will be finalized in the coming month(s), with the CCIDA board expected to vote on a final authorization resolution in August.
“We’ve been committed to operating out of Chautauqua County for nearly 75 years, and want to continue that commitment for years and decades to come,” said Keith Rogers, Maplevale Farms Chief Operating Officer. “We very much appreciate the support from the CCIDA, Chautauqua County, and the Town of Mina and are excited to see this project move forward.”
“We are thrilled that Maplevale Farms has decided to stay in Chautauqua County as it upgrades and expands its food distribution operations,” said Mark Geise, Deputy Chautauqua County Executive for Economic Development and CCIDA CEO. “The new facility will provide a central location for Maplevale in its distribution efforts, and will also provide additional space, should it decide to expand in the future. Maplevale had purchased land just across the border in Pennsylvania and was considering a new facility there, but thanks to assistance from the CCIDA and New York State, we were able to keep the operation in the County. Meanwhile, our team is confident we can assist in finding a business to utilize the Falconer location, once the Maplevale relocation is complete and operations are moved.”
“The Mina Town Board is pleased that Maplevale Farms is planning to relocate its commercial warehouse distribution center near the Findley Lake exit off of Interstate 86. Maplevale is a well-known and respected employer. Their capital investment and daily operations will have a significant and beneficial impact on our community,” said Mina Town Supervisor Rebecca Brumagin.
“This $41 million investment that Maplevale is making in Chautauqua County shows that businesses believe in our county and its strong workforce,” said Paul “PJ” Wendel, Chautauqua County Executive. “We are very appreciative of Maplevale’s decision to not only keep its operation here, but also expand and create additional jobs for our residents. It’s also great to see the CCIDA step in to offer support that will provide a huge return on investment. It’s a win-win for Maplevale and the people of Chautauqua County.”
Construction of the new facility is slated to begin in the fall of 2025, with a completion date estimated for the first quarter of 2027. Once complete, the estimated economic impact of the project will be $258 million.
