Star-Kay White pulls out of expansion plans in Warwick

BY KATHY KAHN

Congers-based Star Kay White got a bad taste in its mouth when owners realized a planned expansion at Orange County’s former Mid-Hudson Correctional site would be nearly double the $20 million the company had planned to allocate to build another 100,000 square feet of manufacturing space at the old jail site, now being transformed into a technology and business hub.

Star-Kay White, a family-owned 127-year-old company that makes flavoring for ice cream and extracts, has been a Rockland County staple since the 1980s, growing at its current Congers location to over 100,000 square feet and employing more than 125 people. It ships nearly 1 million pounds of product per week. The price tag for the second factory, however, made the family scratch the move.

The company earned a $2.6 million grant from the Mid-Hudson Economic Development Regional Council in December 2016. The grant is still available to the company if a similar facility is developed in the region.

Where Star Kay White will look next for potential expansion remains to be seen. Star Kay White could not be reached for comment.

NOTE – This article has been corrected. The original version incorrectly reported that the $2.6 million grant reverted to the state. It also mistakenly referred to the Mid Hudson Economic Development Regional Council by another name.