Heritage Cheese to close Sept. 27

HEUVELTON — The Heritage Cheese House, which uses only Amish milk suppliers, will collect its last shipment of milk Sept. 26 and shut down production the following day.

The decision to close the plant was announced Tuesday afternoon, but according to Lowell A. McAllister, chairman of the Heuvelton Community Irrevocable Trust, which manages the plant, the decision was made a few days before.

Mr. McAllister said the decision was made before the village board fined the plant $527 for substandard sewer discharge in the months of July and August.

"We are losing money," Mr. McAllister said. "We have been for quite some time."

In January the plant received $114,000 through a grant and loan package to upgrade equipment in the hopes of improving cash flow. The package came from Oswegatchie Development Corp. and Empire State Development Corp. In March 2007, the plant received an $80,000 loan for equipment costs as well.

Mr. McAllister said attempts to get some last-minute financial assistance were unsuccessful.

"We didn't see any other alternative," Mr. McAllister said. He said the decision was unanimous among the financial backers, trustees and "council of settlers," the three Amish representatives who counsel the board but are restricted from voting for religious reasons.

The county economic development board, which aided the plant in receiving its loans, has worked continuously with the cheese house, said Economic Development Director Raymond Fountain. He said it is too early to say what will happen with the outstanding loans, and negotiations are ongoing.

The Heritage Cheese House was started in 1994 under Amish ownership as a place for the local community to sell its milk.

There are 15 full- and part-time employees at the plant and more than 65 Amish families supplied the cheese house with milk. Mr. McAllister said there are ongoing efforts to relocate and counsel employees and Amish dairy suppliers.

Mr. McAllister said the board will hold another meeting to discuss the ongoing issues Friday.